St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of January 7, 2019

We have new shows this week from The Black Rep, Kirkwood Theatre Guild, and The Chapel

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Alabama Story
Photo by John Gitchoff

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the drama Alabama Story running through January 27th. "A determined librarian and a segregationist senator face off over an innocent children’s book in 1959 Montgomery. Depicting the marriage of two rabbits – who happen to have different-colored fur – the story has Sen. E.W. Higgins calling for a book ban. But even as the pressure mounts, librarian Emily Wheelock Reed refuses to yield to censorship. Inspired by true events, Alabama Story is a stirring testament to free expression." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org,

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Bullets in the Bathtub January 11 - April 13. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

The Black Rep presents the world premiere of Canfield Drive opening on Wednesday, January 9, and running through January 27. "In this World Premiere production, two high-powered news reporters from across the aisle are thrown together during a ratings frenzy in Ferguson, Missouri, following the shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown. As they untangle the real cause of Brown's death, they struggle to keep their own secrets out of the spotlight. Created from diverse interviews of people from around the corner and around the world, Canfield Drive shines a light of hope as it wrestles with the greatest questions of our age. Canfield Drive, written by Kristen Adele Calhoun and Michael Thomas Walker, is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation and Development Fund Project co-commissioned by 651 Arts in partnership with The St. Louis Black Repertory Company, and NPN." Performances take place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: theblackrep.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.

Dial M for Murder

The Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents the thriller Dial M for Murder running through January 13. "Tony Wendice has married his wife, Margot, for her money and now plans to murder her for the same reason. He arranges the perfect murder. Unfortunately...the murderer gets murdered and the victim survives. But this doesn't baffle the husband: He sees his hireling's death as an opportunity to have his wife convicted for the murder. Luckily, the police inspector from Scotland Yard and a young man who is in love with the wife discover the truth." 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.

Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents the thriller I'll Be Back Before Midnight January 11 - 20. "The play centers on the experiences of Jan, a young wife who recovering from a nervous disorder. She and her husband rent a remote cabin from an odd farmer who delights in telling gruesome ghost stories. Then the husband's strange sister arrives, and all manner of frightening events occur. What happens to fragile Jan as bodies appear and disappear give this classic thriller its tremendously frightening impact." Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre of the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road. For more information, call 314-821-9956 or visit ktg-onstage.org.

The Chapel presents My Infinite Sadness: A New Play by Darrious Varner, opening on Saturday, January 12, at 8 pm and running through January 20th. "When left alone in one's own mind, who is it that you are really talking to? Step into the subconscious of a person suffering with Depression. See the ups and downs, the twists and turns, the aches and pains that are living with mental illness. Playwright Darrious Varner introduces you to a whole new view of Depression with My Infinite Sadness. By personifying Depression, giving it a face and a voice, he shows just how hard the struggle can be, even on good days. There will be a 30 minute talk back after each show." The Chapel is at 6238 Alexander Drive in Clayton. For more information: www.brownpapertickets.com

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Nursery Crimes January 11 - May 9. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

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.