St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of February 1, 2016

[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.

Share on Google+

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents And Away You Go through March 27. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

The Looking Glass Playhouse presents the musical comedy Avenue Q Wednesdays through Sundays through February 7. "The laugh-out-loud musical tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that although the residents seem nice, it's clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life." The show is recommended for mature audiences. Performances take place at 301 West St. Louis Street in Lebanon, Ill. For more information, visit www.lookingglassplayhouse.com.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Clueless through April 16. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com

Mustard Seed Theatre presents the comedy Eleemosynary Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., February 5 - 21. “Both funny and poignant, this play examines the subtle and often perilous relationship between three remarkable women: a young girl, her mother, and her grandmother. Artie abandons her daughter Echo to be raised by Echo's grandmother, Dorothea. But when Dorothea's health begins to fail, can Artie and Echo move beyond the superficiality of words and begin to build a deeper relationship?” 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. The Monroe Actors Stage Company presents Foxfire Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., February 5-14, in the Historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Waterloo, Illinois. For more information, visit www.masctheatre.org or call 618-939-7469.

Georama
Photo: Peter Wochniak

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the world premiere of the musical Georama through February 7. "In the mid 1800s, John Banvard created the first georama, a three-mile long scrolled painting celebrating the majesty of the Mighty Mississippi. Once a starving sketch artist, his creation catapulted him to a life of luxury and notoriety, but also brought competition and deception that threatened to push his passion to the wayside. Georama illustrates an artist's rise and fall, and the choice between the art he loves and the life he's always longed for." Performances take place in the studio theater at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Alpha Players present the drama Good People through February 7 at The Florissant Civic Center Theater, Parker Rd. at Waterford Dr. in Florissant, MO. "In South Boston, this month's paycheck covers last month's bills, bingo is a night out on the town, and single-mom Margie Walsh has lost her job again and is a Bingo game away from homelessness. She reaches out to an old flame from her youth - now a successful doctor - Margie risks everything to find her fresh start in this humor - filled drama, from Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, about how the twists and turns of life are fated to determine our path." For more information: alphaplayers.org or call 314-921-5678.

The Improv Shop presents Heartbreak running through March 19. "Heartbreak is an improvised serial show where we explore, in depth, the stages of doomed relationships. Watch characters go from strangers to friends, friends to lovers, and from lovers to heartbreakers. Heartbreak. It doesn't happen all at once." The Improv Shop is at 510 North Euclid in the Central West End. For more information on this and other Improv Shop shows: theimprovshop.com.

Stray Dog Theatre presents the Agatha Christie thriller I'll Be Back Before Midnight Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM February 4-20. “Having suffered a nervous breakdown, Jan retreats with her husband to an old, country farmhouse where the owner delights in telling gruesome ghost stories. Before long, eerie sounds and visions are tormenting Jan. Is she suffering another breakdown or is someone trying to drive her mad?" Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

Lunar New Year Festival (LNYF) presents a program in honor of the Lunar New Year Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., February 5, and 6. "Through a great variety of exciting performances of acting, dancing, and music, people of all backgrounds can enjoy and celebrate the New Year together. LNYF seeks to leave a prolonged impact upon its viewers through our skit and philanthropy. In the skit, we seek to demonstrate important issues that Asian Americans deal with on a daily basis." The performances take place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: edison.wustl.edu.

The Monocle presents an open mic night every Mondays from 9:00pm to midnight. "Musical Theater actor? Cabaret singer? Balladeer? Beleter? Coloratura soprano? Crooner? Student? Teacher? Performer? Fan? Come on down and sing. All are welcome. Ron Bryant is your accompanist. Bring your sheet music"." The monocle is at 4510 Manchester in The Grove neighborhood. For more information: themonoclestl.com.

Upstream Theater presents Shining City by Connor McPherson, with live music by Farshid Soltanshahi, through February 14. "In 2003 in a modest Dublin office, a young ex-priest-turned-therapist is consulted by a well-off businessman with a terrible secret. How these characters change, and how they change each other, is the story-a story that will grip you and move you and make you laugh and send shivers down your spine." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

Underneath the Lintel
Photo: Eric Woolsey

New Jewish Theater presents the one-character play Underneath the Lintel by Glenn Berger through February 13. “A haunting, beautifully constructed one-person meditation on time and devotion. A returned library book, 113 years overdue with a clue scribbled in the margin and an unclaimed dry-cleaning ticket take the Dutch librarian on a life-changing quest with an obsession to find its owner. Our protagonist follows multiple clues- tickets to the Peking Opera, a love letter written in Yiddish - on a world-wide search that ultimately decodes the meaning of life. A metaphysical detective story that is funny and fierce, quirky and smart.” 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.

Cocktails and Curtain Calls presents The Weir, the award-winning play by Irish playwright Conor McPherson, Monday through Thursday at 8:00pm, through February 18. It will be the first local production to utilize the new Members' Project Code, under the auspices of the Actors' Equity Association. All profits from ticket sales go directly to the artists. Performances will take place at McGurk's Irish Pub and Dressel's in the Central West End. For details on performance times and locatsions, visit CocktailsandCurtainCalls.com.

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.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of February 1, 2016

The New Rosebud Café at the Scott Joplin House State Historic Site presents Jeff Barnhart in an evening of stride, blues and ragtime piano on Sunday, February 7, at 2 p.m.  The Scott Joplin House is at 2658 Delmar in midtown.  For more information: friendsofscottjoplin.org.

