Chuck's Choices for the weekend of October 16, 2015

As always, the choices are purely my personal opinion. Take with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.

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The cast of Company
Photo: Joe Angeles

The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents the Stephen Sondheim musical Company Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through October 18. "Phone rings, door chimes, in comes Company! First produced in 1970, Company was nominated for a record-setting fourteen Tony Awards and won six, including Best Musical. Company takes an unvarnished look at marriage through the eyes of Bobby who, unmarried on his thirty-fifth birthday, finds himself lost in the company of his married friends. With his trademark wit and sophistication, Stephen Sondheim examines the flawed nature of human relationships as Bobby journeys towards the realization that, in spite of all of his friends' failings, there is no point in 'Being Alive' unless he has someone with whom to share it." Performances take place in the Edison Theatre in the Mallinckrodt Student Center on the Washington University campus. For more information, pad.artsci.wustl.edu or call 314-935-6543.

My take: You can't go wrong with Sondheim and particularly with this show, with its trenchant and yet touching take on the difficult business of cobbling together romantic relationships. The Washington U. students are apparently doing well by this material, to judge by what our critic Sarah Richardson had to say over at KDHX. "Annamaria Pileggi does a fine job directing this enjoyable production", she writes. "The singing is strong and moving...The cast performs admirably...this is a great opportunity to see a delightful and moving production."

Dogfight
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the musical Dogfight Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through October 24. "A contemporary musical with timeless themes of love and compassion woven into 1960's America as our boys stand at the brink of service in Vietnam." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

My take: Based on the 1991 movie of the same name, Dogfight juxtaposes the personal cruelty of a contest in which three Marines each try to find the ugliest girl to take to a dance in hopes of winning the prize for having the biggest "dog" of a date with the impersonal cruelty of the Vietnam war. Writing for the Ladue News, Mark Bretz notes that the "youthful cast expertly conveys all the emotions of the time. Seeing that bravado so genuinely portrayed on stage makes the memories of history all that more painful and powerful". I'll admit to being a bit biased in Stray Dog's favor, having done a number of shows with them over the years, but my experience has been that you can usually count on them for professional work and innovative programming.

Heathers
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg

New Line Theatre presents the regional premiere of the musical Heathers, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, through October 24. "New Line opens its 25th season with the regional premiere of the pitch-black musical comedy HEATHERS, written by the award-winning team of Kevin Murphy (Reefer Madness) and Laurence O'Keefe (Bat Boy, Legally Blonde). This hilarious, big--hearted, and homicidal new musical is based on the 1989 cult film, truly one of the darkest teen comedies of all time. The original screenwriter Daniel Waters called it, 'a Carson McCullers-style novel of a girl who meets the Antichrist as a teenager.'" Performances take place at the Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, three blocks east of Grand, in Grand Center. For more information, visit newlinetheatre.com or call 314-534-1111. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

My take: New Line is in a new space and judging from the reviews it's a big improvement over their old digs at the Washington University South Campus Theatre on Clayton. "The company's new space is comfortable," writes Tina Farmer at KDHX, "and offers good views from every seat in the house, a bonus when watching a show with such a strong ensemble." The show is just the kind of edgy material that Scott Miller and New Line have made a speciality for many years now.

De Kus

Upstream Theater presents De Kus (The Kiss) by Dutch author Ger Thijs, translated by Paul Evans through October 25. "When a lonely stand-up comic and an anxious housewife meet on a country path, they embark on a journey toward an unknown and surprising fate...where one kiss could change the entire world." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

My take: The program for this show includes the following quote from the playwright: "Sometimes people discover heir purpose, their dignity, not in happiness, but in a twist of fate". As someone who found happiness as an indirect result of what most people would probably consider to be an unpleasant twist of fate, I could not agree more. Notices for the local premiere of this two-character play have been good, demonstrating that Upstream has once again demonstrated that taking on risky material can be very rewarding.

One Too Many

The Presenters Dolan present the a cappella group One Too Many on Friday, October 16, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Six-Man A Capella. Tight harmonies, sharp, funny, homegrown. If you like Straight No Chaser, you'll be very happy. These guys are on the move." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take: These guys came to the open mic night I host for The Cabaret Project at the Tavern of Fine Arts a few months ago and just knocked everybody out. Is the cabaret tent big enough to include a cappella? I'd say so, and I'd say this is just the group to prove it.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents singers Tim Schall, Deborah Sharn, and Bridgette Kossor, with pianist Rocky Tucker, in an evening of jazz standards and sophisticated pop on Friday, October 16, at 8 p.m. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

My take: Speaking of the Tavern of Fine Arts, here they are presenting an evening of great singing by some of the area's top vocalists. The Tavern's performance space is cozy and decorated with a regularly-changing array of local art, and their food and wine list has much to offer.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of September 21, 2015

The St. Louis Chamber Chorus
Photo: William Bascomb

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Eliot Unitarian Chapel presents a Friends of Music concert on Sunday, September 27, at 3 PM. Lee Demertzis and Steven Cheng playing Robert Schumann's Sonata for Violin and Piano in A minor and the Sonatensatz by Johannes Brahms. And on the same program, tenor Jimmy Stevens will be singing Schumann's Liederkreis Op. 39, nos. 1-6, an aria from Mozart's Ascanio in Alba, and a set of French songs including Gabriel Fauré's Mandoline, Ernest Chausson's Serenade italienne and Henri Duparc's Chanson triste. Eliot Unitarian Chapel is at 100 South Argonne in Kirkwood. For more information: fomcstl.org

