Sunday, March 08, 2015

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of March 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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First Run Theatre presents the 13th Annual Reading Festival, featuring staged reading of the finalists of the annual script submission contest, Friday through Sunday, March 13-15. The schedule is: The Other Side by David Hawley Friday at 7 p.m.; Sparrows Fall by Richard T. Young Saturday at 10 a.m.; Waiting for Gabby by Jessica Beaustring Saturday at 1 p.m.; Elly and Hubert by David Hawley Saturday at 3 p.m.; and Gallows Tales by Steve Callahan Saturday at 7 p.m. Performances take place in the Thomas Hunter Theatre at DeSmet Jesuit High School, 233 N New Ballas Road. For more information email info at firstruntheatre.com, or visit www.firstruntheatre.com.

The St. Louis Family Theatre Series presents The Adventures Of Harold And The Purple Crayon March 13 and 14. '"One evening, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight." So begins Harold and the Purple Crayon, the first of seven delightful picture books by Crockett Johnson, following the zany adventures of an inventive young boy. As it turned out, there wasn't any moon that night nor was there a path to walk on, so Harold simply drew them. And thus his journey began. Resourceful and brave, Harold create the world he wants to explore, using nothing more than a big purple crayon and his sky's-the-limit imagination.' Performances take place at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker and Waterford in Florissant, MO. For more information, call 314-921-5678 or visit www.florissantmo.com.

Afflicted: Daughters of Salem
Photo: Victoria Lafferty
Metro Theatre Company and the Missouri History Museum present Afflicted: Daughters of Salem by Laurie Brooks through March 22. "Abigail Williams, Ann Putnam, Mercy Lewis, Mary Warren, and Betty Paris meet deep in the dark woods of Puritan New England at night. Denied all outlets for imagination and all hope for the future, the girls unite in a secret society - Allies are found, promises made and broken, power taken. When the girls force the slave Tituba to tell their fortunes, they ignite a crucible of events that burns out of control, leading straight to the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Through their secrets, gossip and accusations these girls become some of the most notorious teens in history." Performances take place in the Lee Auditorium at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. For more information: mohistory.org.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Buyer and Cellar March 11-29. "Inspired by Barbra Streisand's coffee table book, My Passion for Design, this uproarious fictional account of celebrity eccentricity takes us into Babs' basement, where she houses her unique collections in a small street of shops. An underemployed actor becomes the caretaker, interacting with Barbra in moments both hilarious and surprisingly tender. A runaway hit in New York, this one-man show takes us into the ultimate fantasy of a star-struck dreamer as he fills the oddest of odd jobs." Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

Jerry Springer the Opera
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre presents the St. Louis premiere of the musical Jerry Springer the Opera Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, through March 18. "The New Line season continues with one of New Line's wildest and most ambitious projects, JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA, the smash-hit, multi-award winning musical that ran to unprecedented rave reviews and standing ovations at the National Theatre in London, after a sold-out run in London's West End. The Sunday Times called it “a shocking, irresistibly funny masterpiece.” With music by Richard Thomas, and book and lyrics by Thomas and Stewart Lee, this is an audacious, fearless piece of theatre that brilliantly and hilariously dissects the cultural forces that have kept Jerry Springer on the air all these years, the lives of quiet desperation that explode into public view in Springer's weirdly nonjudgmental, national confessional." Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Road. . For more information, visit newlinetheatre.com or call 314-534-1111.

The Presenters Dolan present Ben Nordstrom in Living in the Moment on Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "As one of the most popular and sought after performers in town, Ben performs everywhere - Stages, the MUNY, the Rep, and many of our professional companies. He has wholeheartedly embraced cabaret, and cabaret is lucky to have him." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

Linda Kennedy
The Presenters Dolan present Linda Kennedy in Melody/Movement on Thursday, March 12, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. " She has presence. She holds the stage. Leading lady Linda Kennedy makes her solo cabaret debut. Linda Kennedy was recently recognized as St. Louis Best Actress in 2014 by the Riverfront Times. In 2012, Ms. Kennedy received a Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award from the Arts and Education Council. She has been the Artistic Associate with the Black Rep for years, where she has played many leading roles. She has frequently appeared in Upstream Theatre productions. Linda is a two-time Kevin Klein nominee." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

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

The Black Rep presents Paul Robeson March 11-29. "In Phillip Hayes Dean's biographical two-man play, the legendary actor, singer and political activist Paul Robeson sings songs and tells stories of his multi-faceted career, from triumphs in Show Boat and The Emperor Jones, to his fight for racial equality to accusations of Communist involvement." Performances take place at the Emerson Performance Center at Harris-Stowe State University in midtown. For more information: theblackrep.org.

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

The Fox Theatre presents a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Phantom of the Opera through March 15. The Fox Theatre is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents the drama Radium Girls March 13-22. "In 1926, Grace Fyler has a supportive family, a steady boyfriend, and a good factory job. She and her girlfriends paint luminous watch dials with the newly invented radium-based paint. After some of the girls begin to experience symptoms of a mysterious illness, Grace questions whether the paint is to blame. She quits her job but she, too, develops symptoms. Grace takes action and sues her employer. Her chief adversary is former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employees. Inspired by true events, Radium Girls is a touching and powerful story of corporate greed and the courage of one individual determined to make a difference." Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre of the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road. For more information, call 314-821-9956 or visit ktg-onstage.org.

Sight Unseen
New Jewish Theater presents Sight Unseen March 12-29. “Jonathan Waxman, a Brooklyn Jew, has become a wealthy, critically acclaimed artist so popular that collectors will buy his work "sight unseen." In London for a major retrospective of his work, Jonathan impulsively decides to journey to the countryside to visit his former model and lover Patricia in the Norfolk farmhouse where she lives and works with her archeologist husband, Nick. In the process, we begin to question the tangled relationships of art, money, love and inspiration. It is also a commentary on the sacrifices entailed in getting older - and getting ahead.” Performances take place in the Marvin and Harlene Wool Studio Theater at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive in Creve Coeur. For more information: www.newjewishtheatre.org or call 314-442-3283.

The Looking Glass Playhouse presents the Steel Magnolias Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., March 12-22. Performances take place at 301 West St. Louis Street in Lebanon, Ill. For more information, visit www.lookingglassplayhouse.com.

The Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents the classic comedy You Can't Take it With You Fridays through Sundays through March 15. Performances take place in the Guild theatre at Newport and Summit in Webster Groves, MO. For more information: theatreguildwg.org or call 314-962-0876.

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.

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