Thursday, October 30, 2014

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of November 3, 2014

Eli Keszler
Christ Church Cathedral presents pianist Mark Laverty in a program of the complete Études of Chopin on Sunday, November 9, at 2 p.m. Christ Church Cathedral is at 13th and Olive downtown. For more information: christchurchconcerts.org.

The New Music Circle presents Eli Keszler on Saturday, November 8, at 7:30 p.m. "NYC based drummer and sound artist, Eli Keszler, engages in a frictional push-and-pull of percussive sound through instrumental means which are both traditional and experimental. His hyper-percussive improvisations are ripe with detailed and pointillistic attacks that build momentum to form frenzied sonic clusters, drawing inspiration from the spontaneity of Han Bennik's percussion work as well as the harmonic density of Colin Nancorrow's compositions." The performance takes place at the Luminary Center for the Arts, 2701 Cherokee Street. For more information: newmusiccircle.org.

St. Cecilia Catholic Church presents St. Louis Chamber Chorus Concert II: Juan Gutierrez De Padilla and Heitor Villa-Lobos on Sunday, November 9, at 3 p.m. 'Twelve masterful exponents of the choral repertoire, from six centuries and three continents, are presented in pairs, demonstrating the sheer vitality and variety possible in writing for unaccompanied choir. Each program includes a reprise of a Chamber Chorus original, commissioned for us in recent years from a leading choral composer. Concert II at St.Cecilia Magnificent motets for double choir by Padilla, a master of the Mexican Renaissance, are complemented with the stirring Miss Sao Sebastiao of modern Brazilian genius, Heitor Villa-Lobos. " St. Cecilia Catholic Church is at 5418 Louisiana Ave. For more information: chamberchorus.org.

Markus Groh
Hannu Lintu conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and piano soloist Markus Groh in Grieg's "Piano Concerto," Schumann's "Concertstück for Four Horns and Orchestra," " Lemminkäinen's Return" by Sibelius, and "Les Preludes" by Liszt on Friday at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m., November 7 and 8. "Markus Groh joins the STL Symphony for the Grieg Piano Concerto, one of the most popular concertos ever written, full of familiar melodies used in movies and television including Twin Peaks, The X-Files, Milo and Otis and many more." The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Sheldon Concert Hall presents the Cavatina Duo on Saturday, November 8, at 7:30 p.m. "Combining Spanish passion with Balkan sensibility, the Cavatina Duo has become known for powerful and versatile performances, captivating audiences in many festivals and venues across Europe, Asia, and the USA. Winners of the "Young Musicians of the Doelen" competition in Rotterdam (Netherlands) in 1996, the duo has been called "the best flute and guitar duo in the world today" by Sergio Assad. Spanish flutist Eugenia Moliner, acclaimed as "a brilliant young musician" by British Flute Society magazine, teams with Bosnian guitarist (and husband) Denis Azabagic, winner of eleven international guitar competitions. The Sheldon is at 3658 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: thesheldon.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents guitarist Alison Rolf, violin; Chris Banda, viola; and James Nacy, cello in a program of music by Mozart, Kodaly and Beethoven on Friday, November 7, at 8 PM. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Arianna String Quartet
The Touhill Performing Arts Center presents The Arianna String Quartet on Friday, November 7, at 8 PM at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the University of Missouri at St. Louis campus. "Maestro Klein will take the audience on a sonic journey through the expansive range of expression of the oboe. WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART: Oboe Quartet in F Major, K.370; ANTAL DORTI: Notturno and Capriccio for Oboe and String Quartet; BENJAMIN BRITTEN: Phantasy Quartet for Oboe and String Trio, Op.2; LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN: Quartet in F Major, Op.135." For more information: touhill.org.

Chuck's St. Louis theatre choices for the weekend of October 31, 2014

As always, the choices are purely my personal opinion. Take with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.

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The Presenters Dolan present Ken Haller in his new show Mama's Boy on Friday and Saturday, October 30 and 31, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Ken Haller turns 60 this Halloween, and his birthday present to YOU is his long-awaited, brand new cabaret show "Mama's Boy". Ken got love of music from his Irish-Catholic mom who would sing standards while keeping house and raising five kids. You won't want to miss this heartwarming, hilarious, moving show from one of St. Louis's foremost cabaret artists!" Al Fischer is the music director and the show is directed by Tim Schall. The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take:
Yes, I have worked on stage with Mr. Haller in the past and we've known each other personally for several years now, but that doesn't change the fact that he's an immensely talented gent with impressive credentials in both the theatrical and cabaret worlds. I described his last show "The TV Show," as "a tremendously entertaining and often extremely funny romp through TV land" in my review for KDHX back in 2012, and having just seen this new one I can say without reservation that it's definitely in the same league. But don't just take my word for it. "Haller is a charming and talented performer with a voice as smooth as a brandy Alexander," wrote Robert Mitchell in a KDHX review of Mr. Haller's "Song by Song by Sondheim" show back in 2011.

Edison Theatre Ovations! presents Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., November 1 and 2. "This American Life host Ira Glass, with Monica Bill Barnes and Company have invented a new show that combines two art forms that -as Glass puts it-'have no business being together-dance and radio.' So what happens when you take one art form that is all words and no visuals and combine it with another art form that is all visuals and no words? You get a funny, lively and talky evening of dance and story. According to Ira Glass, 'People who like This American Life will probably like this because it is just like the radio show, um, if you picture dancers during all the stories.'" Performances take place in the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information, call (314) 935-6543, e-mail edison at wustl.edu or visit edison.wustl.edu.

My take: I ask you, how can you not want to see a mix of dance, story telling, and radio? If I weren't otherwise engaged this weekend, I would be there. There's no reason you can't be. If you've ever heard Mr. Glass' popular NPR show, you know you can expect a unique evening of entertainment.

The Presenters Dolan present The Webster Student Showcase and Benefit on Saturday, November 1, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "These Webster kids have talent, and energy and promise and ambition. At this showcase, three seniors will each perform a 20-mintue show. It's a benefit for the program at Webster -- all proceeds go towards spring auditions in NY and LA." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take: Here's you chance to see the cabaret and musical theatre stars of tomorrow in action. I've seen a couple of these showcases in the past and have always been impressed.

