Saturday, September 29, 2018

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of October 1, 2018

This week includes a St. Louis premiere at New Jewish, a brace of musicals from Alpha, KTK and Webster University, and the return of the seasonal favorite Voices of Valhalla.

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L-R: Steve Brammeier and Steve Brammeier
Mariposa Productions presents Steve Brammeier in 68: Then and Now on Thursday, October 4, at 8 pm. "Join Steve Brammeier as he explores his journey from graduating Senior to (ahem) senior. The stories, the headlines, the music of '68; how that year shaped his life and possibly yours. As an alum of McCluer High School's class of '68, Steve will also turn “68” this year, as he approaches his 50th class reunion. 1968 was a monumental year in history. Looking back, who were you then? How did you relate to the historical, political, cultural and scientific events happening around you? Can you see a connection between then and now? All proceeds will help fund the Class of 1968 50th Reunion Year Gift. Rick Jensen is the music director for the show, which is directed by Lina Koutrakos The performance takes place at The Kranzberg Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: metrotix.com.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Addams Family Affair through October 28. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Lindenwood University presents Arthur Miller's drama All My Sons October 6 - 13. "During the war Joe Keller and Steve Deever ran a machine shop which made airplane parts. Deever was sent to prison because the firm turned out defective parts, causing the deaths of many men. Keller went free and made a lot of money. The twin shadows of this catastrophe and the fact that the young Keller son was reported missing during the war dominate the action. The love affair of Chris Keller and Ann Deever, the bitterness of George Deever returned from the war to find his father in prison and his father's partner free, are all set in a structure of almost unbearable power. The climax showing the reaction of a son to his guilty father is fitting conclusion to a play electrifying in its intensity. A tremendously impressive drama that received the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play." Performances take place in the Emerson Black Box Theatre at the Scheiegger Center for the Arts on the Lindenwood campus in St. Charles, MO. For more information: lindenwood.edu/center.

Alpha Players present the musical Bells Are Ringing October 5 - 14. Performances take place at The Florissant Civic Center Theater, Parker Rd. at Waterford Dr. in Florissant, MO. For more information: alphaplayers.org, call 314-921-5678.

Linda Kennedy in Chef
Photo by Peter Wochniak, ProPhotoSTL
Upstream Theater presents Chef by Sabrina Mahfouz Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 7 pm (except for October 14, which is at 2 pm), through October 14. "Upstream Theater is excited to host renowned Swiss director Marianne de Pury who will stage the US premiere of the award-winning CHEF by UK/Egyptian playwright and poet Sabrina Mahfouz-the gripping story of how one woman went from being a haute-cuisine head chef to a convicted inmate running a prison kitchen. Leading us through her world of mouth-watering dishes and heart-breaking memories, Chef questions our attitudes to food, prisoners, violence, love and hope." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

CSZ St. Louis presents The ComedySportz Show on Saturday nights at 7:30 pm. The show is "action-packed, interactive and hilarious comedy played as a sport. Two teams battle it out for points and your laughs! You choose the winners the teams provide the funny!" Performances take place on the second floor of the Sugar Cubed, 917 S Main St. in St Charles, Mo. For more information: www.cszstlouis.com.

St. Louis Community College at Meramec presents Arthur Miller's drama The Crucible Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2 pm, October 3 - 7. Performances take place in the theatre on the campus at 11333 Big Bend Road. For more information, stlcc.edu/MC or call 314-984-7500.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Dead Like Me through November 3. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Clinton County Showcase presents the comedy/mystery Drop Dead Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, October 5 - 14. "An odd-ball cast of has-been actors revive their careers in 'Drop Dead!,' a potboiler murder mystery directed by 'Wonder Child of the Broadway Stage' Victor Le Pewe. At the dress rehearsal, the set falls, props break, and the producer and an actor are murdered. But the show must go on! During the opening night performance, the murders continue. The remaining thespians must save the show and their careers, solve the mystery, and stay alive for curtain call." Performances take place at the Avon Theater, 525 North 2nd Street Breese IL. For more information, visit ccshowcase.com.

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents the classic musical The Fantasticks Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., February October 3 - 14. " Whimsical, poignant, and romantic, The Fantasticks is an allegorical story that focuses on two young lovers, their meddling fathers, and the journey we all must take through adolescent thrills, the growing pains of hurt and betrayal, the highs of passion, the challenges of distance, and the agonies of heartbreak to discover how to truly love. With the record for the longest American theatrical run, The Fantasticks is a gem of the American musical theatre." Performances take place in the Stage Three Auditorium on the Webster University campus. For more information, www.webster.edu/conservatory/season or call 314-968-7128.


An Ha Lim in The Illusionists
Photo by Joan Marcus
The Fox Theatre presents The Illusionists-Live From Broadway, Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2 and 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 1 pm, October 5 - 7. "Full of hilarious magic tricks, death-defying stunts and acts of breathtaking wonder, The Illusionists has shattered box office records worldwide and thrilled audiences of all ages with a mind-blowing spectacular showcasing the jaw-dropping talents of seven of the most incredible illusionists on earth." The Fox in at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents Lillian Hellman's drama The Little Foxes Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm through October 14. " Lillian Hellman's legendary play about greed and ambition. Set in Alabama in 1900, The Little Foxes follows Regina Giddens and her ruthless clan, including her sister-in-law Birdie, as they clash in often brutal ways in an effort to strike the deal of their lives. Far from a sentimental look at a bygone era, the play has a surprisingly timely resonance with important issues facing our country today.". Performances take place at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. For more information call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

KTK Productions presents the musical Legally Blonde Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, October 5 - 14. "Elle Woods appears to have it all. Her life is turned upside down when her boyfriend Warner dumps her so he can attend Harvard Law. Determined to get him back, Elle geniously charms her way into the prestigious law school. While there, she struggles with peers, professors and her ex. With the support of some new friends, though, Elle quickly realizes her potential and sets out to prove herself to the world.” Performances take place at Southampton Presbyterian Church, 4716 Macklind. For more information: kurtainkall.org or call 314-351-8984.

Oklahoma!
Photo by Peter Wochniak, ProPhotoSTL
Stages St. Louis presents the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! through October 7. "Oh, what a beautiful musical! Rodgers and Hammerstein's timeless first collaboration was, in many ways, their most innovative. And while OKLAHOMA! completely changed the face of American musical theatre over seventy years ago, it remains as fresh and vital today as it was then with its loving celebration of the American spirit. A stunning blend of drama, music, and dance, the exhilarating Rodgers and Hammerstein score contains such classics as "People Will Say We're In Love," "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top," "Kansas City," "I Cain't Say No," and the pulsating title tune, "Oklahoma!" A gold standard that set the bar for all great musicals that came after it, OKLAHOMA! is unforgettable entertainment for the entire family!" Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information: stagesstlouis.org.

