St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of September 4, 2017

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Alton Little Theater presents Bingo, the Winning Musical Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., September 8 - 17. Performances take place at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

The Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents Agatha Christie's thriller Black Coffee Fridays through Sundays, September 8 - 17. "Accomplished physicist Sir Claud Amory has constructed a workable formula for one of the most deadly weapons known to man - the atom bomb. Hercule Poirot, with the help of Captain Hastings and Inspector Japp, is called in after the formula is mysteriously stolen and Sir Claud is callously murdered." Performances take place in the Guild theatre at Newport and Summit in Webster Groves, MO. For more information: theatreguildwg.org or call 314-962-0876.

The Monroe Actors Stage Company presents the musical Bye Bye Birdie Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., September 8 - 17, in the Historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Waterloo, Illinois. "The year is 1958, and the much-adored rock-and-roll idol Conrad Birdie has been drafted into the US army. His songwriter and agent, Albert, and Albert's secretary and some-time girlfriend, Rosie, hatch a plan for a farewell performance to take place on The Ed Sullivan Show, which they hope will help sell Birdie's new song 'One Last Kiss,' and ultimately save Almaelou records from going under." For more information, visit www.masctheatre.org or call 618-939-7469.

Church Basement Ladies

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents Church Basement Ladies Thursdays through Sundays through 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 Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the drama The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time September 6 - October 1. “The 2015 Tony Award winner for Best Play, The Curious Incident is an immersive adventure that puts audiences in the shoes of 15-year-old sleuth Christopher. He's a brilliant young man, but struggles to process everyday information. Suspected of killing his neighbor's dog, Christopher journeys into London to track down the true culprit. But can he withstand the sensory overload of the big city?” Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

The Black Rep presents the St. Louis premiere of the comedy/drama Dot September 6 - 24. "In DOT, Dotty Shealey and her three grown children are gathering once more for the holidays at the Shealey house (always a wild affair there.) But this year, there's more to deal with than exchanging gifts. Dotty is struggling to hold onto her memory, while her children are fighting to balance care for their mother and for themselves. Warm, funny and touching, DOT grapples unflinchingly with aging parents and midlife crises in the heart of a West Philly neighborhood." Performances take place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: theblackrep.org.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents The Haunted Hunter through October 27. "The rumor is true! Word on the street? This place is Haunted! That's right! ...and lots of famous sleuths, detectives and ghost hunters from around the world will be there to catch a glimpse of our famous, (and elusive), ghost "Billy", (better known as "Billy, the Spook"). Gee! If someone gets "Whacked", we'll have plenty of detectives to solve the crime, won't we! Everyone plays a part! You could be "Sherlock Homes", "Miss Garble", or even "The Hardly Boys". Call today for tickets to this "hauntingly silly" dinner theater." The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Clinton County Showcase presents Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream Thursday through September 7 - 10. Performances take place at the Avon Theater, 525 North 2nd Street Breese IL. For more information, visit ccshowcase.com.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Smoking Gun through October 29. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

South Pacific
Photo: Peter Wockniak,  ProPhotoSTL

Stages St. Louis presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific September 8 - October 8. "One of the most powerful musicals of all time, this multi-award- winning classic from Rodgers and Hammerstein will sweep you away with its tale of love and loss in the SOUTH PACIFIC. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book by James Michener and featuring some of the finest music ever written for the American stage, SOUTH PACIFIC spins a dangerously romantic tale centered around young American soldiers and nurses stationed on a tropical naval base during the Second World War. Seeking respite from the battles around them, they find refuge in the two groups as romance blooms in this lush tropical paradise.” 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.

The Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis presents the National Theatre of Ghana's Ten Blocks on the Camino Real by Tennessee Williams Friday through Monday, September 8 - 11. "Written by Tennessee Williams in 1947, 10 Blocks on the Camino Real is a one-act play that relates in songs, dialogue and dance how the American hero Kilroy maintains his open heart in a grasping world, even after death. Performed in English, this 75-minute production retains Williams' text, yet is specific to Ghanaian culture, incorporating West African music, dress and sensibility. Under the direction of David Kaplan, Curator of the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival, the show was performed outdoors at marketplaces in Ghana in 2016 and continues to tour there in addition to embarking on its first U.S. tour this fall." Performances take place at Strauss Park, Soulard Market Park, and Webster University. For more information: twstl.org.

The STL Opera Collective presents the one-act operas Tesla's Pigeon by Melissa Dunphy and To Hell and Back by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer Friday and Saturday, September 8 and 9, at 7:30 p.m. Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stloperacollective.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.