St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of August 1, 2011

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

For information on events beyond this week, check out the searchable database at the Regional Arts Commission's ArtsZipper 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.

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Annie

The Hawthorne Players present the musical Annie Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through August 7, at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre, Parker Road and Waterford Drive. For more information, call 314-921-5678 or visit www.hawthorneplayers.com. Read the 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 pastime. Performances take place on “select Saturdays” at Maggie O'Brien's, 2000 Market Street, and on the first and third Friday of each month at The Fox Hole at The Atomic Cowboy, 4140 Manchester in The Grove. For more information, you may call 314-827-4185 or visit byebyeliver.com/stlouis.

La Cenerentola

Union Avenue Opera presents Rossini's La Cenerentola (Cinderella) Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, August 6 and 7. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, visit unionavenueopera.org or call 314-361-2881. Read the KDHX review!

The Crucible

Ozark Actors Theatre presents Arthur Miller's The Crucible through August 7 at the Cedar Street Playhouse, 701 North Cedar in Rolla, MO. For more information, visit ozartactorstheatre.org or call (573) 364-9523. Read the KDHX review!

The NonProphet Theater Company presents Debbie Does Dallas - the Musical by Erica Schmidt, Andrew Sherman and Susan L. Schwartz Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 5 PM, August 4 through August 20. For more information, call 636-236-4831 or visit nptco.org. Read the KDHX review!

Upstream Theatre presents a Dog Days Cabaret fund-raising event on Friday, August 5, starting at 6:30 PM. The evening includes a buffet, live auction, and cabaret program. The event takes place at Centene Center for the Arts, 3547 Olive in Grand Center. For more information, visit upstreamtheater.net or go to the event page at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/184661

Hard Road Theatre presents the musical Godspell through August 7 at the Highland High School Kennel, 12760 Troxler Avenue in Highland, IL. For more information, visit hardroad.org or call 618-654-7748.

The Brass Rail Players present the musical Guys and Dolls. Performances take place through August 7 at the Lindenwood University Premier Center For The Arts, 2600 West Main Street in Belleville, IL. For more information, visit brassrailplayers.org.

Take Two Productions presents the musical Hairspray August 5 through 13. Performances take place at Bayless High School Theater, 4530 Weber Road. For more information, visit taketwoproductions.org.

The Improv Trick hosts weekly Long Form Improv performances every Tuesday at 7:30 PM at Lemmons Restaurant, 5800 Gravois. Long form improv features 15 to 20 minute sketches based entirely on audience suggestions, with audience participation strongly encouraged. For more information, visit theimprovtrick.com.

The Arnold Community Theatre Troupe presents a One-Act Festival in Arnold, MO featuring one-act plays written and directed by community members. Admission is free, although there will be a bake sale and a raffle, and donations are greatly appreciated. Performances August 3rd and 4th at 7:00 PM at the Roy Wilde Conference Center, 849 Jeffco Blvd. Arnold, MO 63010. Go to arnoldcommunitytheatretroupe.weebly.com for more information.

Restoration

St. Louis Shakespeare presents Edward Bond's drama Restoration through August 14. Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For more information, call 314-361-5664 or visit stlshakespeare.org

Marble Stage Theatre presents the musical The Secret Garden Friday through Sunday, May 5 through 7, at Marble Stage Theater, 426 Crestwood Mall Art Space. For more information, call 314-437-0846 or visit www.marblestage.org.

The Secret
Garden

Stages St. Louis presents the musical The Secret Garden through August 21. Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information, visit stagesstlouis.org or call 314-821-2407. Read the KDHX review!

The Muny presents the musical Seven Brides forSeven Brothers nightly at 8:15 PM through August 7 in the outdoor theatre in Forest Park. For more information, visit muny.org or call 314-361-1900. Read the KDHX review!