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents One Funny Mother Wednesday through Sunday, October 3 - 7. "One Funny Mother stars comedian, former Miss New Jersey, and married mother of three, Dena Blizzard, in her hilarious solo comedy show about the trials and tribulations of motherhood and marriage. An outrageous and side splitting 80-minutes of sass that follows Dena on her hilarious journey through a day of cleaning as she prepares for her big “Girls Night Out.” Along the way she laments how her life and marriage have changed since becoming a mother of three, wrestling with the eternal question, “Have I gone crazy since having these kids?” The answer is a hysterical, “laugh 'til your face hurts” comedy that you won't want to miss." The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: playhouseatwestport.com.

The St. Louis Writers' Group presents the first round of its Playwright Slam on Monday, October 1, at 6:30 pm. "Get ready for a night of fun impromptu theater. The order of scripts to be read will be chosen at random. Actors to read will be chosen at random. Each script will be given a five minute read, and rated by a panel of judges based upon audience reaction. The judges will select several plays to move on to round two which will be ten minutes of the same script, from which a winner will be chosen." The event takes place upstairs at Big Daddy's, 1000 Sidney in Soulard. For more information: www.stlwritersgroup.com.

Raging Skillet
Photo by Eric Woolsey
New Jewish Theater presents Raging Skillet by Jacques Lemarre Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2 and 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm, October 4 - 21. New Jewish Theatre serves up the opening entrée to its 21st season with a tasty adaptation of celebrity Chef Rossi's autobiographical memoir, Raging Skillet - equal parts book launch, cooking demonstration, heaping helping of comedy and a side of Jewish mother guilt. When Rossi's Jewish mother discovers the microwave, home-cooked meals become a thing of the past. What starts as a rebellion against her Orthodox parents, chauvinism in the kitchen and the pressures of conformity ends with Rossi becoming New York's #1 punk-rock, Jewish, Lesbian caterer. This hilarious and heartfelt new comedy is based on her true-life story." 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.

This Random World
Photo by John Lamb
The West End Players Guild opens its 108th season with the St. Louis premiere of the comedy This Random World by Steven Dietz Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, October 4 - 7. "Only the audience knows that every character is connected to almost every other character is some way. Dietz's tale is one of continuous missed connections, a series of mostly funny and sometimes touching almost-interactions that would change the characters lives if they happened, which they don't." There will also be a show on Thursday, October 4, at 8 pm. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 North Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, call 314-367-0025 or visit www.westendplayers.org.

50/Fifty Kitchen presents Tim, Carol, and Deborah, a cabaret evening with singers Tim Schall and Deborah Sharn and pianist Carol Schmidt on Tuesday, October 2, at 6:30 pm. Come and enjoy the music, wonderful food and drink. We'd love to see you there. 50/Fifty is the creation of Bob Madden. Bob loves food, music and bringing it all together for St. Louis to enjoy. Delicious, Healthy, Creative Food - The menu offers both vegetarian dishes and choices for meat lovers! Small plates, medium plates, large plates, desserts, full bar with great wines and local beers! 50/Fify Kitchen is at 3723 South Kingshighway. For more information: www.50-fiftykitchen.com

Valhalla Cemetery and The Hawthorne Players present Voices Of Valhalla: A Hayride Through History October 5 - 13. Hayrides through Valhalla Cemetery depart every fifteen minutes beginning at 6:30 each evening as members of the Hawthorne Players portray some of the noted locals buried in Valhalla. Valhalla Cemetery is located at 7600 St. Charles Rock Road. For more information, visit hawthorneplayers.com.

The Zombies of Penzance
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre presents the world premiere of the rock musical The Zombies of Penzance, based on Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through October 20. "New Line Theatre has shocked the music world by discovering a controversial, long-lost first draft by the legendary British team of librettist W.S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan, who together wrote fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896...In Gilbert and Sullivan's never-before seen original draft, dated December 1878 and titled The Zombies of Penzance (with the unwieldy subtitle, At Night Come the Flesh Eaters), Major-General Stanley is a retired zombie hunter, who doesn't want his daughters marrying the dreaded Zombies of Penzance, for obvious reasons." Performances take place at the Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, three blocks east of Grand, in Grand Center. For more information, visit newlinetheatre.com or call 314-534-1111.

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.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of October 1, 2018

Chanticleer returns to St. Louis this week and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents both a regular series concert and a Muny centennial tribute.


Chanticleer
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Tuesday, October 2, at 8 p.m. St. Louis Cathedral Concerts presents the a cappella classical vocal ensemble Chanticleer. "The San Francisco based GRAMMY® award-winning ensemble Chanticleer celebrates its 40th Anniversary in 2018. Praised by the San Francisco Chronicle for its “tonal luxuriance and crisply etched clarity,” Chanticleer is known around the world as “an orchestra of voices” for its seamless blend of twelve male voices ranging from soprano to bass and its original interpretations of vocal literature, from Renaissance to jazz and popular genres, as well as contemporary composition." The performance takes place at The Cathedral Basilica on Lindell in the Central West End. For more information: cathedralconcerts.org.

Beth Guterman
Chu
Bramwell Tovey conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and viola soloist Beth Guterman Chu Friday at 10:30 am and Saturday at 8 pm, October 5 and 6. The program consists of Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 ("Pastorale") and Berlioz's Harold in Italy. The concerts take place at Powell Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Ben Whiteley conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in A Celebration of Muny at 100 on Sunday, October 7, at 3 pm. Vocal soloists Justin Michael Austin, Daniel Berryman, Cree Carrico, and Elizabeth Stanley join the orchestra and chorus in paying tribute to the Muny during their centennial with an afternoon of beautiful songs and music from its first quarter century. The program includes selections from Annie Get Your Gun, Girl Crazy, Show Boat, The Pirates of Penzance, as well as favorites by Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Victor Herbert and more. The concert takes place at Powell Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Perseid String Quartet
Second Presbyterian Church presents the Perseid String Quartet on Sunday, October 6, at 4 pm. "Formed in 2013, the St. Louis based Perseid String Quartet has already generated acclaim for its polished, energetic performances and engagement with audiences. Members of the quartet serve as faculty members at colleges and community music schools, and their collective performing experience includes positions in regional orchestras and opera productions, historically informed performances on Baroque instruments, and playing in a rock band." The church is at 4501 Westminster Place in the Central West End. For more information: secondchurch.net.

The University of Missouri - St. Louis presents The Arianna String Quartet in a First Mondays concert on Monday, October 1, at 6:30 pm. "This one-of-a kind concert series offers audience members a rare behind the scenes look into the craft and artistry of the string quartet, and an opportunity for informal, direct discussion and interaction with UMSL's renowned Arianna String Quartet, as they examine the dynamic process of interpretation and live performance." The event takes place at UMSL's Grand Center Location. For more information: stlpublicradio.org.

