It's your last chance for great productions at Opera Theatre, along with new shows at The Muny and Uppity Theatre Company.
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New This Week:
That Uppity Theatre Company and the
University of Central Oklahoma present
26 Pebbles by Eric Ulloa on Tuesday through Friday at 7 pm and Saturday at 2 pm, June 19 - 23. Presented in partnership with the Missouri Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and "Painting for Peace in Ferguson", the play combines live music, singing, and interviews from Newtown residents as they recount the ripples in their community in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The performances taks place at Christ Church Maplewood UCC, 2200 Bellevue on 6/21; at Lafayette Park United Methodist Church, 2300 Lafayette on 6/22; and at Daniel Boone Branch of the St. Louis County Library, 300 Clarkson Rd., on 6/23. The production is suitable for ages 12 and above. All performances are free and open to the public. For more information:
uppityco.com.
My take: I haven't seen this, but the issues is raises and the high profile of The Uppity Theatre Company are enought to move me to recommend it. Producing theatre about important contemporary issues is never easy, and Uppity does an exemplary job of it.
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| The Wiz |
The Muny presents
The Wiz running through Monday, June 25. Based on L. Frank Baum's nostalgic classic,
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,
The Wiz is considered a feel-good favorite sparkling with heart-pounding soul, unforgettable gospel and infectious rock rhythms. Grammy Award-winner for Best Cast Show Album, and ranked as one of the highest watched live television musicals, this reimagined familiar favorite will have you ready to "Ease on Down the Road" to meet The Wiz for yourself!" Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information:
muny.org.
My take: This 1975 Broadway hit is getting a contemporary update, courtesy of Emmy-nominated writer Amber Ruffin (
Late Night With Seth Meyers) and choreographer Camille A. Brown (
Once on This Island). If you're a fan of the original, though, don't worry. As Kevin C. Johnson writes
at STLToday, the heart of the original "remains intact, from the positive message of what you’re looking for most in life being inside you the whole time, to the importance of home and family, old and new."
Held Over:
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An American Soldier
Photo by Ken Howard |
Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents the world premiere of
An American Soldier, by Huang Ro and David Henry Hwang, running through June 22. "Danny Chen is the son of Chinese immigrants, and a proud American. He enlists in the US Army in 2011, eager to serve his country. In boot camp, Danny is welcomed by his band of brothers. But in Afghanistan, his own base becomes enemy territory as military hazing turns deadly. Based on a true story, this opera asks powerful questions about what it means to be an American." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information:
experienceopera.org call 314-961-0644.
My take: While I'm not particularly taken with Huang Ro's score, David Henry Hwang's libretto is so strong and the performances of the cast are so compelling that I'm recommending this important new opera without hesitation. As I write in
my review for KDHX, it's a work that forcefully reminds of us the gap that far too often exists between our nation's ideals and its realities, and it deserves to be seen. Note that as this is being written, the last performance of the show is sold out, but you can still put yourself on a wait list.
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Blithe Spirit
Photo by John Lamb |
Act Inc presents Noël Coward's comedy
Blithe Spirit Fridays at 8 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm through June 24. "Blithe Spirit is a comic play by Noël Coward. The play concerns the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant, Madame Arcati, to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. The scheme backfires when he is haunted by the ghost of his annoying and temperamental first wife, Elvira, after the séance. Elvira makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles's marriage to his second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost." Performances take place in the Emerson Black Box Theatre at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts on the Lindenwood campus in St. Charles, MO. For more information, visit
actincstl.com.
My take: Coward's arch take on ghostly goings-on has been so popular for so long for very good reasons. Tina Farmer calls it an "entertaining diversion"
in her review for KDHX, and I'd say that summarizes the play's appeal perfectly. Act Inc has also gotten the technical demands right, it seems, which is where productions of the play can sometimes fall down.
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Hedda Gabler
Photo by John Lamb |
Stray Dog Theatre presents Ibsen's tragedy
Hedda Gabler Thursdays through Saturdays through June 23. "A masterpiece of modern theatre, Hedda Gabler exposes a powerful and reckless heroine who finds herself stranded in the seemingly ordinary but dangerously imbalanced Victorian Era. Employing methods that define the modern psychological drama, the plot stealthily reveals the bitter conflicts and thwarted longings that lie just below the "civilized" interactions of daily life and unflinchingly leads us to a shocking but inevitable conclusion." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit
straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.
My take: Well, you don't need me to tell you that Hedda Gabler is one of the classics of 20th-century theatre. It is, however, easy to get it wrong and make it tedious. Needless to say, Stray Dog has done nothing of the kind, which means (to quote
Tina Farmer at KDHX), "Ibsen’s dark drama is as juicy and pointedly acerbic as it is sharply perceptive and every moment is purposeful." At
Ladue News, Mark Bretz
concurs, noting that director Gary Bell "elicits compelling performances from his talented cast and keeps this version of Hedda Gabler intriguing and involving throughout its three acts and three hours, which never drags despite its length."