Insight Theatre Company presents the musical She Loves Me August 5 through 14. Performances take place in the Heagney Theatre, 530 East Lockwood on the campus of Nerinx Hall High School in Webster Groves. For more information, call 314-556-1293 or visit insighttheatrecompany.com.

St. Louis's own Dionna Raedeke presents her solo cabaret debut Sight, Sound on Friday, August 5 at 8 PM at The Chapel Venue, 6238 Alexander Drive. The evening is directed by Tim Schall with music direction by Rick Jensen. For more information, visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/182143

Act II Community Theatre presents the comedy Southern Hospitality Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, through August 7. Performances take place at 1 St Peters Centre Blvd in St. Peters, MO. For more information, call 636-219-0150 or email info at act2theater.com.

Max and Louie Productions presents the musical Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story, a two-man musical about Chicago's infamous “thrill killers”, August 4 through 14. Performances take place at The Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle in the Central West End. For more information, visit maxandlouie.com or call (314) 795-8778.

Curtain's Up Theatre Company presents The Wizard of Oz August 5 through 14. Performances take place at the Wildey theater in Edwardsville, IL. For more information, visit curtainsuptheater.com.

Cinderella story

Abigail Fischer
© Ron Lindsey, 2011
All rights reserved.

Who: Union Avenue Opera
What: La Cenerentola
When: July 29 through August 7, 2011
Where: Union Avenue Christian Church

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Rossini’s romantic comedy La Cenerentola, based in part on the classic fairy tale Cinderella, was your prototypical rush job. He threw it together in three weeks at the end of 1816 when the libretto he was supposed to set was rejected by the Papal Censor. By way of contrast, mezzo Abigail Fischer spent months learning the elaborate flourishes of the title role for the current Union Avenue Opera production.

In both cases, it was time well spent. The score is a charming cornucopia of elaborate coloratura arias, rapid-fire patter songs, and the kind of layered ensembles that earned Rossini the nickname “Signor Crescendo”, while Ms. Fischer’s performance is pure brilliance — as is that of everyone else in this remarkable cast.

The role of Cenerentola is something of a rarity — a leading coloratura part written for a contralto — but Ms. Fischer sounded completely comfortable with both its range and ornamentation. She has power and flexibility to burn and respectable acting chops as well — a fine performance all the way around.

Rossini was generous to the lower male voices as well, with choice roles for two basses and a baritone — the social-climbing stepfather Don Magnifico, the Prince’s wise tutor Alidoro (substituting for the fairy godmother because Rossini hated supernatural elements in opera), and the wily valet Dandini, who spends most of the opera masquerading as Prince Ramiro so the latter can get an unvarnished look at the Magnifico family.

Bass Adam Fry gives us a delightfully pompous and brilliantly sung Don Magnifico, while bass Kenneth Mattice is all wry amusement as Dandini. Their second-act duet is a classic combination of physical and vocal comedy. Baritone E. Scott Levin has less interesting material to work with as Alidoro — the character is essentially a saintly fellow who delivers the libretto’s explicitly Christian message about the last being first — but he makes the most of it. It’s a fine performance, sung with complete conviction.

Tenor Keith Boyer is also completely invested in the role of Prince Ramiro, whether he’s mooning over Cenerentola or engaging in byplay with Dandini. He’s got a good, clear but not overpowering voice that serves him well.

Soprano Gina Galati and mezzo Kara Cornell are Cenerentola’s stepsisters Clorinda and Tisbe. In this version of the story they’re not so much wicked as foolish, superficial, and terminally self-involved. Both singers get the characters’ comic bitchiness just right and, along with their fellow cast members, navigate the elaborate score with ease.

For this small-scale production, Rossini’s chorus has been reduced to a trio of courtiers sung by Anthony Heinemann, Nathan Ruggles, and Joshua J. Stanton. All three are nicely delineated characters and their voices blend well.