Held Over:

Photo: John Lamb

New Jewish Theater presents The Diary of Anne Frank through November 2. "The iconic story of Anne Frank who hid with her family and four others in the annex of her father's factory. In this gripping and transcendently powerful new adaptation of the original story based on Anne's diary, we see Anne as a living, lyrical, intensely gifted young girl who confronts her rapidly changing life and the increasing horror of the time with astonishing honesty, wit and determination.This young girl's remarkable diary has become a testament to the human spirit and illuminates Anne's unwavering belief in justice and love. This moving, true story is essential viewing for every generation - a new adaptation for a new generation." 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.

My take: I should note at the outset that this is a new adaptation of Anne Frank's diaries by Wendy Kesselman based on the older dramatization by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett that most of us have seen in the past. "The current production by The New Jewish Theatre is simply heart wrenching in its exquisite and engaging execution," writes Chris Gibson at broadwayworld.com. "A wonderful cast and sensitive direction allow this true and tragic tale to blossom fully." Other reviews have been equally effusive. At the Jewish Light, for example, Bob Cohn calls it "heart-stopping." 'Nuff said.


Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream through November 9. "Magic, merriment and romance all unite in one of Shakespeare's most beloved and imaginative comedies. Starry-eyed lovers escape to an enchanted forest full of lust and bewitchment, where mischievous fairies play tricks, bumbling actors rehearse for a love-play and couples pursue one another, all under the light of the moon." 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: The Rep's track record with Shakespeare has been uneven over the years, but judging from Tina Farmer's review for us at KDHX, they have come up a winner this time. Director Paul Mason Barnes "admirably succeeds in creating a well-paced production that brings out both the comedy and commentary on the human condition that are inherent in this play. It is very clear that both the director and actors understand the words and intent of the script, something which is sadly lacking in many productions of Shakespeare." Chris Gibson at broadwayworld.com concurs. "If I were asked to provide the perfect introduction to the work of playwright William Shakespeare," he writes, "I would advise that person to check out The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' current production of A Midsummer Night's Dream." My own reaction, while not as unreservedly positive, is awfully close. This "Midsummer" succeeds far more often than not, and its hits are so completely on target that they more than make up for the few misses.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Homecoming weekend with Steve Ross at the Gaslight Cabaret Festival

steveross.net / Stacy Sullivan
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Who: Steve Ross
What: An Evening With Steve Ross
Where: The Gaslight Cabaret Festival at The Gaslight Theatre, St. Louis, MO
When: October 24 and 25, 2014

Mabel Mercer Award–winning cabaret artist Steve Ross has a long and happy relationship with St. Louis, going back to the early days of the Grandel Cabaret Series. He was one of the first performers to be featured by Jim Dolan's Presenters Dolan organization when it got off the ground many years ago, so his appearance last weekend at Jim's Gaslight Cabaret Festival had something of the feel of a homecoming.

Titled "An Evening With Steve Ross," the show was essentially a cavalcade of the singer/pianist's "greatest hits." That meant plenty of Noel Coward and Cole Porter (always a welcome combination) along with some Jerome Kern, a brace of Great American Songbook standards, and even a bit of operetta towards the end. There was also the return of his trademark Edith Piaf instrumental medley (including classics like "La Vie en Rose," "Milord," and "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rein," which I'm thinking of making my theme song) and a couple of tunes from Lehar's "The Merry Widow" with the lyrics Lorenz Hart wrote for the 1934 film version.

A veritable cornucopia, in short. Yes, it ran a bit long at around an hour and forty minutes, but the packed house didn't seem to mind. I think that's because Mr. Ross is an engaging, elegant, and charming performer in the mold of Noel Coward, whose green velvet smoking jacket (or, as he refers to it, his "non-smoking jacket") he now wears, courtesy of the Noel Coward society. It's axiomatic among cabaret performers that there's no place to hide in this field; the audience will invariably see who you truly are. Mr. Ross is truly a smart, generous, and generally nice guy, and that comes across on stage.

Those who have seen Mr. Ross during one of his dozen or so previous appearances in St. Louis know that he is not of the "this is my life" school of cabaret. For Mr. Ross, it's all about the music. He intertwines his singing with erudite and amusing commentary on the songs and their creators. Did you know, for example, that Noel Coward's wistful waltz ballad "Some Day I'll Find You" was the theme song for the long-running radio and early TV detective show "Mr. Keene, Tracer of Lost Persons?"* Or that the lyricists for that quintessential 1936 hymn to the City by the Bay, "San Francisco," were a pair of refugees from Nazi Germany?

An evening with Steve Ross, it seems, is not only entertaining, it's informative as well.

Steve Ross's appearances here are over, but the fall edition of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival continues through November 22 at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information, visit the web site. Note that parking around the theater is at a premium, so you might want to give serious thought to arriving early and having dinner or drinks at the West End Grill and Pub, which is attached to the theater.

*Or, for you Bob and Ray fans, "Mr. Trace, Keener Than Most Persons."

Sunday, October 26, 2014

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of October 27, 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 events web site.

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DaySpring Arts and Education presents Broadway Then and Now on Thursday, October 30, at 6:30 p.m. "Broadway Then and Now is a musical revue highlighting the iconic Broadway hits of the 20th century. Come see performances from some of your favorite musicals such as West Side Story, Singin' in the Rain, Phantom of the Opera and more! Bring your family and enjoy a show, silent auction, trivia, games, refreshments and so much more." The performance takes place at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker and Waterford in Florissant, MO. For more information: dayspringarts.org.

Max and Louie Productions presents the US premier of the comedy Chancers October 30-November 16. “Aiden's bright and fully stocked store has no customers, a vagrant at the doorstep, and his family living in the back room while they rent their home to strangers. Pre-recession, Aiden expanded his empire and store count and spared no expense. After the foreclosures, the construction workers that once filled his stores were laid off, and no longer paying customers. The skeleton of the closed hot food bar hulks in the corner as daily reminder to Aiden that his store is slowly slipping away. Beyond the brilliant colors and bright lights of the store, we see the fields and the town of Kildare, with its rich horse racing history and plenty of old money. But the view of the town as a quaint village is a thing of the past in a global economy. Tesco has permanently joined the landscape of rolling fields and high street shopping and Aiden is in denial of his certain future.” Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, visit maxandlouie.com.

Photo: John Lamb
New Jewish Theater presents The Diary of Anne Frank through November 2. "The iconic story of Anne Frank who hid with her family and four others in the annex of her father's factory. In this gripping and transcendently powerful new adaptation of the original story based on Anne's diary, we see Anne as a living, lyrical, intensely gifted young girl who confronts her rapidly changing life and the increasing horror of the time with astonishing honesty, wit and determination.This young girl's remarkable diary has become a testament to the human spirit and illuminates Anne's unwavering belief in justice and love. This moving, true story is essential viewing for every generation - a new adaptation for a new generation." 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!

