St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of February 7, 2022

Now including both on-line and live events during the pandemic. Your event information should be in text format (i.e. not part of a graphic), but feel free to include publicity stills. To get your event listed here, send an email to calendar [at] stageleft.org.

Act Two Theatre presents the comedy Arsenic and Old Lace Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, February 11-20. “We meet the charming and innocent ladies who populate their cellar with the remains of socially and religiously acceptable roomers; the antics of their brother who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt; and the activities of the other brother. The hero, Mortimer Brewster, is a drama critic who must deal with his crazy, murderous family and local police in Brooklyn, New York, as he debates whether to go through with his recent promise to marry the woman he loves, Elaine Harper, who lives next door and is the daughter of the local minister.” Performances take place at the St. Peters Cultural Center in St. Peters, MO. For more information: www.acttwotheatre.com

The Blue Strawberry presents presents Shelby Ringdahl: From the Midwest to Manhattan (and all the songs in between) on Saturday at 7:30 pm, February 12th. “From cows to cabs and tractors to trains, come hear all your Broadway favorites from Missouri native and former Miss Missouri turned New Yorker, Shelby Ringdahl. Her two act solo show features music from Wicked, My Fair Lady, Beauty and the Beast, Dolly Parton, Elton John, and so much! Her songs are incredible, but the stories are what will capture your heart as she shares moments from growing up in Missouri, her brief journey in pageantland, love, loss, and surviving it in the craziest city on earth. It's a show you won't want to miss! Pianist- Carter Datz."  The Blue Strawberry is operating under a "COVID careful" arrangement with mandatory vaccination and masking.  The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

ERA Theatre presents the radio play SHE by Nancy Bell with music by Joe Taylor and Lyrics by Nancy Bell via on-demand streaming  "SHE controls the radio station of the fascist regime in power. SHE's also the star of the broadcast. Her recording studio abounds with music and oysters. But in the nearby government camps full of misfits and would-be revolutionaries, only torture and starvation is thick on the ground. Tonight, however, SHE's realm feels different. The bombs sound closer. Time moves faster. But SHE will finish her radio show, and it will be her finest. If executing every number in the broadcast means some people need to die, so be it; it is a small sacrifice. The citizens need her and she will not let them down." SHE is available on most major platforms including Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, YouTube, and BandCamp. For more information: www.eratheatre.org

The Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents Tennessee Williams’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof through February 13. “After Brick Pollitt injures himself while drunkenly revisiting his high school sports-star days, he and his tempestuous wife, Maggie, visit his family’s Mississippi plantation for the 65th birthday of his hot-tempered father, Big Daddy. Cantankerous even with declining health, Big Daddy demands to know why Brick and Maggie haven’t yet given him a grandchild, unlike Brick’s brother Gooper and his fecund wife, Mae. By evening’s end, Maggie’s ingenuity, fortitude, and passion set things right, and Brick’s love for his father, never before expressed, will retrieve him from his path of destruction.” Performances take place at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center at 210 E. Monroe Avenue in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: www.ktg-onstage.org

The Lemp Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre and Jest Mysteries present Bullets in the Bathtub J through May 7. "Mob bosses, flappers, bootleggers and crooked cops will abound as event attendees are transported back in time to Trixie's speakeasy right in the heart of the roaring 20's. There will be plenty of rowdy characters at this fun, interactive event but none so dangerous as Harry "Bullets" Hyde. He’s the boss of the bosses and he is not too keen on "The Familys" taking over his territory. Parts will be passed out at the door and guests can participate as much or as little as they would like too. Some might be famous gangsters of the past, others may dodge the cops as they bootleg over state lines and a few might even be fun, flirty flappers. When a group like this gets together, it’s almost inevitable that somebody ends up "sleeping with the fishes." The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place in south city. For more information: www.lempmansion.com

Last Stop of Market Street
Photo: Jennifer A. Lin

Metro Theater Company presents Last Stop on Market Street through February 27. “Get ready for a heart-thumpin’, toe-tappin’ joy ride in this Motown/hip-hop musical adaptation of New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning picture book Last Stop on Market Street! CJ is reluctantly staying with his Nana, in a world considerably different from the one he’s used to, always plugged in to his phone and tablet. Guided by his veritable force-of-nature Nana, CJ travels a little closer to his roots and sees that things are not always what they seem. With a spectacular, spirited score by Motown legend Lamont Dozier and his son Paris Ray Dozier, you might find yourself dancing in your seat as you enjoy this vibrant story about connecting to your community. “ Performances take place at the Grandel Theater in Grand Center and also via video stream beginning February 11. For more information: www.metroplays.org/marketstreet