That said, this Cenerentola is not without its issues. Patrick Huber’s set is a bit Spartan, to begin with, so that even the palace seemed threadbare. It also has, I think, too many levels and stairs for the available space, which cuts down on the usable playing areas. Many scenes are shoved off to platforms on the extreme left and right where viewing angles and acoustics are less than ideal, and actors are often left with no sensible way to relate to each other physically.

Given the physical constraints of the set, stage director and Union Avenue Opera Principal Director Jolly Stewart creates decent stage pictures and — unlike so many directors of comic opera — understands that her performers don’t need to be in constant motion to be interesting. Sometimes we just need to be able to enjoy the scintillating music.

Conductor Elizabeth Hastings does a respectable job with the score, but on opening night some of the playing was a bit scrappy, the big ensemble numbers did not always sound as tight as they should have, and the tempo for the famous overture was rather on the stodgy side. The lack of a percussion section also makes the overall sound a bit anemic to my ears, lacking that punch that is so much a part of the Rossini sound.

Still, when all is said and done, Union Avenue Opera has produced another winner in La Cenerentola. The evening, small flaws aside, is beautifully sung, smartly acted, and tremendously entertaining. This is not an opera that comes around often — the last local performance was by Opera Theatre back in 1987 — so it’s definitely worth your time.

La Cenerentola runs through August 7 at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. The opera is sung in Italian with projected English titles that are easily visible throughout the theatre. If the relatively light attendance on opening night is any indication, there should still be good seats available for the remaining performances. For more information, you may visit unionavenueopera.org.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of July 25, 2011

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

For information on events beyond this week, check out the searchable database at the Regional Arts Commission's ArtsZipper 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.

Share on Google+

Annie

The Hawthorne Players present the musical Annie Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, July 29 through August 7, at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre, Parker Road and Waterford Drive. For more information, call 314-921-5678 or visit www.hawthorneplayers.com.

Black Cat Theatre presents Black Cat Live, an evening of live music and sketch comedy, on Saturday, July 30, at Black Cat Theatre, 2810 Sutton in Maplewood. For more information, call 314-781-8300 or visit blackcattheatre.org.

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 pastime. Performances take place on “select Saturdays” at Maggie O'Brien's, 2000 Market Street, and on the first and third Friday of each month at The Fox Hole at The Atomic Cowboy, 4140 Manchester in The Grove. For more information, you may call 314-827-4185 or visit byebyeliver.com/stlouis.

La Cenerentola

Union Avenue Opera presents Rossini's La Cenerentola (Cinderella) Friday (July 29) at 8 PM, Saturday (July 30, August 6) at 8 PM, and Sunday (August 7) at 3 PM. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, visit unionavenueopera.org or call 314-361-2881.

The Crucible

Ozark Actors Theatre presents Arthur Miller's The Crucible July 26 through August 7 at the Cedar Street Playhouse, 701 North Cedar in Rolla, MO. For more information, visit ozartactorstheatre.org or call (573) 364-9523.

Center Stage Theatre at St. Charles Community College presents the musical The Drowsy Chaperone Tuesday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, July 26 through 31. Performances take place at the St. Charles Community College Fine Arts Building, 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive. For more information, visit the web site.

Hard Road Theatre presents the musical Godspell July 29 through August 7 at the Highland High School Kennel, 12760 Troxler Avenue in Highland, IL. For more information, visit hardroad.org or call 618-654-7748.

The Brass Rail Players present the musical Guys and Dolls. Performances take place July 28 through August 7 at the Lindenwood University Premier Center For The Arts, 2600 West Main Street in Belleville, IL. For more information, visit brassrailplayers.org.

Hairspray

The Alton Little Theater presents the musical Hairspray through July 31 at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618-462-6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

Clayton Community Theatre presents The Hobbit Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 8 PM through July 31. Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre. For more information, call 314-721-9228 or visit placeseveryone.org.

The Muny presents the musical Little Shop of Horrors nightly at 8:15 PM through July 31 in the outdoor theatre in Forest Park. For more information, visit muny.org or call 314-361-1900.

