St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of March 6, 2017

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Lindenwood University presents the musical 42nd Street on Sunday, March 12, at 7 p.m. "All-singing! All-tapping! One of the biggest, boldest, brashest musicals in Broadway history, this song-and-dance extravaganza remains the ultimate backstage musical. Yet, beneath all the hip hooray and ballyhoo, this 'lullaby of Broadway' reminds us that Broadway dreams still do come true." The performance takes place at The Lindenwood Theatre at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts on the Lindenwood campus in St. Charles, MO. For more information, call 636-949-4433 or visit www.lindenwood.edu/center.

Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble presents The Aphra Behn Emerging Artists Showcase Friday through Sunday at 8 p.m., March 10-12. "The Aphra Behn Emerging Artists Showcase is a festival of new plays written and directed by female artists. The festival is named for the British spy, playwright, poet, translator, and fiction writer from the Restoration Era. As one of the first English women to earn her living by writing, Aphra Behn broke cultural barriers and serves as a literary role model for later generations." Performances take place at The Centene Center for the Arts and Education, 3547 Olive in Grand Center. For more information: slightlyoff.org.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents A Big Easy Murder through April 30. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Oprah Says Goodbye from Briefs
Photo: John Lamb

That Uppity Theatre Company and The Vital Voice present Briefs: A Festival Of Short LGBTQ Plays, Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m., March 9-11. "BRIEFS is a unique venture in St. Louis that brings together numerous directors and theatrical artists to showcase the work of eight different playwrights all under one roof. BRIEFS presents theatrical work that address the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning people. The festival is targeted to a diverse and mature audience that appreciates good theatre in unique settings. Each of the eight plays run about 10 minutes or less and include a variety of comedic and serious themes and genres. This year's collection of eight plays has been selected from over 250 submissions across the country and includes such themes as the caretaking of elderly family members by gay persons, the stress a lesbian couple experiences given varying responses to the Pulse massacre, the impact on family dynamics following a member's official adoption of a transgender identity, the closing of a bar that was a foundational safe haven for gay community members, and more." Performances take place at the .ZACK Performing Arts Center, 3224 Locust in Grand Center. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com/events/detail/briefs.

The Fox Theatre presents the Kander and Ebb musical Cabaret opening on Tuesday, March 7, and running through the 19th. "In this multi award-winning musical, a young, naïve American writer arrives in 1930s Berlin and is swept away by the decadent pleasures of the sexy, seedy world that is the Cabaret. At the center of it all is the beguiling Sally Bowles, who takes the stage every night. Inside the Kit Kat Klub life is beautiful, but outside the world is about to change." The Fox in at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

The Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents the comedy The Death and Life of Sneaky Fitch Fridays through Sundays, March 10-19. "To the ambitious little town of Gopher Gulch, Sneaky Fitch is a nuisance. When he falls ill there is a sigh of relief, and when he apparently dies (thanks to some suspicious "medicine" administered by the departing Doc Burch) there are few tears. But when Sneaky rises from his coffin the picture changes, for no one dares confront a man who has come back from the dead." 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.

The Florissant Fine Arts Council presents Andrew Edlin in his one-man show Churchill on Sunday, March 12, at 2 p.m. at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker Road at Waterford Drive in Florissant, MO. "It's April 1955. Churchill, aged 80, agonizes in his wartime bunker below London. After dinner with the Queen and Prince Philip, Churchill must decide whether to resign as Prime Minister. The Cold War is gathering pace. He does not trust his successor. Churchill is tired, forgetting names and losing his grip. As he tries to decide what to do, he reviews his unique life, filled with history-changing events and people, glorious speeches, pithy comments and funny stories." For more information, call 314-921-5678 or visit www.florissantmo.com.

