St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of June 19, 2017

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Act Inc presents the comedy The 39 Steps, based on the classic Hitchcock film, Saturday at 8 Sunday at 2 p.m., June 24 and 25. "A beautiful spy tells a lethal secret to a man she's just met. With that, our hero Richard Hannay finds himself embroiled in a riotous chase across England and Scotland, discovering clues, dodging police, and charming ladies at every turn. With tons of characters played by a small group of actors, the play provides actors the opportunity to perform multiple wildly creative characters in the midst of a fast-paced, hilarious evening at the theatre." Performances take place in the Emerson Black Box Theatre at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts on the Lindenwood campus in St. Charles, MO. For more information, visit actincstl.com.

Clayton Community Theatre presents a workshop production of And It Shall Be Forgiven by St. Louis playwright Jason Slavik on Saturday, June 24, 2017, at 8 p.m. "In German-occupied Amsterdam in 1942, a German army clerk goes about his business. In the same room in 2007, a college student is enjoying a summer work project. Suddenly, the two find they can communicate; and each has lessons to teach the other, culminating in a transformative experience for both." Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre. For more information, call 314-721-9228 or visit placeseveryone.org.

St. Louis Community College at Meramec presents Charlotte's Web, based on the book by E.B White, Monday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Tuesday at 7 p.m., and Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., June 19-21. Performances take place in the theatre on the campus at 11333 Big Bend Road. For more information, stlcc.edu/MC or call 314-984-7500.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Death of a Blackheart through July 29. "Welcome aboard the largest, (and safest), cruise liner ever to sail the low seas. That's right. Welcome aboard the Gigantic! But wait! What do I hear? "Argggghhhhhhh!" Avast ye mateys and get yer gizzard ready to be robbed by the most famous pirate ever to pillage a maiden! Of course, we're talkin' Captain Jack Blackheart! He's the pirate that has cheated more people, emptied more pockets and pillaged more ladies than any politician. Gee. I hope no one kills him off. You'll meet lots of fun characters at this show. In fact audience members will get to play lots of fun characters in this show because it's "chock full" of "Fair Maidens", "Lost Boys", "Rival Pirates", and more. One thing is for sure. If you've ever wanted to stand up and shout out Arggggghhhh!...then "Death of a Blackheart" is the show for you!" The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Amy Friedl Stoner

Mariposa Artists presents Amy Friedl Stoner in Dreamchaser on Saturday, June 24, at 8 p.m. "Dreamchaser" is a look at life -with the love of music leading the way- through the songs of Billy Joel, Cole Porter, Jason Robert Brown and more." The performance takes place at the Kranzberg Arts Center at Grand and Olive in Grand Center. For more information: metrotix.com.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents the world premiere of The Grapes of Wrath by Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie, based on the John Steinbeck novel, through June 25. "When the Dust Bowl sweeps across Oklahoma, the Joad family sets out for a new life in California. But the promised land isn't all it seems. In the face of countless obstacles, can the American dream survive? Both heartbreaking and uplifting, this acclaimed opera vividly captures all the beauty of John Steinbeck's best-selling novel." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org or call 314-961-0644.

Stages St. Louis presents the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat through July 2. "One of the most enduring shows of all time, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the irresistible family musical about the trials and triumphs of Joseph, Israel's favorite son." Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information: stagesstlouis.com

The Lieutenant of Inishmore
Photo: Nicola Muscroft

Theatre Lab and Theatre Macabre present The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin Mcdonagh Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through June 25. "Irish terrorist "Mad Padraic" cares about one thing, and one alone, and -- despite his title as the lieutenant of Inishmore's Irish National Liberation Army -- it's not his fight for Irish independence. It's his cat. When Padraic learns that his beloved cat, Wee Thomas, has been killed, Padraic rushes home, forgoing the nipple-excising he'd planned to do on a partly-tortured Belfast drug pusher. As Padraic plows through the town in pursuit of revenge, bodies to pile up in his wake. As fierce as he may be, however, Padriac's soft spot for Wee Thomas may be the weak spot the next aspiring Lieutenant of Inishmore needs to target." Performances take place in the black box theatre at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: www.metrotix.com .

Hard Road Theatre Productions presents the Disney musical The Lion King Jr. June 22 - 25. Performances will be held at the Highland High School Auditorium, 12760 Troxler Ave, Highland IL. For more information: www.hardroad.org.

