St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of April 1, 2013

[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 Florissant Fine Arts Council presents the Montana Rep production of Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues on Thursday, April 4, at 8 PM at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker Road at Waterford Drive in Florissant, MO. For more information, call 314-921-5678.

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.

OnSite Productions presents Childcare by Margaret Stamell Fridays at 8 PM and Saturdays at 5 and 8 PM through April 13. Performances take place at Downtown Children’s Center, 607 North 22nd Street. For more information, visit onsitetheatre.org or call 314-686-0062.

New Jewish Theater presents Oren Neeman's Conviction April 4-14. “In 1486, during the time of the Spanish Inquisition, Catholic priest Andrés Gonzalez committed the unthinkable - he fell in love with and secretly married a Jewish woman. In the process, he begins the journey back to his true identity as a Jew.” 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 Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Double Indemnity, based on James M. Cain's 1930s noir thriller, through April 7. “Is it possible to commit the perfect crime? The beautiful and seductive Phillis Nirlinger is willing to try. Aided by smitten insurance agent Walter Huff, Phyllis sets out to murder her husband and collect on a giant insurance claim. Caught in the femme fatale's sinister web of guilt and betrayal, Huff finds himself on a deadly journey that may be more than he bargained for.” Performances take place at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University presents Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice Friday through Sunday, April 5-7. Performances take place in the Emerson Studio Theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information, call 314-968-7128.

Photo by Tom Gannam

Stray Dog Theatre presents the Jule Style/Stephen Sondheim musical Gypsy, based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, April 4-20. There will be a matinee on the closing Saturday at 2 PM in addition to the evening show. Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

The Touhill Performing Arts Center presents Second City: Laughing Matters on Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6. The Touhill Performing Arts Center in on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus. For more information, you may visit www.touhill.org or call (314) 516-4949.

The COCA Family Theatre Series presents Little Nemo in Slumberland Friday at 7 PM and Saturday at 2 and 7 PM, April 5 and 6. “The piece is based on Winsor McCay's cartoon series from the early 20th century Little Nemo in Slumberland and combines physical theatre, clowning and circus elements with scripted language and multimedia components.” COCA is at 524 Trinity in University City. For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Murder in Mayberry through April 27. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Nursery Crimes through April 30th. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com

The West End Players Guild continues their 102nd season with the St. Louis premiere of Michael Hollinger's Opus by Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, April 5-14. There will also be a show on Thursday, April 11, at 8 PM. “Four chairs, five people. That's one way to describe the story of Michael Hollinger's Opus-only this game of musical chairs is played not at a children's party, but at the highest levels of musical art.” One-half hour before most performances patrons will be treated to a set by one of three talented local chamber music groups. On opening night, Friday, April 5, the Cahokia String Quartet will play. A Fifth Above Woodwind Quintet will play on Saturday, April 6. The Quartet Brioso will play before four performances, including the evening shows Thursday-Saturday, April 11-13, and the Sunday matinee on April 14. Patrons are encouraged to arrive early and enjoy the pre-show music. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 North Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, call 314-367-0025 or visit www.westendplayers.org.

Peabody Opera House presents the musical Peter Pan Tuesday and Wednesday, April 2 and 3, at 7:30 PM. For more information, visit peabodyoperahouse.com or call 314-622-5420.

The St. Louis Writers' Group presents a reading of The Son of the Bar Walker's Daughter or A Long Nigth's Journey Into Day by Joel M. Littman on Monday, April 1, at 6:30 PM at Big Daddy's, 1000 Sidney in Soulard. There's no admission charge; refreshments and food may be purchased from restaurant. For more information, visit www.stlwritersgroup.com, call 314-865-1296, or send an e-mail to farwemar at aol.com.

Photo by Stewart Goldstein

The Black Rep presents The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez through April 13. “Just after the Civil War in Virginia during Passover, a wounded Confederate Officer returns to a ruined plantation to find only two former slaves to care for him. With a new and different social order, the three men must wrestle with the ties that bind them together and the secrets they share. A test of humanity and their Jewish faith.” Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For more information, visit theblackrep.org or call 314-534-3810.  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.