St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of September 26, 2011

[Updated Saturday, October 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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The Fox Theatre presents the new musical The Addams Family, based on the popular film, through October 9. The Fox Theatre is at 517 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, call 314-534-1678.

Washington University Performing Arts Department presents The A.E. Hotchner Playwriting Festival Saturday, October 1, in the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre in the Mallinckrodt Student Center on the Washington University campus. For more information, call 314-935-6543.

Family Musical Theater presents the musical The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas through October 2 at the Ivory Theatre, 7622 Michigan. For more information, visit familymusical.org or call 314-448-1436.

Christ Memorial Productions presents the musical Bye, Bye, Birdie Friday sand Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through October 2. Performances take place at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, 5252 South Lindbergh. For more information, visit CMPShows.org or call 314-631-0304.

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.

Dirty Blonde

Dramatic License Productions presents Claudia Shear's Dirty Blonde, based on the life of Mae West, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through October 2. Performances take place at Dramatic License Theatre located at the upper level of Chesterfield Mall (near Sears and across from Houlihan's Restaurant. For more information, call 636-220-7012 or visit dramaticlicenseproductions.com. Read the 88.1 KDHX Review!

Lindenwood University presents the comedy The Folks Next Door Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM, September 29 through October 1. 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.

St. Louis Shakespeare presents Henry V through October 9. Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For more information, call 314-361-5664 or visit stlshakespeare.org.

Soundstage Productions presents Lanford Wilson's The Hot L Baltimore Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 7 PM through October 9. Performances take place at Crestwood Plaza ArtSpace, #214 Crestwood Plaza on Watson Road in Crestwood, MO. For more information, send email to soundstage at msn.com.

Marble Stage Theatre presents The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Saturdays at noon through October 29 at Marble Stage Theater, 426 Crestwood Mall Art Space. For more information, call 314-437-0846 or visit www.marblestage.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 Tivoli Theatre presents a video broadcast of the National Theatre production of One Man, Two Guvnors on Saturday, October 1. The Tivoli is at 6350 Delmar. For more information, call (314) 995-6270.

Passing Strange
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg

New Line Theatre presents the St. Louis premiere of the rock musical Passing Strange Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through October 15. “From singer-songwriter-performance artist Stew and his collaborator Heidi Rodewald comes a daring new rock musical that will take you on a journey across boundaries of place, identity and theatrical convention.” Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Road. For more information, call 314-534-1111. The show is directed by 88.1 KDHX's own Scott Miller. Read the 88.1 KDHX Review!

St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley presents The Pillowman, Friday at 7 PM and Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM, September 30 through October 8. Performances take place at the Terry M. Fischer Theatre on the campus at 3400 Pershall Road. For more information, call 314-513-4200 or visit www.stlcc.edu/FV/.

Insight Theatre Company presents the drama Rabbit Hole through October 2. 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. Read the 88.1 KDHX Review!

Reasons To Be Pretty

The NonProphet Theater Company presents Reasons To Be Pretty by Neil LaBute Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 5 PM through October 9. For more information, call 636-236-4831 or visit nptco.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX Review!

Red

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the Tony Award-winning play Red by John Logan through October 2. Performances take place on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University) in Webster Groves. For more information, visit repstl.org or call 314-968-4925. Read the 88.1 KDHX Review!

The St. Louis University Theatre Department presents The Secret in the Wings through October 9. Performances take place in Xavier Hall, 3373 West Pine Mall. For more information, call (314) 977-2998 or visit www.slu.edu/theatre.

The COCA Family Theatre Series presents Sleeping Beauty Friday through Sunday through October 2. “With original, live music inspired by J.S. Bach and charming video design, this classic tale of a charmed princess is spun in rhymed verse by David Gonzalez.” COCA is at 524 Trinity in University City. For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

The Alpha Players of Florissant present the classic musical South Pacific through October 9 at The Florissant Civic Center Theater, Parker Rd. at Waterford Dr. in Florissant, MO. For more information, visit alphaplayers.org or call 314-921-5678.

The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University presents Caryl Churchill's Top Girls Wednesday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM through October 9. Performances take place on the Emerson Studio Theatre of the Loretto-Hilton Center 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. For more information, call 314-968-7128.

Stages St. Louis presents the musical Victor/Victoria through October 9. 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 88.1 KDHX Review!

