St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of October 2, 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

Adam Pascal

The Blue Strawberry presents Adam Pascal Friday through Sunday, October 6 through 8, at 7:30 pm.  "Join Adam Pascal, from the original Broadway cast of RENT, for an intimate evening of songs and stories, just him and his guitar." The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle in the Central West End. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com

The Lemp Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre and Jest Mysteries present Zombie Love through November 4. "Calling all Zombies! Tired of being judged for munching on the occasional brain? So what if you're not really "alive" anymore. You can still enjoy socializing with the living and enjoying a hilarious show together. Well, we've got the perfect show for you. Drama! Comedy! Looove! ...And, of course, Zombies! But some zombie has ignored rule number one in the “Zombieing for Dummies” handbook…No biting.  Nina Tina Deena May will never be the same…do you know who’s to blame? And, no, it was not Mike Tyson! " The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place in south city. For more information: www.lempmansion.com

Metro Theater Company presents Maddi’s Fridge by Anne Negri, adapted from the Book by Lois Brandt with illustrations by Vin Vogel.  “What if the only way to help a friend was to break a promise? Sofia and Maddi are best friends. They live in the same neighborhood, go to the same school, and play at the same rock-climbing gym. But when Sofia learns a secret about Maddi’s family, she’s faced with a difficult decision: to keep her promise or tell her parents about Maddi’s empty fridge. With humor and heart, this play is sure to inspire conversations with your young people about honesty, sensitivity, empathy and helping others.”  Best enjoyed by ages 5 – 11, the show’s approximate run time is 50 minutes with no intermission. It's available for school tours through October 22. For more information: www.metroplays.org

The Lion in Winter
Photo: Todd Davis

The Midnight Company presents James Goldman’s comedy/drama The Lion in Winter Thursdays through Saturdays 8pm and Sundays (October 8 and 15 only), October 5 through 21. “Comedic in tone, dramatic in action - THE LION IN WINTER takes place in 1183, in a Castle in Chinon, France, telling the story of the Plantagenet family, who are locked in a free-for-all  of competing ambitions to inherit a crown.  The queen, and wealthiest woman in the world, Eleanor of Aquitaine, has been kept in prison since raising an army against her husband, King Henry II of England.  She’s been let out only for the holidays, and hence the play centers around the inner conflicts of the royal family - including their sons -  the warrior Richard Lionheart, the crafty middle son Geoffrey, and the youngest and Henry’s favorite John - as they battle over the kingdom.  The situation is complicated by Henry’s paramour - Alais, a French princess - and her brother, Philip, the new King of France, itching for his own war against England.” Performances take place at the .ZACK in Grand Center. For more information: midnightcompany.com

Prison Performing Arts Alumni Theatre Company presents A Chilling Night of One-Acts Thursday through Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, October 5 through 8. The two one-act plays are Waiting for Hecate by e. k. Doolin and The Privilege of Being Second by David Nonemaker and Eric Satterfield. Performances take place at 3333 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: www.prisonperformingarts.org.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Twisted Melodies October 4 through 22. “This powerful one-man show is based on the life of St. Louis soul music icon Donny Hathaway. Twisted Melodies is an immersive and crushing play about the brilliant singer and composer’s compelling inner struggle. Torn between the muses that inspire him and the mental illness that torments him, Hathaway evaluates his life in a gripping performance by St. Louis native Kelvin Roston, Jr.” Performances take place at the Berges Theatre at COCA in University City. For more information: repstl.org

St. Louis Actors’ Studio presents Dr. Ride’s American Beach House October 6 through 22. “Dr Ride’s American Beach House is an intimate snapshot of queer anti-heroines. On the eve of Dr. Sally Ride’s historic space flight, four women with passionate opinions and no opportunities sit on a sweltering St. Louis rooftop, watching life pass them by.” Performances take place at the Gaslight Theater, 360 N. Boyle. For more information: stlas.org.

St. Louis Shakespeare presents Shakespeare’s comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream through October 7 “’The course of true love never did run smooth...’; especially when it's mixed up with misguided parents, meddling fairies, mis-applied love potions, and a half-man / half-donkey / 100% fool.  Immerse yourself in William Shakespeare's hilarious rom-com of mis-matched lovers and feuding fairies!” Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center in Kirkwood. www.stlshakespeare.org.

The St. Louis Writers' Group presents Round One of its Playwright Slam on Tuesday, October 3, at 6:30 pm. “In rounds one and two each script will be given a five minute read, and scored by a panel of judges based upon audience reaction. the highest scoring plays will go to the final, which is based on  which will be ten minutes of the same script, from which a winner will be chosen.” The Playwright Slam takes place upstairs at Big Daddy’s in Soulard. For more information, visit the St. Louis Writers' Group Facebook page.

Million Dollar Quartet
Photo: Phillip Hamer

Stages St. Louis presents the musical Million Dollar Quartet through October 8. “The music industry stars truly aligned by pure happenstance when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins came together for an impromptu 1956 recording session at Sun Records in Memphis. This legendary session became known as the MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET and is the setting for this wildly entertaining audience favorite. Filled with such classic tunes as “Blue Suede Shoes”, “I Walk the Line”, “Hound Dog”, and “Great Balls of Fire”, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is sure to have you dancing in the aisles!” Performances take place at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: stagesstlouis.org

Stray Dog Theatre presents the musical Saturday Night Fever Thursdays through Saturdays at 8, October 5 through 28, with additional performances 2 pm Sundays, October 15 and 22. “Based on the 1977 film that became a cultural phenomenon, this electrifying show is packed with legendary hits from the Bee Gees, classic disco tracks, and new original songs. Burn, baby, burn!” Performances take place at Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee in Tower Grove East. For more information: www.straydogtheatre.org

Take Two Productions presents the musical Tick, Tick . . . Boom! By Jonathan Larson through October 7.  “Before Rent, there was Tick, Tick... Boom!. This autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning composer of Rent, is the story of a composer and the sacrifices that he made to achieve his big break in theatre. Containing fourteen songs, ten characters, three actors and a band, Tick, Tick... Boom! takes you on the playwright/composer's journey that led to a Broadway blockbuster. His girlfriend wants to get married and move out of the city, his best friend is making big bucks on Madison Avenue and, yet, Jon is still waiting on tables and trying to write the great American musical. Set in 1990, this compelling story of personal discovery is presented as a rock musical filled with instantly appealing melodies and a unique blend of musical theatre styles. Performances take place in Johnson Hall at Third Baptist Church, 620 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: www.taketwoproductions.org/tick-tick-boom

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

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