St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of August 23, 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, through August 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 at 356 North Boyle requires proof of vaccination and masking as part of its COVID careful environment. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

Joe Dryer and Rosemary Watts

The Blue Strawberry presents  Joe Dreyer and Rosemary Watts: For Better or Worse Friday, August 27, at 7:30 pm. “Rosemary and Joe are delighted to be back performing live, just in time for their 35th anniversary. Exploring the ups and downs of relationships through music, this “First Couple of St. Louis Cabaret” share gems from the Great American Songbook and stories. Featuring Scott Alberici on clarinet. An accomplished musical theater performer with a wonderful voice, Rosemary has played in long runs of both Menopause, The Musical and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Joe is one of our town’s most sought after music directors and pianists. Together, Joe and Rosemary are a charming, sophisticated and funny husband-and-wife team. They delight audiences with music, stories of songwriters and their own relationship.” The Blue Strawberry at 356 North Boyle requires proof of vaccination and masking as part of its COVID careful environment. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

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.

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

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.

Arianna Rosario and the company of On Your Feet!
Photo by Phillip Hamer

The Muny presents On Your Feet!, through August 27 at 8:15 pm.  “Based on the inspiring true story of the queen of Latin pop, Gloria Estefan and her husband, Emilio, On Your Feet! is a universal sensation that shows what can happen when two people believe in their talent, music and one another.” 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


St. Louis Public Radio presents the STLPR Theatre Showcase Friday and Saturday at 7 pm, August 27 and 28. "Join us for the first St. Louis Public Radio Theatre Showcase on the Public Media Commons! Over the course of two nights, we’ll feature short performances by 10 local theatre companies! Bring your favorite lawn chair and a picnic, cold drinks will be available to purchase. Attendance is free but registration is required. Specialty cocktails, local craft beer and more cold beverages will be available for sale at the event by STL Barkeep! Bring your favorite lawn chair, kick back and enjoy the live music in the beautiful Public Media Commons!" The Public Media Commons is at 3653 Olive in Grand Center. For more information: www.grandcenter.org.

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.

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.

Always...Patsy Cline

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.

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 Glass Menagerie
Photo by ProPhotoSTL

The Tennessee Williams Festival presents The Glass Menagerie Thursdays through Sundays at 8 pm, through August 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 Why Did Desdemona
Love the Moor? by Tennessee Williams on Saturday, August 28 at 2 pm.  “Only recently unearthed from the Williams archives, this story of an interracial love affair between a white starlet and a Black author speaks to our times, calling out bigotry and exploring the complexity of racial relationships.” Directed by Thomas Mitchell, this “workshop reading” takes place at The Link Auditorium, 4504 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.