Child's play

 

Steven Mackey on "Stumble to Grace"

Who: The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and pianist Orli Shaham conducted by David Robertson
What: Music of Mackey and Mahler
Where: Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis
When: September 23 and 24, 2011

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In the program notes for the world premiere of his Stumble to Grace for piano and orchestra, composer Steven Mackey credits the inspiration for the work to watching his toddler son learn to walk, moving from “experimenting with perambulation” to, a year later, showing “a confident lilt in his step”. “I wanted to open my compositional process”, he writes, "to incorporate some of the whimsy and exuberance that he brings to his exploration of the world.”

Judging from what I saw and heard Friday night, Mr. Mackey has achieved that goal and then some. Whimsy and exuberance are, it seems to me, in rather short supply these days both on the concert stage and in the wider world beyond it. Stumble to Grace has both in abundance, along with a loopy, humorous sensibility, flashy orchestral writing, a spectacular piano part, and undeniable charm. The result is pretty much irresistible.

Written in five movements (which Mr. Mackey, in a possible nod to Piaget, calls “stages”), Stumble to Grace moves from a comical opening in which the deceptively simple-sounding piano line plays something like musical “pat a cake” with the celesta and some of the more specialized noisemakers of the percussion battery, proceeds through increasingly sophisticated episodes, and culminates in a cheerful and hair-raisingly tricky fugal finale. It does so in an unmistakably “modern” but still lively and completely approachable way. Mr. Mackey has, happily, no use for the academic aridity that characterized so much “serious” music as recently as a few decades ago. I heard what sounded like nods to Gershwin, Copland, and Debussy (among others), but overall the sound is entirely Mr. Mackey’s own.

Ms. Shaham and her husband, Mr. Robertson, are friends of Mr. Mackey and his wife. Their young children often share play dates and Mr. Mackey has written music for Ms. Shaham’s Baby Got Bach children’s concert series. These performances of Stumble to Grace have, as a result, the kind of authenticity that you would expect from such a close personal relationship between composer and performer. Ms. Shaham, in particular, seemed very much in the spirit of the thing at every moment, acting the role as well as playing it with great assurance. Mr. Robertson led the orchestra through Mr. Mackey’s sometimes-thorny musical maze with his usual aplomb, and the musicians played with the virtuosity that has come to be their hallmark. Mr. Mackey could not, I think, have asked for a better premiere.

Virtuosity was apparent, as well, in the killer reading of the Mahler Symphony No. 1 that concluded the evening. Clocking in at just under an hour, the First is probably the most economical of Mahler’s symphonies. It is, to paraphrase Anna Russell, a kind of Mahler vitamin pill, combining all the composer’s characteristic gestures in one compact work. It’s all here: the vivid invocation of the natural world, the heaven-storming despair, the macabre humor, the jocular impressions of village bands and sounds that would later be labeled “klezmer”, and, of course, a wildly triumphant finale with a full complement of brass—including an expanded horn section—standing and gloriously blazing away. The subtitle “Titan” that’s often applied to this work may have originally referred to a novel of the same title by Jean-Paul Richter, but I think it’s simply an apt description of this music. Its impact is Titanic in every sense of the word.

A good Mahler First, then, should send you away with tears of joy in your eyes—which is exactly what this performance did. Everything worked for me, including things that sometimes don’t, such as a tendency to linger lovingly over orchestral details or to take slow sections very slowly. This was a Mahler First to remember, with all the humor, drama, and exultation in exactly the right measure and (some minor flubs in the brass section not withstanding) sounding exactly right. It makes me look forward with considerable anticipation to his Bruckner Seventh in November. Yes, a great Mahler conductor is not necessarily a great Bruckner conductor, but bodes well.

Next at Powell Hall: a mostly-American program of Ives, Copland, and Gershwin along with Schoenberg’s ground-breaking Five Pieces for Orchestra. The last is a late substitution for what would have been another world premiere—the Double Bass Concerto No. 3 by Edgar Meyer with the composer as soloist. The one and only performance is Friday, September 30. For more information you may call 314-534-1700, visit stlsymphony.org, like the Saint Louis Symphony Facebook page, or follow @slso on Twitter.

Triple time

Les Noces by the
Mariinsky (Kirov) Ballet

Who: The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by David Robertson
What: An all-Stravinsky program
Where: Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis
When: September 16 and 17, 2011

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The St. Louis Symphony kicked off the 2011–2012 season this weekend with a triple shot of energetic and often brutal Stravinsky ballet scores that show the composer in his most self-consciously “Russian” mode. Written for Sergey Diaghilev’s Paris-based Ballets Russes (which also played up the fiercely exotic stereotypes of Russian culture prevalent in the French capital), Petrushka, Les Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring), and Les Noces (The Wedding) still pack quite a punch today, especially when given the kind of dynamic, bravura performances delivered by Maestro Robertson and company Friday night.

