St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of February 24, 2020

Highlights this week include the Q Collective's annual Transluminate festival, a new musical at the Fox, and a Lennon/McCartney cabaret with Marissa Mulder at the Blue Strawberry.

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The Band's Visit
Photo by Matthew Murphy

The Fabulous Fox Theatre presents the musical The Band's Visit opening on Tuesday, March 25, at 7:30 pm and running through March 8.  "In this joyously offbeat story, set in a town that's way off the beaten path, a band of musicians arrive lost, out of the blue. Under the spell of the desert sky, and with beautiful music perfuming the air, the band brings the town to life in unexpected and tantalizing ways. Even the briefest visit can stay with you forever." The Fabulous Fox Theatre in on N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

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.

Curtain's Up Theatre presents The Ever After on Saturday, February 29, at 6:30 pm. Performances take place at Dunham Hall of the campus of Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, IL. For more information, visit curtainsuptheater.com.

Flanagan's Wake
Photo by John Flack

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents the interactive comedy Flanagan's Wake running through March 21. "The hit show from Chicago, Flanagan's Wake, is the hilarious interactive show that brings Flanagan's Irish family to St. Louis where they will memorialize his passing. Audiences participate in this comedic memorial with plenty o' pints, crazy sing-a-longs, telling of witty tales and mourn the passing of one of their own: Flanagan. Audiences will pay their respects to glowering Mother Flanagan and to poor grieving fiancée, Fiona Finn. Listen to a eulogy written by County Sligo's best-known writer, Mickey Finn, and tip a pint with Brian Ballybunion, himself a weaver of tales. You can cross yourself with the blessings from St. Gregory's parish priest, Father Damon Fitzgerald, or cross your fingers that local pagan Kathleen Mooney doesn't cast a spell on you. Mayor Martin O'Doul will preside over the proceedings with an iron hand (and a parched throat)." The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: playhouseatwestport.com.

Ghost
Photo by Jennifer A. Lin

Metro Theatre Company presents Ghost Fridays at 7 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, through March 1. "Metro Theater Company presents the rolling world premiere of a new play adapted by Idris Goodwin from Jason Reynolds's award-winning best-seller for young readers. Running is all that Castle Cranshaw, a.k.a. "Ghost," has ever known, but he runs for all the wrong reasons until he meets Coach, who sees something in him: raw talent. The story follows Castle as he tries to stay on track, literally and figuratively, harnessing his aptitude for speed on an elite local track team while battling the difficult realities of his past and present. Ghost also highlights the importance of allyship. As his teammates become friends and Coach stands in as a father figure, Castle finds a place where he belongs. " The performances take place at The Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square in Grand Center. For more information: metroplays.org.

Over Due Theatre presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, July 26 - August 4. "Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, Joseph is one of the most enduring shows of all time and reimagines the biblical story of Joseph, his father Jacob, eleven brothers and the coat of many colors." Performances take place at the Olivette Community Center, 9723 Grandview Drive, in Olivette, MO. For more information, call 314-210-2959 or visit overduetheatrecompany.com.

Marissa Mulder

The Blue Strawberry presents Marissa Mulder in The John Lennon and Paul McCartney Songbooks on Friday and Saturday, February 28 and 29, at 8 pm. " Join extravagantly-praised singer Marissa Mulder as she dives into the songbook of two of the most prolific and beloved songwriting duos of all time, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Backed by savant Jon Weber on piano, you will hear each song as you never have before." The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle in the Central West End. For more information: www.bluestrawberrystl.com.

The St. Louis Family Theatre Series presents the TheatreworksUSA production of The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System Saturday, February 29, at 2 pm. "When the class gets lost on the way to the planetarium, Ms. Frizzle saves the day by blasting into outer space for an epic interplanetary field trip! But when rivalries both old and new threaten to tear the students apart, our young heroes must learn to pull together or risk getting forever lost in the solar system. Hop on the Magic School Bus for a ride in this new musical adaptation based on the original book series published by Scholastic." 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 www.florissantmo.com

The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents Men on Boats through March 1. "Men on Boats recounts the exhilarating story of John Wesley Powell's expedition down the Green and Colorado rivers. The history of this 19th Century journey may have been the exclusive domain of men, but Jaclyn Backhaus calls for casting "…radically diverse actors who are female identifying, trans-identifying, gender fluid, and/or non-gender conforming." This dynamic and very funny piece of writing is a provocative lens for re-examining an extraordinary American moment. " The performances take place in the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information, call 314-935-6543 or visit pad.artsci.wustl.edu.

