St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of August 21, 2023

What's on St. Louis theater and cabaret stages this coming week. Please leave a comment if anything was wrong or got left out

The Blue Strawberry presents magician Chris Korn on Tuesday, August 22, at 7:30 pm. “Globally renowned, Chris Korn has captivated audiences in over 20 foreign countries - from Japan to South Africa - and in over 100 cities in the United States, showcasing his extensive repertoire of ecstatic illusion. Chris has also performed at Buckingham Palace for the Royal Family."  The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com

Ken Haller

The Blue Strawberry presents a Singers Open Mic on Wednesday, August 23, at 7 pm. “Focusing on Pop, Standards old and new, Broadway and Musical Theater. But anything goes! Bring sheet music in your key.” Ken Haller is your host with Ron McGowan at the piano  The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com

The Lemp Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre and Jest Mysteries present Death of a Blackheart through August 26. "Ahoy matey! Join us for an exciting evening of murder, mystery and pirates at the best comedy dinner theater show in town. Don your favorite pirate gear and escape to the high seas for an adventure fraught with peril! What part will you play in this hilarious show full of fair maidens, lost boys, rival pirates and wenches? Whichever character you acquire, beware of that famous pirate Captain Jack Blackheart! Aye, he's a scurvy seadog if my eye ever seed one! Gee, I hope no one kills him off!" The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place in south city. For more information: www.lempmansion.com

You Made Me Love You

The Midnight Company presents You Made Me Love You: A Tribute to Judy Garland starring Jennelle Gilreath Owens through September 14. The show is written by Joe Hanrahan with a band headed by John and Lea Gerdes.  Performances take place at The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. .For more information: midnightcompany.com

The Midnight Company presents Just One Look by Joe Hanrahan, starring Kelly Howe as Linda Ronstadt, on selected Wednesdays through August 30 at 7:30 pm. “Linda Ronstadt ruled the pop charts and filled stadiums in the 70’s and 80’s. The reigning rock goddess of her era, she later took on light opera - Gilbert and Sullivan on Broadway - and The Great American Songbook with Nelson Riddle. Her involvement in social issues accelerated during her relationship with California Governor Jerry Brown, then running for President. But for Linda, it was always a search for the next great song. Kelly Howe will portray Linda Ronstadt and sing her sensational songs.” Performances continue at The Blue Strawberry, 356 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

SATE presents This Palpable Gross Play: A Kind-of Midsummer Night’s Dream through September 2.  Adapted by Ellie Schwetye and directed by Lucille Cashion, the play re-tells Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream imagining if the Mechanicals were rehearsing a play about star-crossed lovers: Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius. Meanwhile, Puck, Titania, and Oberon use whatever - and whoever - around them to work out their feud, turning a story from one we think we all know into This Palpable Gross Play. Performances take place at The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive. For more information: satestl.org

Godspell
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the Stephen Schwartz musical Godspell Thursdays through Saturdays through August 26. “Prepare ye for the timeless tale of friendship, loyalty, and adoration! Godspell uses song, dance, and storytelling to retell the passion and parables of the gospels. This reimagined theatrical celebration brings messages of kindness, tolerance, and love to life.” 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

The Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis presents Something Spoken: Tennessee Williams on the Air, a series of one act plays by Tennessee Williams, Saturdays at 3:30 pm through August 26. The plays are Something Unspoken, The Case of the Crushed Petunias, Sunburst, and The Magic Tower. The plays are broadcast on Classic 107.3. For more information: twstl.org.

Tesseract Theatre presents the musical Kinky Boots through August 27.  “Kinky Boots is the big-hearted musical extravaganza that won six Tonys including Best Musical, the Grammy for Best Musical Theatre album and London’s Olivier Award for Best Musical. Kinky Boots features a joyous, Tony-winning score by pop icon Cyndi Lauper, and a hilarious, uplifting book by four-time Tony winner, Harvey Fierstein.” Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre in Grand Center. For more information: www.tesseracttheatre.com

Ragtime
Photo: Dan Donovan

Union Avenue Opera presents Ragtime by Flaherty and Ahrens Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm through August 26. “Scored with the syncopated rhythms of a hopeful new age, Ragtime effectively weaves together three distinctly American tales: from the Jewish immigrant searching for a better life for his daughter, to the stifled upper-class wife yearning for something more, to the daring young Harlem musician with the determination to empower change. Social and racial conflicts rise to the surface as the lives of the characters become intertwined. United by their courage, compassion and belief in the promise of the future, together they confront history’s timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, and hope and despair. The Tony-winning score is just as diverse as the melting pot of America itself, from the ragtime rhythms of Tin Pan Alley to the klezmer of the Lower East Side, with waltzes, banjo tunes, period parlor songs and expansive anthems throughout. Ragtime is an impassioned, jubilant, and timeless tribute to the American Dream.” Performances are sung in English with projected English supertitles and take place at Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information: unionavenueopera.org

The Westport Playhouse presents Disbelief, a Night of Wonder and Laughter on Saturday, August 26, at 2 and 8 pm. "Witness the incredible unfold before your eyes at Disbelief, the top magic show in St Louis. Staged at the famous Westport Playhouse, this recurring spectacle showcases the mesmerizing talents of three of the city's finest magicians: Josh Weidner, Jesse Bader, and Randy Kalin." For more information: thewestportplayhouse.com

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

To get your event listed here, send an email to chuck at kdhx.org Your event information should be in text format (i.e. not part of a graphic), but feel free to include publicity stills.

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.