Yes, there were some issues in the horns during Petrushka and the soloists in Les Noces were often inaudible, but overall the evening did full justice to this flashy and engrossing music. This is powerful stuff, with the same grab-you-by-the-throat immediacy that sent Parisians into such paroxysms of love and hate a century ago.

Perhaps the wildest ride of the evening was not, as you might expect, Sacre but rather the premiere SLSO performance of the 1923 choral ballet Les Noces. With an often surrealistic text adapted by Stravinsky from songs collected by Russian folklorist Pyotr Vasilievich Kireevsky, Les Noces runs at breakneck pace through a somewhat barbaric description of a Russian peasant wedding that, to quote British critic Alfred Kalisch, is “enough to convert intending brides and bridegrooms to celibacy.” Scored for four pianos, an expanded percussion battery (never was that word more appropriate!), chorus, and four soloists, the piece has a visceral impact that can’t be denied.

It was obvious that principal singers Dominique Labelle (soprano), Kelley O’Connor (mezzo), Thomas Cooley (tenor), and Richard Paul Fink (baritone) were thoroughly invested in their rapidly shifting roles, so it’s a pity they were so often overwhelmed by the orchestra and chorus. The problem, I think, is that Les Noces was conceived for the theatre, where the orchestra would be in a pit rather than on stage competing with the singers. Even when you place them in front as Mr. Robertson wisely did, it’s difficult for soloists of any caliber to be heard over the general din, let alone effectively communicate what amounts to a half-hour long patter song. The projected English text helped, but even so witnessing this performance of “Les Noces” was rather like holding on to a bar of a musical roller coaster—exhilarating and a bit exhausting.

The singing of Amy Kaiser’s chorus was wonderfully precise. This material sounds mind bogglingly difficult for soloists and choir alike, with no room for anything other than pinpoint accuracy. If there were a Purple Heart for choral singing, the Symphony Chorus would certainly have earned it.

The program opened with Stravinsky’s 1941 orchestration of “The Star-Spangled Banner”—something of a love note to the composer’s adopted country—followed by compelling reading of the complete Petrushka ballet. The score is, of course, strongly descriptive all by itself, but even so the projected images of the original sets, costumes, and members of the original Ballet Russes cast (including the great Najinsky in the title role) added considerably to the experience. We’ve become so accustomed to hearing great ballet scores performed in concert that it’s easy to forget how vital the element of sight is to those sounds. The Symphony’s use of what it calls a “visual narrative” is a welcome reminder of the theatrical roots of this music.

The visual narrative elements were much more sparse in the powerful performance of The Rite of Spring that concluded the evening, but given the nearly overwhelming force of this music, that’s probably just as well. As he did with the other works on the program, Mr. Robertson literally threw himself into this performance, dancing about the podium and conducting with broad but precise gestures; no Fritz Reineresque “vest pocket beat” here. This was not self-conscious theatricality, however, but clearly a genuine enthusiasm for the music. Both he and his musicians were clearly in the moment at every point, resulting in a performance that did equal justice the moments of exquisite delicacy and raucous violence in this still remarkably fresh music.

This was, in short, a very exciting beginning for the new season. My only real complaints are that, first, the house wasn’t nearly as full as it should have been and, second, that some audience members were apparently in such a hurry to get to the parking lot that they couldn’t even be bothered to applaud the great performances they’d just heard. Yes, I realize that this was a very full evening and that the two intermissions required to completely reset the stage before and after Les Noces resulted in a concert that ran a good half-hour longer than usual. Even so, would it have killed some of you to take another minute or two do let the musicians know you appreciate their hard work? I think not.

Next at Powell Hall: Maestro Robertson conducts Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 and the world premiere of Stephen Mackey’s Stumble Into Grace with Orli Shaham as piano soloist. Performances are Friday and Saturday, September 23 and 24. For more information you may call 314-534-1700, visit slso.org, or follow them on Facebook or @slso on Twitter.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of September 19, 2011

Updated Thursday, September 22

[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+

Family Musical Theater presents the musical The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas September 23 through October 2 at the Ivory Theatre, 7622 Michigan. For more information, visit familymusical.org or call 314-448-1436.