Guitarist Mark Akin
The Washington University Department of Music presents Mark Akin in a faculty guitar recital on Thursday, October 5, at 7:30 pm. The program includes the Violin Sonata No. 10, Op. 96 by Albeniz, Sibelius, and Grieg. The performance takes place at the 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity in University City. For more information, music.wustl.edu.

The Washington University Department of Music presents and all-Vivaldi program featuring Nerea Berraondo, mezzo-soprano, and the Kingsbury Ensemble on Sunday, October 7, at 7 p.m. The concert takes place at the 560 Music Center at 560 Trinity in University City. For more information, music.wustl.edu or call 314-935-5566.

Friday, September 28, 2018

Review: Sister act

L-R: Liz Callaway and Ann Hampton Callaway
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Musical sisters Liz Callaway and Ann Hampton Callaway are no strangers to St. Louis stages. Both have performed here many times in the past and both have been part of the teaching staff at the St. Louis Cabaret Conference.

Their appearance here at on Wednesday and Thursday, September 26 and 27, though, marked the first time their duo act Sibling Revelry has been seen here in almost two decades and the show's first performance at the recently renovated Jazz Bistro. They have performed the show around the country since around 1995, which means they have now fine-tuned it into a precision entertainment machine.

The evening opened with an exuberant duet of Jerry Herman's "It's Today" (from "Mame") that showcased the sisters' precision close harmony, and it then moved into a solo set in which Ann demonstrated both her vocal and interpretive skill. Her version of "Rhythm in My Nursery Rhymes" (a hit for "Fats" Waller, among others), with its scatting and vocal imitations of jazz combo instruments, was a reminder of why she's so well regarded on the jazz scene, but she also captured perfectly the wry, world weariness of Nancy Ford and Gretchen Cryer's "Old Friend" (from "I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking it On the Road").

A delightful duet of "Friendship" (from "DuBarry Was a Lady") gave them a chance to joke about the rivalry in their revelry, and then Liz took the solo spot with moving performances of Steven Schwartz's "Meadowlark" (which I still can't hear without getting teary-eyed) and Frank Loesser's ecstatic "My Heart is So Full of You" (from "Most Happy Fella"). That set demonstrated why Liz has been so much in demand in the theatre and film world.

For me, though, the best thing about the evening was seeing them soar through complex arrangements of Broadway and Great American Songbook standards in flawless tight harmony. They played off each other with the ease of long acquaintance.

Alex Rybeck
They were, in short, having a great time and they made sure the audience was part of the fun. That was perhaps most apparent in their "Huge Medley" of all the songs their friends suggested they should do when they first started putting "Sibling Revelry" together over two decades ago. It's a high-speed trip through (at least) a dozen tunes from the big band hit "Sentimental Journey" to Sondheim's "Every Day a Little Death" (from "A Little Night Music").

Through it all, the reliably brilliant Alex Rybeck (a strong performer in his own right) backed them up on the piano. Mr. Rybeck's skill at the keyboard is always impressive, but his solid performance Wednesday night was made more so by the realization that he had been called in on 24-hours notice and had, in fact, flown in from New York City on a 5 am flight the day of the concert. That's Purple Heart territory.

By the time you read this, the Callaway sisters will have concluded their St. Louis stay, but the season continues at Jazz St. Louis. "Sibling Revelry" was the first show in the new Jazz St. Louis Cabaret Series, co-produced with The Cabaret Project St. Louis. Check out both organizations' respective web sites for information on upcoming events.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of September 28, 2018

This week, the local premiere of a new comedy by Steve Dietz, a student Sonheim showcase, and the annual Theatre Expo.

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New This Week:

St. Louis University Theatre presents Finishing the Hat: Students Sing Sondheim on Friday and Saturday at 7 pm, September 28 and 29. The cabaret showcase features singers from local high schools, colleges, and universities in a tribute to the celebrated American composer, who will receive the 2018 St. Louis Literary Award in a ceremony next week at the Sheldon Concert Hall. Performances take place in Xavier Hall, 3373 West Pine Mall.

My take: It might surprise you to learn that local high schools and colleges are turning out a large number of students who are interested in cabaret and musical theatre. The St. Louis Cabaret Conference has helped fuel that with an annual cabaret master class aimed at students. I have seen some of the graduates of that program in action and have been very impressed.


PNC Arts Alive and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis present Making A Scene: A St. Louis Theatre Expo on Saturday, September 29, from 9 am to 1:30 pm. "This celebration will unite more than a dozen local theatre companies at The Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts in Webster Groves for a wide range of family-friendly activities, demonstrations, discussions and pop-up performances. The free expo will provide behind-the-scenes insight into how local theatre companies bring productions to life on stages throughout the St. Louis area." All events take place the Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Rd. on the Webster University campus. For a complete list of events, visit www.repstl.org/events/detail/making-a-scene-a-st-louis-theatre-expo.

My take: Want a look behind the scenes of St. Louis theatre? Here's your chance. The expo features a wide array of events with a little something for nearly everyone.


This Random World
Photo by John Lamb
The West End Players Guild opens its 108th season with the St. Louis premiere of the comedy This Random World by Steven Dietz Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, September 28 - October 7. "Only the audience knows that every character is connected to almost every other character is some way. Dietz's tale is one of continuous missed connections, a series of mostly funny and sometimes touching almost-interactions that would change the characters lives if they happened, which they don't." There will also be a show on Thursday, October 4, at 8 pm. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 North Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, call 314-367-0025 or visit www.westendplayers.org.

My take: As I noted in my KDHX review of the world premiere of this play at the Humana Festival, one of the great pleasures of the novels of Charles Dickens is the often comical way in which he arranges for characters from very disparate walks of life to be connected, often by wildly improbable coincidences. In This Random World, veteran comic playwright Steve Dietz stands that convention on its head. In Dietz's anti-Dickensian story, characters who are already related to each other, however tangentially, repeatedly miss making connections as a result of coincidences that are as unlikely and comical as anything the great British novelist ever dreamed up. I'm on the play reading committee at West End and was a strong proponent of including this inventive farce in our season. I think you'll enjoy it.



Held Over:

An Apology...
Midnight Theatre Company presents two one-act plays by Mickle Maher: An Apology for the Course and Outcome of Certain Events Delivered by Doctor John Faustus and The Hunchback Variations Thursdays at 7 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 8 pm through September 29. Performances take place at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in The Grove. For more information: midnightcompany.com.