Photo: Matthew Murphy
The Fox Theatre presents Dirty Dancing-The Classic Story on Stage Tuesdays through Sundays, through November 2. "Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance and sensational dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this timeless love story features the hit songs "Hungry Eyes," "Hey Baby," "Do You Love Me?" and the heart-stopping "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life." It's the summer of 1963, and 17-year-old Frances 'Baby' Houseman is on vacation in New York's Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents. Mesmerized by the racy dance moves and pounding rhythms she discovers in the resort's staff quarters, Baby can't wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle, the resort's sexy dance instructor. Passions ignite and Baby's life changes forever when she is thrown in to the deep end as Johnny's leading lady, both on-stage and off." The Fox Theatre is at 517 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents A Kid Like Jake October 29-November 16. “Alexandra and Greg are stressed. Test scores, campus visits and entrance interviews for their son are almost too much to handle. Especially since this prep isn't for college, it's just part of the process of winning a place in one of Manhattan's exclusive kindergarten programs. Four-year-old Jake's intelligence has him in the running for a top school, but when the focus turns to his imagination and affection for dress-up, acceptance takes on a whole new meaning.” Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

The Presenters Dolan present Ken Haller in his new show Mama's Boy on Thursday and Friday, October 30 and 31, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Ken Haller turns 60 this Halloween, and his birthday present to YOU is his long-awaited, brand new cabaret show "Mama's Boy". Ken got love of music from his Irish-Catholic mom who would sing standards while keeping house and raising five kids. You won't want to miss this heartwarming, hilarious, moving show from one of St. Louis's foremost cabaret artists!"  Al Fischer is the music director and the show is directed by Tim Schall.  The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream through November 9. "Magic, merriment and romance all unite in one of Shakespeare's most beloved and imaginative comedies. Starry-eyed lovers escape to an enchanted forest full of lust and bewitchment, where mischievous fairies play tricks, bumbling actors rehearse for a love-play and couples pursue one another, all under the light of the moon." 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. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Murder on 34th Street through December. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com

Lindenwood University presents the musucal Oklahoma Thursday through Saturday, October 30-November 1. Performances take place at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts on the Lindenwood campus in St. Charles, MO. For more information, call 636-949-4433 or visit lindenwood.edu/center.

Dramatic License Productions presents Rembrandt's Gift through November 9. "A New York couple is about to be evicted because of his hoarding. A marriage is in jeopardy and something has to give. Suddenly, Rembrandt Van Rijn, the famous Dutch painter steps through the mirror to save the day, or does he save himself? A magical and romantic "dramedy" about love, marriage, aging, passion and ART. Don't miss the regional premiere of Tina Howe's fantastical treat!" 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. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Edison Theatre Ovations! presents Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., November 1 and 2. "This American Life host Ira Glass, with Monica Bill Barnes & Company have invented a new show that combines two art forms that -as Glass puts it-'have no business being together-dance and radio.' So what happens when you take one art form that is all words and no visuals and combine it with another art form that is all visuals and no words? You get a funny, lively and talky evening of dance and story. According to Ira Glass, 'People who like This American Life will probably like this because it is just like the radio show, um, if you picture dancers during all the stories.'" Performances take place in the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information, call (314) 935-6543, e-mail edison at wustl.edu or visit edison.wustl.edu.

The Presenters Dolan present The Webster Student Showcase and Benefit on Saturday, November 1, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "These Webster kids have talent, and energy and promise and ambition. At this showcase, three seniors will each perform a 20-mintue show. It's a benefit for the program at Webster -- all proceeds go towards spring auditions in NY and LA." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Zombie Love! (No Biting) through November 2. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

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.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of October 27, 2014

The Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis
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Christ Church Cathedral presents the Bel Canto Women's Ensemble with pianist Jordan Ault in a program of music by Bach, Biebl, Gabriel Faure, and Marti on Sunday, November 2, at 2 p.m. Christ Church Cathedral is at 13th and Olive downtown. For more information: christchurchconcerts.org.

Eliot Unitarian Chapel presents a Friends of Music concert on Sunday, November 2, at 3 PM. "The program will feature: Steven Cheng and Lee Demertzis performing Johannes Brahms' Sonata no. 2 in A major for violin and piano; and The New Muse Piano Duo of Paola Savvidou and Jonathan Kuuskoski, joined by saxophonist Leo Saguigiut, performing Sorex by Emily Doolittle, Departure/Train by Patrick Clark, and Rambunction by Stacey Barelos." Eliot Unitarian Chapel is at 100 South Argonne in Kirkwood. For more information: fomcstl.org

First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood presents a concert by The Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis on Sunday, November 2, at 7 p.m. "The Metropolitan Orchestra of Saint Louis welcomes several guests for their second concert of the season. The Arianna Quartet joins us in performance with Elgar's Introduction and Allegro. In 1904 Elgar was was asked to compose a piece for the newly-formed London Symphony Orchestra, and he decided to write only for that orchestra's string section. Patrick Jackson is our guest conductor for Britten's Simple Symphony. Rodrigo's Fantasia Para un Gentilhomme will feature guitarist Benjamin Minden-Birkenmaier and conducted by Music Director Allen Carl Larson. The concert concludes with Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings conducted by Associate Music Director Wendy Lea. The audience is invited to meet the soloists and musicians at a reception immediately following the concert." First Presbyterian Church is at 100 East Adams in Kirkwood. For more information: metro-orch.org.

The Sheldon Concert Hall presents the a cappella vocal ensemble Chanticleer in concert on Tuesday, October 28, at 8 p.m. "Called 'the world's reigning male chorus' by 'The New Yorker' magazine, the San Francisco-based, Grammy award-winning ensemble returns to The Sheldon! With a seamless blend of its twelve male voices, ranging from countertenor to bass, Chanticleer thrills with its interpretations of vocal literature, from Renaissance and jazz, to gospel and adventurous new music." The Sheldon is at 3658 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: thesheldon.org.