The Muny presents the Disney's The Little Mermaid opening on Tuesday, June 20, at 8:15 p.m. and running through the 29th. "Go "under the sea" in Disney's classic musical fantasy The Little Mermaid. One of the most popular animated films in history is now a splendid and magical Broadway musical. Headstrong Princess Ariel dreams of a life on land far from her ocean home, and she's willing to risk her Father's love and wrath to find it. Featuring Academy-Award winning hits like "Part of Your World," "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl," this spectacular Muny production will leave your entire family happy as a clam." Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information: muny.org.

Madame Butterfly
Photo: Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Puccini's Madame Butterfly through June 24. "A Japanese geisha. An American soldier. Their attraction is immediate, but their love story can't last. When their union results in a child, Cio-Cio-San is forced to do whatever it takes to protect her son's future. Set to breathtaking music, this timeless opera pays powerful, wrenching tribute to a mother's love." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org or call 314-961-0644.

Mariposa Artists presents Robert Breig in Making Every Moment Count: The Music of Peter Allen on Thursday, June 22, at 8 p.m. Rick Jensen is pianist and music director for the show, which is directed by Lina Koutrakos. The performance takes place at the Kranzberg Arts Center at Grand and Olive in Grand Center. For more information: metrotix.com.

Mariposa Artists presents Amy Basta in Marilyn, Uncovered on Friday, June 23, at 8 p.m. "Share an evening with Singer/Performer Amy Basta as she uncovers the iconic Marilyn Monroe in this original and captivating look at one of the greatest legends of the 20th Century. Through a theatrical mix of songs, join Amy and pianist/arranger extraordinaire Rick Jensen on a compassionate journey, beginning with the life of Norma Jeane to the final days of Marilyn. Judged and misunderstood by many but loved by all, both personas ultimately came up victorious, yet not without great personal cost." Rick Jensen is pianist and music director for the show, which is directed by Lina Koutrakos. The performance takes place at the Kranzberg Arts Center at Grand and Olive in Grand Center. For more information: metrotix.com.

Ken Haller and Marty Fox

The Stage at KDHX presents Ken Haller in The Medicine Show on Saturday, June 24, at 8 p.m. "'en Haller's shows have been described as "touching," "hilarious," "intimate," and "tremendously entertaining." In The Medicine Show, where "miracle cures" are peddled, Ken weaves songs as diverse as "The Physician" (Cole Porter), "Someone to Fall Back on," (Jason Robert Brown), "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir" (Stephen Sondheim) and more, into a narrative of how becoming a doctor is only the first step toward becoming a healer.' The performances take place at The Stage at KDHX, 3524 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: ticketfly.com.

Stray Dog Theatre presents the world premiere of Monsters, by St. Louis playwright Stephen Peirick, Thursdays through Saturdays, throgh June 24. "Jeremy and Davis are brothers who have masterminded a plan to commit the perfect crime. When Davis' wife finds a distraught man tied up in their basement, the fool proof plan immediately begins to unravel. In this fast-paced comedy/thriller, impulsive decisions and poorly kept secrets have dire consequences." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

Next to Normal
Photo: John Lamb

Insight Theatre Company presents the musical Next to Normal through June 25. Next to Normal examines how one typical suburban family handles the slow retreat into manic depression the mother is battling. Critics call it "an emotional powerhouse" that explores "how a family deals with grief, weighs the ethics of psychiatry, as depicts family life in a suburban setting. It is presented with love, sympathy, and punch." Performances take place in the Heagney Theatre, 530 East Lockwood on the campus of Nerinx Hall High School in Webster Groves. For more information, call 314-556-1293 or visit insighttheatrecompany.com .

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Phantom of the Grand Old Opry through July 30. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Act Inc presents William Inge's drama Picnic Friday at 8 Saturday at 2 p.m., June 23 and 24. "It's Labor day Weekend in small town America, and we are in the backyards of two middle-aged widows. Flo Owens lives there with her two teenage daughters, Madge and Millie, and a boarder, Rosemary, a spinster school teacher. Helen Potts lives next door with her elderly mother. And then a drifter, handsome charismatic Hal Carter appears, charming ladies young and old. Will 15 year old Millie grow a bit from her crush on Hal? Will Rosemary decide to seek more than weekend dates from her long time beau? And will 18 year old Madge ignore her wealthy suitor for bad boy Hal?" Performances take place in the Emerson Black Box Theatre at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts on the Lindenwood campus in St. Charles, MO. For more information, visit actincstl.com.