The Improv Trick hosts weekly Long Form Improv performances every Tuesday at 7:30 PM at Lemmons Restaurant, 5800 Gravois. Long form improv features 15 to 20 minute sketches based entirely on audience suggestions, with audience participation strongly encouraged. For more information, visit theimprovtrick.com.

Lindenwood University's J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts presents Of Mice and Men Thursday through Saturday, July 28 through 30, at 7:30 PM in the Emerson Black Box Theatre. The Scheidegger Center is on the Lindenwood campus in St Charles MO. For more information, visit lindenwood.edu/center.

Marble Stage Fairy Tale Theatre presents Robin Hood Saturdays through July 30 at Marble Stage Theater, 426 Crestwood Mall Art Space. For more information, call 314-437-0846 or visit www.marblestage.org.

The Robert L Reed Tap Heritage Institute, Inc. presents the 20th Anniversary St. Louis Tap Festival Monday through Saturday, July 25 through 30. The week of classes and workshops culminates in a performance of All That Tap XX on Saturday, July 30, at 7 PM at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the University of Missouri - St. Louis campus. For more information, visit tapheritage.org or call 314-531-TAPS.

The Secret
Garden

Stages St. Louis presents the musical The Secret Garden through August 21. Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information, visit stagesstlouis.org or call 314-821-2407.

Shipwrecked!

Insight Theatre Company presents the St. Louis premiere of Shipwreched! An Entertainment Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through July 31. Performances take place in the Heagney Theatre, 530 East Lockwood on the campus of Nerinx Hall High School in Webster Groves. For more information, call 314-556-1293 or visit insighttheatrecompany.com.

The NonProphet Theater Company presents Sketch Comedy Sunday, featuring The Militant Propaganda Bingo Machine, Sunday, July 31, at 8 PM at Lemmons Restaurant, 5800 Gravois. For more information, visit npcto.org.

Act II Community Theatre presents the comedy Southern Hospitality Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, July 29 through August 7. Performances take place at 1 St Peters Centre Blvd in St. Peters, MO. For more information, call 636-219-0150 or email info at act2theater.com.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of July 18, 2011

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

For information on events beyond this week, check out the searchable database at the Regional Arts Commission's ArtsZipper 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 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 pastime. Performances take place on “select Saturdays” at Maggie O'Brien's, 2000 Market Street, and on the first and third Friday of each month at The Fox Hole at The Atomic Cowboy, 4140 Manchester in The Grove. For more information, you may call 314-827-4185 or visit byebyeliver.com/stlouis.

The Crumple Zone

Citilites Theatre presents the St. Louis regional premiere of The Crumple Zone by Buddy Thomas Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 7 PM, through July 24. Performances take place at The Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information, call 314-773-1879 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/166106 Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Alton Little Theater presents the musical Hairspray July 21 through 31 at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618-462-6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

Clayton Community Theatre presents The Hobbit Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 8 PM, July 22 through 31. Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre. For more information, call 314-721-9228 or visit placeseveryone.org.

The Improv Trick hosts weekly Long Form Improv performances every Tuesday at 7:30 PM at Lemmons Restaurant, 5800 Gravois. Long form improv features 15 to 20 minute sketches based entirely on audience suggestions, with audience participation strongly encouraged. For more information, visit theimprovtrick.com.

The Merry Wives
of Windsor

St. Louis Shakespeare presents The Merry Wives of Windsor through July 24. Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For more information, call 314-361-5664 or visit stlshakespeare.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Maryland Heights Community Theatre presents the musical Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka July 21 through 24 at the Maryland Heights Centre, 2344 McKelvey Road. For more information, call 314-738-2599.

Marble Stage Fairy Tale Theatre presents Robin Hood Saturdays through July 30 at Marble Stage Theater, 426 Crestwood Mall Art Space. For more information, call 314-437-0846 or visit www.marblestage.org.

Stages St. Louis presents the musical The Secret Garden July 22 through August 2. Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information, visit stagesstlouis.org or call 314-821-2407.

