St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of August 16, 2021

Now including both on-line and live events during the pandemic. Your event information should be in text format (i.e. not part of a graphic), but feel free to include publicity stills. To get your event listed here, send an email to calendar [at] stageleft.org.

Alton Little Theater presents the comedy Kong’s Night Out Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, August 20-29. " A crazy backstory of the 1933 film with Fay Wray. Every moment is meticulously coordinated with the events depicted in the movie… BUT with mistaken identities, pies in the face, deceit, underhandedness, and even a couple of romances! "  Performances take place at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL.   For more information, call 618-462-6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

The Blue Strawberry presents Open Mic Night with Sean Skrbec and Patrick White Sundays at 7 pm. "Come on down and sing, come on down to play, or come on down to listen and enjoy." The Blue Strawberry is on North Boyle in the Central West End. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

Christ Memorial Productions presents the musical You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm through August 22.  Performances take place at Christ Memorial Church, 5252 S. Lindbergh Blvd.  For more information, visit CMPShows.org.

Circus Harmony in St. Louis and Circus Circuli in Stuttgart, St. Louis's German sister city, present Sister City Circus, on Circus Harmony’s YouTube page.  "Through a series of online meetings, workshops, and classes the two troupes created 6 different circus acts and then filmed them at iconic architectural locations in each of their cities." This and many other Circus Harmony videos are available at the Circus Harmony YouTube channel.

Circus Harmony offers Summer Circus Camps for ages 7-17 through August 13.  "Registration is open for our summer camps and classes for ages three through adult in our circus ring at City Museum! You can also schedule private lessons or book us to come and teach where you are!"  For more information: circusharmony.org.

ERA Theatre presents the radio play SHE by Nancy Bell with music by Joe Taylor and Lyrics by Nancy Bell via on-demand streaming  "SHE controls the radio station of the fascist regime in power. SHE's also the star of the broadcast. Her recording studio abounds with music and oysters. But in the nearby government camps full of misfits and would-be revolutionaries, only torture and starvation is thick on the ground. Tonight, however, SHE's realm feels different. The bombs sound closer. Time moves faster. But SHE will finish her radio show, and it will be her finest. If executing every number in the broadcast means some people need to die, so be it; it is a small sacrifice. The citizens need her and she will not let them down." SHE is available for digital purchase via bandcamp at eratheatre.bandcamp.com. For more information: www.eratheatre.org

The Lemp Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Clueless through August 28. "Welcome to the world of big business, old mansions and family politics. You’re invited To the birthday celebration of the oldest, (and richest), man in town. Lucky you! Some would kill for the opportunity to meet Barnabas Barnaby Baggs, the famous Pickle Baron. He sure has made a lot of enemies on his rise to the top! I hope none of his enemies tries to kill him tonight. But if they do, will you know who did it? Maybe his latest girlfriend? The angry ex-wife? the spoiled nephew? Perhaps the jealous competitor? …Or You? Regardless, you’ll have to figure it whodunnit because we’re Clueless!" The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place in south city. For more information: www.lempmansion.com

The Midnight Company presents My Violin My Voice Thursday at 7 pm, Saturday at 4:30 pm, and Sunday at 1:30 pm, August 19-22, as part of the St. Lou Fringe Festival. Performances take place outdoors in the parking lot of the Grandel Theatre in Grand Center. The play is conceived and performed by violinist Amy Greenhagh and actor Joe Hanrahan. For more information: midnightcompany.com.

Moonstone Theatre Company presents Moonstone Connections, a series of in-depth interviews with arts leaders by company founder Sharon Hunter. The latest episode features musical theatre composer and director Kevin Connors. New episodes air the third Tuesday of each month; see linktr.ee/moonstoneconnections for more information.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Photo by Phillip Hamer

The Muny presents Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, based on the 1954 musical film, nightly through  August 18 at 8:15 pm.  “With an age-old tale of wooing and winning, the battle of the sexes and some barn-raising dancing, this western rollick features whistle-worthy favorites, including “Bless Your Beautiful Hide” and “Goin’ Courtin’.” With two of the most eminent dance scenes in musical theatre history and seven times the fun, saddle up for an unforgettable joyride through the Oregon frontier.” Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information: muny.org.

