St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of January 18, 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.

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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.

Chuck Lavazzi
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg

The Cabaret Project and 88.1 KDHX present the monthly cabaret open mic night on Wednesday, January 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 guest music director Ron McGowan 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 Clueless through April 16. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com

Winter Opera St. Louis presents Mozart's comic opera Cosi fan Tutte Friday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, January 22 and 24. Performances take place at The Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School, 425 S. Lindbergh. For more information, visit winteroperastl.org.

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.

Hard Road Theatre Productions presents Drinking Habits 2 opening on Thursday, January 21, and 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.

Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents comedy Enchanted April through January 24. "Lottie Wilton and Mrs. Arnott have never met but share a mutual feeling of unhappiness in empty relationships with their husbands. The ladies become acquainted through a newspaper advertisement and together decide to take a holiday from their spouses and rent an Italian castle for the month of April. To help with expenses, they advertise for two other women to join them. Together with Mrs. Graves, an elderly widow, and Lady Caroline Bramble, a young and attractive flapper, the women begin their month-long escape. The ladies embrace their time together; but their holiday changes gear once the men start to arrive. In the beautiful surroundings of the castle retreat, friendships are made, and love and hope are rediscovered." 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. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the world premiere of the musical Georama January 20 - 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, 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.

Anna Blair

The Emerald Room at the Monocle and The Presenters Dolan present Anna Blair in I Am Reddy, Hear Me Roar on Thursday, January 21, at 7:30 p.m. "This show will be a tribute to one of Anna's childhood heroes, Helen Reddy. Featuring the songs of Helen Reddy, some pop, some showtunes, some iconic, these songs will bring back memories of the 70's and 80's." 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, January 21-31, 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

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.

Peabody Opera House presents Sesame Street Live: Make a New Friend January 22-24. "No matter where you're from or where you've been, everyone is special - so join in! Elmo, Grover, Abby Cadabby, and their Sesame Street friends welcome Chamki, Grover's friend from India, to Sesame Street. Together, they explore the universal fun of friendship and celebrate cultural similarities, from singing and dancing, to sharing cookies! Join the fun and make a memory with your friends and family!" The Peabody is at 14th and Market streets, downtown. For more information, visit peabodyoperahouse.com or call 314-622-5420.

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!

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.