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Corinne Melançon and Steve Isom
in I Do! I Do!Photo by Peter Wochniak |
Stages St. Louis presents the musical
I Do! I Do!, by the creators of
The Fantasticks, through July 1. "I DO! I DO! tells the poignant story of 50 years in the married lives of Michael and Agnes. This two character musical version of the comedy/drama 'The Fourposter' takes place entirely in a bedroom and takes its audience on a whirlwind journey that begins in 1895 and ends half a century later. I DO! I DO! offers its audiences a frank look at the miracle of marriage as Michael and Agnes experience childbirth, parenthood, and the eventual settling down to face the future and their advancing years together. Originally written for the Broadway stars, Mary Martin and Robert Preston, STAGES employs the innovative theatrical hat-trick of two separate rotating casts: neither of which you will want to miss! An unabashed gift to the many couples who have walked through our doors, I DO! I DO! will be sure to steal your heart while celebrating the many triumphs and heartaches of marriage: past, present, and future!" 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.
My take: Originally staged on Broadway back in 1966 and revised for a revival 30 years later, this charming if slight show will strike some familiar chords for anyone who has been married for any length of time. Despite a coupe of emotional crises that are resolved with implausible ease, the emotional stakes in this script are not high, but the appealing score (including the "My Cup Runneth Over," a lovely number that was inescapable back in the late 1960s) and polished production still make this well worth your time. Because, really, not everything has to be fraught with dramatic weight. I saw the "purple" cast, consisting of Stages regular Steve Isom and Corinne Melançon (who is also the production's dance captain). Their work is impeccable, but I don't think you can go wrong with the "red" cast of David Schmittou and Kari Ely either.
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Orfeo and Euridice
Photo by Ken Howard |
Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Gluck's
Orfeo and Euridice through June 21. "What would you do if you lost your soulmate? For Orfeo, the answer is simple: get her back - even if it means traveling to the underworld. He braves every challenge, armed with nothing more than his music and his devotion. Little does he realize that his greatest obstacle will ultimately be his own passion. As a myth, it's a celebration of love and of music's transcendent power. As an opera, it's a ravishing masterpiece." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information:
experienceopera.org call 314-961-0644.
My take: Director Ron Daniels' modern, minimalist production takes a bit of getting used to, but when all is said and done it works pretty darned well as a contemporary theatre piece while still honoring the intentions of the opera's creators. That's not an easy task. Check out
my review at KDHX for more details.
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Regina
Photo by Ken Howard
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Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Mark Blitzstein's
Regina running through June 24. "Theft. Blackmail. Murder. Is there nothing that Regina Giddens won't do to satisfy her ambition? Based on Lillian Hellman's play The Little Foxes, and set against a Southern backdrop of spirituals, jazz, and ragtime, this deliciously twisted opera pits siblings and spouses against each other in a battle for the family business. Prepare to be scandalized - and entertained - as the renowned Susan Graham returns to Opera Theatre to portray one of the American stage's most fascinating characters." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information:
experienceopera.org call 314-961-0644.
My take: As I write in
my review for KDHX,
Regina is an American classic, and the Opera Theater production is a triumph in every respect. Don't miss it. Its condemnation of the ethical vacuum at the heart of crony capitalism and the ugly brutality of those who practice it could hardly be more relevant today. You should not miss it.
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La Traviata
Photo by Ken Howard |
Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Verdi's
La Traviata through June 23. "Violetta has one important rule: never fall in love. As a Parisian courtesan, her life is full of parties, admirers, and - most importantly - freedom. Then she meets Alfredo. His naive sincerity sweeps her off her feet. Just when Violetta thinks she has escaped her past, she is asked to make an unthinkable sacrifice. Will pride, love, or honor prevail? Embrace the romance of this Verdi masterpiece, featuring the directing debut of star soprano Patricia Racette" Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information:
experienceopera.org call 314-961-0644.
My take: There was a time (before November 2016) when I would have suggested that the mix toxic chauvinism and smug self-righteousness of the males characters in Verdi's opera was starting to look dated. Now I'm not so sure. In any case, this new production is getting rave notices for the quality of the singing and acting on display. Having finally seen it myself, I have to agree that, while it may not be my favorite
Traviata (that position is still held by
Union Avenue's wonderful 2014 production), it's an awfully good one. Besides, it stars the immensely talented Sydney Mancasola, who was so impressive in
OTSL's La Rondine in 2015.
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Yeast Nation
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg |
New Line Theatre presents the St. Louis premiere of the rock musical
Yeast Nation Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, through June 23. "The world's first bio-historical musical comedy, from the mad geniuses who brought you
Urinetown! It is the year 3,000,458,000 BC. The Earth's surface is a molten mass of volcanic islands and undulating waves. The atmosphere is a choking fog lit by a dim red sun. And the mighty waters of the world are inhabited only by rocks, sand, salt, more rocks, a little silt, and the great society of salt-eating yeasts - yes, yeasts! - the world's very first life form! These single-cell salt-eaters are the only living creatures on earth, and they're struggling against a food shortage, a strange new emotion called Love, and the oppression of a tyrannical yeast king. But when the king's son ventures out of the known yeastiverse, the yeasts' epic story - and ours - is changed forever." Performances take place at the Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, three blocks east of Grand, in Grand Center. For more information, visit
newlinetheatre.com or call 314-534-1111.
My take: One of the takeaways from the success of
Urientown is that you can make a musical out of pretty much anything. So it should be no surprise that Mark Hollmann and Gret Kotis decided to follow up on the success of that first show with a musical about that most song-inducing of subjects, salt-eating yeasts. The show, as Tina Farmer writes
at KDHX, features "vibrant color and effective performances that are delightfully engaging and thoroughly satisfying. You might learn a little science if you listen closely, but you're sure to leave the theater with a smile, a melody in your head and a new appreciation for our distant neighbors those salt-eating yeasts." Sounds...um...tasty.
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