My take: Joe Hanrahan and Dave Wassilak have performed both of these duet shows previously here in town to good notices but to the best of my knowledge this is the first time they've both been available in the same program. In An Apology, Dr. Faustus (Hanrahan)...well...apologizes for not standing up agaisnt Mephistopholes (Wassilak). The Hunchback Variations is even more improbable: a panel discussion between the Hunchback of Notre Dame (Wassilak) and Ludwig Van Beethoven (Hanrahan) about Chekov's The Cherry Orchard. Go figure. If you're up for something out of the theatrical norm, this just might be the show for you. And the Emerald Room at The Monocle is an cool space for intimate performances.


Evita
Photo by Eric Woolsey
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical Evita through September 30. "The incandescent Eva PerĂ³n's rise from poverty to power electrified the world - and made her an iconic political celebrity. Winner of seven Tony Awards, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's tour-de-force musical revels in the glamour, charisma and controversy that defined the First Lady of Argentina. With its unforgettable anthem "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" and kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, Evita dazzles with pure passion." 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: Evita has certainly gone through some changes since it first appeared as a two-LP "concept album" back in 1976 (note to younger readers: the LP is a primitive sound reproduction device invented by the ancient Mayans), with a 1978 Broadway production and a 2006 London stage revision that also made its way to the Great White Way. The Rep production is based on that revival, which makes what I see as a number of positive changes in the show. That includes new orchestrations, a focus on dance and movement that makes the show move like lightning without ever pushing the pacing, and dropping the notion that the character of Che is the revolutionary Che Guevara, which never really worked for me anyway. I liked that version when I saw it at the Fox in 2013 and local critics appear to like the Rep's production quite a lot a well. "The whirlwind that was the life of Eva Peron," writes Steve Allen, "travels at break neck speed with dazzling performances, costumes and set design all sweeping across the Rep stage in the capable hands of director Rob Ruggiero." Ann Lemmons Pollack calls it "a blockbuster of a show that takes full advantage of the extra time the summer gave to crank things up." We saw the show last weekend. Rob Ruggiero's direction is fleet-footed and precise and his cast is very strong, headed by Michelle Aravena as Eva PerĂ³n, Pepe Nufrio as Che, and Sean MacLaughlin as a forceful and charismatic Juan PerĂ³n. The 16 members of the ensemble take on a variety of roles and include some truly impressive dancers.


Love Never DiesPhoto by Joan Marcus
The Fox Theatre presents Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Love Never Dies: The Phantom Returns, running through September 30. "The year is 1907. It is 10 years after his disappearance from the Paris Opera House and The Phantom has escaped to a new life in New York where he lives amongst the screaming joy rides and freak shows of Coney Island. In this new, electrically charged world, he has finally found a place for his music to soar, but he has never stopped yearning for his one true love and musical protégée, Christine Daaé. Now one of the world's finest sopranos, Christine accepts an invitation to travel from Paris to New York to perform at a renowned opera house. Christine's marriage to Raoul is suffering at the hands of his drinking and gambling and they desperately need the financial rewards that America can give them. In a final bid to win back Christine's love, The Phantom lures her, Raoul, and their young son Gustave, from Manhattan to the glittering and glorious world of Coney Island - not knowing what is in store for them." The Fox is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

My take: Unlike some of my fellow critics, I have never been inclined to jump on the anti-Lloyd Webber bandwagon. I've seen Phantom of the Opera a couple of times and have enjoyed it immensely. If my schedule had allowed it, I would have checked out Love Never Dies as well, even though I'm not entirely convinced the world was really crying for a sequel to the spectacularly successful original, with its irresistible score and clever parodies of operatic styles. Reviews of the show have been mixed at some of the earlier stops on this (presumably) pre-Broadway tour following its American debut in Detroit last October, as is the only review I have been able to find so far, by Calvin Wilson at STLToday.com. I'm putting it on the list anyway, just because I find fascinating the idea of a musical with a score by Andrew Lloyd Webber and a book by Ben Elton, the creator of Blackadder.


Oklahoma!
Photo by Peter Wochniak, ProPhotoSTL
Stages St. Louis presents the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! through October 7. "Oh, what a beautiful musical! Rodgers and Hammerstein's timeless first collaboration was, in many ways, their most innovative. And while OKLAHOMA! completely changed the face of American musical theatre over seventy years ago, it remains as fresh and vital today as it was then with its loving celebration of the American spirit. A stunning blend of drama, music, and dance, the exhilarating Rodgers and Hammerstein score contains such classics as "People Will Say We're In Love," "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top," "Kansas City," "I Cain't Say No," and the pulsating title tune, "Oklahoma!" A gold standard that set the bar for all great musicals that came after it, OKLAHOMA! is unforgettable entertainment for the entire family!" Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information: stagesstlouis.org.

My take: History (or at least Wikipedia) tells us that when Lorenz Hart was approached by his then-partner Richard Rodgers to work on a musical stage version of the 1931 Theatre Guild flop Green Grow the Lilacs, he declined, shrugging off the story of farmers and cowboys in turn-of-the-century Oklahoma as corny and uninteresting. He had a point there—the corn really is "as high as an elephant's eye" at times—but even so Oklahoma! was a box office smash in 1943 (a record-breaking 2,212 performances), garnered rave reviews, and has remained a favorite of audiences and critics ever since. The Stages production, which I saw last night, is broad and even borderline cartoonish in spots, but executed so flawlessly and with such precision that it's impossible not to find it vastly entertaining. Performances are top drawer and the score is, of course, irresistible.

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Symphony Preview: Happy road warrior Hannu Lintu returns to Powell Hall

Conductor Hannu Lintu
Photo by Veikko Kähkönen
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In an interview with flautist and music writer Tim Munro in the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's program book, SLSO Artistic and Operations VP Erik Finley notes that the 2018/2019 season is "an in-between time" for the orchestra. That's because, while former Music Director David Robertson's tenure ended at the end of the previous season, the orchestra's new Music Director, Stéphane Denève, won't officially take over until the fall of 2019.

In the interim, Mr. Finley put together the orchestra's program with substantial input from the musicians themselves, resulting in a season that has been dubbed "From Our Family to Yours." That includes what Finley refers to as the orchestra's "extended family" of guest conductors who have appeared on the podium frequently and whose names will be familiar to St. Louis music lovers.

Such as, for example, the man who will conduct the SLSO this weekend (Friday and Saturday, September 28 and 29): Finland's Hannu Lintu.

Maestro Lintu is no stranger to the Powell Hall stage, having made several appearances here over the years, most recently in an all-Russian program this past April. He is, as I have noted in reviews of some of his previous appearances here, a commanding and visually compelling figure on the podium. His big gestures are striking, but he can also coax delicate sounds with a minimum of physical display. He has, in short, a nearly ideal mixture of romantic intensity and intellectual control.

