Akin Babatunde was the founder and artistic director of two theatre companies in Dallas: Vivid Theatre Ensemble (1990-c.1996) and Ebony Emeralds Classic Theatre Co. (2006-2008). With co-founder Christopher Long, the Vivid Theatre Ensemble produced Toast in 1991 and Of Guns, Ropes and Lies and Reveal in 1992. With a base at 1409 Lamar Street in Dallas, Babatunde produced and directed four of his plays for Ebony Emeralds Classic Theatre Co. — in 2006, Shakespeare … Midnight Echoes; in 2007, Blind Lemon: Prince of Country Blues (with Alan Govenar); and in 2008, Of Ebony Embers: Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance in the Blue Room, and Songs in the Key of Glee.