St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of March 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.

Alton Little Theater presents the comedy/drama Driving Miss Daisy Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., March 24 - April 2. "In 1948 Atlanta, Daisy Werthan, a rich, sharp-tongued, Jewish, 72-year-old widow has just demolished another car. Her son Boolie informs her that he will from this point on be hiring a chauffeur for her. Thus begins the 25-year relationship between Daisy and Hoke Colburn, her driver. She regards him with disdain and he is not impressed with her patronizing tone and latent prejudice. But despite their differences, they grow closer and more dependent on each other over time. The once contentious relationship blossoms into a profound, life-altering friendship that transcends all the societal boundaries placed between them. An iconic tale of pride, changing times and the transformative power of friendship." Performances take place at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

Take Two Productions the musical It Shoulda Been You March 24 - April 1. The show is "a mad-cap wedding celebration we know you won't want to miss! After all, who doesn't love a wedding? Especially one that includes a beautiful blushing bride, her uninvited and unrequited boyfriend, a groom with a secret, a sister with her own hidden agenda, and a pair of mothers from hell. This refreshingly modern romantic comedy has more than a few surprising twists in store as out comes the bride and groom in a wedding you are sure to remember." Performances take place at Southampton Presbyterian Church, 4716 Macklind. For more information, visit taketwoproductions.org.

The Gateway Men's Chorus presents Light: A Celebration of Life, their 30th anniversary concert, on Sunday, March 26, at 3 p.m. The concert is a "celebration that illuminates the struggles and victories of the LGBT community" and takes place at the 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity in University City. The program includes music by Verdi and Bruckner as well as Radiohead and Florence and the Machine. For more information: gmcstl.org.

Robert Dubac

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron? Tuesdays through Sundays through March 26. "On a quest to answer the age old question, 'What do women want?' Robert Dubac seamlessly transforms himself into five hysterical boneheads who each offer sidesplitting advice on how to straddle the gender gap - all while drinking a beer. THE MALE INTELLECT nudges the battle of the sexes towards a humorous détente with everyone lovingly elbowing each other in the end with laughter and recognition." The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: playhouseatwestport.com.

The St. Louis Public Library presents playwright and actor Richard Garey in Mark Twain Himself on Wednesday, March 22, at 7 p.m. "Garey has delighted audiences throughout the United States, Canada and Bermuda for more than 30 years. He has committed over seven hours of original Twain writing and letters to memory and interacts freely with the audience during the performances maintaining a fresh, impromptu approach." The performance takes place in the auditorium at the Central Library, 1301 Olive downtown. For more information: slpl.bibliocommons.com/events.

Million Dollar Quartet

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the musical Million Dollar Quartet through April 9. “Million Dollar Quartet is the Tony® Award winning Broadway musical, inspired by the electrifying true story of the famed recording session that brought together rock 'n' roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time.” Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

The Fox Theatre presents Motown the Musical opening on Tuesday, March 21, and running through Sunday the 26th. “It began as one man's story… became everyone's music… and is now Broadway's musical. Motown The Musical is the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy's journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and many more. Motown shattered barriers, shaped our lives and made us all move to the same beat. Featuring classic songs such as “My Girl” and “Ain't No Mountain High Enough,” experience the story behind the music in the record-breaking smash hit Motown The Musical!” The Fox in at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

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.

Never the Sinner
Photo: Eric Woolsey

New Jewish Theater presents Never the Sinner through April 2. "Chicago, 1924. Clarence Darrow is defending Nathan Leopold Jr., age 18, and Robert Loeb, age 19, in the 'Crime of the Century.' The two had decided to commit the 'perfect murder,' just for the thrill of it. Considering themselves Nietzsche's übermensch (supermen), they concluded they were removed from the moral and social imperatives of the world. They brutally murdered 14-year-old Bobby Franks but were quickly apprehended. Darrow's defense of them was an eloquent plea against capital punishment. This exquisite play asks what demons lurked in the minds of these two young men and the complex relationship between them. This is a love story set to themes of crime and punishment, the press, the times, humanism, Nietzsche's philosophy and the end of the jazz age." 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.

The Royale
Photo: Lon Brauer

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents The Royale through March 26. "The brutal rhythm of boxing underscores this brilliantly stylized drama. Rising black prizefighter Jay "The Sport" Jackson dominates his opponents, but the harsh social realities of the early 1900s force him to fight twice as hard to earn recognition outside of the ring. Loosely based on iconic fighter Jack Johnson, The Royale brings us ringside to one man's quest for victory against all odds." Performances take place in the studio theater at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

The St. Louis Theater Circle presents the St. Louis Theater Circle Awards on Monday, March 20, at 7 PM. The awards recognize outstanding achievement in locally produced professional theatre as judged by local theatre critics who are members of the Circle. Presenters will include Chuck Lavazzi of KDHX and Stage Left. Live music will be provided by Joe Dreyer and Jeffrey M. Wright. The ceremony is preceded by an optional buffet dinner at 5:30 PM from With Love Catering and takes place at the Skip Viragh Center on the Chaminade College Campus on North Lindbergh. For more information: brownpapertickets.com.

Alfresco Productions presents the comedy/drama Steel Magnolias March 24 - April 1. "The celebrated Southern classic of family and friendship, this is the story of a group of strong and beautiful women who cluster around Truvy's Beauty Parlow in a small Louisiana parish. The story centers on Shelby, who moves fro wedding to childbirth to medical complications with a love of live and a willingness to face its possibilities bravely with support from steely southern sisterhood." Performances take place at the Alfresco Art Center, 2401 Delmar in Granite City, IL. For more information: (618) 560-1947 or www.alfrescoproductions.org.

Zorba!
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg

New Line Theatre presents the Kander and Ebb musical Zorba! Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through March 25. "ZORBA is a fearless, fiery, high-energy musical fable about living out loud, based on the famous 1946 novel Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis, its 1964 film adaptaion, and letters that Kander and Ebb found from the real-life Zorba. Originally conceived and directed in 1968 by the legendary Harold Prince, the musical opens in a rowdy bouzouki parlor in Greece where a group of locals has gathered to drink and tell stories. They introduce us to Zorba, the aging hedonist-philosopher dedicated to living life to the fullest, and his very emotional, tragic, but life-affirming encounter with a young man and with the love of a woman." Performances take place at the Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, three blocks east of Grand, in Grand Center. For more information: newlinetheatre.com.

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.