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

Another big explosion of theatre this week, including shows from New Jewish, KTK, and Stray Dog.

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The Agitators
Photo by ProPhotoSTL

Upstream Theater presents The Agitators running through October 13. "Upstream Theater is excited to present Mat Smart's compelling play The Agitators, which takes us straight into the thunder and lightning of the 45-year friendship between Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony. After meeting in Rochester in the 1840's, these two social activists became great allies and, at times, great adversaries. They agitated the nation, they agitated (and sometimes aggravated) each other and, in so doing they helped change the Constitution and the course of American history." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

KTK Productions presents the comedy/drama Amateurs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, October 11-20. "Following the opening night of the Timberly Troupers' musical about undertakers, Dorothy and her slightly daft husband, Charlie, host a gathering of actors and friends. The chic opening night party is in another part of town, but into Dorothy's living room comes a guest list that includes Nathan (a recently divorced high school teacher who is also a very bad ventriloquist), Wayne (better at loving than acting), Jennifer (who has a sure shot at Hollywood stardom), Ernie (one of the Troupers' actors filled with ham and spite), Irene (his out of patience wife), Mona (who was in love with Wayne but has since moved on to someone else) and Paul (a well-known drama critic and friend of Dorothy's who has just broken his rule of never reviewing community theater). When Paul has a heart attack he drops his not-yet-published review before being taken to the hospital. The actors read it and confront the harsh reality of a pan. Dorothy's sweetness and patience rise above Ernie's bitter tirade, and the others trade barbs and insults as they try to control their emotions. The party becomes the setting where the dreams, loves, failures and successes of this group are explored with bittersweet humor and the relationship between risk and need is touchingly depicted." Performances take place at St. John the Baptist Church, 4200 Delor. For more information: kurtainkall.org or call 314-351-8984.

Brighton Beach MemoirsPhoto: Greg Lazerwtz

New Jewish Theater presents Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 4 and 8 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm, October 10-27. "Brighton Beach, September 1937. Eugene Jerome is dreaming of baseball and girls. Over the course of a few short days amid family harmony and disharmony, young Eugene will come to understand life a little deeper. This award-winning play is a bittersweet memoir that captures the life of a struggling Jewish household where, as his father states 'if you didn't have a problem, you wouldn't be living here.'" Performances take place in the Marvin and Harlene Wool Studio Theater at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive in Creve Coeur. For more information: www.newjewishtheatre.org or call 314-442-3283.

TLT Productions presents Chasing Waterfalls through October 12. "Chasing Waterfalls, a R&B musical revue strolls down musical memory lanes. Featuring music from the 90's Era and the early 00's - 'Chasing Waterfalls' explores pop culture and the glorified life of the music industry." Performances take place at the .ZACK Theatre in Grand Center. For more information: www.metrotix.com

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.

Cry-Baby
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg

New Line Theatre presents the musical Cry-Baby Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm through October 19. "It's 1954. Everyone likes Ike, nobody likes communism, and Wade 'Cry-Baby' Walker is the coolest boy in Baltimore. He's a bad boy with a good cause -- truth, justice, and the pursuit of rock and roll." 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.

Metro Theatre Company presents The Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm, October 12 and 13. "When school is out, there's nothing to do and the desert sun beats down hot. Sheila and her friends find themselves in search of something-anything-interesting to explore. So when a walking, talking, and surprisingly well-dressed coyote shows up, the kids find themselves on the adventure of a lifetime!" The performances take place at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. For more information: metroplays.org.

Hello, Dolly!

The Fabulous Fox Theatre presents the musical Hello Dolly! through October 13. "Winner of four Tony® Awards including Best Musical Revival, HELLO, DOLLY! is the universally acclaimed smash that NPR calls "the best show of the year!" and the Los Angeles Times says "distills the mood-elevating properties of the American musical at its giddy best." Director Jerry Zaks' "gorgeous" new production (Vogue) is "making people crazy happy!" (The Washington Post). After breaking box office records week after week and receiving unanimous raves on Broadway, this HELLO, DOLLY! is now touring America, paying tribute to the original work of legendary director/choreographer Gower Champion - hailed both then and now as one of the greatest stagings in musical theater history." The Fabulous Fox Theatre in on N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents Ismene by Sato Makoto Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 pm Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through October 13. "Ismene is a modern take on Sophocles' Antigone told through the eyes of Antigone's younger sister. Her beloved brothers have killed each other in battle; the king has declared one a hero and the other a traitor. When the body of her traitorous brother is delivered to her door, Ismene must decide what to do. This poignant, absurdist play explores the role of family, loyalty, and coca cola in one of the great Greek tragedies." Performances take place in the Emerson Studio Theater of the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information, www.webster.edu/conservatory/season or call 314-968-7128.

