St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of March 7, 2011

Updated Tuesday, March 8, 2011

[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.  If I have left your show out, please leave a comment with all the details.

The West County YMCA and Chesterfield Community Theatre present the comedy Arsenic and Old Lace Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, March 10 through 13. Performances take place at the West County YMCA, 16464 Burkhardt Place. For more information, call (636) 532-6515 Ext. 227.

Muddy Waters Theatre Company presents Paula Vogel's The Baltimore Waltz Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through March 20. Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand at Olive in Grand Center. For more information, call 314-799-8399. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Pub Theater Company presents Bye Bye Liver: The St. Louis Drinking Play, a comedic romp through the joys and pitfalls of The Gateway to the West's favorite past time. Performances take place Saturdays through April 9 at Maggie O'Brien's, 2000 Market Street. For more information, you may call 314-827-4185 or visit byebyeliver.com/stlouis

Cabaret artist and teacher Tim Schall presents A Cabaret Showcase, featuring students from his Advanced Performance Class, on Sunday, February 13, at 7 PM. Performers are Shirley Aschinger, Steve Brammeier, Michael Brightman, Kari Donovan, Jay Knehans, Michael McKinley, Charlene Reimann, and KDHX's own Donna Weinsting. Al Fischer is pianist and music director for the show, which takes place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/163778.

Winter Opera St. Louis presents Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 5 PM, March 12 and 13. Performances take place at St. Ambrose Church, 5130 Wilson Avenue. For more information, visit winteroperastl.org or call 314-865-0038.

St. Louis Shakespeare presents Cyrano de Bergerac Thursday [March 17] at 7:30 PM, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM, March 11 through 20. Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For more information, call 314-361-5664 or visit stlshakespeare.org.

The COCA Family Theatre Series presents Dan Zanes and Friends, Friday at 7 PM and Saturday at 2:20 and 7 PM, March 11 through 13. COCA is at 524 Trinity in University City. For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

Driving Miss Daisy

Dramatic License Productions presents Driving Miss Daisy Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, March 10 through 27. For more information, call 636-220-7012 or visit dramaticlicenseproductions.com.

The St. Louis Family Theatre Series presents Duck for President, Fancy Nancy, and other Story Books Friday at 7:30 PM and Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM, March 13, 18 and 19. Performances take place at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker and Waterford in Florissant, MO. For more information, call 314-921-5678 or visit www.florissantmo.com.

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).

Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents the drama The Heiress, based on Henry James’s Washington Square, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM through March 11. Performances take place at the Robert G. Reim Theatre of the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road. For more information, call 314-821-9956.

In the Next Room

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Sarah Ruhl's comedy In The Next Room or The Vibrator Play Tuesdays through Sundays, March 9 through 27. Performances take place in the Emerson Studio Theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

Alton Little Theater presents the Tom Dudzick's comedy King o' the Moon March 11 through 20 at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

The Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents the comedy Leading Ladies March 11 through 20. Performances take place in the Guild theatre at Newport and Summit in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, visit theaterguildwg.org or call 314-962-0876.

Macbeth

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Shakespeare's Macbeth Tuesdays through Sundays through March 11. Performances take place at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org. I know this play well (both as an actor and audience member) and was looking forward to this. Sadly, I was disappointed. Our little party found the direction heavy-handed and gimmicky, the pacing slow, and the overall result not terribly respectful of either the play or the audience. Your mileage may vary, of course, and others apparently have enjoyed it. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Touhill Performing Arts Center presents New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players production of The Mikado on Friday, March 11, at 8 PM. The Touhill Performing Arts Center in on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus. For more information, you may visit www.touhill.org or call (314) 516-4949

Fontbonne University presents a stage adaptation Nathaniel West's Miss Lonelyhearts February 10 through 13. Performances take place Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM at the Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Blvd.

Carol Schmidt

Mariposa Artists presents a Moonglow Cabaret Series concert on Saturday, March 12, from 6 to 8 PM. The featured performers are Bob Becherer, Robert Breig, Brian Derton, Mark Kraft, Dionna Raedeke, and Charlene Reimann. Carol Schmidt is the pianist and music director. The free concert takes place at Schwaig Art Glass, 1916 Park Avenue in Lafayette Square. For more information, call 314-776-4442 or visit fabartscenter.com.  An art glass studio may seem like an unusual venue for cabaret, but Schwaig's air of casual elegance is a surprisingly good fit.  And then there's the free wine and cheese.

Citilites Theatre presents the Del Shores comedy Southern Baptist Sissies Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 7 PM, March 10 through 27. Performances take place at The Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information, call 314-773-1879 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/154347

Two Gentlemen of Verona

New Line Theatre presents the rock musical Two Gentlemen of Verona, based on the Shakespeare comedy, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through March 26. The show features music by Galt Mac Dermott and lyrics by John Guare. Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Road. For more information, call 314-534-1111. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Lindenwood University presents the musical Urinetown Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM through March 12. Performances take place in the Emerson Black Box Theatre at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts on the Lindenwood campus in St. Charles, MO. For more information, call 636-949-4433 or visit lindenwood.edu/center.

Playback Workshop Theatre presents The Vagina MANologues and The Saxophone Jesus Parables, written and directed by Jackie Masei, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through March 13. The show is “an exciting narrative one act social change play with an all African American Male cast, which weaves a critical response to Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues in order to open up dialogues about racism, bullying, sexism, homophobia, sexuality, and spirituality”. The show will be followed by a Playback Theatre performance. For more information, call 314-397-0733.

Craig Rubano

The Presenters Dolan present St. Louis native Craig Rubano in his new cabaret show We Can Be Kind Thursday through Saturday, March 10 through 12, at 8 PM. Beth Etz is pianist and music director for the show, which takes place at The Kranzberg Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, call 314-725-4200 stn. 10 or visit presentersdolan.com. Reviewing Mr. Rubano's previous appearances locally, I praised his ebullient and unashamedly genuine style, his supple light baritone, his ability to communicate the emotional core of every song and his impressive dynamic range - so I'm looking forward to this performance.