West County Family Y's Y-Rep presents The Broadway Fantasies Musical Revue Friday through Sunday, September 23 through 25. Performances take place at the West County YMCA, 16464 Burkhardt Place. For more information, call (636) 532-6515 Ext. 227.

Christ Memorial Productions presents the musical Bye, Bye, Birdie Friday sand Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, September 23 through October 2. Performances take place at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, 5252 South Lindbergh. For more information, visit CMPShows.org or call 314-631-0304.

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.

Dirty Blonde

Dramatic License Productions presents Claudia Shear's Dirty Blonde, based on the life of Mae West, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through October 2. Performances take place at Dramatic License Theatre located at the upper level of Chesterfield Mall (near Sears and across from Houlihan's Restaurant. For more information, call 636-220-7012 or visit dramaticlicenseproductions.com. Read the 88.1 KDHX Review!

The Touhill Performing Arts Center presents Ed Reggi's Instant Paper Slip Theatre, in which sketches are improvised on the spot based on audience suggestions. The performance takes place on Friday, September 23, at 7 PM. The Touhill Performing Arts Center in on the University of Missouri at St. Louis campus. For more information, visit ttouhill.org.

End Days

New Jewish Theatre presents Deborah Zoe Laufer's satirical End Days through September 25. 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 or visit www.newjewishtheatre.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX Review!

Gitana Productions presents Lee Patton Chiles's Inalienable Rights: From Pearl Harbor to 9/11 Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 PM and Sundays 3:00 PM through September 25. Performances take place at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar. For more information, visit gitana-inc.org or call 314-721-6556.

Lindenwood University's J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts presents impressionist Rich Little in Jimmy Stewart: A Humorous Look At His Life on Saturday, September 24, at 8 PM. The Scheidegger Center is on the Lindenwood campus in St Charles MO. For more information, visit lindenwood.edu/center.

Elise LaBarge

The St. Louis Art Museum presents Elise LaBarge in A Kurt Weill Cabaret on Friday, September 23, at 7 PM. Violinist Marc Thayer and pianist and music director Scott Schoonover will also perform in the free program, which takes place in the Gregg Gallery at the Art Museum in Forest Park. For more information, you may visit slam.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 Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents the musical Nunsensations through September 25. 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.

The Tivoli Theatre presents a video broadcast of the National Theatre production of One Man, Two Guvnors on Saturday, September 24 and October 1. The Tivoli is at 6350 Delmar. For more information, call (314) 995-6270.

New Line Theatre presents the St. Louis premiere of the rock musical Passing Strange Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, September 22 through October 15. “From singer-songwriter-performance artist Stew and his collaborator Heidi Rodewald comes a daring new rock musical that will take you on a journey across boundaries of place, identity and theatrical convention.” Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Road. For more information, call 314-534-1111. The show is directed by 88.1 KDHX's own Scott Miller.

Insight Theatre Company presents the drama Rabbit Hole September 22 through October 2. 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.

Red

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the Tony Award-winning play Red by John Logan through October 2. Performances take place on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University) in Webster Groves. For more information, visit repstl.org or call 314-968-4925. Read the 88.1 KDHX Review!

Black Cat Theatre Cabaret presents Rosemary Watts And Joe Dreyer: The Rojo Show on Friday, September 23, at 8 PM. Black Cat Theatre is at 2810 Sutton in Maplewood. For more information, call 314-781-8300 or visit blackcattheatre.org.

Alton Little Theater presents the musical The Spitfire Grill, based on the 1996 film, through September 25 at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit a altonlittletheater.org.

Stages St. Louis presents the musical Victor/Victoria through October 9. 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 88.1 KDHX Review!

Inspired Productions presents The Violinist September 21, 23, 24, and 25. “Written, directed, and musical score composed by three mothers of children with autism, The Violinist also stars a child with autism in a lead role.” Performances take place at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. For more information, call 636-449-0352 or visit www.afastl.org.

HotCity Theatre presents David Williams's dark fantasy The Winners Thursdays through Sundays through September 24. Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, visit www.hotcitytheatre.org or call 314-289-4063. Read the 88.1 KDHX Review!

Loony Tunes

Bugs as "Leopold"

Who: The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra conducted by George Daugherty
What: Bugs Bunny at the Symphony
Where: Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis
When: September 10 and 11, 2011

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I don’t know about anyone else, but my first exposure to classical music came from watching Saturday morning cartoons. Bits of Franz von Suppé’s overtures, in particular, were drilled into my subconscious whilst chortling at the antics of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Wile E. Coyote on our family’s old black and white Philco.