Anthony Marwood

The St. Louis Symphony conducted by violinist Anthony Marwood presents an evening of chamber music by Bach, Dvořák, and Peteris Vasks on Friday and Saturday, February 5 and 6, at 8 p.m.  The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center.  For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents pianist Michael Tsalka performaning Bach's Goldberg Variations on Monday, February 1, at 8 p.m.  "Early Keyboard performer and pianist Michael Tsalka (Netherlands/Israel) has won numerous prizes and awards in Europe, the U.S.A., the Middle East and Latin America. A versatile musician, he performs with equal virtuosity a wide span of repertoire from the early Baroque to our days on the modern piano, harpsichord, fortepiano, clavichord, square piano and chamber organ." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood.   For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents pianist the Concordia String Trio on Thursday, February 4, at 8 p.m.  "The Concordia String Trio (Marcia Henry Liebenow, violin; Leslie Perna, viola; Karen Becker, cello) explores and expands the eclectic repertoire of an under-appreciated genre – the string trio. Dedicated to discovering and performing lesser-known gems of chamber music, they will present three unique trios on this program by composers Julius Zellner, John Harbison, and Richard von Perger." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood.   For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Arianna String Quartet

The Touhill Performing Arts Center presents The Arianna String Quartet in Salud! Saude! on Friday, February 5, at 8 PM.  "In celebration of their seventh trip to Brazil, the Arianna Quartet brings the sounds from three of South America’s very best to St. Louis! The poised elegance of Heitor Villa-Lobos’ String Quartet No.1 is followed by the hypnotic, infectious sounds of Astor Piazzolla’s emblematic Argentinian tango style, and Alberto Ginastera’s sizzling String Quartet No.1 brings the evening to a fiery close."  The Touhill Performing Arts Center in on the University of Missouri at St. Louis campus.  For more information: touhill.org.

The Touhill Performing Arts Center presents Shelley Monier, flute, and Diane Umali, piano, on Saturday, February 6, at 8 PM.  " Dr. Shelly Monier is on faculty at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where she teaches Applied Flute, Introduction to Music History and conducts the Flute Choir. She is also an Adjunct Professor at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley and teaches and performs in the St. Louis area. Dr. Monier is the president of the Flute Society of Saint Louis and performs with the St. Louis Wind Symphony."  The Touhill Performing Arts Center in on the University of Missouri at St. Louis campus.  For more information: touhill.org.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of January 29, 2016

As always, the choices are purely my personal opinion. Take with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.

Share on Google+:

New This Week:

The Looking Glass Playhouse presents the musical comedy Avenue Q Wednesdays through Sundays January 28 - February 7. "The laugh-out-loud musical tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that although the residents seem nice, it's clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life." The show is recommended for mature audiences. Performances take place at 301 West St. Louis Street in Lebanon, Ill. For more information, visit www.lookingglassplayhouse.com.

My take: I have not seen Looking Glass's production, but I can tell you that the show itself is very funny and very true to life, even though all the characters are puppets manipulated by actors who are visible at all times, in the manner of Japanese bunraku (or Disney's Lion King, for a more Western reference).

Georama
Photo: Peter Wochniak

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the world premiere of the musical Georama through February 7. "In the mid 1800s, John Banvard created the first georama, a three-mile long scrolled painting celebrating the majesty of the Mighty Mississippi. Once a starving sketch artist, his creation catapulted him to a life of luxury and notoriety, but also brought competition and deception that threatened to push his passion to the wayside. Georama illustrates an artist's rise and fall, and the choice between the art he loves and the life he's always longed for." Performances take place in the studio theater at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

My take: As I write in my review, this show could use some tweaking here and there (this is the world premiere, after all) but otherwise it's a very entertaining and educational look at an overlooked aspect of late 19th-century showbiz: the moving panorama. Arguably the precursor of motion pictures (since it was, after all, a picture that moved), the moving panorama was eclipsed by photography and then movies, but for a while it was all the rage. And this is the fascinating tale of the man who invented the genre.

Underneath the Lintel
Photo: Eric Woolsey

New Jewish Theater presents the one-character play Underneath the Lintel by Glenn Berger January 28 - February 13. “A haunting, beautifully constructed one-person meditation on time and devotion. A returned library book, 113 years overdue with a clue scribbled in the margin and an unclaimed dry-cleaning ticket take the Dutch librarian on a life-changing quest with an obsession to find its owner. Our protagonist follows multiple clues- tickets to the Peking Opera, a love letter written in Yiddish - on a world-wide search that ultimately decodes the meaning of life. A metaphysical detective story that is funny and fierce, quirky and smart.” 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.

My take: I haven't seen the New Jewish production yet, but having reviewed the play itself when the St. Lou Fringe presented in in 2014 (in a bravura performance by Pat O'Brien), I can tell you that it's a terrific script. It's a fantasy, a mystery, and a wonderfully human story about the pursuit of someone who is no longer human at all. New Jewish is doing a revised version of the script in which the character is female rather than male, but given that the character's gender is largely irrelevant to the story, I think we can assume the script will be little different from what I saw back in 2014.

The cast of The Weir

Cocktails and Curtain Calls presents The Weir, the award-winning play by Irish playwright Conor McPherson, Monday through Thursday at 8:00pm, Jan 25 to February 11. It will be the first local production to utilize the new Members' Project Code, under the auspices of the Actors' Equity Association. All profits from ticket sales go directly to the artists. Performances will take place at McGurk's Irish Pub and Dressel's in the Central West End. For details on performance times and locatsions, visit CocktailsandCurtainCalls.com.

My take: We saw McPherson's play many years ago in London, and found it a rattling good ghost story: well written with plausible characters. In his review for KDHX, Steve Callahan says that "Cocktails and Curtain Calls company gives us what, to me, must be the definitive production of this beautiful play." At Ladue News, Mark Bretz writes that the company "makes an impressive debut with a grand regaling of Irish playwright Conor McPherson’s chilling drama...Setting the production in an actual tavern enhances the atmosphere immensely and, combined with director Kari Ely’s careful direction of a top-rate cast, makes The Weir a fanciful tale and a tonic for a deep winter’s night."

Held Over:

Newsies
Photo: Deen van Meer

The Fox Theatre presents the musical Disney's Newsies, opening on Tuesday, January 19, and running through January 31. " They delivered the papers, until they made the headlines. Direct from Broadway comes NEWSIES, the smash-hit, crowd-pleasing new musical from Disney. Based on true events, NEWSIES tells the captivating story of a band of underdogs who become unlikely heroes when they stand up to the most powerful men in New York. It's a rousing tale about fighting for what's right...and staying true to who you are." The Fox Theatre is at 517 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, fabulousfox.com or call 314-534-1678.

