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

Citizen Kong?

Share on Google+:

St. Louis Shakespeare's Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre presents The AFI's Top 100 Greatest American Films of All Time: A Parody Fridays and Saturdays at 8 and 10:30 p.m. through July 7 15. "That's right! The Magic Smoking Monkey players are attempting their boldest feat yet: to parody all 100 movies on the American Film Institute's list in 60 minutes! From Blade Runner to Sunset Boulevard! From Modern Times to King Kong! From Citizen Kane to... The Sixth Sense? Well, no list is infallible." Performances take place at the Regional Arts Commission in University City. For more information: stlshakespeare.org.

The Muny presents All Shook Up opening on Thursday, July 13, at 8:15 p.m. and running through the 19th. " Set to the hits of the King of Rock and Roll himself, Elvis Presley, this musical will have you dancing in your "Blue Suede Shoes" all night long. Inspired by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, the music is all Elvis, and the result is a night of hilarious and enchanting 1950s fun. When Chad, the mysterious hip-swiveling roustabout arrives in town, suddenly everyone's lip-curling and all shook up with secrets, music and love." Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information: muny.org .

Albert Herring

Union Avenue Opera presents Benjamin Britten's comedy Albert Herring Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM through July 15. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. " In a small Suffolk market town Mr. Gedge the Vicar, Police Superintendent Budd, Mr. Upfold the Mayor and the local head teacher Miss Wordsworth meet at the home of Lady Billows to appoint at her behest a May Queen as an encouragement to local chastity. Nobody can agree on a candidate, so instead a May King is proposed and Albert Herring - blameless son of a widowed shopkeeper - is chosen." Spiked lemonade at the celebration and Albert's unexpected disappearance result in comic confusion and, of course, a happy ending. The opera is sung in English with projected English text. For more information, visit unionavenueopera.org or call 314-361-2881.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville presents the musical The Addams Family, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., July 14 - 23. "The weird and wonderful family created by New Yorker cartoonist Charles Addams comes to life in this zany musical comedy. All the memorable 'creepy and kooky"' characters are there: Morticia, Gomez, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Grandmama, Wednesday and Pugsley, accompanied on stage by some of their deceased ancestors. In this story, Morticia and Gomez Addams want to continue living amongst death, pain and suffering as they always have. But there is a change brewing." 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.

Alton Little Theater presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through July 16. "Please 'Be Our Guest"'and spend time with Belle, Lumiere, LeFou, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts (and Chip), Babette, Gaston, the Prince (and the Beast). The whole gang will be there! Picture opportunities with the cast will be available after the show along with ice cream!" Performances take place at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

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.

First Run Theatre presents Dreaming in Black and White Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through July 16 "Summer, 1963. Danville, Virginia. Here and elsewhere in the South, civil rights protests are dividing the races. Half a world away, a war is heating up that'll also have folks choosing sides. Less ominous but vying for attention are a looming presidential election and a down-to-the-wire race for the National League pennant. Against this backdrop, we meet Sonny - white, bitter, suffering the effects of rheumatic heart disease - who hopes to live long enough to see his son play major league baseball and Pearlene - black and poor - who dreams of seeing her troubled son employed. Dreams and fears collide when Pearlene is hired to help care for Sonny who's chased away dozens of other would-be caretakers." Performances take place in the Thomas Hunter Theatre at DeSmet Jesuit High School, 233 N New Ballas Road. For more information, call (314) 352-5114 or visit www.firstruntheatre.com.

Hard Road Theatre Productions presents the children's musical Freckleface Strawberry Thursday through Sunday, July 13 - 16. Performances will be held at the Highland High School Auditorium, 12760 Troxler Ave, Highland IL. For more information: www.hardroad.org.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

The Muny presents A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum running through July 11th. "Load up the chariots, we are off to The Muny for big, big laughs! Considered one of Broadway's greatest farces, this musical romp through Rome includes desperate lovers, mistaken identities, scheming neighbors and secrets behind every toga. With delicious music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, this is one hair-brained Roman forum you won't want to miss!" Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information: muny.org.

The St. Paul United Church of Christ Summer Youth Musical Program presents Disney's The Lion King Jr. Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., July 14 - 16. Performances take place at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 115 West B. Street in Belleville, IL. For more information: www.stpaulucc.org/events.

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents the Neil LaBute New Theater Festival, Part 1 through July 16 at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. The festival features professional, new and previously unproduced one-act plays 45 minutes or less in length, chosen from submissions to the festival over the previous year. The plays in Part 1 are "Hate Crime" by Neil LaBute, “Waiting for the Erie Lackawana“ by Ron Radice, “Sacred Space" by Barbara Blumenthal-Ekrlich, and "Percentage America by Carter Lewis. For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

On Golden Pond
Photo: John Lamb

Insight Theatre Company presents the drama On Golden Pond through July 23. "On Golden Pond had its Broadway appearance in 1979. Directed by Ernest Thompson and reopened again the following season. It received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play and received 5 Drama Desk Awards: When it was adapted for the screen in 1981, it starred Henry Fonda, Katherine Hepburn and Jane Fonda, and was highly acclaimed. It is a love story of Ethel and Norman Thayer, a long married couple in their near 80s and their relationship with their daughter, Chelsea." 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.

Curtain's Up Theatre presents the Stephen Schwartz musical Pippin Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., July 14 - 22. "A prince learns the true meaning of glory, love and war in this iconic musical allegory." Performances take place at the Alfresco Art Center, 2401 Delmar in Granite City, IL. For more information, visit curtainsuptheater.com .

R-S Theatrics presents The R-S Theatrics Fun Raiser Saturday at 7 p.m., July 15. "R-S is bringing back beloved members of their family from musicals past, as well as highlighting member of their upcoming musical, "In the Heights", but they'll all be singing and joking and making general merriment while you laugh, eat, bid, and enjoy!" For more information: kranzbergartscenter.org .

TLT Productions presents Tangled (The Play) Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., July 14 - 16. " In an ultimate trial of trust, three friends test their bond and go where no three women have gone, for principal and the love of money." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: kranzbergartscenter.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.