The St. Louis Civic Orchestra presents "Brahms Meets America" on Saturday, November 1, at 7 p.m. "Kimberly McCoul Risinger will be performing the St. Louis premiere of Zyman's Concerto No. 2 for Flute and Orchestra on November 1 at 7 p.m. She recently performed the US premiere of the piece with the Illinois State Symphony Orchestra. We will also be performing Samuel Barber's First Essay for Orchestra and Brahms Symphony No. 4." The concert takes place at the Purser Center at Logan University, 1851 Schoettler Rd in Chesterfield, MO. For more information: stlco.org

The St. Louis Symphony presents a showing of the film Gladiator Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., November 1 and 2. Justin Freer conductions the orchestra and chorus in a live performance of the score to accompany the movie. The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents guitarist Deyan Bratic on Saturday, November 1, at 8 PM. "Returning to the Tavern, classical guitarist and acclaimed author Deyan Bratic will present an exciting and culturally diverse program touching upon the hallmarks of the classic guitar repertoire." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Third Baptist Church presents an organ concert by Brent Johnson on Friday, October 31, at 12:30 PM as part of its free Friday Pipes series. "Join us on Fridays at Third Baptist Church for Friday Pipes, the free organ recital series celebrating the restoration of the church's 72-rank Kilgen/Möller pipe organ. Each week a different performer will be presenting a program of classical, church, and theatre organ music in the beautiful sanctuary of Third Baptist. This season's performers come from across the USA, and even from around the world. Free parking is available in the church lots on Washington Avenue." Third Baptist Church is at 620 N Grand. For more information: www.third-baptist.org

Friday, October 24, 2014

Symphony Preview: Jewels and imaginary landscapes at Powell Hall, October 24 and 25, 2014

Mendelssohn in 1839
James Warren Childe
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“The Germans," observed the great violinist Joseph Joachim, "have four violin concertos. The greatest, most uncompromising, is Beethoven's. The one by Brahms vies with it in seriousness. The richest, the most seductive, was written by Max Bruch. But the most inward, the heart's jewel, is Mendelssohn's.”

Last week Leonard Slatkin and David Halen seduced us with Bruch. This week we get the jewels—Mendelssohn's E minor "Violin Concerto" with John Storgårds and Associate Concertmaster Heidi Harris.

Mendelssohn's jewel apparently required a lot of polishing. Although the composer announced his intention to write the concerto in a letter to his friend, the violinist Ferdinand David, in 1838, it wasn't until March of 1845 that the E minor concerto finally saw the light of day. Mendelssohn was ill at the time, so the Danish composer Niels Gade conducted the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra (where Mendelssohn had been Principal Conductor since 1835) with David as the soloist. Which was only fair, as the composer sought David's technical and compositional advice throughout the concerto's six-year gestation period.

The concerto was an immediate success and is now one of the most frequently played violin concertos in the repertoire. Audiences never seem to tire of it and fiddlers never fail to find something new (or at least personal) in their interpretations. SLSO Concertmaster David Halen certainly put his stamp on it the last time the orchestra played the piece in February of 2012, with Stanislaw Skrowaczewski on the podium. This time around the soloist will be Associate Concertmaster Heidi Harris, whose previous starring roles with the SLSO have included Bartók's Violin Concerto No. 1 (with Leonard Slatkin) and Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4 (with David Robertson). So it will be fascinating to see what her take is on this well-worn masterpiece.

Sibelius in 1891
en.wikipedia.org
If the Mendelssohn concerto is, as George Schaun once observed in program notes for the Baltimore Symphony, "sweet-flowing yet fiery," then the other big work on this weekend's program, the 1899 "Symphony No. 1" by Jean Sibelius, is craggy and wintery. From 1892 until his death in 1957, Sibelius lived and worked in a home made entirely of wood (he didn't want to hear the sound of rain in metal gutters) on Lake Tuusula in the Finnish forest, where he often went for long walks. The love of nature informs much of his work and figures prominently in his symphonies. It's impossible to hear his music and not conjure up images of pines, snow, and brisk northern winds.

"The orchestral compositions of Sibelius," wrote Paul Rosenfeld in "Musical Portraits," "seem to have passed over black torrents and desolate moorlands, through pallid sunlight and grim primeval forests and become drenched with them. The instrumentation is all wet grays and blacks, relieved only by bits of brightness, wan and elusive as the Northern summer, frostily green as the polar lights. The works are full of the gnawing of bassoons and the bleakness of the English horn, sinister rolling of drums, the menacing reverberation of cymbals, the icy glittering of harps."

It is, in short, powerfully dramatic stuff, the first big work by a composer who, in his early 30s, was already something of a Finnish hero for his unabashedly nationalist "Karelia Suite" and "Finlandia." With this symphony, as Eddie Silva points out in his program notes, Sibelius "hit the big time."

Andrzej Panufnik
en.wikipedia.org
I don't know whether or not this week's guest conductor, John Storgårds, is as outdoorsy as Sibelius was, but as the Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic he presumably knows the Finnish landscape. And since his recording of the complete Sibelius symphonies with the BBC Philharmonic was released last spring (on Chandos), it's a safe bet he knows Finland's most celebrated composer pretty well. He has already recorded the Sibelius violin concerto, along with music by Latvian composer Peteris Vasks, Finland's Kaija Saariaho and, most recently, discs of Erich Wolfgang Korngold and a Grammy-nominated disc of Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara who, like Sibelius, draws heavily on nature for inspiration.

The concerts open with a local premiere—"Landscape" a 1965 revision of a 1962 piece by the Polish-born composer Andrzej Panufnik. Quoted in Mr. Silva's program notes, the composer says the work is “an attempt to convey musically a landscape of my imagination, similar to those I have seen in Suffolk or remember from Poland... a boundless landscape which evokes melancholy—where the far distant, evanescent horizon induces a sense of space and unconfined contemplation.” Scored for strings only, the piece has the kind of stark beauty I associate with Sibelius. Its foundation in an A-minor triad (the notes A, C, and E) produces echoes of both modal folk music and blues, at least to my ears. And the final measures, as the music quietly fades to silence, are truly captivating.

The essentials: John Storgårds conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and violin soloist Heidi Harris in Mendelssohn's "Violin Concerto" Sibelius's "Symphony No. 1," and Paufnik's "Landscapes" Friday and Saturday, October 24 and 25, at 8 p.m. The Saturday concert will be broadcast on St. Louis Public Radio. For more information, visit the web site.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Chuck's theatre choices for the weekend of October 24, 2014

As always, the choices are purely my personal opinion. Take with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.

