St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of November 27, 2017

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St. Louis Actors' Studio presents A Behanding in Spokane December 1 - 23. "In Martin McDonagh's first American-set play, Carmichael has been searching for his missing left hand for almost half a century. Enter two bickering lovebirds with a hand to sell, and a hotel clerk with an aversion to gunfire, and we're set for a hilarious roller coaster of love, hate, desperation and hope." Performances take place at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

Alpha Players present the comedy The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, November 30 and December 1. Performances take place at The Florissant Civic Center Theater, Parker Rd. at Waterford Dr. in Florissant, MO. For more information: alphaplayers.org, call 314-921-5678.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents The Christmas Killer through December 31. " Welcome to the party sponsored by Chatty Cathy, (and the "Misfit Toys"). We certainly hope that you can find a good home for one of our toys! Of course, it'll be a fun party as long as the wrong element doesn't show up! We're talking about Ricky Stitch, of course. Gee! I hope nothing bad happens to him! Anyway, you'll meet lots of characters tonight. In fact, you'll be a character too! Whether you'd like to participate a lot, or just a little, we promise you great holiday fun when you attend 'The Christmas Killer!'" The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Curtain's Up Theatre presents the comedy A Christmas Story, based on the 1983 film and the stories of Jean Shepherd, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2 and 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm, November 30 -- December 2. Performances take place at the Alfresco Art Center, 2401 Delmar in Granite City, IL. For more information, visit curtainsuptheater.com.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville presents The End: an Apocalypse Anthology December 1 -- 10. "The End: An Apocalypse Anthology is comprised of eight one act plays. Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice. Others have their money on a zombie apocalypse. The eight plays tackle these and other questions with all sorts of answers and some questions of their own." Performances take place in the Metcalf Student Experimental Theater on the campus in Edwardsville, IL. For more information, call 618-650-2774 or visit siue.edu

New Jewish Theater presents A Jewish Joke November 29 -- December 10. "During the 1950's, the great era of Jewish humor, we meet irascible comedy screenwriter Bernie Lutz who is about to open a big movie. When he discovers to his surprise -- and chagrin -- that his name appears on Senator Joseph McCarthy's infamous "black list," Bernie is confronted with the dilemma of naming names and implicating his writing partner in order to save himself and his career. This poignant solo comedy shows one small man facing the tough American events of the mid-20th century. A story as relevant today as it was during the McCarthy era." Performances take place in the Marvin and Harlene Wool Studio Theater at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive in Creve Coeur. For more information: www.newjewishtheatre.org or call 314-442-3283.

The King and I

The Fabulous Fox presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I opening on Tuesday, November 28, at 7:30 p.m. and running through December 10th. "Set in 1860's Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher whom the modernist King, in an imperialistic world, brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children. Winner of the 2015 Tony Award® for Best Musical Revival." The Fox is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

The University of Missouri at St. Louis presents L-vis Lives Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, December 1 -- 3. "L-vis is an imagined persona, a representation of artists who have used and misused Black music. Like so many others who gained fame and fortune from their sampling, L-vis is as much a sincere artist as he is a thief. In Kevin Coval's poems, L-vis' story is equal parts forgotten history, autobiography, and re-imaginings. We see shades of Elvis Presley, the Beastie Boys, and Eminem, and meet some of history's more obscure "whiteboy" heroes and anti-heroes: legendary breakdancers, political activists, and music impresarios. A story of both artistic theft and radical invention, L-vis Lives! is a poetic novella on all of the possibilities and problems of "post-racial" American culture--where Black art is still at times only fully accepted in a white face, and every once in a while an 'L-vis' comes along to step in to the void." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: www.kranzbergartscenter.org.

The University Theatre at Saint Louis University presents Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice Thursday and Friday, November 30 and December 1 at 8:00pm, Saturday, December 2 at 2pm and 8pm and Sunday, December 3 at 2 pm. Performances take place at The Marcelle Theatre, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive. For more information: slu.edu/utheatre.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville presents Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado Friday and Saturday, December 1 and 2, at 7:30 pm. 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

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberly

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberly November 29 -- December 24. "In this winning and witty sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the bookish middle child of the Bennet family finally has her day. Constantly overshadowed by her four sisters, Mary Bennet finds hope for a new life beyond her family from an unexpected holiday romance. Austen fans and first-timers alike will find much to love in this alluring comedic tale." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Murder on 34th Street through December 31. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Alton Little Theater presents A Nice Family Christmas Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., December 1 - 10. "A Holiday sequel to the beloved and zany family our audiences met in A NICE FAMILY GATHERING...Add a Saucy Grandma, an eccentric Uncle..and competing Siblings....will the magic of Christmas bring this dysFUNctional Family back together? You Betcha!" Performances take place at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

Sister's Christmas Catechism

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents Sister's Christmas Catechism: The Mystery Of The Magi's Gold,running through December 3rd. "Think "CSI: Bethlehem" in this holiday mystery extravaganza, from the author of the wildly popular Late Nite Catchism, as Sister takes on the mystery that has intrigued historians throughout the ages - whatever happened to the Magi's gold? As Sister states, "We know that Mary used the frankincense and myrrh as a sort of potpourri - they were in a barn after all." Retelling the story of the nativity, as only Sister can, Sister's Christmas Catechism is bound to become an annual classic. Employing her own scientific tools, assisted by a local choir, and a gaggle of audience members, Sister creates a living nativity unlike anything anyone has ever seen. Highly interactive with gifts galore and a bundle of laughs, this show is a must-see for the holiday season. " The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: playhouseatwestport.com.

Stray Dog Theatre presents the comedy Steel Magnolias Thursdays through Saturdays, November 30 -- December 16. "All the ladies who are "anybody" flock to Truvy's beauty salon where she dispenses shampoos and free advice. Filled with hilarious repartee and good ol' Southern charm, the play explores the lives of six remarkable women and the special qualities that make them truly touching, funny, and marvelously amiable company in good times and bad." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

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.