St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of December 17, 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.

Your ho-ho-host

The Cabaret Project presents the gala holiday edition of its Cabaret Open Mic Night on Wednesday, December 19, from 7 to 10 PM at the Tavern of Fine Arts. “Drop by and enjoy a night of great music from St. Louis cabaret artists, backed up by the inimitable "Christmas" Carol Schmidt on the baby grand.” The master of ceremonies is 88.1 KDHX senior performing arts critic Chuck Lavazzi. If you're planning to sing, be prepared to do one or two songs and bring music, preferably in your key. It's also recommend that you have your song memorized. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt at Waterman in the Central West End. There's free parking in the lot right across the street. For more information, visit tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com or call 314-367-7549.

©Photo by Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

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. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Photos by John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the one-man comedy Fully Committed, starring Greg Fenner, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, through December 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. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

(L to R): Alan Knoll as Leonard, Laurie McConnell as Agatha Tode
and Jerome Lowe as Timmy.
©Photo by Eric Woolsey.

The Rep's Imaginary Theatre Company presents A Gnome for Christmas through December 23. “ When Lulu's quirky father fails to sell yet another of his odd inventions, the pair must pack their bags and move to more meager accommodations. All they can afford is a rundown old farmhouse where the fence needs mending and the landlord's cranky, even at Christmastime! Lulu's about ready to give up, but when mysterious and magical things start happening, it seems that this farm might be home to more than meets the eye. This warm-hearted holiday musical reminds us of the importance of helping others and the happiness found in friends.” Performances take place at Heagney Theatre at Nerinx Hall High School, 530 East Lockwood Avenue in Webster Groves. For more information: repst.org or call (314) 968-4925.

The St. Louis Symphony, conducted by Ware Stare, presents A Holiday Celebration Friday and Saturday at 2 and 7 PM and Sunday 2 PM, December 21-23.  Debby Boone is the featured soloist, along with the Christmas Festival Chorus, directed by Kevin McBeth.  “See why thousands of St. Louis families have made this their annual holiday tradition. Powell Hall is transformed to a magical holiday destination, complete with hot chocolate and a visit from the North Pole's most famous resident! Enjoy the STL Symphony's rendition of your favorite holiday songs making the holiday season even brighter.” Performances take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

St. Louis Ballet presents The Nutcracker through December 23. Performances take place at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Missouri - St. Louis. For more information: touhill.org.

Photo by John Lamb

New Jewish Theater presents Lanford Wilson's Talley's Folly through December 23. "Talley’s Folly is the story of one night in the lives of two unlikely sweethearts, Matt Friedman and Sally Talley This sweet, funny and heart-warming play is set in a dilapidated Victorian boathouse on the Talley farm in Lebanon, Missouri on the Fourth of July in 1944. (Lebanon, MO, by the way is Wilson’s birthplace.)" 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. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Fox Theatre presents the Broadway musical Wicked through January 6. The music and lyrics for Wicked are by Stephen Schwartz, with a book by Winnie Holzman, freely adapted from Gregory McGuire's novel. The Fox Theatre is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, call 314-534-1678.

Would you like to be on the radio? 88.1 KDHX 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.