The Mystery of Irma Vep
Photo by John Gitchoff

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Charles Ludlam's comedy The Mystery of Irma Vep running through March 8. "Classic horror, B-movie mysteries and wild farce get tossed into a blender in this feverish, supernatural sprint. On a dark and stormy night, the howls of a werewolf echo across the moors, a newly revived mummy stirs in its sarcophagus and a mysterious portrait holds the key to an ancient family curse. Two actors bring this diabolical tale to life, with the help of a few dozen costume changes and a lot of wigs." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Phantom of the Grand Ole Opry through April 26. "Millions of people flock to the Grand Ole Opry House to see Tammy Whino's one woman show, "Stand By Your Man." Here, amid the fried chicken, line dancing and dinner theatre, Tammy is the Queen of the Grand Ole Opry. Or is she? When she is found murdered, many suspect the Phantom because everyone knows the house is haunted. Or could the murderer be Billy Ray Serious, Naomi Dudd, and we can't forget about Nelson Willy?" For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents William Inge's Picnic Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm through March 1. "The play takes place on Labor Day weekend in the joint backyards of two widows. One house belongs to Flo Owens, who lives there with her two daughters, Madge and Millie, and a schoolteacher boarder. The other house belongs to Helen Potts, who lives with her elderly and invalid mother. Into this female atmosphere comes a young man named Hal Carter, whose animal vitality seriously upsets the entire group." Performances take place in the Stage III Auditorium on the Webster University campus. For more information, www.webster.edun or call 314-968-7128.

The Roommate
Photo by John Lamb

The West End Players Guild continues its 109th season with the St. Louis premiere of The Roommate Thursday through Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, February 27 - March 1. "Sharon lives alone in a big old house in Iowa City, IA. Her husband has left her; her grown son has moved to New York and rarely calls; and Sharon looks somewhat fearfully ahead to the decades to come. She has a lot of life left to live but no idea what to do with it, and she is really, really bored with her life to date. She decides that a roommate might at least help with the constant loneliness and she posts an ad. Enter Robyn. Robyn turns out to be just about everything Sharon isn't. Sharon is small-town Iowa; Robyn is the big, bad Bronx. Sharon's diet is Iowa health food - porkchops, baked beans, corn on the cob, all with lots of butter; Robyn is a vegan (and has to explain to Sharon was a "vegan" is). Sharon is white wine; Robyn is recreational drugs, some of which she grows herself. Sharon is straight; Robyn is…. flexible. Sharon needs a new life; Robyn needs a place to hide." 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 University Theatre at Saint Louis University presents Saint Joan of Arc Thursday through Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, February 21 - March 1. "This contemporary retelling of how a peasant girl, inspired by love of God and country, became a 15th century French military leader is a collaborative piece with Prison Performing Arts." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: www.metrotix.com.

Jeffrey Carter

The Blue Strawberry presents Jeffrey Carter in Songs I Wish My Mother Had Taught Me on Tuesday, February 25, at 8 pm. "Jeffrey Richard Carter has succumbed to the cabaret bug, and is presenting his second show about growing up and being musical. At Webster University, Jeff is Professor & Chair of the Department of Music. He leads the only undergraduate program in the country in musical direction for musical theatre. He is the recipient of 'best supporting actor' and 'best musical director' awards for local theatre work. Jeff's a composer, voice teacher, singer, collaborator, and music director with international credits. He promises that he will cry at least twice in this show. Songs I WISH Mother Had Taught Me is a light-hearted remembrance of a very Christian mother who couldn't sing to save her soul." The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle in the Central West End. For more information: https://www.bluestrawberrystl.com.

The Black Rep presents Ntozake Shange's Spell #7 running through March 8. "This striking choreopoem by the author of For Colored Girls, Ntozake Shange,is set in a bar in St. Louis frequented by Black artists and musicians, actors, and performers. In a series of dreamlike vignettes and poetic monologues, they commiserate about the difficulties they face as black artist. The piece is framed by the narrator, Lou, a magician who wants to use his magic to help the artist come to terms with their blackness and rejoice in their identities. " Performances take place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: theblackrep.org.

The Q Collective presents Transluminate, a short-play festival and celebration of transgender, agender, non-binary, genderqueer, and genderfluid artists, Thursday and Friday, February 27 and 28, at 7:30 pm; Saturday, March 1, at 4 and 7:30 pm, and Sunday, March 1, at 4 pm . Performances take place at The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive in Clayton. For more information: theqcollective.theater

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.