St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of February 20, 2017

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The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents A Big Easy Murder through April 30. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Elephant and Piggie: We Are in a Play

COCA presents the Kennedy Center On Tour production of Elephant and Piggie: We Are in a Play Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 5 p.m., February 25 and 26. "Based on Mo Willems' beloved, award-winning, best-selling children's books, Kennedy Center on Tour presents a romp of a musical. Elephant Gerald and Piggie sing and dance their way through solutions to fundamental questions like: What do you wear to a fancy pool costume party? Should you share your ice cream? And how can two friends play with one toy? With the help of the nutty back-up singers The Squirrelles, our duo even gets the audience involved in the action. You'll be doing the 'Flippy Floppy Floory' dance all night long!" COCA is at 524 Trinity in University City. For more information: cocastl.org.

St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley presents the Sam Shepard drama Fool for Love through February 25. Performances take place in the Fisher Theatre on the campus at 3400 Pershall Road. For more information, www.stlcc.edu/fv or call 314-644-5522.

KTK Productions presents the Agatha Christie's Go Back for Murder through February 26. "Imprisoned for poisoning her husband fifteen years earlier, Caroline Crale finds herself at death's door and writes a letter expressing her undeniable innocence to her daughter Carla. Carla, aided by Justin Fogg - a former admirer of Caroline - persuades those present on the day of her father's death to return to the scene of the crime. When the witnesses reassemble, Fogg discovers the identity of the true murderer, and Carla discovers her true feelings for Fogg." Performances take place at Southampton Presbyterian Church, 4716 Macklind. For more information: kurtainkall.org or call 314-351-8984.

Graeme of Thrones

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents the parody Graeme of Thrones Tuesday through Sunday, February 21-26. "In this critically-acclaimed theatrical journey through the Seven Kingdoms, avid 'Thrones' fan Graeme just wants to recreate his favorite fantasy saga on stage. He does not have the same budget as the TV show, or as many cast members, or the performance skills required, but he is sure George RR Martin would approve - and that is the only thing that matters. But when news reaches him that an influential theatrical producer is in the building, Graeme decides that this could be his big break, as long as nothing goes wrong." The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: playhouseatwestport.com.

Lindenwood University presents the musical Heathers Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. February 23-25. " Written by the award-winning team of Kevin Murphy (Reefer Madness) and Laurence O'Keefe (Bat Boy, Legally Blonde), this hilarious, big-hearted, and homicidal new musical is based on the 1989 cult film, truly one of the darkest teen comedies of all time. The original screenwriter Daniel Waters called it, 'a Carson McCullers-style novel of a girl who meets the Antichrist as a teenager.'" The performance takes place at The Lindenwood Theatre 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 www.lindenwood.edu/center.

The Touhill Performing Arts Center presents In the Mood on Sunday, February 26, at 2 p.m. " Hop aboard the “Chattanooga Choo Choo” to “Tuxedo Junction” and get In The Mood to hear a “Moonlight Serenade” performed by a 13-piece Big Band and six singer-dancers with some hot boogie-woogie! In The Mood is a fully staged tribute to Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, The Andrews Sisters and big band greats of the '40s. Complete with period costumes and choreography, It's a celebration of America's greatest generation who listened and boogied to up-tempo big band rhythms and danced to intimate ballads." The Touhill Performing Arts Center is on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. For more information: touhill.org.

The St. Louis Family Theatre Series presents the Junie B's Essential Survival Guide to School Sunday, February 26, at 2 p.m.; Friday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, March 4, at 2 p.m. "Now that JUNIE B. JONES has been going to school for over one-and-a-half years, who better to write the book on EVERYTHING you need to know? From bus rules to band-aids, carpools to cookies, Junie B. and friends deliver the definitive word on surviving and thriving in style. With a jillion tips, tricks and trip-ups, Junie B. shares her hard-won expertise and shows us all how school is sometimes scary, sometimes super -fun, and ALWAYS something to sing about! An all-new musical adventure based on Barbara Park's popular book." Performances take place at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker and Waterford in Florissant, MO. For more information, call 314-921-5678 or visit http://www.florissantmo.com

Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill

Max and Louie Productions presents the one-woman show Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill through March 4. "It's March 1959 and at a small Philadelphia club, jazz and blues "phenom" Billie Holiday takes the stage for one of the last shows of her life. Playwright Lanie Robertson's Musical Drama allows us a penetrating look into the life and times of Billie "Lady Day" Holiday, as we listen to the profound legacy of her artistry-the music itself." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Cener, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, visit maxandlouie.com.

The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents Shakespeare's Macbeth and Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., February 24 - March 5. " Shakespeare's bloody psychological thriller blends witchcraft, murder, madness, ghosts and an unbridled lust for power-into one boiling cauldron. Reflect on America's recently concluded Presidential election by experiencing Shakespeare at his most politically powerful. Depicting a world where “fair is foul, and foul is fair,” the playwright provides us no easy answers to the problem of evil; instead, he probes into the recesses of our subconscious drives, illuminating our essential humanity with rich poetry and unforgettable power. " The performances take place in the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information, call 314-935-6543 or visit pad.artsci.wustl.edu.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Murder at the Abbey through April 29. "Welcome to the world of Downton Abbey! A world full of aristocracy, old money but never anything as droll as murder! Congratulations! You've been invited to the dinner party held by the Earl of Grantham himself! Some would kill for the opportunity to meet the Crawley family. They'll all be there! The Earl, his beautiful wife and three daughters...not to mention all the other characters in, (and around), the Grantham house. That's right! All the family, staff and townsfolk will be there. You'll meet lots of fun characters...and you'll play as big, (or as small), of a part as you wish. Up to you. Hope nothing bad happens...but if it does...we might need you to help us figure it out? Or perhaps you're the killer?" The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents The Philadelphia Story Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., through February 26. "Socialite Tracy Lord is preparing for her second marriage at the estate of her family. The Philadelphia Lords have all gathered for the celebration. So has Tracy's ex-husband C.K. Dexter Haven and an attractive reporter named Mike Connor. This makes the weekend a little more complicated. These American nobles handle all with a lot of wit in this classic 1930s comedy. There's nothing like a high-society wedding for some high-caliber entertainment." Performances take place in the Emerson Studio Theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information, www.webster.edu/conservatory/season or call 314-968-7128.

To Kill a Mockingbird
Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Christopher Sergel's stage adaptation of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird through March 5. "Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is a beloved tale that still resonates today. Scout Finch is growing up in Depression-era Alabama, where poverty and prejudice dominate daily life. With the guidance of her wise father, Atticus, the rebellious Scout discovers her own path, learning the power of empathy and the struggle for justice." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

Clayton Community Theatre presents Arthur Miller's drama A View from the Bridge Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., February 23 - March 5. " Arthur Miller's gut-wrenching 1956 domestic tragedy tells about a family of Italian-Americans living in Red Hook, New York, who welcome illegal immigrant relatives into their home in the 1950s, a cruel era for immigrants. The exceptional quality of this play has long been established; it has never had more currency than now. We are thrilled to have Joe Hanrahan, one of the area's most established theatre artists, to direct our production." Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre. For more information, call 314-721-9228 or visit placeseveryone.org.

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents Neil Labute's The Way We Get By through February 26. "Meet Beth and Doug, two people who have no problems getting dates with their partners of choice. After a drunken party and a hot night, they wake up to a blurry morning where the rules of attraction, sex, and society are waiting for them before their first cup of coffee. It's very awkward-and it also leads the pair to ponder how much they really know about each other, and how much they really care about what other people think." Performances take place at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

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 Calendar.

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.