St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of July 16, 2018

New shows this week include a family musical classic at the Muny, a jukebox musical at Stages, the return of Ken Haller's Medicine Show, and The Cabaret Project's monthly open mic.

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The St. Lou Fringe presents Act Your Pants Off on Thursday, July 19, at 7 pm. "Act Your Pants Off offers a full night of theatrical entertainment wrapped in bawdy, competitive fun! Selected actors duel with short monologues and improvised scenes for the opportunity to wow audiences with their comic burlesque skills. That's right, co-hosts Desirée Declyne and Lola Van Ella won't be the only ones showing a little skin, the actors will also be strip teasing the audience! Local St. Louis favorites Katy Keating, Suki Peters, Paul Cereghino, Michelle Hand, Melissa Allen, and Keaton Trece will be performing their pants off for your votes in two quick rounds of competition, culminating in a grand finale number that you won't want to miss. The event takes place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle on Manchester in the Grove. For more information: stlouisfringe.com.

Altar Boyz

Silhouettes Production Company presents the musical Altar Boyz Thursday through Saturday at 8 pm, July 19 - 21. Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: silhouettesproductionco.com.

The Muny presents the musical Annie opening on Wednesday, July 18, at 8:15 pm and running through July 25. "Leapin' lizards! Everyone's favorite plucky, irresistible orphan is back! Based on the popular 1920s Harold Gray comic strip, Little Orphan Annie, Annie is considered one of the most acclaimed musicals of all time. This seven-time Tony Award-winning family favorite features unforgettable hits like "It's the Hard Knock Life," "Easy Street" and the iconic Broadway standard "Tomorrow." You can bet your bottom dollar this is one beloved, multigenerational Muny favorite guaranteed to entertain the entire family." Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information: muny.org.

CSZ St. Louis presents The ComedySportz Show on Saturday nights at 7:30 pm. The show is "action-packed, interactive and hilarious comedy played as a sport. Two teams battle it out for points and your laughs! You choose the winners the teams provide the funny!" Performances take place on the second floor of the Sugar Cubed, 917 S Main St. in St Charles, Mo. For more information: www.cszstlouis.com.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents A Fistful of Hollers through July 28. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Get "Hitched" To A Redneck Or Die through July 29. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Girls Night: The Musical

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents Girls Night: The Musical Friday through Sunday, July 20 - 22 "This touching and hilarious musical takes audiences on a journey into the lives of a group of female friends as they go from heartbreak to happiness during a wild night of karaoke. Audience members can't help but laugh, cry and even find themselves singing and dancing in the aisles to some of the most popular hit songs of the '80s and '90s." The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: playhouseatwestport.com.

Alton Little Theater presents the rock musical Hair Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through July 22. Performances take place at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

Insight Theatre Company presents Oscar Wilde's comedy The Importance of Being Earnest through July 22. "The Importance of Being Earnest is a Trivial Comedy for Serious People. Set in 1890s London, two friends use the same pseudonym ("Ernest") for their on-the-sly activities. Hilarity ensues. " Performances take place at Grandel Theatre in Grand Center. For more information, call 314-556-1293 or visit insighttheatrecompany.com.

The Muny presents the musical Jersey Boys at 8:15 pm on July 16. 'The international sensation arrives at The Muny in style! Jersey Boys, winner of the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical, is the authentic biographic story of the magic behind the music of worldwide megahit group, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Featuring over 30 chart-topping hits, including fan favorites "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," this Muny premiere is almost too good to be true, and will leave audiences saying, "Oh, What a Night!"' Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information: muny.org.

Stages St. Louis presents the musical Mamma Mia!, based on the music of ABBA, July 20 through August 19. "The ultimate feel-good show, MAMMA MIA! uses the music of ABBA to tell the hilarious and touching tale of a teen's search for her birth father on a Greek Island paradise. See why 54 million people all around the world have fallen in love with this pop-music phenomenon of a mother, a daughter, three possible dads, and an unforgettable trip down the aisle! Chock full of explosive dance numbers, you'll want to unleash your inner "Dancing Queen" with such ABBA hits as "Winner Takes It All," "Take A Chance On Me," and the smash title tune, "Mamma Mia." This enchanting tale of love between mothers and daughters, laughter between old friends, and a celebration of newly found family is a guaranteed non-stop party that you won't want to miss!!" 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.

Ken Haller

The Presenters Dolan presents Ken Haller in The Medicine Show Friday and Saturday, July 20 and 21 at 8 pm. "Ken Haller's shows have been described as "touching," "hilarious," "intimate," and "tremendously entertaining." In The Medicine Show, where "miracle cures" are peddled, Ken weaves songs as diverse as "The Physician" (Cole Porter), "Someone to Fall Back on," (Jason Robert Brown), "Pirelli's Miracle Elixir" (Stephen Sondheim) and more, into a narrative of how becoming a doctor is only the first step toward becoming a healer." The performances take place at The Kranzberg Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: metrotix.com.

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents the Neil LaBute New Theater Festival, Part 2 July 20 - 29 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 "4th Reich" by Neil LaBute, "Unabridged" by Sean Abley, "The Gettier Problem" by Michael Long, and "The Process" by Peter McDonough. For more information call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

The Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents Portrait of Christina by St. Louis playwright Jim Danek Fridays through Sundays, July 20 - 29. 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.

Chuck Lavazzi

The Cabaret Project presents its weekly Singers Open Mic Night on Wednesday, July 18, from 7 to 10 pm. Drop by and enjoy a night of great music from St. Louis cabaret artists, backed up by pianist and music director Carol Schmidt and hosted by 88.1 KDHX's Chuck Lavazzi. 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. The event takes place at Sophie's Artist Lounge on the second floor of the .ZACK performing arts space at 3226 Locust in Grand Center. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

Spotlight Productions presents Suessical the Musical Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through July 22. "Now one of the most performed shows in America, Seussical is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Tony winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Lucky Stiff, My Favorite Year, Once on This Island, Ragtime), have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie and a little boy with a big imagination - Jojo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos." Performances take place at Lafayette High School Theater in Wildwood, MO. For more information: www.prcommunityed.org/spotlightproductions

The Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents Twisted Improv on Friday, July 20, at 8 pm 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.

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.