Insight Theatre Company presents the St. Louis premiere of Shipwreched! An Entertainment Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, July 21 through 31. Performances take place in the Heagney Theatre, 530 East Lockwood on the campus of Nerinx Hall High School in Webster Groves. For more information, call 314-556-1293 or visit insighttheatrecompany.com.

The Muny presents the musical Singin' in the Rain nightly at 8:15 PM through July 24 in the outdoor theatre in Forest Park. For more information, visit muny.org or call 314-361-1900. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Songs From an
Unmade Bed

Citilites Theatre presents the St. Louis regional premiere of Songs From An Unmade Bed with lyrics by Mark Campbell and music by Duncan Sheik “and various composers.” Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 PM through July 23. Performances take place at The Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information, call 314-773-1879 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/167666 Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

First Run Theatre presents a special concert reading of a new play The Sudden Glide by Dr. David Crespy at 7:00 PM on Saturday, July 23rd, in the Thomas Hunter Theatre at DeSmet Jesuit High School, 233 N. New Ballas Road in Creve Coeur. This reading is open to the public at no charge although donations are accepted. For more information, call 314-352-5114, send email to info at firstruntheatre.com, or visit www.firstruntheatre.com.

Sly Fox

The following item turned up in my email today.  This will probably come as good news to those of us who have remarked on how uncomfortable it gets in the Fox in hot weather.  What I found interesting (especially in light of the radical right's view that energy conservation is somehow subversive) is the decision to replace their incandescent blubs with LEDs and CFLs.  Like most businesses, the Fox understands how much they can reduce their operating expenses with relatively straightforward energy conservation measures.

Here's the press release:

The Fabulous Fox Theatre Undergoing Several Renovation Projects

St. Louis, MO / July 2011 - The Fabulous Fox Theatre is currently in the middle of a seven-week summer hiatus in order to put in place $2 million worth of improvements to the venerable theatre in Grand Center.

The most notable of these projects is the replacement of the theatre’s air conditioning system, some parts of which were still the original equipment installed in 1929.  The old system has already been dismantled and pulled out of the theatre through the basement and roof. It is being replaced with a new, state of the art system that has been fabricated specifically for the Fox Theatre.

In addition to the new air conditioning system, LED lighting for energy conservation will be installed in several areas of the theatre.  The replacement of 2,200 incandescent bulbs and 120 florescent fixtures with more efficient versions will reduce wattage use by 85% – taking it from 77,000 to 11,400 when the theatre is fully lit.  Together, the air conditioning and lighting updates are expected to reduce the Fox’s energy consumption by half!

The most visible change to the public will be the creation of a Grand Boulevard façade that will be consistent across the frontage of the Fox Theatre and its adjacent buildings, including the Humbolt office building at the corner of Grand and Washington.  New glass storefronts and decorative awnings will be installed and an ornamental balcony will be added to the Humbolt building.

During this time the grand Fox Theatre lobby ceiling is also being repaired from the fire damage sustained in May.  Damaged portions of the elaborate plaster work are being replaced by creating molds from the unharmed sections and the lobby ceiling mural is receiving a major paint touch up to restore it to its pre-fire splendor.

Additionally the beautiful and massive Fox Chandelier will be lowered for cleaning and relamping.  The 12-foot in diameter, 5,280 pound chandelier is made of gilded pot metal with 2,264 pieces of jeweled glass and illuminated by 259 light bulbs.

Also receiving additional improvements and updates are the lobby concessions area, the catering kitchen and the Fox Club box seating area.

Red China

Image © Ron Lindsey, 2011,
all rights reserved

Who: Union Avenue Opera
What: Turandot
Where: Union Avenue Christian Church
When: July 8 through 16, 2011

Turandot is one of the most popular and, in many ways, most controversial of Puccini’s operas. Left unfinished at the time of the composer’s death in 1924, it has never been given a fully satisfactory finale. Critical opinion has been divided on the work’s merits from the first performance. Even the pronunciation of the title character’s name has been disputed. Do you pronounce that final “t” or not?

