St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of July 17, 2017

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Stages St. Louis presents the 9 to 5, the Musical July 21 - August 20. "Based on the seminal 1980 hit movie, this hilarious musical romp that explores friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is outrageous, romantic, and even a little bit thought provoking in its heroines' desire to break the glass ceiling. Chock-full of upbeat and optimistic songs by country superstar Dolly Parton and featuring the toe-tapping title tune, "9 to 5", three female coworkers concoct a plan to live out their wildest fantasies by giving their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot of a boss the boot! In the process, the women give their workplace a dream makeover and take control of the company that had always kept them down. A bright and brand new musical bon-bon for STAGES audiences and a celebration for anyone who has ever struggled with any kind of authority figure, you will laugh, cry, and ultimately cheer the exploits of Violet, Judy, and Doralee as they discover the joys of working 9 to 5!" Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information: stagesstlouis.org.

All Shook Up

The Muny presents All Shook Up through Wednesday, July 19. "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 .

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. through July 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.

COCA Theatre Company presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 5 p.m., July 21 - 23. " A classic story of a young woman and a prince trapped under an enchantress' spell, which only needs the power of love to break. This production features the film's Academy Award-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, with additional song with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice. The book is by Linda Woolverton. COCA Theatre Company (CTC) is an auditioned ensemble of students enrolled in COCA's Pre-Professional Division." The performances take place in the Founder's Theater at COCA, 524 Trinity in University City. For more information: cocastl.org.

Tim Schall

The Cabaret Project and presents the Broadway Open Mic Night on Thursday, July 20, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Drop by and enjoy a night of great music from St. Louis cabaret artists, backed up by the pianist and music director Carol Schmidt. The special guest MC this month in Tim Schall. If you're planning to sing, be prepared to do one or two songs and bring music, preferably in your key. It's also recommend that you have your song memorized. This month's open mic takes place at The Stage at KDHX. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

The St. Louis Writers' Group presents a reading of the operetta Caligari's Carnival, based on the silent film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Monday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m. "The carnival has come to town and the mysterious yet charismatic Dr. Caligari presents, for the first time anywhere, his strange sideshow exhibit of Cesare the Somnambulist. Twenty-three year old Cesare knows every secret of the past, present, and future. He awakens from his death-like trance only once a day at Caligari's command to give his predictions, not all of which are entirely pleasant. It is up to Francis and Jane to discover the nature of Cesare's dark prophecies before more harm is done. There's every kind of entertainment at the fair ...and there's murder!" The event takes place upstairs at Big Daddy's, 1000 Sindey in Soulard. For more information: www.stlwritersgroup.com.

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents Church Basement Ladies Thursday through Sunday, July 21 - October 1. "Church Basement Ladies, a celebration of the church basement kitchen and the women who work there, features four distinct characters and their relationships as they organize the food and the problems of a rural Minnesota church. From the elderly matriarch of the kitchen to the young bride-to-be learning the proper order of things, the book and music give us a touching, funny look at their lives as we see them handle a record breaking Christmas dinner, the funeral of a dear friend, a Hawaiian Easter Fundraiser, and a steaming hot July wedding. They stave off potential disasters, share and debate recipes, instruct the young, and keep the Pastor on due course while thoroughly enjoying, (and tolerating) each other." The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: playhouseatwestport.com.

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.

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents the Neil LaBute New Theater Festival, Part 2 July 22 - 31 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 2 are "Hate Crime" by Neil LaBute, "How's Bruno?" by Cary Pepper, and "Sin Titulo" by Tearrance Chrisholm. 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 at The .ZACK, 3224 Locust in Midtown. 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. through July 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 .

The St. Louis Cabaret Conference presents the Final Showcase and Closing Night Party on Saturday, August 25, at 7:30 p.m., as part of the 2017 St. Louis Cabaret Festival. "Singers come from all around the country as well as our hometown to be mentored by the renowned artists who are performing as part of the St. Louis Cabaret Festival. This is the closing night revelry to honor their work. Don't miss this audience favorite and the go-to singer showcase of the year. Seats are limited. Who knows -- maybe the next St. Louis Cabaret Festival headliner will be on the stage! Directed by Marilyn Maye, Peisha McPhee, and Jeff Harnar and music directed by Tedd Firth, Chris Denny, and Michael Orland." The performance takes place at The Stage @ KDHX in Grand Center. For more information: www.ticketfly.com.

The St. Louis Cabaret Conference presents the High School Teen Showcase on Tuesday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the 2017 St. Louis Cabaret Festival. "Join Broadway's Karen Mason, American Idol's Peisha McPhee and St. Louis Cabaret Conference's Carol Schmidt as they present to you the new, young voices of cabaret. These talented young people will have just worked with the above faculty on the art and craft of song performance. And tonight they will celebrate what they have learned with a special showcase performance of their budding talents. As the saying goes 'There's a lot of talent out there' and this evening singers at the first stages of their careers prove it." The performance takes place at The Stage @ KDHX in Grand Center. For more information: www.ticketfly.com.

The St. Louis Cabaret Conference presents the Professional Track Showcase on Saturday, July 22, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the 2017 St. Louis Cabaret Festival. "Directed by Tony Winner Faith Prince with music direction by Alex Rybeck, these six singers take to the stage to show you why they are on the right track! The St. Louis Cabaret Conference presents these select singers in their own showcase of mini cabaret sets to show so you can see why they are ready to take their talents and ambitions and make their mark in the cabaret world - if they haven't already." The performance takes place at The Stage @ KDHX in Grand Center. For more information: www.ticketfly.com.

The Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents Twisted Improv on Friday, July 21, at 8 p.m. at The Steamboat Room, 314 S. Clay in Kirkwood, MO. "Join Adam and his crew for an interactive night of fun and laughter.Beer, wine and food available from Kirkwood Station Brewery." For more information: ktg-onstage.org.

The Muny presents the musical The Unsinkable Molly Brown opening on Friday, July 21, at 8:15 p.m. and running through the 27th. "Hannibal Missouri's own brash and beguiling Molly Brown shines in this exhilarating adaptation of Meredith Willson's 1960 musical. Her rags-to-riches story sparkles with a new book by Dick Scanlan (Thoroughly Modern Millie), and new songs from the Meredith Willson songbook. The tempestuous can't-live-with-him/can't-live-without-him love story that survived the Silver Boom, Gold Rush and sinking of the Titanic returns to the stage with more fun and flair than ever. This is one of those classic musicals that will have your heart soaring!" Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information: muny.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.