My take: In her review for KDHX, Missy Heinemenn says that musical adaptation of a not-very-successful film offers "a nostalgic treat for some and a high-energy theatrical experience for all." "Disney's crowd-pleasing musical includes triumphant tales of woe that will melt cold hearts," writes Lynn Venhaus at the Belleville News-Democrat, "while the robust dance routines have the touring show's rabid fan base cheering loudly." The show copped two Tonys when it opened on Broadway in 2012 (for choreography and score). If my week hadn't been so booked, I would have certainly been at the Fox on opening night to catch this one myself.

Circus Harmony presents Giocoso Saturdays at 2 and 7 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, January 23 - 31. Performances take place at City Museum, 701 N. 15th Street. Show admission is free with museum admission. For more information: circusharmony.org.

My take: Circus Harmony does excellent outreach work that demonstrates how the arts can make a big difference in the community. If you've ever seen a Circus Flora show, of course, you've seen some of Circus Harmony's students at work as The St. Louis Arches, but the organization's reach and mission go far beyond that. "Circus Harmony," according to their web site, "teaches the art of life through circus education. We work to build character and expand community for youth of all ages, cultures, abilities and backgrounds. Through teaching and performance of circus skills, we help people defy gravity, soar with confidence, and leap over social barriers, all at the same time." Since their 2001 Circus Salaam Shalom, which brought Jewish and Muslim kids in St. Louis together, Circus Harmony has been advancing its philosophy of "peace through pyramids, harmony through handspirngs" to "inspire individuals and connect communities."

The Lion in Winter
Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents James Goldman's The Lion in Winter through January 31. "During Christmas of 1183, King Henry II of England plans to announce his successor to the throne. But in this amusing and high-spirited romp, other members of the royal family have their own opinions of who should be crowned king. As he feuds with his estranged wife, Eleanor, and attempts to navigate the minefield of his bickering sons, all of whom have a stake in the game, it's open season on the English throne, bringing a whole new meaning to dysfunctional family drama." 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.

My take: This is a tough call for me. I'm not very persuaded by director Edward Stern's approach to the text. I think he rushes it a bit and misses many nuances in Goldman's witty dialog. Reviews, however, have been very positive. "The Rep's production," writes Tina Farmer at KDHX, "finds more humor in the script than I remember, and the subtle differences in inflection and emotion expertly counter the frequently ambiguous actions of the characters. The effect is mesmerizing, giving the well-known show a fresh, vibrant energy and suspenseful tone that propels the story." And over at stltoday.com, Judy Newmark calls it a "satisfying, well-seasoned, wonderfully witty drama — perfect fare for a cold winter's night." It has been a while since we've had a solid professional production of this literate and intelligent script and this one has an excellent cast and great production values, so I'm giving it a qualified thumbs up.

Sunset Baby
Photo: Stewart Goldstein

The Black Rep presents the drama Sunset Baby through January 31. "Kenyatta Shakur is alone. His wife has died, and now this former Black Revolutionary and political prisoner is desperate to reconnect with his estranged daughter." Performances take place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: theblackrep.org

My take: The Black Rep has often delivered new and important plays that speak to the black experience, and this appears to be a case in point. "The Black Rep's production of Dominque Morisseau's searing contemporary drama", writes Tina Farmer at KDHX, "is a tense show that suffers no fools and offers no easy answers. Set in an urban neighborhood rife with gun crime, prostitution, and drugs, the show avoids simple stereotypes and pat responses. Instead we see authentic people, with significant flaws and genuinely admirable qualities combined, who are trying to make their way to a better place." "Sober, strong and striking," writes Mark Bretz at Ladue News, "Sunset Baby is a powerful study of both the past and the present."

St. Louis theatre circle announces nominees for 2015 awards

The St. Louis Theater Circle at the 2015 awards

Share on Google+

The joint will be jumpin' on Monday, March 21, 2016, at the 700-seat Skip Viragh Center on the Chaminade campus. There will be bright lights, video cameras, and a red carpet for the celebs. What's the buzz? Is it the Emmys, Oscars, Grammys, or maybe the Hugos? No to all. It's something uniquely St. Louis.

It will, in fact, be the third annual St. Louis Theater Circle Awards. Created in 2012, the St. Louis Theater Circle is a volunteer organization whose voting members are all theatre critics for local media outlets and web sites, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Vital Voice, KMOX, KDHX (yes, that would be me; also Tina Farmer), Ladue News, and ALIVE Magazine.

Our mission is to honor St. Louis professional theatre by saluting local actors, directors, and designers in all areas of theatre. The awards are designed to focus attention on the dozens of area theater companies which showcase the work of the work of those theatre professionals. Other cities around the country, such as Phoenix, San Diego, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., honor their own local theatrical productions with similar awards programs. See below for a complete list of nominees.

We're doing it not with a big, elaborate and expensive formal gala but with a party to which everyone is invited and for which the admission price is a mere $15 ("Cheap," to quote Alfred E. Neuman).  Tickets are available in advance at brownpapertickets.com. A pre-ceremony buffet and open bar will be situated just outside the theater entrance.  Food and drinks will be available on a cash basis, but the buffet has to be ordered and paid for in advance. Check out the With Love Catering site for details or call 314-637-7907.

That's a deal even the late Steve Mizerany would have found hard to beat. Because, bottom line, the whole point of this is for us to get together with our fellow theatre professionals and audience members and celebrate the lively and diverse scene here in St. Louis.

About those video cameras: the whole shebang is being broadcast and webcast live on HEC-TV Charter channel 989, U-Verse channel 99, and at hectv.org. So while we hope you'll join us in person, you can always settle down with some popcorn and watch us on TV. A previously taped program about the awards, prepared by HEC producer Julie Winkle, will be shown on HEC immediately preceding the festivities.