Judging from the response of the opening night audience, the one thing that’s not in dispute about this Turandot is the quality of the production. The fact that it’s so consistently engaging and entertaining despite the opera’s dramatic flaws is a testament to the talent and energy of a company that I have come to regard as one of the area’s great musical treasures.

Based on an old Persian fairy tale as retold by Italian playwright Carlo Gozzi, Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni’s libretto tells the story of the misandryst Chinese princess Turandot whose suitors must answer three riddles to win her hand. Failure means death, and as the opera opens the body count is already fairly high. Witnessing the execution of the latest loser, Prince Calàf falls instantly in lust with Turandot despite warnings from his blind father Timur, the slave girl Liù (in unrequited love with Calàf), and palace functionaries Ping, Pang, and Pong. He answers her riddles, poses one of his own, and finally wins her, generating his own share of death and misery along the way.

That’s the Cliff’s Notes version, anyway. Wikipedia has a far more detailed synopsis. The bottom line, though, is that Turandot and Calàf are two of the more appalling characters in operatic literature. The former is clearly unhinged; the latter a callow youth determined to possess his lust object regardless of who gets hurt (quite literally, in Liù’s case) in the process. Puccini’s music redeems them somewhat, but ultimately Turandot’s story is a fairly unpleasant business with a thoroughly unbelievable “happy” ending cobbled together from Puccini’s notes by composer and pianist Franco Alfano.

That means that if Turandot is to work at all, the principles have to be completely invested in their roles. Happily, Union Avenue has, with few exceptions, assembled a cast that can both act and sing up a storm.

Soprano Alexandra LoBianco is riveting in the title role, utterly convinced of her divine lineage and irrevocably determined that no man will ever posses her. Her character is rock solid, her performance is completely “in the moment”, and her voice is a thing of beauty. Her Turandot is a monster, to be sure, but a fascinating one.

The characters of Ping, Pang, and Pong might appear to be comic relief – and they are, to some extent – but Puccini and his librettists have given them a psychological depth that goes far beyond superficial laughs. Baritone Todd von Felker (Ping) and tenors Clark Sturdevant and Andrew Papas (Pang and Pong) have created fully realized, credible characters. Their second-act trio, in which they lament their service to the homicidal Turandot and long for bucolic homes, is one of the highlights of the evening and was the first number to generate spontaneous applause. Nicely done, gentlemen.

Every Puccini opera has a suffering heroine. In the case of Liù that means both romantic yearning and physical torture. The role demands a lot both dramatically and vocally, but soprano Christia Starnes is more than up to the challenge, with a voice that handles those soft high notes with ease and acting skills to match. Bass Aaron Stegemöller is a solid Timur and baritone Nathan Ruggles is appropriately imposing as the Mandarin who reads Turandot’s savage decree.

Tenor Adam Laurence Herskowitz brings a fine, ringing tenor voice to the role of Calàf but, alas, not much else. The problem is not that he acts the role badly but rather that he doesn’t act it at all, displaying no emotion when he’s not in focus and stock operatic gestures when he is. Tenor Jon Garrett’s Emperor Altoum sounds fine but looks rather like Buster Keaton at his most doleful. He’s been given a throne that leaves his slippered feet dangling, making him look like an aging toddler stranded in a high chair. It rather detracts from the role’s tragic dignity.

The chorus and children’s chorus carry much of the narrative weight in Turandot. Puccini has lavished some of his finest music on them, and the Union Avenue choristers carry it off splendidly, with crisp enunciation and great precision. This is not the first time I’ve remarked on the high quality of the choral work at Union Avenue; I expect it won’t be the last.