This past weekend guest conductor George Daugherty and the St. Louis Symphony offered an opportunity to return to those thrilling days of yesteryear, to paraphrase another major media influence from childhood. Created by Mr. Daugherty as a sequel to his 1990 Bugs Bunny on Broadway, Bugs Bunny at the Symphony features timeless (and a few not-so-timeless) Warner Brothers cartoons in which classical music played an important part. There were a few misses among the hits, but on the whole the program was good, family-friendly fun, with enough variety to keep both the kids and us aging Boomers entertained. At a little over two hours with intermission, however, it might have been a bit long for some of the younger audience members.

The Warner team produced around 1400 cartoons during the golden years of hand-drawn animation in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. They all had non-stop soundtracks that mixed themes from the classics with period pop songs and original material. Those arrangements, including most of the original tunes, were the work of the remarkable Carl Stalling, a Missouri native son who was once the resident organist at the old St. Louis Theatre—which is now Powell Hall. One could almost sense the ghost of the late Mr. Stallings smiling happily as the symphony zipped through his scores for “Rhapsody Rabbit” and “Baton Bunny” (among others) with stunning precision while Bugs cavorted on the screen overhead in crisp, digitally restored prints of the original ‘toons.

He would have been equally happy, I think, with the snappy orchestra-only performances of Smetana’s “Dance of the Comedians” from The Bartered Bride and von Suppé’s overture to The Beautiful Galatea, which opened the first and second halves of the program. Yes, the winds were a bit overpowering, but in a way that’s appropriate. The definitive Warner Brothers movie sound was always artificially bright and brassy.

I was pleased to see nearly all of the more famous classical music parodies on the program, including “The Rabbit of Seville” (set largely to bits of Rossini’s overture), “A Corny Concerto” (which sends up Johann Strauss and classical ballet), and of course, “What’s Opera, Doc?”, which uses music from six separate Wagner operas to lampoon the histrionic excesses sometimes associated with those operas. The “Salute to Bugs Bunny, from His Friends at Hanna-Barbera” sequence, however, struck me as something of an irrelevant distraction. Yes, “Tom and Jerry at the Hollywood Bowl” was fun, but the scenes from “Scooby-Doo” and “The Flintstones” (accompanied by brisk live performances of “In the Hall of the Mountain King” and Offenbach’s “Can-Can”, respectively) only served as a reminder of how cheesy Hanna-Barbera’s animation was in comparison to the WB product.

Still, George Daugherty’s Bugs Bunny at the Symphony is, on the whole, a cleverly conceived and smartly executed tribute to the endless inventiveness of animators such as Chuck Jones, Robert McKimson, and Bob Clampett as well as the ingenuity of Carl Stalling and his stalwart assistant and sometime pianist, Milt Franklyn. A splendid time was clearly had by all, and if events like this can open the eyes and ears of the younger set to the job of live music, I’m all for them. After all, my own early exposure to those cartoons eventually led to my learning to play, sing, and love the great works of the past and present. If the tinny sound of a small TV speaker could do that over half a century ago, surely the full might of the St. Louis Symphony can do it today. It gives one optimism, and that’s a quality in short supply these days

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony was the first live performance at Powell Hall of the 2011–2012 season. The first official subscription concert takes place next weekend, September 16 and 17. It’s an all-Stravinsky evening that features the scores for the ballets Petrushka, Les Noces, and The Rite of Spring, accompanied by “a visual narrative”. For more information you may call 314-534-1700, visit slso.org, or follow @slso on Twitter.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of September 12, 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+

The Edison Theatre Ovations! For Young People series presents juggler Mark Nizer in his new show, 3-D, on Saturday, September 15, at 11 AM. “He may not run with scissors, but Mark Nizer is the juggler your mother always warned you about. Buzzing chainsaws, electric carving knives, 16-pound bowling balls, even a flaming propane tank - all are tossed aloft and twirled about with gleeful, seemingly reckless abandon.” Performances take place in the Edison Theatre at the Mallinckrodt Center on the Washington University campus. For more information, call (314) 935-6543.

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.

Dramatic License Productions presents Claudia Shear's Dirty Blonde, based on the life of Mae West, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, September 15 through October 2. Performances take place at Dramatic License Theatre located at the upper level of Chesterfield Mall (near Sears and across from Houlihan's Restaurant. For more information, call 636-220-7012 or visit dramaticlicenseproductions.com.

