St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of February 9, 2015

[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 events web site.

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KTK Productions presents the comic thriller Any Number Can Die February 13-22. "A hilarious take off on the mystery plays of the Twenties complete with sliding panels, robed figures, wills being read at midnight, etc. The idioms, costumes, hairdos, and make up of the period add to the thrills and laughter. Four ingenious murders take place in an island mansion as a pair of elderly detectives set to work on their first case. The ever popular storm, the unexpected guests, the cryptic poem, and the missing fortune all add to the intricate and inventive mystery off which the laughs bounce." Performances take place at Southampton Presbyterian Church, 4716 Macklind. For more information: kurtainkall.org or call 314-351-8984.

Bashir Lazhar
Photo: Peter Wochniak

Upstream Theater presents Bashir Lazhar by Évelyne de la Chenelière through February 12. "An Algerian refugee in Montreal is hurriedly hired as a substitute for a class of sixth graders who, like him, have experienced recent trauma. As he devotes his heart and soul to his students, his unorthodox methods challenge a system embedded in routine. A timely and poetic piece about grief and healing, love and survival. In 2011 the play was adapted into the Oscar-nominated film Monsieur Lazhar." The play stars J. Samuel Davis with live music by Farshid Soltanshahi Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Wildey Theater presents Rob Becker's one-man comedy Defending the Caeman on Friday and Saturday, February 13 and 14. The Wildey Theatre is at 252 North Main Street in Edwardsville, Illinois. For more information, visit wildeytheatre.com.

Kevin Cherry

Mariposa Artists presents Kevin Cherry in Feelin' Good on Friday and Saturday, February 13 and 14, at 8 p.m. The show is directed by Ken Haller and features Patty Becker on piano. "Late in life, Kevin Cherry took his voice from the shower to the stage with the Gateway Men's Chorus. That led to ensemble performances in community engagements and on to St. Louis Cabaret Project conferences and showcases. Now he brings his tenor voice in three octaves to the Kranzberg Arts Center for an evening of light music." The performance takes place at the Kranzberg Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: kevincherry.brownpapertickets.com

St. Louis Community College at Meramec presents Larry's Shue's farce The Foreigner Wednesday through Sunday, February 11-15. Performances take place in the theatre on the campus at 11333 Big Bend Road. For more information, call 314-984-7500.

God of Carnage
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through February 21. "A comedy of manners ... without the manners. Two married couples meet to sort out a playground fight between their sons. At first, niceties are observed but as the evening progresses and the rum flows, the gloves come off and the night becomes a side-splitting free-for-all." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Jason Graae and Liz Callaway

Edison Theatre Ovations! presents Liz Callaway and Jason Graae in Happily Ever Laughter: A Valentines Party on Saturday, February 14, at 8 p.m. "Celebrate valentine's day with Liz Callaway and Jason Graae as they return to St. Louis for a romantic but platonic evening of love songs, high belting, and hilarity! With more than 11 Broadway shows, 60 recording/cast albums, and 35 movies and tv shows between them, these Broadway buddies will have you head over heels for their sweet stylings." The performance takes place at the 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity in University City. For more information: edison.wustl.edu.

The Gateway Men's Chorus presents Homegrown Cabaret Friday, February 13, at 8 PM. "Seventeen members of the Gateway Men's Chorus each take the spotlight in solo turns at a special fundraising concert, turning their personal stories into song. Ticket price includes drinks, hor d'oeuvres, a silent auction, and a tax-deductible contribution to the GMC's GALA Fund, which helps send the chorus to the 2016 GALA Festival.Ticket price includes drinks, hor d'oeuvres, a silent auction, and a tax-deductible contribution to the GMC's GALA Fund, which helps send the chorus to the 2016 GALA Festival." The concert takes place in the Rialto Ballroom at the Centene Center for the Arts, 3547 Olive Street in Grand Center. For more information: gmcstl.org.

The Monroe Actors Stage Company presents Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., through February 11, in the Historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Waterloo, Illinois. For more information, visit www.masctheatre.org or call 618-939-7469.