The degree of control would appear to be a result of his studies at the Sibelius Academy (where Mr. Lintu now has a part-time teaching assignment) with the noted conductor and teacher Jorma Panula (b. 1930) whose notable students also include Osmo Vänska and Jukka-Pekka Saraste. In a 2017 interview with Paul E. Robinson for Musical Toronto, Mr. Lintu said that Mr. Panula's secrets for producing such successful students are fairly simple. "First of all," he noted, "Panula has an instinct for recognizing conducting talent. He seems to know who is gifted even before teaching begins. Secondly, he doesn't teach technique. He lets his students do what they want as long as they show what they want and express their own ideas...Panula does not do so much teaching. He is more like Yoda. What he does is a kind of Zen. Just being around him and having discussions is really inspirational. Another point he emphasizes: a conductor must have the will, a strong need to express how he feels about the music he conducts or he will not succeed." That will shows up clearly in Mr. Lintu's forceful presence on the podium.

Composer Lotta Wennäkoski
Born in Rauma, Finland, in 1967, Mr. Lintu studied piano and cello at the Turku Conservatory and conducting at the Sibelius Academy, graduating with honors in 1996. He quickly found work as chief conductor of the Turku Philharmonic (1998-2001). He was chief conductor of the Helsingborg (Sweden) Symphony from 2002-2005, the Tampere (Finland) Philharmonic from 2009-2013, and Ireland's RTÉ National Symphony starting in 2010. In recent years he has been in demand world wide--so much so that he now spends a great deal of his time on the road. And unlike some performers who view travel as something of a necessary evil, Mr. Lintu finds it liberating.

"[W]hen I am in Helsinki, with my own orchestra," he observed in a 2017 interview with Ottawa-based arts journalist Peter Robb, "it means I don't have much time to study anything because I have lots of meetings, rehearsals, and interviews. When I am travelling I am sort of resting..I know this doesn't make much sense but why slow down? I still like travelling. I like hotels and airports and airplanes." Given that recent conducting assignments have taken him as far afield as Boston, Budapest, Tokyo, Detroit, and Paris, it's fortunate that he's a happy road warrior.

Since 2013, Mr. Lintu has also been Chief Conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. During his tenure, he has been great advocate of the work of 20th and 21st century Finnish composers. That includes older and more traditional composers like Joonas Kokkonen (1921-1996), Einar Englund (1916-1999) and Erik Bergman (1911-2006) as well as younger voices like that of fellow Sibelius Academy graduate Lotta Wennäkoski (b. 1970), whose 2017 work "Flounce" receives it's USA premiere by the SLSO this weekend.

Conductor/composer Essa-Pekka Salonen
Photo by Minna Hatinen
In addition, Mr. Lintu has been a champion of the work of composer/conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen (b. 1958). Best known as the Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1992 to 2009, Mr. Salonen, like Mr. Lintu, studied conducting with Jorma Panula. His 2009 Violin Concerto will receive its St. Louis debut this weekend. The soloist will be Leila Josefowicz [http://www.leilajosefowicz.com/], who worked closely with Mr. Salonen during the composition process and gave the work its world premiere.

Part of what makes that advocacy of new and under-represented music possible is funding, as Mr. Lintu pointed out in the Robb interview. "Sometimes I think in Europe financing is automatic. It's a machine. They just feed us with money." As a result he feels that "we should take an even bigger responsibility to play things that haven't been played much and introducing new composers or those who have been forgotten. That is part of my job with the Finnish Broadcasting Company."

Not everything on this weekend's program is Finnish, though. Indeed, the longest work on the concert will be the Symphony No. 11, Op. 103, by Shostakovich. First performed in 1957 and subtitled "The Year 1905," it's a work that, on the surface, appears to be a patriotic tribute to the bloody events of Sunday, January 9th, 1905, when Tsarist troops opened fire on unarmed demonstrators--an event which would eventually lead of the 1917 Communist revolution.

Dmitri Shostakovich, 1950
Photo by Deutsche Fotothek
But, as is so often the case with Shostakovich, publicly stated intent and private intent were not necessarily in sync. Coming shortly after the brutal murder of Hungarian protestors by Soviet machine guns on October 25, 1956, many saw the Symphony No. 11 as a tacit tribute to that uprising rather than the one in 1905. As Rebecca Lentjes points out in her program notes for this weekend, the Eleventh Symphony "is by no means immune from the trend of reading Shostakovich's music for double meanings; according to musicologist David Fanning: 'appearing as it did in October 1957, its message concerning the abuse of dictatorial power invited Aesopian reading as a comment on the Soviet repression of the Hungarian uprising.' Shostakovich himself allegedly encouraged this interpretation, reportedly commenting to a friend: 'Don't forget that I wrote that symphony in the aftermath of the Hungarian Uprising.'"

Mr. Lintu has proven in previous appearances here to be a persuasive interpreter of the Russian repertoire in general and of Shostakovich in particular. His 2013 performance of the Symphony No. 8, for example, was especially striking. So it will be interesting to see how he approaches the somewhat more approachable Symphony No. 11.

But then, Mr. Lintu is a great admirer of the symphonic form in general. "I must say I always prick up my ears when I hear a new symphony is being played somewhere," he said in a 2015 interview with Lotta Emanuelsson, "because the symphonic tradition means a lot to me. The 'symphony' is a format affording endless different options while at the same time providing a strong sense of form. And it still has infinite potential to explore."

We'll all have the opportunity to join him in that exploration Friday and Saturday at 8 pm as he conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and violinist Leila Josefowicz in Lotta Wennäkoski's "Flounce", Esa-Pekka Salonen 's Violin Concerto by the composer/conductor, and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 11. The concerts take place at Powell Hall in Grand Center. The Saturday performance will also be broadcast on St. Louis Public Radio.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Review: Ringing in the New

Pianist Behzod Abduraimov
Photo by Nissor Abdourazakov
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A gratifyingly large crowd turned out for an equally gratifying opening night of the 2018/2019 St. Louis Symphony Orchestra season (Saturday, September 22), as Resident Conductor Gemma New led the orchestra in a concert of favorites by Elgar, Grieg, and Sibelius, along with the local premiere of Aaron Jay Kernis's glorious "Musica celestis" for string orchestra (which the composer was here to witness; he got a nice curtain call afterwards).

The concert opened with a patriotic punch: an arrangement of "The Star-Spangled Banner" by John Philip Sousa and Walter Damrosch (long-time conductor of the New York City Symphony Orchestra), during which many of us sang along, and a powerful performance of Sibelius's "Finlandia." Indeed, the nuance and variety of Ms. New's approach to the latter, a work which could have been simply dashed off with what George M. Cohan called "plenty of biff and bang," set the tone for the entire evening. Both the Grieg Piano Concerto and the Elgar "Enigma Variations" that followed benefited from an approach that found a wide range of colors and emotions in these concert standards.