The St. Louis Chamber Chorus presents Concert One: Sing a New Song on Sunday, September 27, at 3 p.m. "Our jubilee season begins with double choir celebrations by Renaissance composer Gabriele Fattorini and Johannes Brahms, together with Aaron Copland's masterpiece, In the Beginning. We hail our own beginnings with Music & Ceremonies, commissioned from our founder Ronald Arnatt, and a contribution by our new Composer-in-Residence, Melissa Dunphy. " The concert takes place at Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information: www.chamberchorus.org

The St. Louis Classical Guitar Society presents Swedish guitarist and composer Johannes Möller in concert on September, November 26, at 8 PM. "Swedish guitarist and composer Johannes Möller has made more than 500 appearances in Europe, Asia, South and North America. In 2010 he was awarded First Prize in the GFA International Guitar Competition, with asubsequent fifty-concert world tour. This will be his St. Louis debut!” The performance takes place at the Ethical Society, 9001 Clayton Road. For more information: www.guitarstlouis.net

Karita Mattila

David Robertson conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra with soloists Karita Mattila, soprano; Daniel Lee, cello; and Beth Guterman Chu, viola, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., September 25 and 26. "David Robertson leads an epic program devoted to bold musical stories depicted by Richard Strauss. Revel in the musical adventures of Don Quixote, filled with dreams of knightly glory, featuring Principal Cellist Daniel Lee. Finnish lyric soprano Karita Mattila, recognized for the beauty and versatility of her voice, as for her extraordinary stage ability, performs Strauss' final scene from Capriccio. Audiences will be mesmerized by some of literature's greatest works set to music." The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents The Bella Corda Guitar Ensemble in concert on Friday, September 25 at 6 p.m. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of August 24, 2015

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The Confluence Chamber Orchestra presents a Family Concert on Sunday, August 30, at 3 p.m. "Scott Joplin's The Entertainer, Emperor Waltz and Pizzicato Polka by Johann Strauss, Jr., the Vivace from Bach's Double Violin Concerto, plus Swedish wedding marches, Klezmer favorites and more. Conveniently located in downtown Clayton, plenty of free parking on street and in lot behind the church." The concert takes place at St. Joseph Church, 106 N. Meramec in Clayton. For more information: confluencechamberorchestra.org.

The 442s

Nine Network and the St. Louis Symphony present The 442s in concert on Thursday, August 27, at 7:30 p.m. "The 442s take the stage in the Public Media Commons to share their distinctive and innovative blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock music. The 442s features Symphony members Shawn Weil and Bjorn Ranheim, joined by Adam Maness and Sydney Rodway of the Erin Bode Group. The band's self-titled debut album was released last summer and has received critical acclaim here in St. Louis and across the country." The concert takes place at the Public Media Commons on Olive Street in Grand Center. For more information: ninenet.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents pianist Mark Laverty on Friday, August 28, at 8 p.m. "Pianist Mark Laverty will perform the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, English Suite in G Minor and other works by Bach, as well as Concert Etudes, Liebestraum and Mephisto Waltz by Liszt." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of August 3, 2015

The Compton Heights Concert Band

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The Compton Heights Concert Band presents free Musical Mondays concerts featuring marches, show tunes and classical favorites at Mondays at 7:30 p.m. through August 3rd. The guest performer this week (August 3) is tenor Hugh Smith. The concert takes place in Tower Grove Park at the historic Henry Shaw Bandstand. For more information: chband.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents New Orleans-based pianist Tom McDermott in an evening of ragtime and jazz on Friday, August 7, at 8 p.m. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents flautist Donald Rabin and Friends on Saturday, August 8, at 5 p.m. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of July 6, 2015

The Compton Heights Concert Band presents free Musical Mondays concerts featuring marches, show tunes and classical favorites at Mondays at 7:30 p.m. through August 3rd. Guest artists this week (July 6) are Carl and Mason T. Capps on bluegrass guitar and mandolin. The concert takes place in Tower Grove Park at the historic Henry Shaw Bandstand. For more information: chband.org.

The Compton Heights Concert Band in
Tower Grove Park
Photo: Jim Sparks

The Compton Heights Concert Band presents free Sunday Serenades concerts featuring marches, show tunes and classical favorites on Sundays at 7:30 PM through July 26. This week (July 12), the concert is a Tribute to Julie Andrews. The concerts takes place in Francis Park at Donovan and Eichelberger on the Compton Heights Band’s "Carol Joy Brooks Memorial" Stage. For more information: chband.org.

The Gateway Festival Orchestra presents Mostly Mozart, a free concert on Sunday, July 12, at 7:30 PM. "Enjoy a free live concert by a fifty-piece professional orchestra. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket for relaxing on the grass in beautiful Brookings Quadrangle on the campus of Washington University. Parking is free and plentiful. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard is available for purchase, and children receive an attendance prize." The concert features music by Mozart along with Prokofiev's "Classical Symphony" and takes place at the Brookings Quadrangle on the Washington University campus. For more information: www.gatewayfestivalorchestra.org

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents pianist Greg Mills on Friday, July 10, at 8 PM. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents pianist David Allen Flowers, cellist Amanda Mendez, and violinist Mark Timmerman performing "Coffee Stains" by David Allen Flowers on Saturday, July 11, at 6 PM. "'Coffee Stains' is a collection of character pieces that were designed to be performed in the busy atmospheres of a café or a lounge. The size of the ensemble is conducive to a more intimate musical environment, one that the composer hopes will engage an audience and contradict the more rigid-seeming protocol of a standard concert performance. The evening will move from images of whirring machinery, to vivid nostalgia, and even into day dreaming as the music explores the different scenes one might experience while enjoying a cup of coffee." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.