St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of April 10, 2017

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St. Louis Actors' Studio presents August: Osage County by Tracy Letts April 14-30. "A vanished father, a pill-popping mother and three sisters harboring shady little secrets. When the large Weston family unexpectedly reunites after Dad disappears, their Oklahoman family homestead explodes in a maelstrom of repressed truths and unsettling secrets. Mix in Violet, the drugged-up, scathingly acidic matriarch, and you've got a major new play that unflinchingly - and uproariously - exposes the dark side of the Midwestern family." Performances take place at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.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.

Mustard Seed Theatre presents Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., April 13-30. “Set in 1936 Ireland, the play explores the potential for romance and the lure of pagan rituals in a family's day-to-day life.” There is no performance on Easter Sunday, April 16. 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.

Emily Johnson

The Stage at KDHX presents Emily Johnson in Duet on Saturday, April 15, at 8 p.m. "Emily Johnson hosts, "Duet," a cabaret showcasing Saint Louis' biggest and brightest young artists through pop duets and group numbers. "Duet," similar in form to her last cabaret, "Solo," derives themes from pop music, while adding a focus on duets. "I'm thrilled to present something unlike I've ever tackled before," she shares, "an ensemble cabaret showcasing several performance mediums: song, dance, spoken word, and more." The performances take place at The Stage at KDHX, 3524 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: kdhx.ticketfly.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.

St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley presents Orphans by Lyle Kessler through April 15. "Broadway and Off Broadway audiences gave this moving drama standing ovations. Orphans has been an international success throughout the world. Albert Finney won the Olivier Award in London's West End production. Two brothers, Phillip, sensitive, reclusive, never venturing out of his North Philly home and Treat, a violent pickpocket and thief who kidnaps a mysteriously wealthy businessman who turn the table on the two brothers and in strange, hilarious and moving way, becomes their long lost father figure." Performances take place in the Fisher Theatre on the campus at 3400 Pershall Road. For more information, www.stlcc.edu/fv or call 314-644-5522.

Seven Guitars

The Black Rep presents the drama Seven Guitars by August Wilson through April 23. "Set in 1948 in the backyard of a Pittsburgh apartment house, Seven Guitars follows Floyd " Schoolboy" Barton's circle of friends and neighbors-the play's seven voices-as they spin a rich tale of the deck that's stacked against them, what they've lost and all they dream of. Part murder mystery, part memory play, Seven Guitars depicts the events leading up to the untimely death of Floyd "Schoolboy" Barton, a gifted blues guitarist. Released from jail after serving time for the crime of "worthlessness," Floyd tries to retrieve his guitar and get to Chicago to make a record. He believes he is on the brink of a career breakthrough, but bad decisions and worse luck prevent him from leaving Pittsburgh. " Performances take place in the Emerson Performance Space on the campus of Harris-Stowe State University in midwotn. For more information: theblackrep.org.

Rebel and Misfits Productions presents Sex With Strangers Wednesdays through Sundays at 8 p.m., through April 15. "How far will you go to get what you want? Will you be the same person if you do? When twenty-something star sex blogger and memoirist Ethan tracks down his idol, the gifted but obscure novelist Olivia, he finds they crave what the other possesses. As attraction turns to sex, and they inch closer to getting what they want, both most confront the dark side of ambition and the trouble of reinventing oneself when the past is only a click away." Performances take place at a private home in the Central West End at 4632 McPherson Avenue. All attendees in the play's small, intimate audience of 50 people, must be age 18+. For more information: www.anintimatetheatreproject.com.

Sweeney Todd
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Thursdays through Saturdays through April 22. "A macabre musical tells the tale of Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, who returns to London seeking vengeance. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, proprietress of a failing pie shop, whose luck improves when the demon barbers thirst for blood inspires a new ingredient for her meat pies. Londoners start queuing up for a taste of her unique delectable treats!" Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis Ignite! New Play Festival presents a staged reading of the comedy Teenage Dick on Wednesday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m. "This brilliantly hilarious take on Shakespeare's Richard III reimagines the most famous disabled character of all time as a 16-year-old outsider in the deepest winter of his discontent: his junior year of high school. Picked on because of his cerebral palsy, Richard is determined to have his revenge and make his name by becoming senior class president." The reading takes place in the Studio Theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

Clinton County Showcase presents Where is God? through April 16. "Where is God in a world full of violence, corruption, and hatred? That is the question this play seeks to answer. Through a series of stories, some true and some fictional, seven actors portray a variety of characters seeking evidence of God's existence in our daily lives." Performances take place at the Avon Theater, 525 North 2nd Street Breese IL. For more information, visit ccshowcase.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.