The talented young (born in 1990) pianist Behzod Abduraimov was the soloist for the Grieg Concerto. He delivered a striking and personal performance with an ideal mix of technical flash and sensitivity. His take on the famous first movement cadenza was especially gripping, perfectly mixing passion and poetry. On the podium, Ms. New made it possible to hear this chestnut with fresh ears, with a brisk and authoritative treatment of the famous opening theme that contrasted sharply with a luxuriant and lyrical second theme.

Gemma New
There was a romantic richness to the Adagio second movement, as well, with a robust string sound and excellent work by Thomas Jöstlein's horn section. The energetic outer sections of the finale stood in pleasing contrast to the lyrical central section, with expressive playing from flautists Mark Sparks and Ann Choomack.

The thunderous applause didn't let up until Mr. Abduraimov gave us an encore, and an impressive one it was: the third of Franz Liszt's six "Grandes Ă©tudes de Paganini" nicknamed "La Campanella" for the rapid bell-like figure that runs through it. It's fiercely difficult, with wide leaps for the right hand (sometimes over two octaves), but Mr. Abduraimov not only negotiated it with ease but performed the piece with feeling as well.

The second half of the concert opened with Mr. Kernis's "Musica celestis," a work of transcendent beauty. Originally the slow movement of the composer's 1990 String Quartet No. 1, the movement soon gained an independent life of its own. The title translates as "heavenly music" and to my ears it fully lives up to that title, building from a quiet opening to an ecstatic peak before fading out in the highest reaches of the strings, as though ascending to heaven.

Aaron Jay Kernis
Mr. Kernis achieves this with a striking economy of means. The work is, as the composer himself has noted, essentially a passacaglia, in which a simple descending figure first heard in the opening bars becomes the basis for a series of variations, finally leading to the ethereal coda. Mr. Kernis acknowledges the work of 12th century composer, author and mystic Hildegard von Bingen as an influence here, and I have to agree that it did put me in mind both of her vocal music and also of another more recent adaptation of it, Christopher Theofanidis's "Rainbow Body," which was performed by the SLSO to great effect a decade ago. And that, as they say, is a good thing.

"Musica celestis," as befits its origins, is scored for string orchestra, and the SLSO strings acquitted themselves brilliantly here. The quiet final moments for the work were especially powerful and the overall sound of the section was full-bodied and rich. You could also hear the string quartet origins in the solo passages played so beautifully by Concertmaster David Halen, Associate Concertmaster Heidi Harris, Principal Viola Beth Guterman Chu, and Principal Cello Daniel Lee.

The concert concluded with Elgar's musical family album, the "Enigma Variations." It's a series of fourteen variations on the "enigma" theme first stated at the very beginning. The composer said it was an "enigma" because it actually refers to "another and larger theme" which is "not played." Elgar never revealed what that theme might be and speculation has been lively but I'm inclined to go along with the school of thought that the "theme" wasn't musical at all but rather the common thread of friendship and good humor that pervades the music.

Certainly Ms. New's interpretation was brimming with warmth and, when appropriate, good humor, as well as passion and sensitivity. The opening "enigma" theme was unusually lush, the "Dorabella" variation (number 10) was the epitome of grace, and the comic eleventh variation, which depicts a bulldog tumbling into the river Wye, paddling upstream, and then emerging with a triumphant bark, was just as much fun as it should have been. The contemplative and lyrical "Nimrod" variation (number 9), which is often heard alone, had a great, reverential sweep and the finale--the composer's self-portrait--bristled with the confidence that one hears so clearly in Elgar's more popular works. It was a well balanced and sometimes surprising performance that brought the evening to a most satisfying close.

Next at Powell Hall: Hannu Lintu conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and violinist Leila Josefowicz Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, September 28 and 29. The program consists of "Flounce" by contemporary Finnish composer Lotta Wennäkoski, the Violin Concerto by composer/conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 11. The concerts take place at Powell Hall in Grand Center.

Monday, September 24, 2018

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of September 24, 2018

New concerts this week by the Chamber Project, the Chamber Chorus, and the St. Louis Symphony, among others.

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The Chamber Project St. Louis
The Chamber Project St. Louis presents Adapt on Tuesday, September 25, at 7:30 pm. "Retakes, revisions and remixes: Chamber Project St. Louis will present the chamber music of Piazzolla, Ravel, Sibelius and Bunch featuring flute, violin, violas, cello and harp in our first performance in the perfect acoustics of the Sheldon Concert Hall. Delight in new combinations of masterworks and genius composers finessing the musical creations of their early years. Musicians include Megan Stout, Jennifer Gartley, Jane Price, Kyle Lombard, Valentina Takova, and Laura Reycraft and Amy Greenhalgh." The concerst take place at the Sheldon Concert Hall in Grand Center. For more information: www.chamberprojectstl.org.

Eliot Unitarian Chapel presents a Friends of Music concert on Sunday, September 30, at 3 pm. The program consists of Beethoven's Sonata Op. 57, ("Appassionata"); Chopin's Ballade no. 1 in G minor, Op. 23; and Schumann's Quintet for Piano and Strings in E- flat, Op. 44. The concert takes place at Eliot Unitarian Chapel is at 100 South Argonne in Kirkwood. For more information: fomcstl.org.

Duo Klavitarre
The Kranzberg Arts Foundation presents Duo Klavitarre on Sunday, September 30, at 3 pm. "Enjoy two hours of beautiful music delivered by renowned international artists in the most intimate setting of Studio Polonia courtesy of Kranzberg Arts Foundation. Duo Klavitarre, Jolanta Ziemska (pianist) and Maciej Ziemski (guitarist) fascinate and amaze audiences with piano and guitar arrangements of masterpieces by renowned composers. Their repertoire includes baroque, classic, romantic, and modern pieces. Both artists bring an amazing development to the music world. The unusual combination of instruments, as well as the surprising arrangements, promises an exciting and diverse musical experience. Their brilliance, together with their worldwide stage experience offers a polished and lively interpretation combined with astounding sound." The performance takes place at the Kranzberg Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: kranzbergartsfoundation.org.

The St. Louis Chamber Chorus presents Friendship, a concert of music written by and for friends, on Sunday, September 30, at 3 pm. "Audiences will enjoy music by Franz Schubert as well as the iconic "Mass in G Minor" for double choir by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The "Mass" was composed for Vaughan Williams' close friend, Gustav Holst. Holst in turn arranged six English folksongs for his friend, William Gillies Whittaker. The choir will close the circle with performances of two choruses, one by Whittaker himself and the other by Rebecca Clarke, a contemporary and friend of Vaughan Williams. The highlight will be a world premiere specially commissioned by friends for Alice Sherwood, who sang with the Chorus for many years. The composer, Latvian Eriks Esenvalds, has emerged as one of the world's leading choral composers, enjoying commissions around the globe. Esenvalds will travel to St. Louis to hear the first performance, and is certain to receive a friendly welcome. The concert takes place at Christ Church Cathedral, 1210 Locust, downtown. For more information: www.chamberchorus.org.