Local composer and pianist Joe Dreyer (whose latest cabaret show is part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival) will provide musical accompaniment throughout the evening. Professional photographer Jill Ritter Lindberg will photograph it all.

As Mr. Mizerany often said, "come on down!"

Some interesting notes, courtesy of fellow Circle member Lynn Venhaus at the Belleville News Democrat:

• The opera category received 6 nominations, the most yet: Opera Theatre with 5 (3 for Emmeline, 1 for The Barber of Seville, and 1 for La Rondine) and Union Avenue Opera with 1 for Rigoletto (which was one of the best opera productions I've seen anywhere, including Opera Theatre and Chicago Lyric).
• The top individual vote getters were Rob Lippert with 3 (two set designs at New Line and one at Stray Dog) and Rusty Wandall with 3 (two sound designs for The Rep and one for Shakespeare Festival St. Louis).
• Scott Miller received 2 directing nods, Em Piro two acting nods and Eileen Engel 2 - one for costumes, one for performance).
• The company with the single largest number of nominations was the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
• The most-nominated musical was "Anything Goes" at Stages with Stray Dog Theatre's "Mystery of Edwin Drood" a very close second (and both outstanding shows in my opinion).
• Speaking of musicals, the two companies with the largest number of nominations were The Muny (15) and Stray Dog (14).  Given that Stray Dog's budget is a tiny fraction of the Muny's, I that Stray Dog can be very proud of that.  New Line and Stages shared second place with 11 each.
• There were no special awards this year.  The Special Awards category is one that we decided could have as many or as few recipients as needed (including none) in any given year.

The St. Louis Theater Circle Award nominees for 2015:

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy

Betsy Bowman, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, St. Louis Actors’ Studio

Shinnerrie Jackson, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Erin Kelley, The Killing of Sister George, Max & Louie Productions

Shannon Nara, The Killing of Sister George, Max & Louie Productions

Jeanitta Perkins, The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler, St. Louis Shakespeare

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy

John Bratkowski, The World Begun, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

Michael Brightman, Mr. Marmalade, West End Players Guild

Jeffrey C. Hawkins, Peter and the Starcatcher, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Pete Winfrey, Bad Jews, New Jewish Theatre

John Wolbers, Wild Oats, St. Louis Shakespeare

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy

Lavonne Byers, The Killing of Sister George, Max & Louie Productions

Kari Ely, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , St. Louis Actors’ Studio

Suzanne Grodner, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Linda Kennedy, The Gin Game, St. Louis Actors’ Studio

Em Piro, Bad Jews, New Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy

John Feltch, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Peter Mayer, The Gin Game, St. Louis Actors’ Studio

Antonio Rodriguez, Bad Jews, New Jewish Theatre

William Roth, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, St. Louis Actors’ Studio

Jeremy Webb, Buyer and Cellar, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Play

Joseph Clapper, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Upstream Theater

Patrick Huber, Sublime Intimacy, Max & Louie Productions

Bess Moynihan, One Flea Spare, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble

Peter E. Sargent, Angel Street, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis 

Nathan Schroeder, Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, R-S Theatrics

Outstanding Sound Design in a Play

Paige Brubeck and Evan Sult, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Upstream Theater

Fitz Patton, All the Way, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Rusty Wandell, Angel Street, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis 

Rusty Wandall, Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

Rusty Wandall, I and You, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Costume Design in a Play

Beth Ashby, An Invitation Out, Mustard Seed Theatre

Dorothy Marshall Englis, The Winslow Boy, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

JC Krajicek, The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler, St. Louis Shakespeare

Cyndi Lohrmann, The Killing of Sister George, Max & Louie Productions

David Toser, Angel Street, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Set Design in a Play

Wilson Chin, Angel Street, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis 

Scott C. Neale, Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

Paul Shortt, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Peter and Margery Spack, Safe House, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Mark Wilson, An Invitation Out, Mustard Seed Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama

Kelly Taffe, Safe House, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Jennifer Theby-Quinn, Afflicted: Daughters of Salem, Metro Theater Company

Cassia Thompson, Safe House, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Elizabeth Van Pelt, Rapture, Blister, Burn, West End Players Guild

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama

Will Cobbs, Safe House, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

John Flack, Sublime Intimacy, Max & Louie Productions

Andrew Kuhlman, One Flea Spare, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble

Michael James Reed, All the Way, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Chris Tipp, Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, Stray Dog Theatre

Outstanding Actress in a Drama

Shirine Babb, Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

Emily Baker, Sight Unseen, New Jewish Theatre

Danielle Carlacci, I and You, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Amy Loui, The Amish Project, Mustard Seed Theatre

Lisa Tejero, The Kiss, Upstream Theater

Outstanding Actor in a Drama

J. Samuel Davis, Bashir Lazhar, Upstream Theater

Brian Dykstra, All the Way, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Daniel Morgan Shelley, Safe House, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Jerry Vogel, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Upstream Theater

Eric Dean White, The Kiss, Upstream Theater

Outstanding New Play

Nancy Bell, The World Begun, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

Shualee Cook, An Invitation Out, Mustard Seed Theatre

Neil LaBute, Kandahar, St. Louis Actors’ Studio

Ken Page, Sublime Intimacy, Max & Louie Productions

Alec Wild, Off the Record, OnSite Theatre

Outstanding Musical Director

Jeffrey Richard Carter, The Threepenny Opera, New Line Theatre

Charles Creath, Once on This Island, The Black Rep

Michael Horsley, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, The Muny

George Manahan, Emmeline, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Chris Petersen, Dogfight, Stray Dog Theatre 

Outstanding Choreographer

Stephen Bourneuf, Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis

Denis Jones, Holiday Inn, The Muny

Dan Knechtges and Jessica Hartman, Hairspray, The Muny

Susan Stroman and Ginger Thatcher, Oklahoma!, The Muny

Keith Tyrone Williams, Once on This Island, The Black Rep

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical

Eileen Engel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stray Dog Theatre