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New This Week:

Steve Ross
The Presenters Dolan present An Evening With Steve Ross on Friday and Saturday, October 24 and 25, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "He's magic. Cabaret legend Steve Ross takes us to old New York, to London between the wars, to Paris and Vienna in the 20's and 30's, where everyone goes out to hear music, and everyone has words and wit and charm. Whether he showing us Coward, Porter, Hart, Kern or Weill, it is as if for the first time." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take: Steve Ross is still, in the words of the New York Times, "the Crown Prince of New York cabaret". In the words of me "the very personification of savoir faire: a graceful, elegant, and charming performer in the mold of Noel Coward." Steve Ross has a long and happy relationship with St. Louis, going back to the early days of the Grandel Cabaret Series. He was one of the first performers to be featured by Jim Dolan's Presenters Dolan organization when it got off the ground several years ago, and he even made a special trip to Mound City in February of 2010 to participate in a tribute cabaret for the late Chris Jackson (the only time, to date, that I have shared a stage with him). It's only appropriate, then, that he should be part of Jim Dolan's Gaslight Cabaret Festival.

Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream through November 9. "Magic, merriment and romance all unite in one of Shakespeare's most beloved and imaginative comedies. Starry-eyed lovers escape to an enchanted forest full of lust and bewitchment, where mischievous fairies play tricks, bumbling actors rehearse for a love-play and couples pursue one another, all under the light of the moon." 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: The Rep's track record with Shakespeare has been uneven over the years, but judging from Robert Ashton's review for us at KDHX, they have come up a winner this time. Director Paul Mason Barnes "admirably succeeds in creating a well-paced production that brings out both the comedy and commentary on the human condition that are inherent in this play. It is very clear that both the director and actors understand the words and intent of the script, something which is sadly lacking in many productions of Shakespeare." Chris Gibson at broadwayworld.com concurs. "If I were asked to provide the perfect introduction to the work of playwright William Shakespeare," he writes, "I would advise that person to check out The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' current production of A Midsummer Night's Dream."

St. Louis Shakespeare presents Much Ado About Nothing through October 25. "As one pair of (reluctant) lovers engages in a merry war of wits, another becomes innocent victims of a villainous plot to destroy their happiness. But thanks to the dogged persistence of a truly remarkable keeper of the peace, love prevails at last in one of Shakespeare's most popular romantic comedies." Performances take at the Forissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker and Waterford in Florissant, MO. For more information, call 314-361-5664 or visit stlshakespeare.org.

My take: The Rep is not the only outfit serving up Shakespeare this weekend. St. Louis Shakespeare has been doing all the Bard all the time for decades and appear to have a hit this time around, according to our critic Tina Farmer at KDHX. "St. Louis Shakespeare warms up fall," she writes, "with a breezy, optimistic interpretation of one of Shakespeare's most popular romantic comedies. Set in Italy at the end of World War II, this version is bubbly and cheerful, filled with a hopeful tone and vibrant personality. The play overflows with sharp observations and broad humor, and the company meets the upbeat, eternally romantic tone in an enjoyable production that's constantly in motion, but never hurried." The Egan Theater at the Florissant Civic Center is a good performance space as well, if you don't mind the drive up north. It comfortably seats around 600 with good sound and sight lines.

Family Musical Theater presents the musical The Rocky Horror Show through October 25 at the Ivory Theatre, 7622 Michigan. For more information, visit familymusical.org or call 314-571-9579.

My take: Get ready for Halloween with this now venerable R-rated send-up of cheesy horror movies. Great art is ain't, but it is great fun if done well, and judging from Bob Wilcox's review for us at KDHX the folks at Family Musical Theater have, in fact, done it well. "Director Alison Driscoll and her cast hit the right style notes for this parody of horror movies and popular music," he writes. And while a show like this is rather pushing the envelope for a company that normally does more G-rated material, it's nevertheless true, as Bob points out, that "someone who first saw 'Rocky Horror' on stage or screen 30 years ago could well be joined by a grandchild at this production for a pleasant family outing." Nostalgia ain't what it used to be. The Ivory is a cool space as well and rather under-utilized.

Held Over:

Photo: John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre presents Agatha Christie's thriller And Then There Were None Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through October 25. "Ten strangers, each with something to hide - or fear - are lured to a remote island by an unseen host. With no way to leave, the guests begin to share their dark secrets-and then, one by one, they die. Based on the best-selling mystery novel of all time, this thriller contains perhaps the most unpredictable plot ever devised by Agatha Christie." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

My take: There's nothing profound about Christie's classic whodunnit, and the plot twist, while clever when first used in the novel on which the play is based, has become something of a cliche by now. I speak from experience; I've done the show. Still, reviews for this production have been uniformly good. At the Post-Dispatch, Judy Newmark praises the "chic set" and "vivid performances." On the Stage Door blog, Steve Allen lauds director Gary Bell's "eye for detail and heightened suspense." Mark Bretz at Ladue News calls it "a nifty whodunit designed to entertain." Well, you get the idea. It's a ripping yarn and it runs through the weekend.


Upstream Theater presents Sophocles' Antigone through October 26. "This ancient drama deals with the tragedy that ensues when society's demand for the rule of law conflicts with an individual's moral imperative-a conflict that recent events in our city have given unforeseen and unwanted resonance." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org

My take: This new adaptation of the Sophocles classic by David Slavitt is getting its world premiere at Upstream, and notices have generally been very good. "Meticulously directed by artistic director Philip Boehm and featuring superb performances by a stellar cast," writes Mark Bretz at Ladue News, "Upstream’s presentation shows the timelessness and enduring perceptive power of Sophocles’ observations of human foibles." At broadwayworld, Chris Gibson calls Slavitt's adaptation "the most intriguing and accessible version I've ever seen. With the inclusion of a dash of humor to the proceedings he's also managed to enhance the dramatic depth of the tale. Upstream Theater's current production is masterful and powerful in equal measure, providing a memorable experience that demands to be seen."

Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre presents the St. Louis premiere of the musical Bonnie and Clyde Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through October 25. The show is "a kind of horror Romeo and Juliet story, exploring the culture that created this infamous couple and their two-year murder spree, the moral ambiguity of Prohibition and the Great Depression, and a national cult of celebrity that turned these damaged, dangerous kids into national folk heroes, in their twisted quest for dignity in a time of national humiliation. Bloomberg News called the show, 'a pop romance about the American nightmare.' Today, in this time of economic distress in America, this story seems more relevant than ever. Not only could it happen again; it does." Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Road. For more information, visit the web site or call 314-534-1111.

