Yes, Chuck's Choices has been on vacation because I've been out of the country since just after Memorial Day. I'm back, and here's a roundup of theatrical recommendations based on what I saw before I left, what my fellow critics are recommending, and what I think just looks interesting. There's a LOT of great stuff out there! But don't hesitate; many of these shows close this weekend and nearly all of them will be gone by the end of the month.
New This Week:
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| The Gateway Men's Chorus |
The Gateway Men's Chorus presents
1969: Stonewall Remembered Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, June 22 and 23. "It was the Age of Aquarius, Woodstock, the moon landing, and the Stonewall Riots in Greenwich Village. 1969 marks the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, the flashpoint for the LGBTQIA+ rights movement. Featuring solemn pieces through disco celebrations, GMC shines a light on LGBT history, especially transgender women of color, who led the charge for change but have largely been erased from the narrative of gay rights." Performances take place at the auditorium of the Touhill Center on the campus of the University of Missouri at St. Louis. For more information:
touhill.org.
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Be More Chill
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg |
New Line Theatre presents the musical
Be More Chill Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through June 22. "The Breakfast Club meets Little Shop of Horrors, as New Line closes its season by bringing you the new sci-fi rock musical BE MORE CHILL -- currently breaking records on Broadway! -- with music and lyrics by Joe Iconis and book by Joe Tracz, based on the bestselling novel by Ned Vizzini. It's an honest, fearless, funny look at life in the digital age, exploring teen depression, bullying, and other current issues through the comic lens of sci-fi films of the 50s, horror flicks of the 80s, and teen movies of the 90s. The show has been selling out everywhere it runs. Jeremy is just an average, nothing-special teenage nerd -- until he finds out about the Squip ("Super Quantum Unit Intel Processor"), a tiny Japanese supercomputer in a convenient pill, which promises to "upgrade" him and bring him everything he desires most: a date with Christine, an invite to the coolest party of the year, and a chance to survive life in his suburban New Jersey high school." 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.
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The Boy from Oz
Photo by Peter Wochniak |
Stages St. Louis presents the musical
The Boy From Oz through June 30. "Dazzling and hilarious as the legendary Peter Allen himself, THE BOY FROM OZ follows the Australian singer-songwriter from his humble beginnings performing in backcountry pubs to his international stardom beside such Hollywood icons as Judy Garland and her daughter Liza Minnelli. " 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.
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| The Caper on Aisle 6 |
Circus Flora presents its new show,
The Caper on Aisle 6 through June 30 under the air-conditioned, red-and-white, big top tent in Grand Center. "A trip to the grocery store is not usually the most exciting part of our day. But the market is a place of intrigue and excitement in "The Caper in Aisle 6." An ancient and powerful substance, long thought to be gone from the Earth, is found in the unlikeliest of places: aisle six of the local grocery store. What secrets does aisle six hold, and what adventures will it set in motion?" For more information:
circusflora.org.
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The Coronation of Poppea
Photo by Eric Woolsey |
Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Monteverdi's
The Coronation of Poppea through June 28. "The fight for the throne is never dignified. Poppea will stop at nothing to become Empress, no matter who she has to blackmail, betray, or kill. And Emperor Nero, who is infatuated with Poppea, is not thinking with his head. Separately, they're bad enough. Together, they will turn Rome upside down. Sexy, bloodthirsty, and unapologetic, this opera is the best kind of political thriller." The opera runs approximately two hours and 50 minutes with one intermission and is performed in English with English supertitles. Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. For more information:
experienceopera.org call 314-961-0644.