Lindenwood University presents the musical Little Shop of Horrors Wednesday through Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2 and 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm, October 9-13. "The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names "Audrey II" - after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it, blood. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II's out-of-this-world origins and intent towards global domination!" Performances take place at the Scheiegger Center for the Arts on the Lindenwood campus in St. Charles, MO. For more information: http://www.lindenwood.edu/j-scheidegger-center-for-the-arts.

Clinton County Showcase presents the drama Mama's Boy Fridays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, October 11-20 "The riveting story of Lee Harvey Oswald and his complex relationship with his overbearing mother Marguerite, "Mama's Boy" follows Marguerite's reckless attempts to reunite her family, from Lee's return to the U.S. from Russia, through the assassination of Kennedy, to her son's own murder and her defense of his innocence in the months that follow. A fascinating examination of family dynamics and obsessive maternal devotion played out in the shadow of history. The Kennedy assassination serves as a framework for "Mama's Boy," but the play isn't overtly political, or intended to change public opinion." Performances take place outdoors at the Avon Theatre, 535 N. 2nd St. in Breese IL. For more information, visit ccshowcase.com.

A Night With Janis Joplin

The Stifel Theatre presents A Night With Janis Joplin on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 8 and 9, at 7:30 pm."Fueled by these amazing songs, A Night With Janis Joplin is a sensational show featuring a musical journey celebrating Joplin and her biggest musical influences like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith. These are the women who inspired one of rock and roll’s greatest legends." The Stifel Theatre is at 14th and Market downtown. For more information: stifeltheatre.com.

The St. Louis Writers' Group presents the first round of its Playwright Slam on Monday, October 7, at 6:30 pm. "Get ready for a night of fun impromptu theater. The order of scripts to be read will be chosen at random. Actors to read will be chosen at random. Each script will be given a five minute read, and rated by a panel of judges based upon audience reaction. The judges will select several plays to move on to round two which will be ten minutes of the same script, from which a winner will be chosen." The event takes place upstairs at Big Daddy's, 1000 Sidney in Soulard. For more information: www.stlwritersgroup.com.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Sherlock Holmes in "The Case Without a Clue" running through October 27 The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com

A Call to Conscience presents The Three Not-So-Little Pigs on Wednesday, October 9, at 10 am. "A St. Louis play about bullying set in various neighborhoods in the St. Louis area. "The Three Not-So-Little Pigs" shows the damaging effects of physical, verbal, and social bullying. The play encourages students to explore the importance of standing up for each other, learning to get along with one another, and being good friends." The performance takes place at the Emerson Theatre at Harris Stowe University, 3046 Laclede. For more information: https://acalltoconscience.org/

The University Theatre at Saint Louis University presents Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night Thursday through Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, October 10-13. "Separated in a shipwreck, twins Viola and Sebastian each believe the other is dead. The stranded Viola disguises herself as a man leading to an unlikely and comical love triangle. Trickery, confusion and romantic hijinks abound in this most beloved of Shakespeare's comedies. Directed by Nancy Bell." Performances take place at The Grandel, 3610 Grandel Square in Grand Center. For more information: metrotix.com or at the venue one hour prior to performance.

Valhalla Cemetery and The Hawthorne Players present Voices Of Valhalla: A Hayride Through History through October 12. Hayrides through Valhalla Cemetery depart every fifteen minutes beginning at 6:30 each evening as members of the Hawthorne Players portray some of the noted locals buried in Valhalla. Valhalla Cemetery is located at 7600 St. Charles Rock Road. For more information, visit hawthorneplayers.com.

Stray Dog Theatre presents the rock musical The Who's Tommy opening on Thursday, October 10, at 8 pm and running through October 26. "Back by popular demand! Based on the iconic 1969 rock concept album, The Who's TOMMY is an exhilarating tale of hope, healing, and the human spirit. The story of the pinball-playing, deaf, dumb, and blind boy who triumphs over his adversities has inspired and amazed audiences for 50 years." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

Alfresco Productions presents the Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, October 11-20. Performances take place at the Alfresco Art Center, 2401 Delmar in Granite City, IL. For more information: (618) 560-1947 or www.alfrescoproductions.org.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Zombie Love (No Biting) running through November 2. "Calling all Zombies! Tired of being judged for munching on the occasional brain? So you're not really "alive" anymore but you can still enjoy socializing with the living and enjoying a hilarious show together! Well, we've got the perfect show for you! Drama! Comedy! Looove! ...And, of course, Zombies! Don your best Living Dead Costume and choose to be a Zombie, or not (its up to you), but we do promise lots of fun for both the living and the undead! hey, Hey, HEY! No Biting!" The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.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.