As always, the choices are purely my personal opinion. Take with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.
Share on Google+:
New this week:
The Presenters Dolan present
Ken Page: Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue on Friday, February 21, at 8 PM as part of the
Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Star of stage and screen, Ken Page is newly added to the Gateway Cabaret Festival lineup! A veteran of Broadway's original casts of Cats, Ain't Misbehavin', The Wiz, Ain't Nothin' But The Blues, and Guys & Dolls, Ken is one of Broadway's and the MUNY's favorite players. Film audiences know Ken from Dreamgirls, Torch Song Trilogy, and as the voice of Mr. Oogie Boogie in the Tim Burton cult classic, The Nightmare Before Christmas. In Old, New, Borrowed & Blue, look for Ken to include a range of songs from Old Broadway, New Broadway, his favorite artists, and the blues." The performances take place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information:
licketytix.com.
My take: I saw this show Thursday night and all I can say is that if you want to see how a real master works a house, you'll definitely want to see the second and last show on Friday. He'll have you calling him "Big Daddy" before you know what hit you because (to paraphrase a lyric from "St. Louis Blues"), if his blues don't get you then his jazzin' must. It's a well-balanced collection of songs and reminiscences nicely turned out by an old pro.
 |
| Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr. |
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents
Other Desert Cities through March 9. “Things get bumpy when promising young novelist Brooke Wyeth returns home to Palm Springs to get her family's approval of her newest work - a tell-all memoir dredging up long-kept family secrets. Daring her conservative parents to oppose her, Brooke draws a line in the sand, and when it is crossed, the result threatens to undo them all. Politics, lies and regrets collide in this biting, sharp and fiercely funny Pulitzer Prize finalist.” Performances take place on the mainstage at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit
repstl.org.
My take: This production has gotten very good press so far. In
her review for 88.1 KDHX, for example, Tina Farmer says it's "an intense and deeply personal examination of love and family loyalty that twists audience expectations and still manages to deliver a surprisingly satisfying resolution."
The Presenters Dolan present
Tim Schall: 1961 on Saturday, February 22, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. " In 1961 the Beatles debuted at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, Bob Dylan entered the Greenwich Village folk scene, 19 year old Carole King wrote her first #1 hit, Moon River won the Oscar for Best Song and in February of that year Tim Schall was born! Join Tim as he celebrates his birthday in a show dedicated to the music of his natal year." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information:
licketytix.com.
My take: As this is being written the show is sold out, but you can always put yourself on the wait list for cancellations. Tim is one of my cabaret mentors and the head of The Cabaret Project St. Louis as well as a popular voice coach and actor locally. He's been doing cabaret in St. Louis longer than pretty much anyone and can always be relied upon for a great performance.
Held Over:
Mustard Seed Theatre presents
Gee's Bend through February 23. The play “explores the affect of the Civil Rights Movement on a remote island in Alabama.” Performances take place at the Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Blvd. For more information, call (314) 719-8060 or visit the web site at
www.mustardseedtheatre.com.
My take: "The story of the community of Gee's Bend, Alabama, its origins and struggles, is an interesting and important square in the American quilt," writes Tina Farmer in
her review for 88.1 KDHX. "That this small community also contributed to the American folk art movement in significant ways with their own quilts adds an amazing layer of beauty and warmth." She calls the production "thoughtful and affecting" and notes that "the show is grounded with memorable performances and dramatic tension." Mustard Seed often takes on unusual and challenging scripts, always with the focus on "issues of faith and social justice," so this is right up their alley.
 |
| Photo: John Lamb |
Stray Dog Theatre presents Douglas Carter Beane's
The Little Dog Laughed Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through February 22, with an extra 2 PM matinee on the 22nd. “A devilishly hilarious Hollywood agent, a movie star with a recurring case of homosexuality, and a hustler and his ambitious girlfriend struggle to uncover the truth about what they really want. In the process, they trigger a non-stop stream of laughs in this Tony-award winning comedy. For MATURE AUDIENCES: In an effort to keep the selection of shows engaging and dynamic, this production may not be appropriate for all ages.” Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit
straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.
My take: I've done a number of shows with Stray Dog over the years and have been consistently impressed with their professionalism and with the care they take to make sure their actors get the best support possible. That shows in the quality of what they put on stage. Reviews for this show have been good. In his review
for talkingbroadway.com, for example, Richard Green says "it's very funny, and you should definitely go see it." "Bell keeps the action moving between the twin levels of the set in parry-and-thrust fashion," writes Mark Bretz
at Ladue News, "ensuring that pacing never lags.
The Little Dog Laughed is written mostly for laughs, with a dollop of rueful rumination. Stray Dog’s rendition is faithful to that mixture, a tasty tonic on a cold winter’s night."
No comments:
Post a Comment