End Days

New Jewish Theatre presents Deborah Zoe Laufer's satirical End Days through September 25. 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 or visit www.newjewishtheatre.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX Review!

Falling

Mustard Seed Theatre presents Falling, a world premiere written by Deanna Jent directed by Lori Adams. Performances take place Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through September 18, at the Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Blvd. For more information, call (314) 719-8060 or visit the web site at www.mustardseedtheatre.com. Read the 88.1 KDHX Review!

The Monroe Actors Stage Company presents the musical The Fantasticks Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:30 PM throug September 18 in the Historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Waterloo, Illinois. For more information, call 618-939-7469.

Gitana Productions presents Lee Patton Chiles's Inalienable Rights: From Pearl Harbor to 9/11 Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 PM and Sundays 3:00 PM through September 925. Performances take place at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar. For more information, visit gitana-inc.org or call 314-721-6556.

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 Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents the musical Nunsensations September 16 through 25. 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.

Atomic Cowboy Productions presents actress, playwright, and activist Sherry Glaser in her one-woman show Oh My Goddess!, Friday through Sunday at 8 PM, September 16 through 18. The Atomic Cowboy is at 4140 Manchester. For more information, visit brownpapertickets.com

Red

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the Tony Award-winning play Red by John Logan through October 2. Performances take place on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University) in Webster Groves. For more information, visit repstl.org or call 314-968-4925. Read the 88.1 KDHX Review!

KTK Productions presents the comedy Showtime at First Baptist Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, through September 18. Performances take place at Southampton Presbyterian Church, 4716 Macklind. For more information, visit kurtainkall.org or call 314-351-8984.

Alton Little Theater presents the musical The Spitfire Grill, based on the 1996 film, September 16 through 25 at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit a altonlittletheater.org.

Stray Dog Theatre presents Sit. Stay. Play. At the Stray Dog Cabaret!, a benefit cabaret evening on Saturday, September 17, at 8 PM. Joe Dreyer is music director and pianist for the performance, which takes place at Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee Avenue. For more information, call 314-865-1995.

Stages St. Louis presents the musical Victor/Victoria through October 9. 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.

HotCity Theatre presents David Williams's dark fantasy The Winners Thursdays through Sundays through September 24. Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, visit www.hotcitytheatre.org or call 314-289-4063. Read the 88.1 KDHX Review!

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of September 5, 2011

[Updated Friday, September 9, 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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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.

End Days

New Jewish Theatre presents Deborah Zoe Laufer's satirical End Days September 8 through 25. 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 or visit www.newjewishtheatre.org.

Falling

Mustard Seed Theatre presents Falling, a world premiere written by Deanna Jent directed by Lori Adams. Performances take place Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through September 18, at the Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Blvd. For more information, call (314) 719-8060 or visit the web site at www.mustardseedtheatre.com.

The Monroe Actors Stage Company presents the musical The Fantasticks Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:30 PM, September 9 through 18, in the Historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Waterloo, Illinois. For more information, call 618-939-7469.

Blue Rose Stage Collective and RiverCity Theatre present the drama The Guys August 26 through September 11, 2011 at ArtSpace in Crestwood Court at the corner of Watson and Old Sappington Roads in Crestwood, MO. For more information, visit brownpapertickets.com and look for event 190245 or call 314-658-7200. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Monroe Actors Stage Company presents the drama The Guys on Sunday, September 11, at 7:30 PM at Waterloo High School Auditorium in downtown Waterloo, Illinois. For more information, call 618-939-7469.

Gitana Productions presents Lee Patton Chiles's Inalienable Rights: From Pearl Harbor to 9/11 Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 PM and Sundays 3:00 PM, September 9 through 25. Performances take place at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar. For more information, visit gitana-inc.org or call 314-721-6556.

KTK Productions presents the comedy Showtime at First Baptist Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, September 9 through 18. Performances take place at Southampton Presbyterian Church, 4716 Macklind. For more information, visit kurtainkall.org or call 314-351-8984.

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.

Red

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the Tony Award-winning play Red by John Logan through October 2. Performances take place on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University) in Webster Groves. For more information, visit repstl.org or call 314-968-4925.

Stages St. Louis presents the musical Victor/Victoria September 9 through October 9. 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.

HotCity Theatre presents David Williams's dark fantasy The Winners Thursdays through Sundays, September 9 through 24. Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, visit www.hotcitytheatre.org or call 314-289-4063.