Heather Headley, Into the Woods, The Muny

Sydney Mancasola, La rondine, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Sarah Porter, The Threepenny Opera, New Line Theatre

Zoe Vonder Haar, The Full Monty, Stages St. Louis

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical

Dan Fenaughty, Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis

Joneal Joplin, The Fantasticks, Insight Theatre Company

Rob McClure, Beauty and the Beast, The Muny

Milton Craig Nealy, The Full Monty, Stages St. Louis

Sam Weber, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, The Muny

Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical

Christopher Akerlind, Emmeline, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Tyler Duenow, Dogfight, Stray Dog Theatre 

John Lasiter, Oklahoma!, The Muny 

Sean M. Savoie, Once on This Island, The Black Rep

Sean M. Savoie, Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis

Outstanding Set Design in a Musical

Shoko Kambara, The Barber of Seville, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Rob Lippert, Dogfight, Stray Dog Theatre

Rob Lippert, Heathers, New Line Theatre

Rob Lippert, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stray Dog Theatre

James Wolk, Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis

Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical

Eileen Engel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stray Dog Theatre

Andrea Lauer, Into the Woods, The Muny

Brad Musgrove, Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis

Sarah Porter, The Threepenny Opera, New Line Theatre

Alejo Vietti, Holiday Inn, The Muny

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Julie Cardia, Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis

Shannon Cothran, Dogfight, Stray Dog Theatre

Erin Dilly, Into the Woods, The Muny

Joyce El-Khoury, Emmeline, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Anna Skidis, Heathers, New Line Theatre

Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Andy Christopher, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, The Muny

Ben Davis, Oklahoma!, The Muny

Evan Fornachon, Heathers, New Line Theatre

Gerry Love, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stray Dog Theatre

Jordan Shanahan, Rigoletto, Union Avenue Opera

Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy

Bad Jews, New Jewish Theatre

Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, R-S Theatrics

The 39 Steps, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, St. Louis Actors’ Studio

Wild Oats, St. Louis Shakespeare

Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama

All the Way, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

One Flea Spare, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble

Safe House, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

The Winslow Boy, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical

Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis

Dogfight, Stray Dog Theatre 

Into the Woods, The Muny

Heathers, New Line Theatre

The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stray Dog Theatre

Outstanding Director of a Comedy

John Contini, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , St. Louis Actors’ Studio

Michael Evan Haney, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Sydnie Grosberg Ronga, Bad Jews, New Jewish Theatre

Jacqueline Thompson, The World Begun, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

Kirsten Wylder, The 39 Steps, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble

Outstanding Director of a Drama

Deanna Jent, The Amish Project, Mustard Seed Theatre

Jane Page, I and You, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Ellie Schwetye, One Flea Spare, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble

Patrick Siler, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Upstream Theater

Steven Woolf, All the Way, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Director of a Musical

Justin Been, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stray Dog Theatre

Michael Hamilton, Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis

Scott Miller, The Threepenny Opera, New Line Theatre

Scott Miller and Mike Dowdy, Heathers, New Line Theatre

Rob Ruggiero, Oklahoma!, The Muny

Outstanding Production of a Comedy

The Gin Game, St. Louis Actors’ Studio

The Killing of Sister George, Max & Louie Productions

The 39 Steps, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, St. Louis Actors’ Studio

Wild Oats, St. Louis Shakespeare

Outstanding Production of a Drama

All the Way, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

I and You, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

One Flea Spare, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Upstream Theater

The Winslow Boy, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Production of a Musical

Anything Goes, Stages St. Louis

Dogfight, Stray Dog Theatre

Heathers, New Line Theatre

The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stray Dog Theatre

The Threepenny Opera, New Line Theatre

Concert Review: Adams and Mahler programs displays the St. Louis Symphony's strengths, January 23, 2016

David Robertson

Share on Google+

David Robertson and The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra are getting their act together and taking it on the road to sunny California this week and next, with appearances in Aliso Viejo, Palm Desert, Berkeley, and Los Angeles, January 27 through February 2. If what I saw in Powell Hall Saturday night is any indication, they're going to take the West Coast by storm.

Saturday's double bill of the John Adams "Saxophone Concerto" and Mahler's "Symphony No. 5" is one of two programs they'll be performing (the other is last weekend's multimedia version of Messiaen's "Des canyons aux étoiles...") and it couldn't be a better showpiece for both the orchestra and Mr. Robertson. That's because although the two works have little in common musically, they both present significant technical and artistic challenges.

Originally performed and recorded (for Nonesuch) by the SLSO in 2013, the concerto is not the most approachable of Adams's works, building its two movements from brief motifs that are so closely related it can be hard to tell them apart. It's edgy, aggressive music that requires a high degree of precision from both the orchestra and soloist. It also demands real endurance from the latter, since the solo sax is rarely silent for the concerto's thirty-minute length. Up on the podium, meanwhile, the concerto demands a conductor who can keep this musical express train from going off the rails and coming across as more a barrage of notes than actual music.

As they demonstrated both in 2013 and again Saturday night, Mr. Robertson and his forces can navigate this tricky score with ease. The jazz-inflected call and response sections, in particular, had the kind of snappy precision that called to mind the big band work of Stan Kenton. Mr. Robertson is obviously very comfortable with the concerto and made the compelling case for a work which, even upon second hearing, still sounds like a rather tough nut to crack.

Tim McAllister

The saxophone soloist, both here and on the road, is the man for whom Adams wrote the piece, Tim McAllister. Mr. McAllister is a brilliant performer, combining classical discipline with the freewheeling style of the great jazz and rock players whose work inspired Mr. Adams. He may have been dressed for the symphony but his stance—knees bent, head thrust forward in concentration—was that of the jazz soloist entirely wrapped up in the music. Mr. McAllister, as Eddie Silva points out in his program notes, was a champion stunt bicycle rider in his youth, and he brought that same daredevil-level fearlessness to his playing here.