Violinist Leila Josefowicz
Photo: Chris Lee
Hannu Lintu conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and violinist Leila Josefowicz Friday and Saturday at 8 pm, September 28 and 29. The program consists of "Flounce" by contemporary Finnish composer Lotta Wennäkoski, the Violin Concerto by composer/conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 11. "At a 2013 performance of Salonen's Violin Concerto, the Los Angeles Times declared that "Josefowicz easily impresses as a classical player who can rock." Plus, conductor Hannu Lintu leads Shostakovich's Symphony No. 11, an epic work depicting tragedy to triumph on a massive orchestral landscape." The concerts take place at Powell Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of September 24, 2018

This week includes season openers from (among others) New Line, West End Players, St. Louis Actors' Studio, Upstream, and New Jewish. So many opportunities to go see a play!

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The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Addams Family Affair through October 28. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Alton Little Theater presents the musical Always, Patsy Cline Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, September 27 - 30. "The show is based on a true story about Cline's friendship with a fan from Houston named Louise Seger, who befriended the star in a Texas honky-tonk in 1961 and continued correspondence with Cline until her death. This musical play includes many of Patsy's unforgettable hits such as Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Sweet Dreams, and Walkin After Midnight. Starring Debbie Maneke as patsy Cline, Lee Cox as Louise Seger, and music by Steve Loucks and the Bodacious Bobcats." Performances take place at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

Midnight Theatre Company presents two one-act plays by Mickle Maher: An Apology for the Course and Outcome of Certain Events Delivered by Doctor John Faustus and The Hunchback Variations Thursdays at 7 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 8 pm through September 29. Performances take place at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in The Grove. For more information: midnightcompany.com.

The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents Arriving At by Ike Butler on Saturday, September 29, at 2 pm as part of The A.E. Hotchner Playwriting Festival. "I hate it when this happens. Stuck on a commuter train, no cell service, a couple is arguing, some dude has a suspicious package, the guy in leather looks like he just killed a cocker spaniel, the rich lady has to pee, and I'm fairly positive that the old fart in the corner lives here. And who the hell is humming Queen?" The performance takes place in the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre in the Mallinckrodt Student Center on the Washington University campus. For more information, call 314-935-6543 or visit pad.artsci.wustl.edu.

Upstream Theater presents Chef by Sabrina Mahfouz Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 7 pm (except for October 14, which is at 2 pm), September 28 - October 14. "Upstream Theater is excited to host renowned Swiss director Marianne de Pury who will stage the US premiere of the award-winning CHEF by UK/Egyptian playwright and poet Sabrina Mahfouz-the gripping story of how one woman went from being a haute-cuisine head chef to a convicted inmate running a prison kitchen. Leading us through her world of mouth-watering dishes and heart-breaking memories, Chef questions our attitudes to food, prisoners, violence, love and hope." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

CSZ St. Louis presents The ComedySportz Show on Saturday nights at 7:30 pm. The show is "action-packed, interactive and hilarious comedy played as a sport. Two teams battle it out for points and your laughs! You choose the winners the teams provide the funny!" Performances take place on the second floor of the Sugar Cubed, 917 S Main St. in St Charles, Mo. For more information: www.cszstlouis.com.

Darin: Bobby's Greatest Hits
The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents Christopher Kale Jones in Darin: Bobby's Greatest Hits Wednesday through Sunday, September 26 - 30 "PBS retro-rocker and Jersey Boys star Christopher Kale Jones embodies the dazzling versatility of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bobby Darin. Jones won hearts nationwide starring as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys (San Francisco, Los Angeles, First National Tour), and as a founding member of PBS retro-rock sensation Under the Streetlamp. With a passionate voice and quiet charm, Jones tenderly recounts Darin's story of life lived in the spotlight and lost too soon. Theatre Mania raves, "Jones has the audience swooning until the final curtain." Songs include "Dream Lover," "Mack the Knife," and "Beyond the Sea." The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: www.playhouseatwestport.com.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Dead Like Me through November 3. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Evita
Photo by Eric Woolsey
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical Evita through September 30. "The incandescent Eva PerĂ³n's rise from poverty to power electrified the world - and made her an iconic political celebrity. Winner of seven Tony Awards, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's tour-de-force musical revels in the glamour, charisma and controversy that defined the First Lady of Argentina. With its unforgettable anthem "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" and kaleidoscope of sights and sounds, Evita dazzles with pure passion." 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.

St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley presents the drama The Exonerated September 27 - 30. 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.

The Monroe Actors Stage presents the musical The Flood Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2:30 pm, September 27 - 30. 25 years ago tragedy happened in this small community of Monroe County and others around it near the Mississippi River valley. But out of the ashes was born something powerful and heart warming. A community of friends and neighbors moved to higher ground and rebuilt their town of "Meyerville" (Sound similar to Valmeyer?). As college students, the composer/writer team of Peter Mills and Cara Reichel visited this area in 1993 and interviewed many who experience the 1000 year flood that year. They created a beautiful script and music composition that clearly shows the heart of what brought this community back together." Performances take place in the Historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Waterloo, Illinois. For more information, visit www.masctheatre.org or call 618-939-7469.

The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents Florida by Lucas Marschke on Saturday, September 29, at 7 pm as part of The A.E. Hotchner Playwriting Festival. "The Brooksfield household is a bit dysfunctional, but that doesn't prevent them from making a family journey to Florida; neither does the blizzard, the prostitute, the drug dealers, the trigger-happy gas station attendant, or the avalanche of anxieties in a claustrophobic RV. The sunshine state is about as far away as a happy marriage in this hysterical and touching road trip." The performance takes place in the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre in the Mallinckrodt Student Center on the Washington University campus. For more information, call 314-935-6543 or visit pad.artsci.wustl.edu.

Slaying Dragons presents the drama A Hatful of Rain on Friday and Saturday, September 28 and 29, at 7:30 pm. "Over fifty years ago, playwright Michael V. Grasso wrote about the devastating effects of opioid addiction in his award-winning play, A Hatful of Rain. It has not been performed in St. Louis since then. Today our society is facing a crisis of this kind of addiction, perhaps even greater than in the 1950's. Our youth are in danger of death from overdose or even suicide. Families are torn apart by the turmoil created by this illness." Performances take place at The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive. For more information: eventbrite.com.