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| Love's Labours Lost |
Shakespeare Festival St. Louis presents the comedy
Love's Labors Lost nightly except for Mondays through June 23. "Belonging to Shakespeare's "lyrical" period, which also included
Romeo and Juliet and
A Midsummer Night's Dream, the play tells the story of the Princess of France and her ladies who arrive on a diplomatic mission to Navarre only to be met by a young king and his lords who have taken a vow not to see women. Affairs of state give way to affairs of the heart as Shakespeare reveals with great humor and compassion the way our culture sometimes doesn't fully prepare us for the realities of love and intimacy. A feast of language and theatrical virtuosity,
Love's Labors Lost shimmers with all the passion and promise of a first kiss." Beginning at 6:30 the Green Show presents pre-play entertainment a variety of local performers on multiple stages. The play begins at 8 p.m. Performances take place in Shakespeare Glen next to the Art Museum in Forest Park. For more information, visit
shakespearefestivalstlouis.org.
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The Marriage of Figaro
Photo by Eric Woolsey |
Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Mozart's comedy
The Marriage of Figaro running through June 29. "Life at court is about to get complicated. The maid Susanna is determined to wed her fiancé, Figaro, while the Count is equally determined to add her to his list of conquests. But Susanna and Figaro won't allow one self-entitled nobleman to ruin their happy ending! They each hatch their own plots to teach their master a lesson. What follows is a whirlwind day of romantic intrigue, cunning schemes, and uproarious fun. One of Mozart's most beloved masterpieces,
The Marriage of Figaro reminds us all that love will always prevail, and forgiveness is always within reach." The opera runs three hours and ten minutes with one intermission and is sung in English with English supertitles. Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. For more information:
opera-stl.org call 314-961-0644.
That Uppity Theatre Company presents
The Mueller Report: Read, Sing, Resist on Saturday, June 22, from 2-5 pm. "A diverse array of artists, activists, elected officials and community people will come together to participate in a free event to read excerpts and summaries of the Mueller Report and offer related commentary through song. The event will also include voter registration in partnership with St. Louis Voter Registration Group, refreshments, a selfie station and the debut performance by the St Louis chapter of Sing Out, Louise, a New York social activist group founded in 2017 that writes parodies with political commentary of iconic songs." The free event takes place at Projects+Gallery at 4733 McPherson in the Central West End.
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Rigoletto
Photo by Eric Woolsey |
Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Verdi's
Rigoletto running through June 30. "There is no purer love than that of a father for his daughter - and no more impossible task than protecting her from the world. Rigoletto is a bitter court jester who serves the Duke of Mantua, a lecherous womanizer. Together, they are despised throughout the city. But alone, Rigoletto is all tenderness when it comes to his innocent young daughter, Gilda. Little does he know that an ominous curse is about to take its toll. When the Duke seduces Gilda, only to then abandon her, the enraged father swears vengeance. Set to some of Verdi's most powerful music, this tale of innocence lost is wrenchingly poignant and all too human." The opera runs approximately two hours with one intermission and is performed in English with English supertitles. Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. For more information:
experienceopera.org call 314-961-0644.
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Sylvia
Photo by John Lamb |
Stray Dog Theatre presents
Sylvia Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm through June 22. "Greg brings home a dog he found in Central Park - or that has found him - bearing only the name "Sylvia" on her collar. She offers Greg an escape from the frustrations of his job and the unknowns of middle age. To his wife Kate, however, Sylvia becomes a rival for affection. This touching comedy celebrates our love of mans best friend." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit
straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.
Mariposa Artists presents
A Taste of New York on Saturday, June 22, at 8 pm. The evening features performances by cabaret artists Lisa Yaeger, Ruth Carlin, Mary Sue Daniels, and Diane D'angelo. Rick Jensen is pianist and music director for the show, which is directed by Lina Koutrakos. The performance takes place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information:
metrotix.com
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| Travels With My Aunt |
Act Inc presents
Travels with My Aunt by Graham Green, adapted by Giles Havergal, Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, June 22 and 23. "Retired bank manager, Henry Pulling's life is so quiet that he muses, "I found myself agreeably excited by my mother's funeral." From that inauspicious beginning Henry finds his life turned topsy turvy by the arrival of his eccentric, Aunt Augusta. A cross between "Auntie Mame" and Mata Hari, she spirits him around the globe encountering all sorts of intoxicating characters and exhilarating adventures along the way." 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.
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