Playing and conducting Mahler's "Symphony No. 5" (or any Mahler, if it comes to that) also requires a certain level of chutzpah. That's because it's both a massive work—five movements running around 70 minutes—and a complex one.

The first of what can be regarded as the composer's mature symphonies, it was the also the first of his symphonies with neither vocal soloists nor explicit musical references to Mahler's song cycles. And, as Michael Steinberg points out in his program notes for the San Francisco Symphony, there are other major structural changes as well:

After a run of unconventional symphonies, Mahler comes back to a more “normal” design, one that could be described as concentric as well as symmetrical...The music becomes leaner and harder. About this time Mahler acquired the complete edition of Bach. At least partly in consequence of his excited discovery of what was in those volumes, his textures become more polyphonic. But this new “intensified polyphony,” as Bruno Walter called it, demanded a new orchestral style.

Then there's the fact that Mahler, like John Adams, often drew inspiration from popular music styles. In Mahler's symphonies, it's not unusual to hear a saccharine ländler, an "oom-pah" march, or a clarinet wailing in the style that would later be labeled "klezmer"—sometimes rubbing shoulders with passages of real profundity. Some of Mahler's contemporaries sneered at what they regarded as vulgarity, but ultimately the composer's wide-ranging musical interests are really just a manifestation of his idea that, as he once told Sibelius, a symphony "must be like the world. It must embrace everything."

All of this means that conducting Mahler, to my mind, requires not only a deep understanding of the capabilities of the orchestra's musicians but also a profound grasp of musical structure, along with musical sympathies that extend beyond those of the traditional concert hall.

Over the years, Mr. Robertson has demonstrated that he has those skills and knows how to apply them. His classical credentials are unimpeachable, of course, but he has shown that he's equally comfortable with film music and non-classical styles in general. Yes, I have not always been 100% persuaded by his Mahler symphonies in the past, but that's mostly a reflection of my personal taste. If I set that aside, I am obliged to acknowledge that his interpretations have always been of a very high order and sometimes (as was the case Saturday) superb.

From the first solo trumpet notes of the opening Trauermarsch (played so authoritatively by Karin Bliznik) to the wildly exuberant Rondo finale, this was a Mahler 5th that can stand with the best of them. I'd compare it favorably with Bernstein's 1964 New York Philharmonic recording, and that's saying something. At every point, Mahler's structure was clear, tempi were perfectly chosen, and all the elements of the work were in perfect balance.

Mahler's orchestration is filled with wonderful details that give nearly every section a chance to stand out. For example, Karin Bliznik and her fellow trumpeters Jeff Strong, Tom Drake, and Mike Walk carry a lot of narrative weight in the first two movements and on Saturday night did so beautifully. Roger Kazaa's horns (there are seven of them; Mahler doesn't stint) gave a real sinister rasp to their trills in the first movement and Mr. Kazaa himself was both poetic and powerful in the solo horn parts in the third movement Scherzo. Mr. Robertson had Mr. Kazaa move to the front of the orchestra for that movement; a smart decision that clarified the exchanges between the solo horn and the rest of the section.

The little major key chorale passage for trumpets and trombones in the second movement simply glowed. The famous fourth movement Adagietto for harp and strings (which the orchestra performed alone as part of Friday's "Music You Know" concert) was a touching mix of beauty and tragedy, with sensitive work by Principal Harp Allegra Lilly and the orchestra strings. And so it went, moment by impressive moment. If this doesn't knock their sandals off out there on the West Coast, I don't know what will.

The St. Louis Symphony returns to Powell Hall on Friday and Saturday, February 5 and 6, as violinist Anthony Marwood conducts an evening of chamber music by Bach, Dvorák, and Peteris Vasks. For more information, visit the SLSO web site, where you can also purchase tickets for all of the California performances.

At the Rep Studio, "Georama" spins the tale of America's first moving picture star

P.J. Griffith
Photo: Peter Wochniak

Share on Google+

The musical "Georama," which is getting its world premiere right now in the studio at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, may not be perfect, but has a lot going for it: a great cast, a literate book, a mostly appealing score, and above all, a fascinating story about John Banvard.

“Who the heck is that,” I hear you ask.

The answer is that Banvard, who died in 1891, was a once-famous self-taught American artist whose magnum opus was a 3,000-foot-long panoramic painting of the Mississippi River—the titular "georama."  It was the centerpiece of a one-man show in which Banvard would relate, to musical accompaniment, his adventures traveling on the river while the georama would scroll behind him, illustrating his story.  As the first example of what would later be known as the "moving panorama" genre it was, quite literally, the first "moving picture," and it made Banvard a star.

L-R: P.J. Griffith, Dan Sharkey, Jillian Louis
Photo: Peter Wochniak

At his peak, his fame was worldwide.  He toured Europe beginning in 1846 and even gave a private showing to Britain's Queen Victoria.  Alas, his success resulted in the inevitable imitators, including some promoted by the celebrated P.T. Barnum, whose talent for promotion was superior to Banvard's. 

The artist's attempts to compete with Barnum and his imitators proved unsuccessful, and bad financial decisions, including the construction (on Long Island) of a palatial residence modeled on Windsor Castle, resulted in bankruptcy. Dubbed "Banvard's Folly" by the artist's critics, the estate was later was sold by Banvard to cover debts and eventually became a private beach and tennis club.

Banvard never recovered financially and his legendary painting was eventually cut up and sold.  Today not a trace of it remains, although the St. Louis Art Museum has a panorama almost as large by one of his competitors.  Reliable information on Banvard's life itself has almost disappeared as well, making him (in the words of the opening song) "the most famous man that nobody knows".