Like the West End Players, their fellow tenants in the Union Avenue Christian Church, Union Avenue Opera appears to be dedicated to presenting “big theatre in a small space”. Turandot, with its emphasis on spectacle and lush, exotic sound, pushes that dedication to the limit, sometimes resulting in awkward and static staging. Fortunately, under Scott Schoonover’s assured direction, Puccini’s consistently captivating score carries the work forward even when the sheer number of bodies on stage makes physical movement impossible. I heard some fatigue in the brasses towards the end of the third act on opening night, but otherwise this struck me as a very fine reading.

Colorful and well-chosen costumes by Teresa Doggett (the Hardest-Working Woman in St. Louis Show Business) and striking art deco-inspired sets by Patrick Huber add polish. Stage director Mark James Meier does a respectable job given the constraints imposed by the large cast and small stage. When he actually has some space to work with – during the Ping-Pang-Pong trio in Act II, for example – he creates some very memorable stage pictures.

Whether you’re a fan of Turandot or encountering its unsettling mythic world for the first time, you can’t go wrong with this production. It’s not perfect, but it’s well worth the time and attention of anyone who loves opera. Performances continue through July 16th at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, you may visit unionavenueopera.org, check out their Facebook page, follow them on Twitter @UAOpera, or call 314-361-2881.

St, Louis theatre calendar for the week of July 11, 2011

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

For information on events beyond this week, check out the searchable database at the Regional Arts Commission's ArtsZipper 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 25th Annual
Putnam County Spelling
Bee

Ozark Actors Theatre presents the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee through July 17 at the Cedar Street Playhouse, 701 North Cedar in Rolla, MO. For more information, visit ozartactorstheatre.org or call (573) 364-9523.

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 pastime. Performances take place on “select Saturdays” at Maggie O'Brien's, 2000 Market Street, and on the first and third Friday of each month at The Fox Hole at The Atomic Cowboy, 4140 Manchester in The Grove. For more information, you may call 314-827-4185 or visit byebyeliver.com/stlouis.

The Crumple Zone

Citilites Theatre presents the St. Louis regional premiere of The Crumple Zone by Buddy Thomas Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 7 PM, through July 24. Performances take place at The Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information, call 314-773-1879 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/166106 Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Back Row Ministries presents the musical Godspell Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, July 15 through 17. Performances take place at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, 5252 South Lindbergh. For more information, christmemorialstl.org or call 314-631-0304.

The Improv Trick hosts weekly Long Form Improv performances every Tuesday at 7:30 PM at Lemmons Restaurant, 5800 Gravois. Long form improv features 15 to 20 minute sketches based entirely on audience suggestions, with audience participation strongly encouraged. For more information, visit theimprovtrick.com.

The Merry Wives
of Windsor

St. Louis Shakespeare presents The Merry Wives of Windsor July 15 through 24. Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For more information, call 314-361-5664 or visit stlshakespeare.org.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Department of Theater and Dance presents The Music Man Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM, and Sunday at 2 PM, July 13 through 17. Performances take place in the Dunham Hall theater on the campus in Edwardsville, IL. For more information, call 618-650-2774.

The Archangel Players present the musical Once Upon A Mattress Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, July 15 through 17. Performances take place at the gymnasium at St. Gabriel School, 6303 Nottingham. For more information, visit saintgabes.net/Players or call 314-832-2242.

Marble Stage Fairy Tale Theatre presents Robin Hood Saturdays through July 30 at Marble Stage Theater, 426 Crestwood Mall Art Space. For more information, call 314-437-0846 or visit www.marblestage.org.

OnSite Theatre Company presents John Patrick Shanley's Savage in Limbo Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through July 16. Performances take place at Cusumano's, 7147 Manchester Road in Maplewood, MO. For more information, visit onsitetheatre.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Ken Haller

The Presenters Dolan present Ken Haller: Side by Side by Sondheim, with pianist and music director Al Fisher, on Friday and Saturday, July 15 and 16, at 8 PM at The Kranzberg Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. The evening is directed by Tim Schall. For more information, call 314-725-4200 stn. 10 or visit licketytix.com.  I saw Ken's show in its first incarnation last year and was mightily impressed.  He's taken it on the road since then to Chicago and New York and made some revisions (including some new songs).  I'm sure it's still a must see for Sondheim fans.

The Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents Snow White through July 17. 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.

Songs From an
Unmade Bed

Citilites Theatre presents the St. Louis regional premiere of Songs From An Unmade Bed with lyrics by Mark Campbell and music by Duncan Sheik “and various composers.” Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 PM, with a 3 PM matinee on July 17 only through July 23. Performances take place at The Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information, call 314-773-1879 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/167666 Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Stray Dog Theatre presents This is Not Funny 3.0, a collaborative production in which “the actors translate concepts to the stage and audience members exchange immediate and uncensored reaction to the play, providing all with insight into further development of the product.” Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM, July 14 through 16, at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, call 314-865-1995.

Turdandot

Union Avenue Opera presents Puccini's Turandot Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, through July 16. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, visit unionavenueopera.org or call 314-361-2881. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Belleville Theatre Company presents the musical revue A Walk Down Broadway Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2 PM, July 14 through 17. Performances take place at Belleville Philharmonic Hall, 116 N. Jackson Street in Belleville, IL. For more information, send email to bellevilletheatrecompany at gmail.com or call 618-975-5709.

Broadway on the Driveway presents the musical Irving Berlin's White Christmas Thursday and Friday at 7 PM and Saturday at 2 PM, July 14 through 16. For more information, visit broadwayonthedriveway.com.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of July 4, 2011

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

For information on events beyond this week, check out the searchable database at the Regional Arts Commission's ArtsZipper 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 25th Annual
Putnam County Spelling
Bee

Ozark Actors Theatre presents the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee July 7 through 17 at the Cedar Street Playhouse, 701 North Cedar in Rolla, MO. For more information, visit ozartactorstheatre.org or call (573) 364-9523.

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 pastime. Performances take place on “select Saturdays” at Maggie O'Brien's, 2000 Market Street, and on the first and third Friday of each month at The Fox Hole at The Atomic Cowboy, 4140 Manchester in The Grove. For more information, you may call 314-827-4185 or visit byebyeliver.com/stlouis.

Citilites Theatre presents the St. Louis regional premiere of The Crumple Zone by Buddy Thomas Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 7 PM, July 7 through 24. Performances take place at The Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information, call 314-773-1879 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/166106

The Muny presents the Disney musical The Little Mermaid nightly at 8:15 PM, July 6 through 14, in the outdoor theatre in Forest Park. For more information, visit muny.org or call 314-361-1900

The Improv Trick hosts weekly Long Form Improv performances every Tuesday at 7:30 PM at Lemmons Restaurant, 5800 Gravois. Long form improv features 15 to 20 minute sketches based entirely on audience suggestions, with audience participation strongly encouraged. For more information, visit theimprovtrick.com.

Marble Stage Fairy Tale Theatre presents Robin Hood Saturdays through July 30 at Marble Stage Theater, 426 Crestwood Mall Art Space. For more information, call 314-437-0846 or visit www.marblestage.org.

OnSite Theatre Company presents John Patrick Shanley's Savage in Limbo Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, July 6 through 16. Performances take place at Cusumano's, 7147 Manchester Road in Maplewood, MO. For more information, visit onsitetheatre.org.

The Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents Snow White July 8 through 17. 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.

Songs From an
Unmade Bed

Citilites Theatre presents the St. Louis regional premiere of Songs From An Unmade Bed with lyrics by Mark Campbell and music by Duncan Sheik “and various composers.” Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 PM, with 3 PM matinees on July 10 and 17 only, July 8 through 23. Performances take place at The Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information, call 314-773-1879 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/167666

Turandot

Union Avenue Opera presents Puccini's Turandot Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, July 8 through 16. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, visit unionavenueopera.org or call 314-361-2881.