St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of December 3, 2012

[Looking for auditions and other artistic opportunities? Check out the St. Louis Auditions site.]

For information on events beyond this week, check out the searchable database at the Regional Arts Commission's ArtsZipper site.

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The Pub Theater Company presents Bye Bye Liver: The St. Louis Drinking Play, a comedic romp through the joys and pitfalls of The Gateway to the West's favorite pastime. Performances take place on Saturdays at 9 PM at Maggie O'Brien's, 2000 Market Street. For more information, you may call 314-827-4185, email stlouis at byebyeliver.com, or visit byebyeliver.com/stlouis.

KTK Productions presents the comedy The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, December 7 - 16. Performances take place at Southampton Presbyterian Church, 4716 Macklind. For more information, call 314-351-8984.

Topper Productions presents St. Louis native Craig Pomranz in The Break-Up Show on Friday and Saturday, December 7 and 8, at 8 PM. “Craig was named New York's Best Male Vocalist of 2012, and is a current BroadwayWorld.com nominee.” Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: www.brownpapertickets.com or call (314) 965-2526.

Curtain's Up Theatre presents A Christmas Story, based on stories by Jean Shepherd, Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, December 6-9. Performances take place in the Dunham Hall Theater on the SIU-Edwardsville campus. For more information, visit curtainsuptheater.com.

The Florissant Fine Arts Council presents Christmastime in Ireland on Saturday, December 8, at 8 PM. “ Visit the Emerald isle at the most wonderful time of the year - where there is a celebration of family in every home, a candle in every window and a song in every heart. This is a dynamic concert of the finest Irish song, dance, music and laughter, starring Tony Kenny and his troupe of unforgettable Irish performers including comedian George Casey, Ireland's King of Blarney.” The performance takes place at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker and Waterford in Florissant. For more information, call 314-921-5678.

HotCity Theatre presents Charles Busch's comedy The Divine Sisterthrough December 15. "This hilariously irreverent tale tells the story of an indomitable Mother Superior (played 'in-drag') trying to cope with a young postulant experiencing 'visions', sexual hysteria among her nuns, a Da Vinci Code style mystery, and a 'well-endowed' former flame intent on luring her away from her vows." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, visit www.hotcitytheatre.org or call 314-289-4063. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Mariposa Artists presents An Evening in December on Friday and Saturday, December 7 and 8, at 8 PM. An Evening in December is a Christmas-themed cabaret evening starring Bob Becherer and Merry Keller with special guests Robert Breig, Brian Derton, Katie McGrath, Shauna Sconce and Jeff Wright. Ron Bryant is pianist and music director for the show, which takes place at The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive. Twenty percent of all ticket sales will benefit the Ronald McDonald House, and audience members are encouraged to bring new toys to be donated to Toys for Tots. For more information: aneveningindecember.brownpapertickets.com.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the comedy The Foreigner through December 23. Performances take place on the main stage at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. "In this wild and wacky comedy, Charlie Baker needs to get away, and his friend Froggy knows just the place - his favorite little fishing lodge in rural Georgia. To get Charlie some much needed peace, Froggy convinces the locals that his friend doesn’t understand English. But the plan backfires when all the lodge’s inhabitants start revealing deep secrets and diabolical plans in front of their quiet foreign guest." For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

Photos by John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the one-man comedy Fully Committed, starring Greg Fenner, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, December 6-22. "Hired to answer reservation calls at Manhattan’s hottest celebrity restaurant during the holiday season, an unemployed actor must handle the incessant barrage of nightmarish demands. Coercion, threats, bribes, histrionics - a cast of desperate callers will stop at nothing in their zeal to land a prime reservation, or the right table. Written by a former restaurant worker, this one-man tour-de-force is hilarious, heartfelt, and dishy!" Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

Dramatic License Productions presents A Holiday Musical Revue Friday through Sunday, December 7-9. “This festive 75-minute family-friendly, song and dance revue set in 1940's radio-style, features Jennifer Theby Quinn, Antonio Rodriguez, Anna Skidis, Zachery Stefaniak and introducing Hannah Modglin.” Justin Smolik is the pianist and music director. Performances take place at Dramatic License Theatre located at the upper level of Chesterfield Mall (near Sears and across from Houlihan's Restaurant). For more information, call 636-220-7012 or visit dramaticlicenseproductions.org.