Randy Blair
Photo: Peter Wochniak

If you think that all sounds like the basis for a ripping yarn, you'd be right.  Working with primary sources, West Hyler (who also directs) and Matt Schatz (who wrote the music in partnership with Red Clay Ramblers bassist Jack Herrick) have put together a script that, while in need of a bit of tweaking, is nevertheless a fascinating look at the world of late 19th-century showbiz.  The characters, all drawn from real life, are credible.  And while they sometimes speak in obviously anachronistic ways (usually for comic effect), their interactions always ring true.  Moreover, the book's message about the hard choices creative folk have to make between commerce and artistic purity is as relevant today as it was over a century ago

There are, perhaps, a few too many songs.  Not every scene longer than a minute or so needs a musical number, not every aspect of the story needs musical illustration, and a few songs feel like unnecessary filler.  Still, most of the score is an ingenious pastiche of late 19th-century folk and pop styles that serves the story well and provides a nice sense of time and place.  Having the music performed by members of the ensemble also makes transitions into and out of songs seamless.

That brings me to the cast, and an excellent one it is, filled with versatile singing actors.  P.J. Griffith is a model of naïve conviction as Banvard while Jillian Louis, as his wife and artistic collaborator Liz, neatly balances him with a believably warm and grounded performance.  She also proves to a respectable pianist.

Randy Blair is the wily P.T. Barnum, conniving his way around the stage, making the most of some clever patter songs, and moving with surprising grace for a man of his girth.  Dan Sharkey brings welcome gravitas to the role of showboat owner and wise friend William Chapman.  Both men also play multiple smaller roles, with Mr. Sharkey getting a plum comic cameo as Queen Victoria.

Jillian Louis and P.T. Griffith
Photo: Peter Wochniak

Emily Mikesell and Jacob Yates are the musicians: Ms. Mikesell is the fiddler with Mr. Yates (who is also the Music Director) on cello and piano.  Their playing is assured and polished, and they also fill in as multiple smaller characters very capably.

Scott C. Neale's simple unit set keeps sight lines clean so that its central feature—his own 600-foot moving panorama—is visible from pretty much the entire house.  Executed in an impressive imitation of period style by artists at The Paint Space on South Kingshighway, the scrolling painting both stands in for Banvard's georama and provides changing backdrops for many of the musical's scenes.  Margaret E. Weedon's historically apt costumes and the simple but effective lighting and sound designs of Ann G. Wrightson and Rusty Wandall complete the job of whisking the audience back to the gaslight era.

"Georama" is new and so not without its issues.  At 90 minutes it is perhaps too long for the one act format; an intermission at about the 50-minute point would give the audience a chance to breathe. And, as noted earlier, the score could do with a bit of a trim—an issue that seems to pop up fairly often in recent musicals. 

That said, "Georama" is solid entertainment and well worth your time.  Performances continue through February 7 in the studio at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of January 25, 2016

[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.

Share on Google+

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents And Away You Go through March 27. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

The Looking Glass Playhouse presents the musical comedy Avenue Q Wednesdays through Sundays January 28 - February 7. "The laugh-out-loud musical tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that although the residents seem nice, it's clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life." The show is recommended for mature audiences. Performances take place at 301 West St. Louis Street in Lebanon, Ill. For more information, visit www.lookingglassplayhouse.com.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Clueless through April 16. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com

Newsies
Photo: Deen van Meer

The Fox Theatre presents the musical Disney's Newsies running through January 31. " They delivered the papers, until they made the headlines. Direct from Broadway comes NEWSIES, the smash-hit, crowd-pleasing new musical from Disney. Based on true events, NEWSIES tells the captivating story of a band of underdogs who become unlikely heroes when they stand up to the most powerful men in New York. It's a rousing tale about fighting for what's right...and staying true to who you are." The Fox Theatre is at 517 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, fabulousfox.com or call 314-534-1678. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Hard Road Theatre Productions presents Drinking Habits 2 running through January 30. "Set in the present day outside the small town of Shady Glenn, USA, Drinking Habits 2 follows the misadventures of the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing and their friends. An orphanage with a strong connection to the convent is in danger of closing unless $5,000 can be raised in four weeks. In order to raise the needed funds, the convent decides to perform a play written by Mother Superior. Meanwhile, the other nuns of the convent agree to make a secret batch of their award-winning wine to sell to supplement the play's proceeds. But when Mother Superior believes she's had a holy vision, the lead male actor can't remember his lines, and the woman playing the Blessed Mother can't stop her uncontrollable cravings because she's pregnant with twins, things are thrown into chaos and everything that can go wrong does just as the curtain rises." Performances will be held at Highland Elementary Auditorium, 1800 Lindenthal Ave., Highland, IL. For more information: www.hardroad.org.

Georama
Photo: Peter Wochniak

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the world premiere of the musical Georama through February 7. "In the mid 1800s, John Banvard created the first georama, a three-mile long scrolled painting celebrating the majesty of the Mighty Mississippi. Once a starving sketch artist, his creation catapulted him to a life of luxury and notoriety, but also brought competition and deception that threatened to push his passion to the wayside. Georama illustrates an artist's rise and fall, and the choice between the art he loves and the life he's always longed for." Performances take place in the studio theater at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

Circus Harmony presents Giocoso Saturdays at 2 and 7 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, through January 31. Performances take place at City Museum, 701 N. 15th Street. Show admission is free with museum admission. For more information: circusharmony.org.

Alpha Players present the drama Good People January 29 - February 7 at The Florissant Civic Center Theater, Parker Rd. at Waterford Dr. in Florissant, MO. "In South Boston, this month's paycheck covers last month's bills, bingo is a night out on the town, and single-mom Margie Walsh has lost her job again and is a Bingo game away from homelessness. She reaches out to an old flame from her youth - now a successful doctor - Margie risks everything to find her fresh start in this humor - filled drama, from Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, about how the twists and turns of life are fated to determine our path." For more information: alphaplayers.org or call 314-921-5678.

The Improv Shop presents Heartbreak opening on Saturday, January 30, at 7 p.m. and running through March 19. "Heartbreak is an improvised serial show where we explore, in depth, the stages of doomed relationships. Watch characters go from strangers to friends, friends to lovers, and from lovers to heartbreakers. Heartbreak. It doesn't happen all at once." The Improv Shop is at 510 North Euclid in the Central West End. For more information on this and other Improv Shop shows: theimprovshop.com.

