Combined Shape Copy Arrow Button Arrow Button Path 2 Arrow Button Copy Arrow Button Copy bg-arch UX / AV Descriptions icon-a11y UX / Arch UX / ASL UX / Calendar UX / Close UX / Location icon-pin icon-stl UX / Time UX / Wheelchair Facebook logo-instagram Logo / STLSF logo-twitter logo-youtube

Shakespeare in East St. Louis

A world-premiere play about the historic city of champions.

Written by DeAsia Paige • Coming 2025

Shakespeare in the Streets is a theatrical experience that combines the history of one St. Louis community with a Shakespeare play. Previously explored histories include Old North, Maplewood, the Grove, Cherokee Street, The Ville and Bevo Mill.

This year’s project honors the historic East St. Louis neighborhood. Known as the City of Champions, it’s home to Olympic Gold Medalist Jackie Joyner-Kerse, jazz legend Miles Davis, global dance phenomenon Katherine Dunham and many more artists, poets, and athletes.

The new play will be inspired by stories of people of EST, and performed on stage in the streets in 2025.

Get Involved!

Share your East St. Louis story with us by:

  • leaving a voicemail at 314-433-5438
  • emailing Allie Magee at allie@stlshakes.org
  • completing the form below, and we’ll contact you to arrange an interview.

Previous Productions

  • "Winds of Change" Bevo Mill, 2022
  • "The Ville: Avengeance" The Ville, 2021
  • "The Ville: Avengeance" The Ville, 2021
  • "Love at the River's Edge" 24:1 and Brussels, IL - 2019
  • "Love at the River's Edge" 24:1 and Brussels, IL - 2019
  • "Blow, Winds" One City, Downtown St. Louis - 2018
  • "Remember, Me" Maplewood - 2016
  • "The World Begun" Old North - 2015
  • "Old Hearts Fresh" The Grove - 2013
×
Playwright

DeAsia Paige

DeAsia Paige is an award-winning culture journalist. She currently lives in Atlanta and works for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she reports on the intersection of arts, culture and underrepresented communities…. Read More

DeAsia Paige is an award-winning culture journalist. She currently lives in Atlanta and works for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she reports on the intersection of arts, culture and underrepresented communities. Last year, she co-produced and co-wrote “The South Got Something to Say,” a documentary celebrating Atlanta’s role in the evolution of hip-hop. Previously, DeAsia worked at the Belleville News-Democrat as an East St. Louis reporter and developed a strong relationship with people in the community—writing about the issues and cultural stories that matter to them.