St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of October 22, 2018

There is a LOT of cabaret on the calendar this week, along with new shows from the Rep Studio, Shakespeare Festival, and Theatre Nuevo, among others.

John McDaniel and  Barb Jungr

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The Kranzberg Arts Center presents John McDaniel and Barb Jungr in 1968: Let the Sun Shine In on Saturday, October 27th at 7 pm. "Award-winning "great British cabaret singer" (New York Times) and "one of the best night club singers in the world" (Time Out New York) Barb Jungr joins forces with St. Louis native, the formidably talented Grammy and two-time Emmy Award winning U.S. composer, arranger and Music Director, John McDaniel, alum of Kirkwood High School '79, to reinvent some of the most iconic anthems of 1968. The repertoire of "1968 - Let The Sun Shine In" reflects the tenor of the times - when the Viet Nam War raged, and the US saw the assassinations of both Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King - with titles including "Born To Be Wild," "Do You Know The Way To San Jose?" and "Aquarius." The Kranzberg Center is at 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: metrotix.com.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Addams Family Affair through October 28. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

The cast of Admissions
Photo by Patrick Lanham

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the St. Louis premiere of Admissions by Joshua Harmon October 24 - November 11. "Prep school admissions director Sherri Rosen-Mason lives according to staunchly progressive values. Her daily battles include diversifying both the school's student body and the photos in its brochures. But when her teenage son claims those same values have denied him opportunities as a white student, it creates an explosive conflict that exposes their family's hypocrisies and privileges. This biting play's acidic humor goes straight for the throat." Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.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 Dead Like Me through November 3. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

A Doll's House, Part 2
Photo by Peter Wochniak

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents A Doll's House, Part 2 by Lucas Hnath through November 4. "Hnath's audacious sequel, written more than 135 years after Henrik Ibsen's original, hit Broadway in 2017 like a sneak attack. Ibsen's familial drama remains a foundational piece of theatre, with a still-controversial ending in which a married woman chooses to walk out on her family. But Hnath took the themes and characters of that familiar classic and flipped them on their heads, imagining what would happen if protagonist Nora Helmer returned home 15 years after her dramatic exit." Performances take place on the mainstage at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

Evil Dead: The Musical
Photo by Justin Been

Stray Dog Theatre presents the Evil Dead: The Musical Thursdays through Saturdays through October 27. There will also an 8 pm performance on Wednesday, October 24. "Third time's a scream (at long last)! Based on the 80s cult classic EVIL DEAD films, this hilariously campy show is bursting with more farce than a Monty Python skit. Five college kids take a trip to a remote cabin in the woods and encounter everything from ancient evil spirits to revenge-seeking Candarian demons. It's all ridiculous and wild, while the term "Fresh Blood!" takes on new meaning!" Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

Faith Prince

The Gaslight Cabaret Festival presents Broadway star Faith Prince, with Alex Rybeck on piano, on Friday and Saturday, October 26 and 27, at 8 p.m. "Faith Prince has been dazzling Broadway audiences since winning the Tony Award for her performance as Ms. Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. As one of Broadway's most-loved leading ladies, Faith has starred in Annie and A Catered Affair. Tony Noms for Bells Are Ringing and Jerome Robbins' Broadway." The performances take place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis presents In the Works, a festival of contemporary American plays inspired by Shakespeare, featuring the regional premiere of Into the Breeches!, October 28 - November 24. "Building on its beloved summer productions in Forest Park and the acclaimed Shakespeare in the Streets program, the Festival now presents its very first season of contemporary American plays by writers in dialogue with Shakespeare, headlined by the regional premiere of Into the Breeches! Written by the award-winning playwright of Grounded, which starred Anne Hathaway in its New York run, Into the Breeches! is a hilarious and heartwarming look at the WWII home front and a group of ladies who band together to keep the local theater going with their very own production of Henry V. "In the Works" will also feature family matinees of A Most Outrageous Fit of Madness, a delightful new play for young audiences by Festival favorite Nancy Bell, inspired by the mistaken identity hijinks of The Comedy of Errors, as well as staged readings of the Festival-commissioned The Thousand Natural Shocks, a moving coming-of-age story about a teenage boy who finds strength and resilience through a high school production of Hamlet. (The Thousand Natural Shocks is appropriate for ages 13 and over.)" Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including dates and times: sfstl.com.

The Gaslight Cabaret Festival presents singer/songwriter Jimmy Webb on Sunday, October 28, at 7 pm. "By The Time I Get to Phoenix; MacArthur Park; Wichita Lineman; The Worst That Could Happen; The Moon is a Harsh Mistress; Didn't We, and 1968 Grammy Song of the Year: Up, Up and Away. Four-time Grammy winner Jimmy Webb does a great and gritty show of his songs, made famous by either Frank Sinatra, Glen Campbell, Richard Harris, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Presley, The 5th Dimension, James Taylor, Johnny Cash, Art Garfunkel, Linda Rondstadt, Josh Groban or Donna Summer. And with that a standout storyteller too." The performances take place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot

Mustard Seed Theatre presents The Last Days of Judas Iscariot Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, through October 28. "In this irreverent exploration of the afterlife of Judas Iscariot, will sin or grief or grace prevail? This brutal dark comedy puts love and justice on trial. Adult language and situations, not appropriate for children." Performances take place at the Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Blvd. For more information, call (314) 719-8060 or visit the web site at www.mustardseedtheatre.com.