My take: Frank Wildhorn, the composer of Bonnie and Clyde, is nothing if not eclectic when it comes to his choice of material. His shows include The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Civil War, and Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure. Even if this were not a much-praised production, it would be worth seeing for Wildhorn's contribution alone. But, has it happens, the show has gotten plenty of good reviews locally. Writing for broadwayworld.com, Chris Gibson calls it "brilliant." "You'll be blown away by how engaging the story and characters are," he says, "and you'll be humming the score as you walk out the doors because it's just so incredibly and infectiously catchy." The St. Louis Theatre Snob concurs: "Under Jeffrey Richard Carter's musical direction, the New Line Band is tight, handling Wildhorn's score of depression-era blues, folk, gospel and rockabilly superbly...Seeing this production makes it hard to understand why it didn't last longer in NYC." Over at the RFT, Malcom Gay says it "should be on anyone's Most Wanted list." So maybe it should be on yours as well.

Photo: John Lamb

New Jewish Theater presents The Diary of Anne Frank through November 2. "The iconic story of Anne Frank who hid with her family and four others in the annex of her father's factory. In this gripping and transcendently powerful new adaptation of the original story based on Anne's diary, we see Anne as a living, lyrical, intensely gifted young girl who confronts her rapidly changing life and the increasing horror of the time with astonishing honesty, wit and determination.This young girl's remarkable diary has become a testament to the human spirit and illuminates Anne's unwavering belief in justice and love. This moving, true story is essential viewing for every generation - a new adaptation for a new generation." 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.

My take: I should note at the outset that this is a new adaptation of Anne Frank's diaries by Wendy Kesselman based on the older dramatization by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett that most of us have seen in the past. "The current production by The New Jewish Theatre is simply heart wrenching in its exquisite and engaging execution," writes Chris Gibson at broadwayworld.com. "A wonderful cast and sensitive direction allow this true and tragic tale to blossom fully." Other reviews have been equally effusive. At the Jewish Light, for example, Bob Cohn calls it "heart-stopping." 'Nuff said.


Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Romantic classics get supercharged with Leonard Slatkin and the St. Louis Symphony

Who: The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin with violinist David Halen
What: Music of Bruch, Berlioz, and Cindy McTee
When: October 17 and 19, 2014
Where: Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis

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This weekend brought electrifying performances of a pair of 19th century classics: Max Bruch's "Violin Concerto No. 1" and Hector Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique." Rounding out the concerts was a bit of old Bach wine in new bottles by Cindy McTee, whose "Double Play" was such a delightful discovery last January.

Composed about three decades apart (the Berlioz premiered in 1830, the Bruch in 1868), the two big Romantic works have little in common aside from the fact that their respective composers were around the same age (30) at their premiers.

The Bruch concerto is a warm, heartfelt, and utterly irresistible work that marries virtuoso flash with genuine emotion. The Adagio second movement, in particular, is a piece of almost heartbreaking beauty. The Berlioz, on the other hand, is a hair-raising study in dramatic excess. I dearly love both works, but the Bruch is far and away the more moving. It's rather like the difference between an action movie and a romantic drama.

David Halen
stlsymphony.org
The solo role in Bruch's romance requires a performer who has both solid technique and emotional depth—which is exactly what it got in this weekend's soloist, SLSO Concertmaster David Halen. He has, as I noted when he did the Mendelssohn concerto back in February of 2012, a mix of technical facility and intense concentration that pulled me in immediately and kept me there throughout the work. He attacked the dramatic entrances in the first movement with tremendous vigor, sang the lyrical second, and simply danced through the joyous Allegro energico finale. He got great support from Mr. Slatkin and the orchestra as well. The standing ovation at the end was immediate and completely justified.

"If Hector Berlioz had been born in 20th-century America instead of 19th-century France," writes Reneé Spencer Saller in her program notes, "he would have wound up in prison or a mental institution." He might also have ended up as the object of a sexual harassment suit, given his dogged pursuit of Shakespearean actress Harriet Smithson. It was his obsession with her that inspired the creation of the "Symphonie" and eventually led to their disastrous marriage—but that's another story.

The music, unlike the romantic obsession that inspired it, was a great success, although it was fiercely controversial. Parisians had just gotten used to the idea of Beethoven when along came this wildly dramatic bit of excess scored for a massive orchestra and accompanied by a lurid narrative about a young musician who dreams about his ideal woman (first movement), pursues her at a ball (second), and then flees to the country to escape his longing (third). Overdosing on opium, he dreams he is being beheaded for her murder (fourth movement) and then literally goes to Hell, where he encounters his love for the last time, now transformed into a demon and presiding over a witches' Sabbath.

To tell this wild tale, Berlioz used an orchestra that was not only large but also included instruments rarely heard in concerts, from the little E-flat clarinet to the coarse-sounding ophicleide (now usually replaced by the tuba) and tuned iron bells. He also asks the players to employ uncommon techniques, such as having the strings play col legno (with the wood of their bows instead of the strings) in the finale.

All that means that the "Symphonie Fantastique" is a real test of an orchestra's mettle, and the SLSO musicians were more than up to the challenge. There are many great solo passages throughout the work. Cally Banham, for example, was wonderfully plaintive in the famous English horn solo in the bucolic "Scène aux Champs" third movement, as was oboist Barbara Orland with the offstage echo part (played from the house right balcony). The bassoon section was wonderfully menacing in the fourth movement "Marche au suplice" and Diana Haskell's E-flat clarinet was delightfully grotesque in the fifth movement transformation of the "idée fixe" theme which represents the narrator's beloved. Flautists Mark Sparks and Ann Choomack (doubling on piccolo) also did fine work in the second movement waltz, along with harpists Allegra Lilly and Megan Stout.

Celeste Golden Boyer
stlsymphony.org
Well, I could go on, but you get the idea. Up on the podium, Mr. Slatkin, conducting without a score (and, during the third movement, without a baton), brought it all together with a wonderfully sympathetic and dynamic reading that did full justice to Berlioz's high drama without ever descending into exaggeration. His decision to place key "effects" instruments (such as the fifth movement bells) offstage worked very well, I thought, and added a very appropriate theatricality to the proceedings. The final pages were both alarming and thrilling—just as Berlioz would have wished.

The concerts opened with "Einstein's Dream," a 2004 work by Cindy McTee (Mr. Slatkin's wife), apparently a late substitution for the originally scheduled opener, Slatkin's own "Endgames" (which will have its world premiere with the Detroit Symphony in November). "Albert Einstein," writes the composer on her web site, "gave much thought to issues of space and time, and he dreamt of finding a theory of everything, or a broad, mathematical structure that would fully explain and link together all known phenomena. My piece celebrates this dream."

