St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of July 11, 2016

[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.

Share on Google+

Black and Blue

Gitana Productions presents Black and Blue by Lee Patton Chiles at on Friday, July 15, at 7:30 p.m. “An original play of hope and healing, exploring the assumptions that all young black men are dangerous, and that all cops are bad. ” The performance takes place at Christ Church Cathedral, 1210 Locust downtown. For more information: www.gitana-inc.org.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Bullets in the Bathtub through July 30. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: mansion.com

Cocktails and Curtain Calls presents A Company of Wayward Saints through July 17. " Performed in the style of commedia dell'Arte. A troupe of travelling players, who are far from home and without means, wanders into a public house putting on a play in the hopes that a wealthy patron may be their salvation if they can put on a good show for him. The play-within-a-play is nothing less than the history of man; from the Garden of Eden, through birth, adolescence, marriage and death. Along the way they enact other wayward adventures such as the homecoming of Odysseus and the assignation of Julius Caesar. It is a fine mosaic of life redeemed by humor and understanding. Best of all, there is no fourth wall, the audience is in on all of the fun! Come early and enjoy a delicious appetizer, meal and your favorite beverage in this popular central west end venue." Performances will take place at Dressel's in the Central West End. For details on performance times and locatsions, visit eventbrite.com.

Grey Gardens
Photo: Dan Donovan

Max and Louie Productions presents the musical Grey Gardens through July 30. “Not since Mama Rose and Gypsy has there been a mother/daughter act as hilarious, as heartbreaking and as utterly unforgettable as “Big” Edith and “Little” Edie Beale - Jackie Kennedy's most outrageous relatives - in the acclaimed musical smash Grey Gardens! From the grandeur of an East Hampton high society party in 1941 to the sensational tabloid headlines that rocked the Kennedy clan in 1973, Grey Gardens is scandalously entertaining. Step into the world of Grey Gardens and see the other side of Camelot.” Performances take place at the Wool Studio Theatre at the JCC, 2 Millstone Campus Drive. For more information, visit maxandlouie.com.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville's Summer Showbiz Series presents the musical Hairspray through July 17. "It's 1962 in Baltimore, and the lovable plus-size teen Tracy Turnblad has only one desire -- to dance on the popular Corny Collins Show. When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star. She must use her newfound power to dethrone the reigning Teen Queen, win the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a TV network, all without denting her “'do!” Performances take place in the Dunham Hall Theater on the campus in Edwardsville, IL. For more information, call 618-650-2774 or visit siue.edu.

Insight Theatre Company presents the musical Jon and Jen July 15 - 31. "This is the story of Jen and her relationships with the two Johns of her life: her younger brother, who was killed in Vietnam, and his namesake, her son who is trying to find his way in a confusing world. Jen and her younger brother John are growing up in the ever-changing world of mid-century America. As the country becomes divided over the war in Vietnam, so does the family, and battle lines are drawn between the once-close siblings. When John is killed in Vietnam, Jen is left to reconcile her memory of their fractured relationship along with his namesake, her son who is trying to find his way in a confusing world." Performances take place in the Heagney Theatre, 530 East Lockwood on the campus of Nerinx Hall High School in Webster Groves. For more information, call 314-556-1293 or visit insighttheatrecompany.com.

Family Musical Theater presents the Disney's The Little Mermaid opening on Friday, July 15, at 8 p.m. and running through July 24. Performances take place at the Ivory Theatre, 7622 Michigan. For more information, visit familymusicaltheater.org or call 314-571-9579.

The Mikado

Union Avenue Opera presents Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM through July 16. "Oh how complicated love can be! Nanki-Poo is desperately in love with Yum-Yum who happens to be betrothed to the new Lord High Executioner. Ko-Ko must find someone to execute or it will be his neck on the line. Will a case of mistaken identity save the day as these two conspire - or will heads roll? Witty lyrics and a topsy-turvy plot make this light-hearted tale of forbidden love and trickery a story that reaches beyond traditional interpretations. Widely regarded as the finest Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, The Mikado will captivate and delight at every turn." Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. The opera is sung in English with projected English text. For more information, visit unionavenueopera.org or call 314-361-2881.