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents Lillian Hellman's drama The Little Foxes Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm, September 28 - October 14. " Lillian Hellman's legendary play about greed and ambition. Set in Alabama in 1900, The Little Foxes follows Regina Giddens and her ruthless clan, including her sister-in-law Birdie, as they clash in often brutal ways in an effort to strike the deal of their lives. Far from a sentimental look at a bygone era, the play has a surprisingly timely resonance with important issues facing our country today.". Performances take place at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. For more information call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

Love Never Dies
The Fox Theatre presents Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Love Never Dies: The Phantom Returns running through September 30. "The year is 1907. It is 10 years after his disappearance from the Paris Opera House and The Phantom has escaped to a new life in New York where he lives amongst the screaming joy rides and freak shows of Coney Island. In this new, electrically charged world, he has finally found a place for his music to soar, but he has never stopped yearning for his one true love and musical protégée, Christine Daaé. Now one of the world's finest sopranos, Christine accepts an invitation to travel from Paris to New York to perform at a renowned opera house. Christine's marriage to Raoul is suffering at the hands of his drinking and gambling and they desperately need the financial rewards that America can give them. In a final bid to win back Christine's love, The Phantom lures her, Raoul, and their young son Gustave, from Manhattan to the glittering and glorious world of Coney Island - not knowing what is in store for them." The Fox is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

PNC Arts Alive and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis present Making A Scene: A St. Louis Theatre Expo on Saturday, September 29, from 9 am to 1:30 pm. "This celebration will unite more than a dozen local theatre companies at The Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts in Webster Groves for a wide range of family-friendly activities, demonstrations, discussions and pop-up performances. The free expo will provide behind-the-scenes insight into how local theatre companies bring productions to life on stages throughout the St. Louis area." All events take place the Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Rd. on the Webster University campus. For a complete list of events, visit www.repstl.org/events/detail/making-a-scene-a-st-louis-theatre-expo.

Tesseract Theatre Company presents Mama's Boy, a new play by Rob Urbinati, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 4 pm through September 30 "The riveting story of Lee Harvey Oswald and his complex relationship with his overbearing mother Marguerite, Mama's Boy follows Marguerite's reckless attempts to reunite her family, from Lee's return to the U.S. from Russia, through the assassination of Kennedy, to her son's own murder and her defense of his innocence in the months that follow. A fascinating examination of family dynamics and obsessive maternal devotion played out in the shadow of history. " Performances take place at The .ZACK, 3224 Locust in Midtown. For more information: tesseracttheatre.org.

St. Charles Community College presents the classic comedy My Three Angels Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, September 16 - 30. "The scene is French Guiana, a region where on Christmas day the temperature has graciously dropped to 104 degrees. A family whose roof is in desperate need of maintenance employs three convicts as roofers. On the way from France is an evil-minded cousin to oust the father of the family from his business and his cold-blooded nephew, who is jilting the father's daughter for an heiress. The three convicts-two of them murderers, the third a swindler-take the visitors on. All three have warm hearts and are passionate believers in true justice. Possessing every criminal art and penal grace, they set matters right and in doing so redeem themselves as real life angels to the grateful family. This play was also the basis for the 1955 film, "We're No Angels" which starred Humphrey Bogart in his only comedic movie role." Performances take place in the FAB Theater in the Donald D. Shook Fine Arts Building on the campus at 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville, MO. For more information, call 636-922-8050 or visit stchas.edu.

The Looking Glass Playhouse presents the musical Newsies Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, September 27 - 30. "Set in turn-of-the century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged "newsies." When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys' expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions and fight for what's right! " Performances take place at 301 West St. Louis Street in Lebanon, Ill. For more information, visit www.lookingglassplayhouse.com.

Oklahoma!
Photo by Peter Wochniak, ProPhotoSTL
Stages St. Louis presents the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! through October 7. "Oh, what a beautiful musical! Rodgers and Hammerstein's timeless first collaboration was, in many ways, their most innovative. And while OKLAHOMA! completely changed the face of American musical theatre over seventy years ago, it remains as fresh and vital today as it was then with its loving celebration of the American spirit. A stunning blend of drama, music, and dance, the exhilarating Rodgers and Hammerstein score contains such classics as "People Will Say We're In Love," "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top," "Kansas City," "I Cain't Say No," and the pulsating title tune, "Oklahoma!" A gold standard that set the bar for all great musicals that came after it, OKLAHOMA! is unforgettable entertainment for the entire family!" Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information: stagesstlouis.org.

Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway
Jazz St. Louis and The Cabaret Project present Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway in Sibling Revelry on Wednesday at 7:30 pm and Thursday at 11 am and 7:30 pm, September 26 and 27. "The dynamic sibling duo of Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway have been thrilling audiences for decades. Both are Tony nominated performers and each has performed their solo shows for St. Louis audiences. This special duo show has not been seen in St. Louis for over 20 years and the Callaway's are reuniting for a series of encore performances of this award winning, celebrated sister act!. The two have performed Sibling Revelry on and off since 1995 at venues around the U.S., and it continues to draw critical acclaim. Don't miss these Tony nominated performers who are equally at home on the Broadway stage, concert hall and cabaret clubs." Performances take place at the Ferring Jazz Bistro on Washington just east of the Fox in Grand Center. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

This Random World
Photo by John Lamb
The West End Players Guild opens its 108th season with the St. Louis premiere of the comedy This Random World by Steven Dietz Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, September 28 - October 7. "Only the audience knows that every character is connected to almost every other character is some way. Dietz's tale is one of continuous missed connections, a series of mostly funny and sometimes touching almost-interactions that would change the characters lives if they happened, which they don't." There will also be a show on Thursday, October 4, at 8 pm. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 North Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, call 314-367-0025 or visit www.westendplayers.org.

The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents Tom and Grace by Scott Greenberg on Friday, September 28, at 7:00 pm as part of The A.E. Hotchner Playwriting Festival. "Thomas is in love. Grace is in love too. But love is a trick of the eye, a whisper in the ear; love is as unreliable as a cloudy-day shadow - or maybe it's just the ghost of those who we pray will love us back. If we reach out to touch it, it will probably giggle and disappear, but if we save it in a box, at least we'll know it's there." The performance takes place in the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre in the Mallinckrodt Student Center on the Washington University campus. For more information, call 314-935-6543 or visit pad.artsci.wustl.edu.

The Zombies of Penzance
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre presents the world premiere of the rock musical The Zombies of Penzance, based on Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, September 27 - October 20. "New Line Theatre has shocked the music world by discovering a controversial, long-lost first draft by the legendary British team of librettist W.S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan, who together wrote fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896...In Gilbert and Sullivan's never-before seen original draft, dated December 1878 and titled The Zombies of Penzance (with the unwieldy subtitle, At Night Come the Flesh Eaters), Major-General Stanley is a retired zombie hunter, who doesn't want his daughters marrying the dreaded Zombies of Penzance, for obvious reasons." Performances take place at the Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, three blocks east of Grand, in Grand Center. For more information, visit newlinetheatre.com or call 314-534-1111.

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For information on events beyond this week, check out the searchable database at the Regional Arts Commission's Events Calendar.
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