St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of August 9, 2021

Now including both on-line and live events during the pandemic. To get your event listed here, send an email to calendar [at] stageleft.org.

Arts for Life presents an on-demand video stream of their fifth annual Theatre Mask Awards, honoring excellence in community theatre productions during 2020, on their YouTube channel. Act Two Theatre’s production of the farce “Who’s in Bed with the Butler?” leads this year’s Theatre Mask Awards nominations with nine. Alton Little Theater, with its two productions of “Inherit the Wind” and “The Miracle Worker,” earned 12 nominations in total – six for each. Two classic comedies by Clayton Community Theatre, “The Philadelphia Story,” and Monroe Actors Stage Company, “The Solid Gold Cadillac,” both received eight nominations apiece. Arts For Life announced the TMA nominations on March 12, during the nonprofit organization’s first-ever virtual trivia night. For more information: www.artsforlife.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, August 13-22.  The August 14th performance will also be available as a live video stream. 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

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.

Kate Rockwell in The Sound of Music

The Muny presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music through August 9.  “Considered by many to be the world’s most beloved musical, The Sound of Music reminds us that with high-spirited hope, heartfelt compassion and unwavering determination, life’s mountains can always be climbed. With its Tony, Grammy and Academy Award-winning score, including “Do-Re-Mi,” “My Favorite Things,” “Edelweiss” and the iconic title track “The Sound of Music,” the hills of Forest Park come alive once more!.” Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information: muny.org.

The Muny presents Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, based on the 1954 musical film, August 12-18 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.

PRISM Theatre Company presents Spotlight on...Women Writing: Festival of New Works Friday and Saturday, August 13 and 14 at 7:30 pm. Each evening will feature staged readings of two plays (one short and one full-length) followed by a talkback with the actors, playwrights, and creative team. Friday the plays are ACADEME.compassion by Dr. Laura Perkins and See the Dove by Laurie McConnell. Saturday the plays are Stay Awhile by Dana Hall and Bandera, Texas by Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend. Performances take place at Brittany Woods Middle School, 8125 Groby Road. For more information: www.prismtheatrecompany.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 August 13-22 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 The Huddled Masses: Part 4, The Dreamer and the  Muslim by Bradford Slavik on Tuesday, August 10 at 6:30 pm via live in person and via  Zoom. "The Huddled Masses is a cycle of four one-act plays telling the story of three families, the McFeeneys, the Rosensteins, the Tanakas, and the Bukharis through 160 years of American immigration and history. Lucy Cervantes is a law clerk, soon to be lawyer. She is intelligent, energetic and one of the top people in her field. She is also a DACA recipient. Iskandar Bukhari is shy and highly introverted with an aversion to crowds. He is also a highly gifted doctor and a new citizen. Against all odds the Hispanic Catholic Lucy and the Pakistani Muslim Iskandar meet and click. They struggle to remain to together as the country around them rapidly descends into madness in the wake of the 2016 election." The reading takes place upstairs at Big Daddy's, 1000 Sidney in Soulard. 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, August 5-21, with an additional performance on Sunday, August 15 at 8 pm. “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.

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.