The Music Man

The Muny presents Meredith Willson's The Music Man nightly at 8:15 pm through July 11 in the outdoor theatre in Forest Park. "Buyer beware! Professor Harold Hill, the slickest, slyest con man on the Iowa circuit is headed our way, eager to make mischief and steal your heart. Set on the 4th of July, every note in Meredith Willson's iconic score is as delectable as a slice of Mom's apple pie. And by the way, if you think The Muny will settle for just “76 Trombones” onstage - you don't want to miss this parade!." For more information, visit muny.org or call 314-361-1900.

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents the Neil LaBute New Theater Festival, Part 1 through July 17 at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. The festival features professional, new and previously unproduced one-act plays 45 minutes or less in length, chosen from submissions to the festival over the previous year. The plays in Part 1 are “Life Model” by Neil LaBute, “Fire Sans Matches“ by Jeff Carter, “Winter Break“ by James Haigney, and “Mark My Worms“ by Cary Pepper. For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Nursery Crimes through July 31. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Theatre Nuevo presents Orgullo: A Pride of One Acts July 14 - 24. Orgullo (Spanish for “pride”) will feature bilingual scripts from playwrights nationwide, focusing on the themes of Latin pride and identity. Original work from national playwrights like Tlaloc Rivas, José Casas, Alvaro Saar Rios and more will be featured in the lineup of one act plays. Performances take place at the 1900 Park Creative Space in Lafayette Square. For more information: www.theatrenuevo.com.

First Run Theatre presents the world premiere of Trick and Antonia by Jenn Ciavarella Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through July 17. In the closing days of The Cold War, Patrick - a promising intelligence agent discovers his wife is a Soviet spy who has been pumping him for information. Years later, Patrick, at the end of his career and his rope, is tasked with discovering the whereabouts of a missing agent behind enemy lines. The person who may know is Patrick's former wife, who has been recently detained by the FBI. As tensions build, Patrick must navigate conspiracies and the demons of his past to find the truth and perhaps discovered whether he ever knew the woman he loved." The performances take place in the theatre on the campus of DeSmet Jesuit High School on Ballas Road in Creve Coeur. For more information on First Run Theater's Play Reading Festival - firstruntheatre.com.

The Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents Twisted Improv on Friday, July 15, at 8 p.m. at The Steamboat Room, 314 S. Clay in Kirkwood, MO. "Join Adam and his crew for an interactive night of fun and laughter.Beer, wine and food available from Kirkwood Station Brewery." For more information: ktg-onstage.org.

The Muny presents the Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein opening on Wednesday, July 13, and running nightly at 8:15 pm through July 19 in the outdoor theatre in Forest Park. "The gang's all here: Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, Igor and the horse-frightening Frau Blücher - together again in scenic Transylvania to reanimate a monster. Only the deranged mind of Mel Brooks could have inspired such lunacy. As Mel's 1974 movie comedy classic comes to bawdy, musical life onstage, you too will feel like “Puttin' on the Ritz” as you revel in a madcap evening of mad scientists, yodeling lab assistants ... everything you need for one hilarious Muny night!" For more information, visit muny.org or call 314-361-1900.

Claudia Hommel

The Presenters Dolan and The Emerald Room at the Monocle present singer Claudia Hommel and singer-pianist Elizabeth Doyle in Your Ticket to Paris, an evening of classic French songs, on Saturday, July 16, at 8 p.m. "Singer-actor-coach and producer, a favorite from the Art Institute of Chicago to the Lapin Agile in Paris, Claudia specializes in concerts and cabaret shows of French chansons, art songs, and American Songbook standards. She tours nationally and to Europe playing concert halls, clubs, theatres, museums, schools and special events. The magnet for many years at Chicago's famed Pump Room, singer-pianist-composer Elizabeth Doyle has created, performed in and often music-directed an array of shows at Chicago's major cabaret rooms and theatres. " The Monocle is at 4510 Manchester in the Grove. For more information: www.themonoclestl.com/events-page.

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.