St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of October 9, 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

Ben Jones

The Blue Strawberry presents Let Me Be Frank with singer Ben Jones on Sunday, October 15, at 7 pm. “Award-winning vocalist Ben Jones and legendary pianist, composer and music director Ron Abel combine their considerable talent for an evening of side-splitting laughs and unbelievable music celebrating the deep catalog of Frank Sinatra.”  The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle in the Central West End. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com

Contraband Theatre presents the world premiere play See You in a Minute by Jacob Juntunen, directed by Ellie Schwetye Wednesdays at 7pm and Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm, October 12 through 28. “In 2041 Kathryn returns to her parents to take care of them during a pandemic, risks her NYC job, and this brings up no 2020 trauma. Right?” Performances take place at The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive in Clayton, MO.  For more information:  www.eventbrite.com.

Beetlejuice
Photo: Matthew Murphy

The Fabulous Fox presents the musical Beetlejuice October 10 through 22.  “It’s showtime! Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes.” The Fabulous Fox is on North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com

KTK Productions presents the comedy Play On! Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, October 13 through 22. “One plucky community theatre is about to produce a show called Murder Most Foul, a new “murder mystery play” with the same title as an Agatha Christie novel but with no relation whatsoever. The director/theatre manager, Gerry, thought producing the play was a good idea since the inexperienced playwright has agreed to let the company perform the show for no charge. Gerry, however, had no idea wat disasters awaited her: the show is hilariously amateur, the “murder mystery” plot doesn’t really have a murder, and to top it off the playwright keeps changing the story and script only two days from its premiere! It doesn’t help that the cast is disgruntled, and the playwright accidentally deletes the entire sound effect board. All of the disasters come to fruition in Act III when the company performs the actual show with hilarious mishaps as every turn. Play On! is a hilarious love letter to community theatre.” Performances take place at the Saint John The Baptist Gymnasium, 4200 Delor Street in south St. Louis. For more information: kurtainkall.org

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 15 only), through October 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

The Immigrant
Photo: Ethan Aylesworth

New Jewish Theatre presents The Immigrant Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 4 and 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, October 12 through 29. “Rural Central Texas, 1909. A young Russian-Jewish immigrant, newly arrived in America through the port of Galveston, pulls his banana cart into the hamlet of Hamilton. Fleeing the vicious pogroms of his homeland, he has sought refuge in the land of the free. Able to speak only Yiddish, alone amid a staunchly Christian community, he begs for shelter. Taken in by a local couple, over the next 30 years, he makes a home and raises a family in this tiny town. A religion meets religion, culture meets culture, fear meets fear and love meets love. This is the true story of Haskell Harelik, ‘the Immigrant’.” Performances take place at the SFC Performing Arts Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive. For more information: jccstl.com

Kevin Roston Jr. in Twisted Melodies
Photo: Richard Anderson

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Twisted Melodies through October 4 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 through October 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.

The St. Louis Writers' Group presents Round Two of its Playwright Slam on Tuesday, October 10, 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.
 

Saturday Night Fever
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the musical Saturday Night Fever Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 through October 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

Upstream Theater presents the US premiere of Bitter Fruit, by award-winning playwright Héctor Levy-Daniel in a translation by Philip Boehm, October 13 through 29. “ María doesn’t understand why her mother hired this new maid. She’s convinced the woman’s spying on behalf of the workers in their factory. But there’s something about her even more unsettling… Tensions smolder as a web of secrets, deceptions, and denials begins to unravel in this taut drama by Argentine playwright Héctor Levy-Daniel, where memory may be challenged, identities displaced, and even love may be sacrificed on the altar of class.” Performances take place at the Marcelle Theatre, 3310 Samuel Shepard Dr. in Grand Center. For more information: www.upstreamtheater.org

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

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