St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of March 2, 2020

Highlights this week include the the Aphra Behn Festival, the St. Louis premiere of a rarely-seen Puccini opera set in the American west, a new musical at New Line, and a Dean Martin tribute at the Blue Strawberry.

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Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble presents The Aphra Behn Festival Friday through Sunday at 8 pm March 6-8. "Instead of producing original plays in its fourth year, this year's Aphra Behn Festival will consist of scenes from Aphra Behn's "The Rover", directed by Summer Baer, Taleesha Caturah, Miranda Jagels Félix, and Victoria Thomas. The Aphra Behn Festival is named for the British playwright, poet, translator, and fiction writer from the Restoration era. As one of the first English women to earn her living by writing, Aphra Behn broke cultural barriers and served as a literary role model for later generations of women. Founded in 2017, The Aphra Behn Festival was inspired by SATEs 2015 production of Or, a play by Liz Duffy Adams featuring Aphra Behn as a character." Performances take place at The Centene Center for the Arts and Education, 3547 Olive in Grand Center. For more information: slightlyoff.org.

The Band's Visit
Photo by Evan Zimmerman

The Fabulous Fox Theatre presents the musical The Band's Visit running through March 8. "In this joyously offbeat story, set in a town that's way off the beaten path, a band of musicians arrive lost, out of the blue. Under the spell of the desert sky, and with beautiful music perfuming the air, the band brings the town to life in unexpected and tantalizing ways. Even the briefest visit can stay with you forever." The Fabulous Fox Theatre in on N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

Alpha Players present the Clybourne Park opening on Friday, March 6, at 8 pm and running through March 15. "Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize and 2012 Tony Award for Best Play, Clybourne Park is a wickedly funny and provocative new play about the volatile intersection of race and real estate." Performances take place at The Florissant Civic Center Theater, Parker Rd. at Waterford Dr. in Florissant, MO. For more information: alphaplayers.org, call 314-921-5678.

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.

Dean Christopher

The Blue Strawberry presents Dean Christopher in A Dean Martin Tribute on Friday, March 6, at 8 pm. "First of all, there is no better or funnier Dean Martin impressionist on earth - talking or singing - than Dean Christopher, no one better at mixing it up with his audience, and no one with more affection or admiration for Dino. Cabaret? Theater piece? Vegas act? You decide as you journey through the music and humor of one of the most beloved entertainers of the 20th century - Dean Martin. Brought to life by award winning actor, singer, and impressionist Dean Christopher, featuring Joe Dreyer at the piano." The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle in the Central West End. For more information: www.bluestrawberrystl.com.

Winter Opera St. Louis presents the St. Louis premiere of Puccini's La Fanciulla del West (The Girl of the Golden West) Friday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, March 6 and 8. "Set in gold mining era California, the story includes rough outlaws, rowdy miners, and the 'take no flack' Minnie, owner of the local saloon. When bandit Dick Johnson rides into town, things get hairy between Johnson and Sheriff Jack Rance, with Minnie stuck right in the middle." Performances take place at The Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School, 425 S. Lindbergh. For more information, visit winteroperastl.org.

Flanagan's Wake
Photo by John Flack

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents the interactive comedy Flanagan's Wake running through March 21. "The hit show from Chicago, Flanagan's Wake, is the hilarious interactive show that brings Flanagan's Irish family to St. Louis where they will memorialize his passing. Audiences participate in this comedic memorial with plenty o' pints, crazy sing-a-longs, telling of witty tales and mourn the passing of one of their own: Flanagan. Audiences will pay their respects to glowering Mother Flanagan and to poor grieving fiancée, Fiona Finn. Listen to a eulogy written by County Sligo's best-known writer, Mickey Finn, and tip a pint with Brian Ballybunion, himself a weaver of tales. You can cross yourself with the blessings from St. Gregory's parish priest, Father Damon Fitzgerald, or cross your fingers that local pagan Kathleen Mooney doesn't cast a spell on you. Mayor Martin O'Doul will preside over the proceedings with an iron hand (and a parched throat)." The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: playhouseatwestport.com.

Head Over Heels
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg

New Line Theatre presents the musical Head Over Heels Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, March 5-28. "HEAD OVER HEELS is the bold, sexy new musical comedy from the visionaries that rocked Broadway with American Idiot, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Avenue Q and Spring Awakening. Conceived by Jeff Whitty, with an original book by Whitty, adapted by James Magruder, originally directed by Michael Mayer, based on a novel from 1580 (not kidding!) and set to the music of the iconic 1980s all-girl rock band The Go-Go's, this subversive, high-octane, laugh-out-loud love story includes hit songs like, "We Got the Beat," "Our Lips Are Sealed," "Vacation," "Heaven is a Place on Earth" and "Mad About You." The wild story follows the escapades of a royal family who set out on a journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction -- only to discover the key to their realm's survival lies within each of their own hearts. . . though not always in the way they expect. . . and in their willingness to let go of rigid tradition and change with the times." 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.

The Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents the comedy Love, Sex, and the IRS opening on Friday, March 6, at 8 pm and running through March 15. "The classic farce that everyone should be doing - especially around tax time! Jon Trachtman and Leslie Arthur are out of work musicians who room together in New York City. To save money, Jon has been filing tax returns listing the pair as married. The day of reckoning comes when the Internal Revenue Service informs the "couple" they're going to be investigated. Leslie masquerades as a housewife, aided by Jon's fiancée, Kate. Complicating matters further, Leslie and Kate are having an affair behind Jon's back, Jon's mother drops in unexpectedly to meet her son's fiancée, and Leslie's ex-girlfriend shows up demanding to know why Leslie has changed and won't see her anymore. Like a cross between I Love Lucy and Some Like it Hot." 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.

The Mystery of Irma Vep
Photo by John Gitchoff

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Charles Ludlam's comedy The Mystery of Irma Vep running through March 8. "Classic horror, B-movie mysteries and wild farce get tossed into a blender in this feverish, supernatural sprint. On a dark and stormy night, the howls of a werewolf echo across the moors, a newly revived mummy stirs in its sarcophagus and a mysterious portrait holds the key to an ancient family curse. Two actors bring this diabolical tale to life, with the help of a few dozen costume changes and a lot of wigs." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org

St. Charles Community College presents Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap Wednesday through Sunday, March 4-8. "A group of strangers is stranded in a boarding house during a snowstorm, one of whom is a murderer. The suspects include the newly married couple who run the house, and the suspicions in their minds nearly wreck their perfect marriage. Others are a spinster with a curious background, an architect who seems better equipped to be a chef, a retired Army major, a strange little man who claims his car has overturned in a drift, and a jurist who makes life miserable for everyone. Into their midst comes a policeman, traveling on skis. He no sooner arrives, than the jurist is killed. Two down and one to go. To get to the rationale of the murderer's pattern, the policeman probes the background of everyone present and rattles a lot of skeletons. Another famous Agatha Christie switch finish! Chalk up another superb intrigue for the foremost mystery writer of her time." 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.

The Grandel Theatre presents The Office: A Musical Parody Wednesday through Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 3 and 8 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm, March 4-8. "It's a typical morning at Scranton's third largest paper company until, for no logical reason, a documentary crew begins filming the lives of the employees of Dunder Mifflin. Don't miss this hilarious, unauthorized parody of the hit TV show, The Office, featuring songs such as "Welcome to Scranton (The Electric City)," "That's What She Said," "The Dundies," "Marry Me Beesly," and more!" The performances take place at The Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square in Grand Center. For more information: www.kranzbergartsfoundation.org/the-grandel.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Phantom of the Grand Ole Opry through April 26. "Millions of people flock to the Grand Ole Opry House to see Tammy Whino's one woman show, "Stand By Your Man." Here, amid the fried chicken, line dancing and dinner theatre, Tammy is the Queen of the Grand Ole Opry. Or is she? When she is found murdered, many suspect the Phantom because everyone knows the house is haunted. Or could the murderer be Billy Ray Serious, Naomi Dudd, and we can't forget about Nelson Willy?" For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Spell #7

The Black Rep presents Ntozake Shange's Spell #7 running through March 8. "This striking choreopoem by the author of For Colored Girls, Ntozake Shange,is set in a bar in St. Louis frequented by Black artists and musicians, actors, and performers. In a series of dreamlike vignettes and poetic monologues, they commiserate about the difficulties they face as black artist. The piece is framed by the narrator, Lou, a magician who wants to use his magic to help the artist come to terms with their blackness and rejoice in their identities. " Performances take place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: theblackrep.org.

Uvee Hayes

The Blue Strawberry presents The True Facts of Life As Revealed by the Blues and Soul of Uvee Hayes on Saturday, March 7, at 8 pm. "A Macon, Mississippi native, Uvee Hayes was born and reared with the Blues. Her mom had a little country store where she would have Friday and Saturday night gatherings. People would come from all over to play, to sing, to listen, to dance. 'You heard nothing but the blues,' says Uvee, 'and those folks danced the dust up off the floor'." Join Uvee for a night of classic Blues straight from the source." Kapree Graves sings backup with a band consisting of James McKay on bass, Cornelius Davis on piano, Dennis Brock on lead guitar, Keith Robinson on drums, and Chris 'Iron Jaw' Taylor on harmonica. The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle in the Central West End. For more information: www.bluestrawberrystl.com.

Under the Arch Incubator and Stray Dog Theatre present an evening of new musical theatre with cast members from the national tour of The Band's Visit on Monday, March 2, at 7:30 pm as part of Under the Arch Incubator's Collaborative Cabaret Series. A portion of the evening's proceeds will benefit the International Institute of Saint Louis. The event takes place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

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.