Fifty Shades of Shakespeare
Photo: Matt Wills

Fourth Wall Down presents Chicago's (re)discover Theatre in Fifty Shades of Shakespeare on Friday and Saturday, March 10 and 11, at 7 and 9 p.m. "Now in its 4th year, after numerous licensed productions and stellar reviews at the LA Fringe, "Fifty Shades of Shakespeare" is a delightful mash-up of the sexiest scenes the Bard has to offer, eagerly fleshed out by a titillating foursome of thespians. At the top of each show, the audience holds all the power: choosing which actor/actress will play each part. A whimsical exploration of sensuality and gender norms, oral stamina and roll play, lacey costumes and frilly language; "Fifty Shades of Shakespeare" puts the --- is 'clASSical theatre'. Each show will be accompanied by a drinking game, and lots of sultry specials." The March 10th performances take place at The Crack Fox, 1114 Olive St. downtown. The March 11th performances take place at Shameless Grounds, 1901 Withnell Ave. in south St. Louis. For more information: rediscovertheatre.com.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Murder at the Abbey through April 29. "Welcome to the world of Downton Abbey! A world full of aristocracy, old money but never anything as droll as murder! Congratulations! You've been invited to the dinner party held by the Earl of Grantham himself! Some would kill for the opportunity to meet the Crawley family. They'll all be there! The Earl, his beautiful wife and three daughters...not to mention all the other characters in, (and around), the Grantham house. That's right! All the family, staff and townsfolk will be there. You'll meet lots of fun characters...and you'll play as big, (or as small), of a part as you wish. Up to you. Hope nothing bad happens...but if it does...we might need you to help us figure it out? Or perhaps you're the killer?" The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

First Run Theater is presents its annual Play Reading Festival Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., March 10-12. This festival showcases original scripts by St. Louis playwrights interested in seeing their work produced on a state-of-the-art stage; all readings are open to the public. The performances take place in the theatre on the campus of DeSmet Jesuit High School on Ballas Road in Creve Coeur. For more information: firstruntheatre.com

The Royale
Photo: Lon Brauer

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents The Royale March 8-26. "The brutal rhythm of boxing underscores this brilliantly stylized drama. Rising black prizefighter Jay "The Sport" Jackson dominates his opponents, but the harsh social realities of the early 1900s force him to fight twice as hard to earn recognition outside of the ring. Loosely based on iconic fighter Jack Johnson, The Royale brings us ringside to one man's quest for victory against all odds." 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.

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents Shotspeare Thursday through Sunday, March 9-12. "Shotspeare is equal parts bacchanal and classical theater. Harkening back to the actual time of Shakespeare where audience members (groundlings) were boisterous and partook in the show. Think Drunk History meets The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, hosted by the Gazillionaires English major nephew." The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: playhouseatwestport.com.

Alpha Players present the drama To Kill a Mockingbird, based on the book by Harper Lee, March 10-19. "Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is a beloved tale that still resonates today. Scout Finch is growing up in Depression-era Alabama, where poverty and prejudice dominate daily life. With the guidance of her wise father, Atticus, the rebellious Scout discovers her own path, learning the power of empathy and the struggle for justice." Performances take place at The Florissant Civic Center Theater, Parker Rd. at Waterford Dr. in Florissant, MO. For more information: alphaplayers.org, call 314-921-5678.

The Looking Glass Playhouse presents the comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike opening on Thursday, March 9, and running through March 19. "Stuck in their family home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Vanya and his adopted sister Sonia live a quiet existence until their lives are thrown into comic upheaval with the arrival of their B-list celebrity sister, Masha, and her 20-something boy toy, Spike. Add to that a soothsaying housekeeper, a star struck young neighbor and a rather odd costume party, and the stage is set for mayhem and hilarity in this present-day homage to Chekhov. Winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play." Performances take place at 301 West St. Louis Street in Lebanon, Ill. For more information, visit www.lookingglassplayhouse.com.

Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution March 10-19. "Leonard Vole, a young, naive married man has developed a close relationship with Emily French, a wealthy, elderly woman…so it's no surprise that when she is found murdered and he is named the beneficiary of her considerable estate that he becomes the chief suspect in the case. His beautiful wife, Romain, can prove his innocence giving him an alibi and Leonard's lawyers are confident that her testimony will result in his acquittal. To their surprise she arrives as a witness for the prosecution at the trial. For even more drama, add a mysterious woman, startling new evidence, and a surprise ending." 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.

Zorba!
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg

New Line Theatre presents the Kander and Ebb musical Zorba! Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through March 25. "ZORBA is a fearless, fiery, high-energy musical fable about living out loud, based on the famous 1946 novel Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis, its 1964 film adaptaion, and letters that Kander and Ebb found from the real-life Zorba. Originally conceived and directed in 1968 by the legendary Harold Prince, the musical opens in a rowdy bouzouki parlor in Greece where a group of locals has gathered to drink and tell stories. They introduce us to Zorba, the aging hedonist-philosopher dedicated to living life to the fullest, and his very emotional, tragic, but life-affirming encounter with a young man and with the love of a woman." Performances take place at the Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, three blocks east of Grand, in Grand Center. For more information: rediscovertheatre.com.

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 Calendar.

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.