That celebration takes the form of a set of variations for strings, percussion, and recorded sound on the Bach chorale prelude "Wir glauben all’ an einen Gott" ("We all believe in one God"), "transposed," as Ms. McTee notes, "to the key of 'e' for Einstein." The theme is initially stated by the strings in the first section ("Warps and Curves in the Fabric of Space and Time") and then subjected to increasingly complex transformations in each of the following six sections.

In "Music of the Spheres," for example, the theme is played by the high strings over a pedal point in the cellos and basses while in the "Celestial Bells" live tubular bells are accompanied by recorded bell-like sounds and Ligeti-ish clusters in the strings. The leaping violin solo in "Pondering the Behavior of Light" (expertly played by Celeste Golden Boyer) is a homage to Einstein's own violin playing. In the final section, "Wondering at the Secrets," notes of the theme are slowed down and overlapped in a technique the composer calls "time-stretching." "What most intrigued me about musical time-stretching," she writes, "was its ability to shift the listener’s attention toward the inner components of the sound – the harmonics and the overlapping resonant regions – as if inviting a kind of meditation to wonder at the secrets."

If all of this sounds, to quote Mr. Slatkin's introductory remarks, like "one of those kind of pieces," rest assured that it wasn't. It was fascinating, ingenious, and even a bit mischievous at times. Like McTee's "Double Play," "Einstein's Dream" clearly shows a lively and playful intellect at work. I'm not sure it leaves much room for interpretation by the conductor, though, as the live musicians are required to stay in synch with the recorded tracks.

Next at Powell Hall: John Storgårds conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and violin soloist Heidi Harris in Mendelssohn's "Violin Concerto" Sibelius's "Symphony No. 1," and Paufnik's "Landscapes" Friday and Saturday, October 24 and 25, at 8 p.m. The Saturday concert will be broadcast on St. Louis Public Radio. Steven Jarvi conducts the orchestra in "Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo," a special Family Concert featuring Saint-Saëns's "Carnival of the Animals" on Sunday, October 26, at 3 p.m. The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, visit the web site.

Karen Mason unearths secrets of the ancient divas at the Gaslight Cabaret Festival

Who: Karen Mason and James Followell
What: Secrets of the Ancient Divas
When: October 17 and 18, 2014
Where: The Gaslight Cabaret Festival at the Gaslight Theater, St. Louis

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What's the essence of cabaret? Partly it's what my friend Ken Haller (no mean cabaret artist himself) calls the art of telling stories through song. But equally essential, as Karen Mason's show demonstrates, are the arrangements used to tell those stories.

As someone (I think it might have been Lina Koutrakos) once noted, a cabaret artist's arrangements are like custom-tailored suits of clothes. Sure, you can wear something off the rack and look OK, but something tailored to your physique shows you off best. A good arrangement makes the most of the singer's abilities and allows him or her to put a unique personal stamp on it.

Probably the best example of this in Ms. Mason's show is the arrangement of the Judy Garland classic "The Man That Got Away" (from "A Star is Born"). Beginning with little more than some delicate discords in the right hand, James Followell's piano part becomes progressively bigger as Ms. Mason builds the volume and intensity to the lyrical climax on "the livelong night and day," after which both retreat back to those opening chords, now sounding even more bleak than they did at first. It follows the same general arc as Garland's performance in the movie, but does so in a way that pays homage to the original without imitating it.

That, my friends, is an exceptional performance of an equally exceptional arrangement. I don't know whether it's the work of Mr. Followell or of Christopher Denney, with whom she first performed "Secrets of Ancient Divas" in Chicago. Whoever it was deserves applause.

That same artistic level was apparent in the rest of the show, which pays tribute to great divas as diverse as Peggy Lee, Barbara Streisand, and Shirley Bassey without ever becoming outright impersonation. The closest Ms. Mason gets to that is her version of Bassey's "Goldfinger" ("Gooold-fingahhhhh!"), and even that is done with a sly wink. I do think, though, that it might have been even better to segue from "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" to "Diamonds Are Forever" (a better song anyway, in my view).

James Followell
facebook.com
Along the way she weaved an amusing mock history of divadom from Roman times ("Happiness is a thing called Jove") to the present. Granted, much of that was "inside baseball," but it was clever stuff.

There were too many great moments in this show to list them all here, so I'll settle for some that struck me forcefully enough to warrant a hastily scrawled note in the dark.

"He Touched Me," from the 1965 musical flop (11 previews and eight performances) "Drat! The Cat!", got a wonderfully torchy interpretation built on a rising tide of emotion. The transitions between comedy to wistful nostalgia in Kander and Ebb's "Colored Lights" (from "The Rink") were handled with consummate skill. The "bad girl" humor of "When in Rome" and "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" came through loud and clear, but so did the longing in "Over the Rainbow."

Ms. Mason introduced her final song—"About Time," by her husband Paul Rolnick and Andrea Marcovicci's long-time music director Shelly Markham—by noting that since marriage equality has become a reality, she has become a wedding singer. It gave an added layer of meaning to the lyrics of the chorus: "It's about love. It's about life. It's about time."

It sure is. And it never hurts to remind us.

The Gaslight Cabaret Festival runs through November 22nd at the Gaslight Theater in the Central West End.  For more information, visit the web site.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of October 20, 2014

[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 events web site.

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Photo: John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre presents Agatha Christie's thriller And Then There Were None Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through October 25. "Ten strangers, each with something to hide - or fear - are lured to a remote island by an unseen host. With no way to leave, the guests begin to share their dark secrets-and then, one by one, they die. Based on the best-selling mystery novel of all time, this thriller contains perhaps the most unpredictable plot ever devised by Agatha Christie." 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!

Photo: Peter Wochniak
Upstream Theater presents Sophocles' Antigone through October 26. "This ancient drama deals with the tragedy that ensues when society's demand for the rule of law conflicts with an individual's moral imperative-a conflict that recent events in our city have given unforeseen and unwanted resonance." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents A Big Easy Murder through October 26. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com

That Uppity Theatre Company presents The Big, Fat LGBT Everything You Need to Know Show of Shows on Thursday, October 23, at 6:30 at the Missouri History Museum. 'The Big, Fat LGBT Everything You Need to Know Show of Shows is a 50-minute fun and fact-filled romp through the realities of LGBT life that uses sketch comedy, song, dance, audience participation and more. Highlights include “Straight as a Second Language,” “Is She/He, Isn't She/He?” and the game show “Fact or Fiction.”' The museum is at Forest Park and Debaliviere in Forest Park. For more information, visit mohistory.org or call (314) 995-4600.

Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre presents the St. Louis premiere of the musical Bonnie and Clyde Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through October 25. The show is "a kind of horror Romeo and Juliet story, exploring the culture that created this infamous couple and their two-year murder spree, the moral ambiguity of Prohibition and the Great Depression, and a national cult of celebrity that turned these damaged, dangerous kids into national folk heroes, in their twisted quest for dignity in a time of national humiliation. Bloomberg News called the show, 'a pop romance about the American nightmare.' Today, in this time of economic distress in America, this story seems more relevant than ever. Not only could it happen again; it does." Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Road. For more information, visit the web site or call 314-534-1111. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Photo: John Lamb
New Jewish Theater presents The Diary of Anne Frank through November 2. "The iconic story of Anne Frank who hid with her family and four others in the annex of her father's factory. In this gripping and transcendently powerul new adaptation of the original story based on Anne's diary, we see Anne as a living, lyrical, intensely gifted young girl who confronts her rapidly changing life and the increasing horror of the time with astonishing honesty, wit and determination.This young girl's remarkable diary has become a testament to the human spirit and illuminates Anne's unwavering belief in justice and love. This moving, true story is essential viewing for every generation - a new adaptation for a new generation." 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 Dirty Dancing-The Classic Story on Stage Tuesdays through Sundays, October 21-November 2. "Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance and sensational dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this timeless love story features the hit songs “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” “Do You Love Me?” and the heart-stopping “(I've Had) The Time Of My Life.” It's the summer of 1963, and 17-year-old Frances 'Baby' Houseman is on vacation in New York's Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents. Mesmerized by the racy dance moves and pounding rhythms she discovers in the resort's staff quarters, Baby can't wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle, the resort's sexy dance instructor. Passions ignite and Baby's life changes forever when she is thrown in to the deep end as Johnny's leading lady, both on-stage and off." The Fox Theatre is at 517 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

Steve Ross
The Presenters Dolan present An Evening With Steve Ross on Friday and Saturday, October 24 and 25, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "He's magic. Cabaret legend Steve Ross takes us to old New York, to London between the wars, to Paris and Vienna in the 20's and 30's, where everyone goes out to hear music, and everyone has words and wit and charm. Whether he showing us Coward, Porter, Hart, Kern or Weil, it is as if for the first time."   The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

Windsor Theatre Group presents Forever Broadway Saturdays and Sundays at 2 and 5 p.m., through October 26. "This is a family-friendly revue of gorgeous and fun melodies. Performances are at 2 pm and 5 pm on both Saturdays and Sundays. Some of the best singers in the metropolitan area will perform solos, duets and chorus selections of some of well-known numbers, as well as some less-remembered tunes from Broadway shows throughout the years. The audience will also be treated to extraordinary dancing." Performances take place at The Historic Ozark Theatre, 103 E. Lockwood in Webster Groves. For more information: 314-832-2114.

KTK Productions presents the musical Grease through October 26. Performances take place at Southampton Presbyterian Church, 4716 Macklind. For more information: kurtainkall.org or call 314-351-8984.

Alton Little Theater presents the comedy Kosher Lutherans Thursdays through Sundays through October 26 at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. "Kosher Lutherans centers on Hanna and Franklyn, the seemingly perfect couple who desperately want to have a child of their own, but are unable to do so. As the couple begins to wonder if they’ll ever become parents, they have a chance encounter with a God- fearing pregnant girl from Iowa who offers to let the couple adopt her out-of-wedlock baby. Just before the adoption papers are signed, Hanna and Franklyn discover the girl is unaware that they are Jewish. Knowing the revelation could throw a ratchet into the whole works, the couple poses as Lutherans to appeal to the girl’s apparent Midwestern sensibilities. But how far are they willing to go to have a family?" For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

Catalyst Communications Theatre presents the Variety Children’s Theatre production of the Disney musical The Little Mermaid Friday through Sunday, October 24-26. Performances take place at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the UMSL campus. For more information: www.varietychildrenstheatre.org.

Alfresco Productions presents the musical Little Shop of Horrors Friday through Sunday, October 24-26. Performances take place at the Alfresco Art Center, 2401 Delmar in Granite City, IL. For more information: (618) 560-1947 or www.alfrescoproductions.org.

Slaying Dragons presents Loop on Saturday, October 25, at 2 PM at St. Louis County Library-Natural Bridge Branch. "Have you often felt that your thinking circles in a kind of loop? Do you know someone whose mind seems to cause this person to repeat thoughts unrelated to a given situation? Here is your chance to experience what it is like to be a part of a family that is living with the daily turmoil of a loved one caught in such a “loop” while trying to decide the fate of this person. " The free performance “will be followed by a brief question and answer session led by a mental healthcare provider”. For more information, visit www.slayingdragons.org or call 314-596-1219.

The Presenters Dolan present Antonio Rogriguez in Memories, Mistakes, and Movin' On on Thursday, October 23, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "One of our town's best young actors and singers, Antonio has just moved to Chicago to play his trade up there. He comes back to make his cabaret debut, with a show that looks at taking on a new life in a new place, with the profound formation of St. Louis and its theater world. With many fresh, new songs and standards. A true talent." Henry Palkes is pianist and music director. The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream through November 9. "Magic, merriment and romance all unite in one of Shakespeare's most beloved and imaginative comedies. Starry-eyed lovers escape to an enchanted forest full of lust and bewitchment, where mischievous fairies play tricks, bumbling actors rehearse for a love-play and couples pursue one another, all under the light of the moon." 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. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

St. Louis Shakespeare presents Much Ado About Nothing through October 25. "As one pair of (reluctant) lovers engages in a merry war of wits, another becomes innocent victims of a villainous plot to destroy their happiness. But thanks to the dogged persistence of a truly remarkable keeper of the peace, love prevails at last in one of Shakespeare's most popular romantic comedies." Performances take at the Forissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker and Waterford in Florissant, MO. For more information, call 314-361-5664 or visit stlshakespeare.org.

Dramatic License Productions presents Rembrandt's Gift October 23-November 9. "A New York couple is about to be evicted because of his hoarding. A marriage is in jeopardy and something has to give. Suddenly, Rembrandt Van Rijn, the famous Dutch painter steps through the mirror to save the day, or does he save himself? A magical and romantic “dramedy” about love, marriage, aging, passion and ART. Don't miss the regional premiere of Tina Howe's fantastical treat!" 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.

Family Musical Theater presents the musical The Rocky Horror Show through October 25 at the Ivory Theatre, 7622 Michigan. For more information, visit familymusical.org or call 314-571-9579.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Zombie Love! (No Biting) through November 2. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

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.