St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of July 22, 2019

There's lots of musical theatre in the air this week, with everything from The Wizard of Oz to The Rocky Horror Show, plus a new version of a rarely-seen Lerner and Loewe show from 1951 and a favorite Puccini opera at Union Avenue.

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The All Hands on Deck Show

Lindenwood University presents The All Hands on Deck Show on Saturday, July 27, at 3 pm. " Join us as we pay homage to the days of Bob Hope and war-bond drives, in a show that features Broadway Veterans Jody Madaras and Valerie Hill, a cast of New York voices, the rich sounds of the 9-piece ALL-LIVE Hollywood Victory Caravan Big Band Orchestra, classic commercials, tight harmonies, Broadway tap-dancing, impromptu skits, and 42 of the Greatest American songs ever written -- not to mention a full-circle patriotic salute to the American way of life. Come celebrate the U.S.A. 1942-style with The All Hands on Deck! Show." Performances take place at the Scheiegger Center for the Arts on the Lindenwood campus in St. Charles, MO. For more information: lindenwood.edu.

Union Avenue Opera presents Puccini's La Bohème Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, July 26 - August 2. Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. The opera is sung in Italian with projected English text. For more information, visit unionavenueopera.org or call 314-361-2881.

St. Charles Community College presents the musical Catch Me If You Can Wednesday through Sunday, July 24-28. "Based on the hit film and the incredible true story, Catch Me If You Can is the high-flying musical comedy about chasing your dreams without getting caught. Seeking fame and fortune, precocious teenager, Frank Abignale, Jr., runs away from home to begin an unforgettable adventure. With nothing more than his boyish charm, a big imagination and millions of dollars in forged checks, Frank successfully poses as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer - living the high life and winning the girl of his dreams. When Frank's lies catch the attention of FBI agent, Carl Hanratty, though, Carl pursues Frank across the country to make him pay for his crimes." Performances take place in the FAB Theater in the Donald D. Shook Fine Arts Building on the campus at 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville, MO. For more information, call 636-922-8050 or visit stchas.edu/events.

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 HIlton St. Louis Frontenac presents The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show through July 27. "Solve a hilarious crime while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The culprit is hiding in plain sight somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a Prime Suspect before you know it!" For more information: https://www.thedinnerdetective.com/st-louis

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Flaming Saddles through July 28 The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com

Footloose
Photo courtesy of The Muny

The Muny presents the musical Footloose at 8:15 nightly through July 24. "Kick off your Sunday shoes with this 80s favorite! Based on the 1984 Academy Award-nominated blockbuster hit, Footloose shows how a little teenage rebellion and a love of music can open hearts and transform a town. Featuring chart-topping hits, including "Let's Hear It for the Boy," "Holding Out for a Hero" and the Grammy-nominated title track "Footloose," this four-time Tony Award-nominated dancing-sensation will have the entire family burning and yearning to cut loose!" Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information: muny.org.

Stages St. Louis presents the musical Grease through August 18. " Welcome to Rydell High where Danny Zuko and his gang of Burger Palace Boys and Pink Ladies rule the school! Bursting with explosive energy and 1950's nostalgia, GREASE blends an irresistible mix of adolescent angst and All-American teen spirit to create a high-octane, pop-culture phenomenon 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.

COCA presents Sondheim's Into the Woods Friday at 7 pm and Saturday at 1 and 5 pm, July 26 and 27. "The Brothers Grimm hit the stage with Into The Woods, an epic fairytale about wishes, family and the choices we make. James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone's favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, and relevant, piece. AGES 9+ " Performances take place in the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: cocastl.org.

St. Louis Shakespeare's Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre presents Jaws: The Parody, through July 27. Performances take place at the Regional Arts Commission in University City. For more information: www.stlshakespeare.org

Over Due Theatre presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, July 26 - August 4. "Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, Joseph is one of the most enduring shows of all time and reimagines the biblical story of Joseph, his father Jacob, eleven brothers and the coat of many colors." Performances take place at the Olivette Community Center, 9723 Grandview Drive, in Olivette, MO. For more information, call 314-210-2959 or visit overduetheatrecompany.com.

Hard Road Theatre Productions presents the musical Mamma Mia! Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, July 26 - August 4. Performances will be held at the Highland Elementary School auditorium in Highland IL. For more information: www.hardroad.org.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Muurder in Maaaybury! through July 27. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Great Negro Works of Art
Photo by Patrick Huber

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents the Neil LaBute New Theater Festival, Part 2 through July 28 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 "Great Negro Works of Art" by Neil LaBute, Predilections by Richard Curtis, "Henrietta" by Joseph Krawczyk, and "Sisyphus and Icarus a Love story" by William Ivor Fowke. For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

First Run Theatre presents the plays Overdone by David Hamley and Screaming at Optimum Pitch by Peg Flach Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, through July 28. Performances take place at the Theatre Guild of Webster Groves, 517 Theatre Lane in Webster Groves, MO. For more information: firstruntheatre.com.

The Muny presents the Lerner and Loewe musical Paint Your Wagon opening on Saturday, July 27, at 8:15 p.m. and running through August 2. " Following our beloved productions of The Unsinkable Molly Brown and The Wiz, The Muny again serves as a birthplace to a reimagined version of an American musical classic. This Lerner and Loewe gem from 1951 is set in the California gold rush, sharing a moving tale of ambition, love and home. Featuring shimmering numbers such as "They Call the Wind Maria," "I Talk to the Trees" and "Wand'rin' Star," this reimagined adaptation has a revised book by Jon Marans and is produced in association with On the Wagon Productions and Garmar Ventures." Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information: muny.org.

The Looking Glass Playhouse presents the musical The Rocky Horror Show Friday and Saturday at 7 and 10 pm, July 26 and 27. " n this cult classic, sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite scientist. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named "Rocky." " Performances take place at 301 West St. Louis Street in Lebanon, Ill. For more information, visit www.lookingglassplayhouse.com.

Alton Little Theater presents musical The Wizard of Oz, based on the books by L. Frank Baum, Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, July 15 - August 4. Performances take place at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.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.