R-S Theatrics presents While the Ghostlight Burns, a virtual discussion series featuring R-S Artistic Director Sarah Lynne Holt in conversation with St. Louis theatre artists, Mondays at 7 pm.  Conversations will be archived at the R-S Theatrics YouTube channel. For more information: r-stheatrics.com/while-the-ghostlight-burns.html

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents St. Louis premiere of Stick Fly by Lydia Diamond February 11 through March 6. “The LeVay family’s annual summer vacation to Martha’s Vineyard is thrown into a state of disarray by long-standing tensions, sibling rivalries and a drunken game of Scrabble. This Outer Critics Circle Nominee for Outstanding New Broadway Play explores class, race and generational dynamics through the eyes of a modern African-American family.” Performances take place on the Berges Mainstage Theatre at COCA in University City. For more information: www.repstl.org.

The St. Louis Black Repertory Company continues its 45th Anniversary Season with Fireflies, by Donja R. Love. The production opens on February 11, preceded by previews on February 9 and 10, and runs through February 27. “Directed by Atlanta-based actor and director Andrea Frye, and featuring Zahria Moore and Eric Conners, the courageous work takes an intimate approach to exploring personal aspects of the Civil Rights Movement. Set in the Jim Crow South, Fireflies tells the story of Olivia, the inspiring speechwriter and force behind her charismatic husband Charles and his freedom movement. When four little girls are bombed in a church, the couple’s relationship is thrown into jeopardy as Olivia begins to believe ‘this world ain’t no place to raise a colored child’." This intimate performance allows viewers to experience the powerful drama from Olivia’s female-led perspective.” Performances take place at the Hotchner Studio Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: www.theblackrep.org

St. Louis Shakespeare presents William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet February 10-20, including two special school matinees at 10 am on February 10 and 18. “When is love more keenly felt than by the young? How can love breach the boundaries of feudal animosity and politics? Shakespeare’s most iconic love story unravels the mysteries of these questions and more. Set in a climate of families at odds with each other, youthful passion leads to ardor, conflict, homicide, revenge, suicide, and bereavement. The Bard takes us on a journey through the many hearts of society, reflecting both past and present. What can we learn to instruct the future?” Performances take place at the Reim Auditorium at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 S Geyer Rd, in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: https://www.stlshakespeare.org

Stray Dog Theatre presents David Lindsay-Abaire’s Good People Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm, February 10-26, with an additional performance on Sunday, February 20, at 2 pm. “Margie Walsh just lost her job, is now facing eviction, and can’t seem to catch a break.  When a successful ex-boyfriend from her past moves back to town, Margie hopes he may have the ticket she needs to turn her life around. Will Margie risk what little she has left to find out?” Performances take place at Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee in Tower Grove East. Tickets are only offered in physically distanced groups of two or four. For more information: www.straydogtheatre.org

Hillary and Clinton
Photo: Mark Abels

West End Players Guild presents Lucas Hnath’s Hillary and Clinton February 11-20. “Set in a budget motel room on a wintry night in early 2008, it’s the story of a woman who looks destined to be the first female president of the United States.  But, she’s having trouble getting her campaign off the ground and her husband, himself an ex-President, isn’t helping much.  You may think you know these people and what’s going to happen but, as playwright Hnath says, you don’t.  Is his story historical fact, historical fantasy, or something in-between?” West End Players Guild this season will employ touchless ticketing, socially-distanced seating and indoor masking of all patrons and front-of-house staff and volunteers. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union in the Central West End. For more information: westendplayers.org.

Looking for auditions and other artistic opportunities? Check out the St. Louis Auditions site.

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

Would you like to be on the radio? KDHX, 88.1 FM needs theatre reviewers. If you're 18 years or older, knowledgeable in this area, have practical theatre experience (acting, directing, writing, technical design, etc.), have good oral and written communications skills and would like to become one of our volunteer reviewers, send an email describing your experience and interests to chuck at kdhx.org. Please include a sample review of something you've seen recently.