Stages St. Louis Theatre for Young Audiences presents Seussical the Musical through July 2nd. "Let your imagination run wild in this magical, musical extravaganza as you join the Cat in the Hat and enter the fantastical world of Doctor Seuss. SEUSSICAL lovingly brings to life your favorite Seussian characters including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Maizie La Bird, and the little boy with a big imagination - Jojo, who whisk you away from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos. Based on the internationally beloved children's books "Horton Hears A Who" and "Horton Hatches An Egg", SEUSSICAL boasts a triumphant score from Tony-winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND and RAGTIME fame. Celebrate the powers of friendship, loyalty, family, and community in this not-to-be-missed musical treat for the young and young of heart!" Performances take place at the Playhouse at Westport Plaza. For more information: stagesstlouis.org.

Sweet Smell of Success
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg

New Line Theatre presents the Marvin Hammlisch musical Sweet Smell of Success, based on the 1957 film of the same name, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, through June 24. "It's New York, 1952. After dark. Welcome to Broadway, the glamour, power, and sleaze capital of the universe. J.J. Hunsecker rules it all with his daily gossip column in the New York Globe, syndicated to sixty million readers across America. J.J. has the goods on everyone, from the President to the latest starlet. And everyone feeds J.J.'s appetite for scandal, from J. Edgar Hoover and Senator Joseph McCarthy, down to a battalion of hungry press agents who attach their gossip to a client that J.J. might plug. When down-and-out press agent Sidney Falco tries to hitch his wagon to J.J., all while keeping secrets about his new client's relationship with J.J.'s sister, Sidney learns that you can become no one fast when J.J. turns on you." Performances take place at the Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, three blocks east of Grand, in Grand Center. For more information, visit newlinetheatre.com or call 314-534-1111.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville presents Shakespeare's The Tempest, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., June 23 - July 11. Performances take place in the Dunham Hall Theater on the campus in Edwardsville, IL. For more information, call 618-650-2774 or visit siue.edu.

Time Flies

Circus Flora presents its new show, Time Flies, theough June 25 under the air-conditioned, red-and-white, big top tent in Grand Center next to Powell Hall. "Imagine that you could travel through time. Would you go back to relive historic events? What if you could alter the course of your own life? Now imagine you had the grace, power, and beuty of an acrobat or aerialist. Circus Flora's all new production uses the timeless art of circus to explore the fabric of time." For more information: circusflora.org.

The Midnight Company presents Title and Deed Thursdays through Sundays at 8 p.m. through June 24. "Behold the newest nobody of the funniest century yet. He's almost Christ-like, from a distance, in terms of height and weight. Listen closely or drift off uncontrollably, as he speaks to you directly about the notion of home, about the notion of the world. All of it delivered with the authority that is the special province of the unsure and the un-homed, which is a word he made up accidentally. The running time, if he doesn't die or think of anything else, is roughly one hour." Performances take place at Avatar Studios, 2675 Scott Avenue, downtown. Downtown. For more information: brownpapertickets.com .

Titus (La Clemenza di Tito)
Photo: Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Mozart's Titus (La Clemenza di Tito) through June 24. "Politics turn lethal as a new emperor takes the throne of Rome, and the Capitol is set ablaze by an explosive mix of ambition, conspiracy, and romantic intrigue. With an assassin lurking in the shadows, can the world's most powerful city still be ruled with compassion? Experience this transcendent Mozart masterpiece, handpicked by conductor Stephen Lord for his final appearance as OTSL Music Director." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org or call 314-961-0644.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents The Trial by Philip Glass and Christopher Hampton, based on the novel by Kafka, through June 23. "It's strange enough that Josef K. spontaneously finds himself arrested on his 30th birthday ‚stranger still that no one seems able to explain why. He embarks on a year-long search for justice, encountering absurd characters and situations at every turn. Based on Franz Kafka's novel, this dark comedy comes to St. Louis after a sold-out run at London's Royal Opera House." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org or call 314-961-0644.

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis presents the comedy/drama The Winter's Tale nightly except for Tuesdays, theough June 25. "Written in approximately 1610, The Winter's Tale is considered to be one of a group of Shakespeare's plays defined by their tragic undertones and simultaneous use of straightforward comic situations. Other plays that are grouped in this category include Measure for Measure, The Merchant of Venice, Troilus and Cressida, All's Well that Ends Well, and Timon of Athens." Beginning at 6:30 the Green Show presents pre-play entertainment a variety of local performers on multiple stages. The play begins at 8 p.m. Performances take place in Shakespeare Glen next to the Art Museum in Forest Park. For more information, visit shakespearefestivalstlouis.org.

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.