Darius de Haas

Jazz St. Louis and The Cabaret Project present Darius de Haas in A Leonard Bernstein Thing on Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 pm, October 24 and 25. "2018 is Leonard Bernstein's centennial and Obie winning Broadway singer/actor Darius de Haas (recently seen as The Lion in The Muny's production of The WIz) looks through the lens of jazz, blues and pop to reinvent Bernstein's classic songs such as West Side Story's "Something's Coming" and "Maria" -- proving that Bernstein's American masterpieces transcends time, genre, and generations. An original cast member of Broadway's Rent, Kiss of The Spider Woman and Shuffle Along, de Haas' celebrated solo appearances include Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center." Performances take place at the Ferring Jazz Bistro on Washington just east of the Fox in Grand Center. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

Macbeth: Come Like Shadows
Photo by Eric Woolsey

Rebel and Misfits Productions presents Macbeth: Come Like Shadows Wednesdays through Saturdays, October 24 through November 10, as part of its Immersive Theatre Project. "Rebel and Misfits Productions is thrilled to present the third installment of the Immersive Theatre Project October 24-10. Dive into a shocking world and discover the heart and dark underbelly of a story that you have undoubtedly come in contact with before, but never allowed full access to the dripping heat and intimacy pulled along by its characters. This is one of Shakespeare's boldest and most passionate plays deeply imagined. Who are the inhabitants? Why do their souls choose the courses they embark upon? What is behind the door? Immerse yourself in a world of direct interaction, walk into this complexly-woven tale, wade into its unlocked depths. We invite you to meet these characters as you never have before. Drink with them. Dance with them. Share your secrets with them. They will, in turn, weave you into the fabric of the action. Come and experience this high-octane, dangerous, and sexy world, where nothing is ever quite what it seems." Audiences will board buses at 1615 South Broadway, St Louis, MO 63104 between 7:20 pm and 7:30 pm to be driven to the performance destination For more information: theimmersivetheatreproject.com.

Merry Keller

Mariposa Productions presents Merry Keller: It's Personal on Friday, October 26, at 8 pm. "Merry Keller presents her newest cabaret solo show with an intimate look on life, love, family, and friends - meaningful moments in story and song." Rick Jensen is pianist and music director for the show, which is directed by Lina Koutrakos. The performance takes place at the Kranzberg Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: metrotix.com.

Mariposa Productions presents Michelle Collier: Confessions of a Bombshell on Sunday, October 28, at 3 pm. "Ever wonder what a nice girl from St. Louis learns from working in a Times Square jazz club? Find out in CONFESSIONS OF A BOMBSHELL, Michelle Collier's sultry musical tribute to life and love in the Big City, with homages to the great sirens of the Silver Screen on Sunday, October 28th at 3pm at The Kranzberg Arts Center... featuring a special guest appearance by Kay Love!" The performance takes place at the Kranzberg Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: metrotix.com.

Alton Little Theater presents the drama One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, October 26 - November 4. "Sometimes a play becomes a revolution, an idea lights the night sky, and a character becomes a part of cultural literacy. In 1963 a play called ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST ignited a national debate about mental health and treatment in state facilities ---and a charming rogue of a patient (character) did it all with reckless abandonment of the rules." Performances take place at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents the rock musical The Rocky Horror Show Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through October 28. "Newlyweds Brad and Janet have blown a tire. They abandon their car and stumble into the Edison Theatre - right into Frank N Furter's castle in Transylvania. Here their naive notions of sexual identity will be forever changed." The performances take place in the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information, call 314-935-6543 or visit pad.artsci.wustl.edu.

Silent Sky
Photo by John Lamb

Insight Theatre Company presents Lauren Gunderson's Silent Sky Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through November 4. "When Henrietta Leavitt begins work at the Harvard Observatory in the early 1900s, she isn't allowed to touch a telescope or express an original idea. Instead, she joins a group of women "computers," charting the stars for a renowned astronomer who calculates projects in "girl hours" and has no time for the women's probing theories. As Henrietta, in her free time, attempts to measure the light and distance of stars, she must also take measure of her life on Earth, trying to balance her dedication to science with family obligations and the possibility of love. The true story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt explores a woman's place in society during a time of immense scientific discoveries, when women's ideas were dismissed until men claimed credit for them. Social progress, like scientific progress, can be hard to see when one is trapped among earthly complications; Henrietta Leavitt and her female peers believe in both, and their dedication changed the way we understand both the heavens and Earth." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information, call 314-556-1293 or visit insighttheatrecompany.com.

Theatre Nuevo and Equally Represented Arts presents Whither Should I Fly opening on Thursday, October 25, at 8 pm and running through November 10. It's " a devised exploration of prescriptive women's behavior through witchcraft and multilevel marketing presented as part of the 2018 FAUSTival (http://www.faustival.org). Performances take place at The Centene Center, 3547 Olive in Grand Center. For more information: https://www.artful.ly/theatre-nuevo/store/events/16020.

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.