St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of May 18, 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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Shakespeare Festival St. Louis presents Anthony and Cleopatra nightly except for Tuesdays, May 22 through June 14. Performances take place in Shakespeare Glen next to the Art Museum in Forest Park. Curtain time is 8 PM. For more information, visit shakespearefestivalstlouis.org.

Pre-performance picnics in the gardens
at Opera Theatre
Photo: Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Rossini's comedy The Barber of Seville in rotating repertory with three other operas May 23 through June 27. "There's a good reason it's one of the world's most popular operas! Rossini's zany and sparkling score sets the gold standard for opera that is fresh, elegant, funny, and brimming with vocal fireworks. Delight as the young barber Figaro helps Count Almaviva steal the beautiful Rosina from under the nose of her doddering guardian." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org or call 314-961-0644.

Gitana Productions presents Black and Blue by by Lee Patton Chiles with music by Tbeats Entertainment Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, May 22-24. “An original play of hope and healing, exploring the assumptions that all young black men are dangerous, and that all cops are bad.” Performances take place in the Lee Auditorium at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. For more information: www.gitana-inc.org.

Chuck Lavazzi
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg

The Cabaret Project and 88.1 KDHX present the gala Third Anniversary cabaret open mic night on Wednesday, May 20, from 7 to 10 PM at the Tavern of Fine Arts “Drop by and enjoy a night of great music from St. Louis cabaret artists, backed up by the inimitable Carol Schmidt on the baby grand.” The master of ceremonies is Chuck Lavazzi, senior performing arts critic at 88.1 KDHX. If you're planning to sing, be prepared to do one or two songs and bring music, preferably in your key. At least one of your two songs should be a medium-or up-tempo number. We'd also recommend that you have your song memorized. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt at Waterman in the Central West End. There's free parking in the lot right across the street. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents A Fistful Of Hollers May 1 through August 29. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Taylor Gruenloh

Tesseract Theatre Company presents An Initial Condition by Taylor Gruenloh through May 24. "A determination to create a miracle turns into a journey of the unknown when Chance, a young mathematician, is brought on to help map out cancer in a young girl's body. His determination to solve the problem inside Sarah's body takes Chance to places that are unimaginable." Performances take place at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar. For more information: tesseracttheatre.org.

Alpha Players present the comedy King o' the Moon (Over the Tavern, Part 2) by Tom Dudzick through May 25 at The Florissant Civic Center Theater, Parker Rd. at Waterford Dr. in Florissant, MO. For more information: alphaplayers.org or, call 314-921-5678.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Mayhem In Mayberry through July 26. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com

My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding
Photo: Eric Woolsey

New Jewish Theater presents the musical My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding through May 31. "The surprise hit of both the Toronto Fringe Festival and New York Musical Theater Festival, My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding is the sweet, tuneful and true story of the journey of the playwright's mother as she discovered her true self. Despite its specific title, MMLJWW is a universal story about parents and children, falling in love, and finding out who you are. It has heart and soul and in today's political climate, it couldn't be more timely - plus, it's a TRUE STORY!" 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. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Circus Harmony presents Peace Through Pyramids: Ferguson on Monday, May 18 at 7 p.m. at the JCCA, 2 Millstone Campus Drive, as part of the Unsung Heroes ceremony. "Thanks to a Social Impact grant from the Regional Arts Commission and a PNC project grant from the Arts & Education Council of St. Louis Circus Harmony will start the first chapter of Peace Through Pyramids: Ferguson by sharing the story of the St. Louis Arches and the Galilee Circus. The presentation will end with a circus workshop for all participants. The St. Louis Arches are an internationally renowned youth circus troupe comprised of children ages 9-19 from different socioeconomic areas throughout St. Louis." For more information: circusharmony.org.

Circus Harmony presents Peace Through Pyramids: Ferguson on Wednesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. at the Ferguson Municipal Public Library 35 North Florissant Road in Ferguson, Missouri. "Thanks to a Social Impact grant from the Regional Arts Commission and a PNC project grant from the Arts & Education Council of St. Louis Circus Harmony will start the first chapter of Peace Through Pyramids: Ferguson by sharing the story of the St. Louis Arches and the Galilee Circus. The presentation will end with a circus workshop for all participants. The St. Louis Arches are an internationally renowned youth circus troupe comprised of children ages 9-19 from different socioeconomic areas throughout St. Louis." For more information: circusharmony.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.