Angela Sapolis

The Emerald Room at the Monocle and The Presenters Dolan present Angela Sapolis in I Couldn't Have Said it Better on Thursday, January 28, at 7:30 p.m. "A native of St Louis, Angela Sapolis has made a name for herself on stages from coast to coast, and as far away as Tokyo. "I Couldn't Have Said It Better" is a potent marriage of words and music, taking us on a journey through the peak experiences of life, guided by the wit and wisdom of the world's great thinkers, writers, and musicians. Angela is sincerely grateful to her mentor, teacher, and friend, the legendary Andrea Marcovicci, for her invaluable support in creating this show." The performance takes place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis

Alton Little Theater presents the Neil Simon comedy Last of the Red-Hot Lovers Thursdays through Sundays through January 31, at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. " here is a rumor going around that in the 1960s any reasonable adult in search of casual sex could find it in a New York minute. But Neil Simon's Last of the Red Hot Lovers proves that there were exceptions, and the play brings back those days with a clear eye and a warm heart. A middle aged restaurateur begins to feel the desire to roam and decides to use his mother's apartment for his attempts at seduction. Only he learns that it is much more complicated and difficult than he could have imagined, and the problems which result are hilarious - a search for sexual freedom gone awry." For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

The Lion in Winter
Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents James Goldman's The Lion in Winter through January 31. "During Christmas of 1183, King Henry II of England plans to announce his successor to the throne. But in this amusing and high-spirited romp, other members of the royal family have their own opinions of who should be crowned king. As he feuds with his estranged wife, Eleanor, and attempts to navigate the minefield of his bickering sons, all of whom have a stake in the game, it's open season on the English throne, bringing a whole new meaning to dysfunctional family drama." 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. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Monocle Varieté presents Le Nouveau Cabaret Fridays and Saturdays at 7, 9 and 11 p.m., through January 30. "A Parisian-inspired evening of song, Le Nouveau Cabaret brings to life a European tradition of cabaret featuring a creative cast of characters sizzling with risque style. Featuring Kyle Hustedt as emcee, James Dunse both as himself and his alter ego Drag Icon Jessica Leigh Foster, and STL piano mainstay Ron Bryant. Burlesque courtesy of Lola Van Ella Studios." The performances take place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis

Million Dollar Quartet

Peabody Opera House presents the musical Million Dollar Quartet on Saturday, January 30. “Million Dollar Quartet is the Tony® Award winning Broadway musical, inspired by the electrifying true story of the famed recording session that brought together rock 'n' roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time.” The Peabody is at 14th and Market streets, downtown. For more information, visit peabodyoperahouse.com or call 314-622-5420.

Dance St. Louis presents the Momix company Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., January 20 and 30. "The irrepressible Moses Pendleton presents Alchemia, his new work for the dazzling dancer-illusionists of MOMIX. Just as he led audiences on a surreal journey through the four seasons inBotanica, Pendleton manipulates the four classic elements - earth, air, fire and water - in Alchemia to produce a show about the art of alchemy, and the alchemy of art. A multimedia spectacle,Alchemia bursts with beauty, daredevil thrills and playful humor. It's MOMIX at its most magical." Performances take place at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the UMSL campus. For more information: dancestlouis.org.

The Monocle presents an open mic night every Mondays from 9:00pm to midnight. "Musical Theater actor? Cabaret singer? Balladeer? Beleter? Coloratura soprano? Crooner? Student? Teacher? Performer? Fan? Come on down and sing. All are welcome. Ron Bryant is your accompanist. Bring your sheet music"." The monocle is at 4510 Manchester in The Grove neighborhood. For more information: themonoclestl.com.

Upstream Theater presents Shining City by Connor McPherson, with live music by Farshid Soltanshahi, January 29 - February 14. "In 2003 in a modest Dublin office, a young ex-priest-turned-therapist is consulted by a well-off businessman with a terrible secret. How these characters change, and how they change each other, is the story-a story that will grip you and move you and make you laugh and send shivers down your spine." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

Sunset Baby
Photo: Stewart Goldstein

The Black Rep presents the drama Sunset Baby through January 31. "Kenyatta Shakur is alone. His wife has died, and now this former Black Revolutionary and political prisoner is desperate to reconnect with his estranged daughter." Performances take place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: theblackrep.org Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The St. Louis Art Museum presents a high-definition video broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera's production Puccini's Turandot on Saturday, January 30, at 11:55 a.m. "Nina Stemme takes on the title role of the proud princess of ancient China, whose riddles doom every suitor who seeks her hand, opposite Marco Berti as Calàf, the brave prince who sings “Nessun dorma” and wins her love. Anita Hartig and Leah Crocetto share the role of Liù, the faithful slave girl. Franco Zeffirelli's golden production is conducted by Paolo Carignani." The live digital HD video broadcast from New York takes place in The Farrell Auditorium at the Art Museum in Forest Park. For more information: slam.org.

Underneath the Lintel
Photo: Eric Woolsey

New Jewish Theater presents the one-character play Underneath the Lintel by Glenn Berger January 28 - February 13. “A haunting, beautifully constructed one-person meditation on time and devotion. A returned library book, 113 years overdue with a clue scribbled in the margin and an unclaimed dry-cleaning ticket take the Dutch librarian on a life-changing quest with an obsession to find its owner. Our protagonist follows multiple clues- tickets to the Peking Opera, a love letter written in Yiddish - on a world-wide search that ultimately decodes the meaning of life. A metaphysical detective story that is funny and fierce, quirky and smart.” 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.

Cocktails and Curtain Calls presents The Weir, the award-winning play by Irish playwright Conor McPherson, Monday through Thursday at 8:00pm, Jan 25 to February 11. It will be the first local production to utilize the new Members' Project Code, under the auspices of the Actors' Equity Association. All profits from ticket sales go directly to the artists. Performances will take place at McGurk's Irish Pub and Dressel's in the Central West End. For details on performance times and locatsions, visit CocktailsandCurtainCalls.com.

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.