R-S Theatrics presents While the Ghostlight Burns, a virtual discussion series featuring R-S Artistic Director Sarah Lynne Holt in conversation with St. Louis theatre artists, Mondays at 7 pm.  Conversations will be archived at the R-S Theatrics YouTube channel. For more information: r-stheatrics.com/while-the-ghostlight-burns.html

Dear Donald/Dear Hillary
at the Fringe

The St. Lou Fringe presents the 2021 10th Anniversary St. Lou Fringe Festival through August 22 at The Big Top and other Grand Center locations as well as on line at the Fringe web site.  "Our multidisciplinary stages have brought to life hundreds of performances throughout our history, and this year's offerings are more exciting than ever.  From "Digi Works" on our virtual platform to "In-person Performances" under The Big Top in The Grand Center Arts District, St. Lou Fringe is #STLMADE.  Join us online and in-person for magic, musicals, solo-performances, Shakespeare and so much more!  With safety protocols in place St. Lou Fringe is once again bringing you the most cutting-edge artworks our region has ever experienced!  Tune in or join us outside and help us celebrate ten years of art making, and ten years of St. Lou Fringe".  For more information: www.stlouisfringe.com.

The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival's TourCo presents a one-act adaptation of Othello at various area parks through August 28th. "TourCo’s inaugural production of Othello in 24 parks and gathering spaces across Missouri and Illinois. The 90-minute adaptation features Courtney Bailey (Desdemona), Charlie Barron (Iago), Ricki Franklin (Emilia), Hannah Geisz (Roderigo), Jason J. Little (Othello) and Jesse Muñoz (Cassio). All performances begin at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted." For a complete list of dates and locations, visit stlshakes.org/production/othello.

The St. Louis Writers' Group presents a reading of the new play Broom by Mario Farwell on Tuesday, August 17 at 6:30 pm. "Broom is an experimental play dealing with the origins and ramifications of police brutality in America. The play is structured around the events of the brutal assault on a Haitian American by the New York Police Department. Abner Louima was arrested in1997 and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He was taken to the 70th precinct in Brooklyn, NY, and soon after his arrival at the precinct was taken to a bathroom and sodomized with a broomstick by two of the arresting officers.."  The reading takes place upstairs at Big Daddy's, 1000 Sidney in Soulard and will also be available via Zoom. For more information, visit the St. Louis Writers' Group Facebook page.

SATE, in collaboration with COCA and Prison Performing Arts, presents Project Verse: Creativity in the Time of Quarantine. Project Verse presents two new plays: Quatrains in Quarantine by e.k. doolin and Dream On, Black Girl: Reflections in Quarantine by Maxine du Maine. The performances are streamed free of charge on SATE’s website and Facebook page. For more information: slightlyoff.org.

SATE also offers streaming performances of the shows originally scheduled for live 2020 productions: The Mary Shelley Monster Show, As You Like It (produced for SHAKE20, Project Verse, and Classic Mystery Game. The shows are available on their YouTube channel.

Stages St. Louis presents Always…Patsy Cline running through September 5. ‘The touching and true story of country music legend Patsy Cline and her friendship with Texas housewife Louise Seger. Told through the heartfelt and hilarious memories of Louise, ALWAYS… PATSY CLINE is an endearing tale that combines down home humor, unbridled heartache and 27 of Patsy’s unforgettable hits such as “Crazy” and “Sweet Dreams.”’ Performances take place at The Ross Family Theatre at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. For more information: stagesstlouis.org.

Art
Photo by John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents Yasmina Reza’s Art Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm, through August 21. “Marc, Serge, and Yvan have been the best of friends for years. When Serge buys a very expensive piece of art, the intellectual and emotional arguments that ensue become less theoretical and more personal and threaten to destroy their friendships. This production will be presented outdoors on the lawn of our historic home, Tower Grove Abbey. The seating pods will be filled from front to back, in guest arrival order, starting a half hour before curtain.”  For more information: straydogtheatre.org.

Stray Dog Theatre’s Silver Stage Program presents an on-demand streaming audio version of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. The production features a cast of actors exclusively over the age of 55. For more information: straydogtheatre.org.

The Tennessee Williams Festival presents The Glass Menagerie Thursdays through Sundays at 8 pm, August 19-29. “Williams’ greatest, most famous, and most personal play. The narrator recalls late in life how his youthful devotion to his sister Rose (Laura in the play) conflicted with his creative passions as he was about to escape from St. Louis for good.” Performances take place outdoors at The Tennessee, 4633 Westminster Place in the Central West End. For more information on this and other festival events: www.twstl.org.

The Tennessee Williams Festival presents You Lied to Me About Centralia by John Guare Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm, August 21 and 22. Described as "A Short Sequel to The Glass Menagerie," performances of the play take place outdoors at The Tennessee, 4633 Westminster Place in the Central West End. For more information on this and other festival events: www.twstl.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.