St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of July 3, 2017

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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. 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.

Union Avenue Opera presents Benjamin Britten's comedy Albert Herring Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, July 7 - 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.

Alton Little Theater presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., July 7 - 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, July 7 - 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.

The Muny presents A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum opening on Wednesday, July 5, at 8:15 p.m. and running through the 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.

Clinton County Showcase presents Disney's The Lion King Jr. Thursday through Sunday, July 6 - 9. "Join Simba, Nala, Scar, & Mufasa in the musical twist of this classic Disney film. An awesome tale of tragedy, friendship, love, and loyalty, with unforgettable songs like Hakuna Matata, The Circle of Life, and Can You Feel the Love Tonight, this is one show you won't want to miss!" Performances take place at the Avon Theater, 525 North 2nd Street Breese IL. For more information, visit ccshowcase.com.

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents the Neil LaBute New Theater Festival, Part 1 July 7 - 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 Lockdown“ 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

Insight Theatre Company presents the drama On Golden Pond july 6 - 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.

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.