The St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of December 13, 2010

Updated Wednesday, December 15, 2010

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

I'm now adding my own purely personal comments to events about which I think I have anything worthwhile to say. Because that's what bloggers do.

"As Bees in Honey Drown";
photo by Johh Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the satirical As Bees In Honey Drown Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through December 18. There will be a matinee on the closing Saturday at 2 PM in addition to the evening show. Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, call 314-865-1995.

Echo Theatre Company presents the St. Louis premiere of the comedy Crumble (Lay Me Down, Justin Timberlake) Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 7 PM, through December 19. Performances take place in Theatre 134 in the ArtSpace at Crestwood Court, 134 Crestwood Plaza. For more information, call 314-225-4329.

Bobby Norfolk

Beverly Brennan

Jim Dolan and Beverly Brennan present A Double Header, a program of two one-person shows, on Sunday, December 19, at 3 PM. The shows are Shadowball: The Negro Baseball Leagues, starring Bobby Norfolk and St. Louie Woman, starring singer and pianist Beverly Brennan. The performances take place at The Kranzberg Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, call 314-968-2606 or 314-614-9880.  Beverly is a veteran of the theatre and cabaret scene locally, and as the daughter of famed baseball announcer Jack Buck I would think she has a natural affinity for the stories Mr. Norfolk will be telling.  Jim Dolan, as most of you will know, is the man behind The Presenters Dolan and a major force in the exploding cabaret scene here in St. Louis.

Everydaycircus Inc. performs shows hourly from 11 AM to 4 PM each weekend at City Museum, 701 N. 15th St. Shows are FREE with regular museum admission. (645-4445 or 231-CITY).

The Improv Trick presents A Festivus Carol: O Come All Ye Playful Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and 10 PM, December 17 and 18. Performances take place at the Ivory Theatre, 7620 Michigan. For more information, call 314-631-8330.

Black Cat Theatre presents A Holiday Cabaret Thursday through Sunday, December 16 through 19. Performers include The Dave Venn Quartet, Nancy Kranzberg, and Joe Dreyer and Rosemary Watts. For more information, visit blackcattheatre.org.

"Last of the Red Hot Mamas";
photo by John Lamb

New Jewish Theatre presents The Last Of The Red Hot Mamas, based on the life of Sophie Tucker, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 and 7:30 PM through December 26. Performances take place at the Marvin and Harlene Wool Studio Theatre at the JCCA, 2 Millstone Campus Drive. For more information, call 314-442-3283. I haven't seen the show yet (I have tickets for the final week - everything earlier is sold out), but this is right up my alley musically. Besides, I've done shows with both Christy Simmons and Johanna Elkana-Hale (who play two of the three incarnations of Tucker in the show) and I know they're darned talented ladies.

"The Nutcracker"
© Photo by Eric Woolsey

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis's Imaginary Theatre Company presents a new musical adaptation of The Nutcracker Saturday, Monday and Tuesday at 11 AM and 2 PM, December 18, 20, and 21. The show features music and lyrics by Neal Richardson of the Webster Conservatory faculty. Performances take place in the Heagney Theatre at_ Nerinx Hall High School, just behind the Rep in Webster Groves. For more information, call 314-968-4925. ITC has been a purveyor of quality children's theatre in St. Louis for many years and Neal's musical talent is protean.

The Young People's Theatre of St. Charles Community College presents The Nutcracker Friday at 7 PM, Saturday at 2 and 7 PM, and Sunday at 6:30 PM, December 17 through 19. Performances take place in the Donald D. Shook Fine Arts Building theater on the campus at 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville, MO. For more information, call 636-922-8233, or visit www.stchas.edu/calendar.

"Over the Tavern"
© Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the comedy Over the Tavern Tuesdays through Sundays through December 26. Performances take place at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925. The show boats a terriffic cast. The script's darker corners reminded me of why the Catholic Church and I parted company decades ago, but given the excessive doses of sugar in most staged holiday treats, I find the twist of lemon in Dudzick's script to be welcome.

Upstream Theatre presents a staged reading of Coleridge's The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, December 18 and 19. Performances take place at 305 South Skinker. For more information call 314-863-4999. Admission is free.

"Slasher"

HotCity Theatre presents the satirical comedy Slasher Thursdays and Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 3 and 8 PM and Sundays at 7 PM through December 18. Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, call 314.289.4060 or visit hotcitytheatre.org.

"The Sunshine Boys"

The St. Louis Actors' Studio presents the Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys through December 19 at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org. I haven't seen the show, but it's got to be a delight to see a couple of old pros like Whit Richert and Joneal Joplin doing a surefire Simon script.

"This Wonderful Life"

Dramatic License Productions presents This Wonderful Life, the one-man show based on the classic film It's a Wonderful Life, starring Alan Knoll. Performances take place Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through December 19. For more information, call 636-220-7012.