Mr. Marmalade
Photo: John Lamb

The West End Players Guild continues their 104th season with the comedy Mr. Marmalade Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, February 13-22. "Growing up isn't easy these days. Little Lucy is spending her childhood doing all the things little girls like to do - playing house, having tea parties and playing with friends both real and imaginary. But even as a tot, Lucy seems to have learned most of what she knows about life from reality TV and her childhood is chock-full of very odd, very adult stuff - the oddest of which may be Mr. Marmalade. He's the imaginary friend who rarely has time for Lucy because he's way too busy dealing with the demands of his day planner, anger management issues and some very adult naughty habits." There will also be a show on Thursday, February February 19, at 8 PM. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 North Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, call 314-367-0025 or visit www.westendplayers.org.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Murder in Mayberry. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Brass Rail Players present Dan Goggins' musical comedy Nunsense II: The Second Coming February 13-22. The performances take place at The Turkey Hill Grange, 1375 Illinois Rte. 15 in Belleville, IL. For more information, visit brassrailplayers.org.

GoodPeople Theatre presents the one-act play Old Wounds, written and directed by Mollie Jeanette Amburgey, Thursday through Saturday, February 12-14. "Old Wounds is a one-act performance piece about two old friends who reunite one evening for dinner which turn into a discussion of a dark event that happened in their pasts." The performances take place at the Betty Grable Room on the 7th floor of the Moonrise Hotel, 6177 Delmar in the Loop. For more information: goodpeopletheatre.tickleap.com/old-wounds.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Phantom of the Grand Ole Opery through April 26. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com

Clinton County Showcase presents Prelude to a Kiss trough February 15. "Prelude to a Kiss is a 1988 play by Craig Lucas. It tells the story of a couple that falls in love despite the girl's pessimistic outlook on life. Shortly after their wedding, a supernatural event tests the strength of their love and commitment to each other." Performances take place at the Avon Theater, 525 North 2nd Street Breese IL. For more information, visit ccshowcase.com.

St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley presents John Guare's comedy Six Degrees of Separation February 13-21. Performances take place in the Fisher Theatre on the campus at 3400 Pershall Road. For more information, call 314-644-5522.

The Black Rep presents Stick Fly through February 22. "This is the new, knockout comedy-drama featuring steamy romance, sexual sparks and generational conflicts. A wealthy African-American family gather in Martha's Vineyard for a few, super-charged days, and the results are gasp-worthy revelations. Directed by Lorna Littleway, director of The Piano Lesson." Performances take place at the Emerson Performance Center at Harris-Stowe State University in midtown. For more information: theblackrep.org Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Mustard Seed Theatre presents White to Gray through February 22. "Mustard Seed Theatre is proud to offer the world premiere of local playwright Rob Maesaka’s White to Gray-the story of a young couple, one white and one Japanese-American, en route to the mainland from Hawaii on a cruise ship when bombs drop on Pearl Harbor. Amidst fear and uncertainty and caught in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, loyalties are tested and love comes under suspicion." Performances take place 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!

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents Edward Albee's dark comedy Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? February 13 - March 1 at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. "George, a professor at a small college, and his wife, Martha, have just returned home, drunk from a Saturday night party. Martha announces, amidst general profanity, that she has invited a young couple-an opportunistic new professor at the college and his shatteringly naïve new bride-to stop by for a nightcap. When they arrive the charade begins. The drinks flow and suddenly inhibitions melt. It becomes clear that Martha is determined to seduce the young professor, and George couldn't care less. But underneath the edgy banter, which is crossfired between both couples, lurks an undercurrent of tragedy and despair. George and Martha's inhuman bitterness toward one another is provoked by the enormous personal sadness that they have pledged to keep to themselves: a secret that has seemingly been the foundation for their relationship. In the end, the mystery in which the distressed George and Martha have taken refuge is exposed, once and for all revealing the degrading mess they have made of their lives." For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

The Winslow Boy
©Photo by Lon Brauer

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Terrence Rattigan's The Winslow Boy February 11 - March 8. "When young Ronnie Winslow is expelled from military school for stealing a five-shilling postal order, his father wages an exhaustive fight to clear his son's name. What begins as a private matter quickly becomes a larger question of the rights of the individual against the power of the state. Though the legal battle jeopardizes his health and the reputation of the entire family, Arthur Winslow is determined that right will prevail, no matter what the sacrifice." Performances take place on the mainstage at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

Would you like to be on the radio? KDHX, 88.1 FM needs theatre reviewers. If you're 18 years or older, knowledgeable in this area, have practical theatre experience (acting, directing, writing, technical design, etc.), have good oral and written communications skills and would like to become one of our volunteer reviewers, send an email describing your experience and interests to chuck at kdhx.org. Please include a sample review of something you've seen recently.