Winter Opera St. Louis presents Holidays on the Hill Tuesday, Thursday, and Wednesday, December 4, 6, and 12, at 7 PM. The evening includes a five course meal and performances by Winter Opera singers. Performances take place at Dominic's on the Hill, 5101 Wilson. For more information, visit winteroperastl.org.

The COCA Family Theatre Series presents The Little Dancer - 3D Friday at 7 PM, Saturday at 2 PM, and Sunday at 1:30 PM, December 7-9. COCA is at 524 Trinity in University City. “ COCA's student ballet company, Ballet Eclectica, performs a story featuring Degas' famous statuette, which comes to life and dances through various scenes depicted in famous works of art.” For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

Clinton County Showcase presents Miracle on 34th Street December 7-16. Performances take place at the Avon Theater, 525 North 2nd Street Breese IL. For more information, visit ccshowcase.com.

Windsor Theatre Group presents Music, Magic, and More Fridays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM through December 8. There will also be a matinee on Friday, November 30, at 2 PM. Performances take place at The Historic Ozark Theatre, 103 E. Lockwood in Webster Groves. For more information: 314-832-2114.

St. Louis Actors Studio presents Alan Ayckbourn's comedy Season's Greetings through December 16 at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. "Half a dozen friends and relatives are celebrating Christmas with Neville and Belinda. Various children are also there and, though unseen, their presence is always felt. Petty squabbles break out and some not so petty. The arrival of Clive, a young writer, leads to what momentarily appears to be a tragedy: Clive is shot by trigger happy Harvey who thinks he is a burglar. Hilarious highlights include a chaotically incompetent puppet show and a midnight love scene that sets off a fearful din among mechanical Christmas toys." For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

O'Fallon TheatreWorks presents the comedy Steel Magnolias at the O'Fallon Municipal Centre auditorium November 30 through December 9. The O'Fallon Municipal Centre is located at 100 North Main Street in O'Fallon, MO. For more information, visit www.ofallon.mo.us or call 636-379-5606.

Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre presents Stupefy! The 90 Minute Harry Potter Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 and 10:30 PM, December 7- 15. “The 7:30pm performance is 'family friendly.' The late show is recommended for audiences 16 and over. Audience members should feel free to dress in their Hogwarts attire, if desired.” Performances take place at the Emerson Black Box Theatre in the Scheidegger Performing Arts Center on the campus of Lindenwood University in St. Charles. For more information: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/290534

New Jewish Theater presents Lanford Wilson's Talley's Folly December 6-23. Performances take place in the Marvin and Harlene Wool Studio Theater at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive in Creve Coeur. For more information: www.newjewishtheatre.org or call 314-442-3283.

Photo by Meghan Moore Hires

Edison Theatre Ovations! Series presents the Reduced Shakespeare Company (RSC) production of The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged) on Friday and Saturday, December 7 and 8, at 8 PM. “Learn how Santa saved Christmas, the origin of the term "Nutcracker," the truths behind some of our most beloved holiday traditions and more! And Christmas isn't the only holiday in on the laughs: Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Saturnalia are included, too.” Performances take place at Edison Theater on the Washington University campus. For more information, edison.wustl.edu or call 314-935-6543.

The Missouri History Museum presents St. Louis-based spoken word artist Corey Black in Unfiltered on Sunday, December 9, at 7 PM. Unfiltered “blends poetry, hip hop, and drama in a story about key moments” in Black's life. The performance takes place in the Des Lee Auditorium at the History Museum at Lindell and DeBaliviere in Forest Park. For more information, you may visit mohistory.org or call 314-361-9017.

The Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents A Very Special Gift, A Christmas Musical Thursday and Friday at 7 and Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM, December 6-9. “Come to Santa's Toy Shop to see the toys come alive and show you the true meaning of Christmas.” Performances take place in the Guild theatre at Newport and Summit in Webster Groves, MO. For more information: theatreguildwg.org or call 314-962-0876.

The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University presents the musical Yours, Anne, based on Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, Wednesday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, November 29-December 9. Performances take place in the Stage III Auditorium on the Webster University campus. For more information, call 314-968-7128. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Would you like to be on the radio? KDHX, 88.1 FM needs theatre reviewers. If you're 18 years or older, knowledgeable in this area, have practical theatre experience (acting, directing, writing, technical design, etc.), have good oral and written communications skills and would like to become one of our volunteer reviewers, send an email describing your experience and interests to chuck at kdhx.org. Please include a sample review of something you've seen recently.