St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of October 3, 2022

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.

Heroes
Photo: John Lamb

Albion Theatre presents Tom Stoppard’s translation of Gérald Sibleyras’s Heroes through October 9. “Set in 1959 three French World War I veterans in a military convalescent hospital make a bid for one last moment of freedom.” Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: albiontheatrestl.org.

The Alpha Players present Ripcord by David Lindsay Abaire  through October 9. “Have you ever had a roommate you couldn’t stand? A sunny room on an upper floor is prime real estate in the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility. When the cantankerous Abby is forced to share her quarters with new-arrival Marilyn, she has no choice but to get rid of the infuriatingly chipper woman by any means necessary. When Abby bets Marilyn she can make her angry and Marilyn bets Abby she can scare her, the sky is the limit on just how far each will go to “win” the room. The situation escalates into a comedic game of one-upmanship that reveals not just the tenacity of these worthy opponents, but also deeper truths that each would rather remain hidden.” Performances take place in the James J. Eagen Center in Florissant. For more information: www.alphaplayers.org

The Blue Strawberry presents a Singers Open Mic Night with host Meghan Kirk and pianist Ron McGowan on Tuesday, October 4, from 7 to 9:30 pm. “Musicals, Standards new and established, Cabaret and Pop. First Tuesday of every month (unless we change a date here and there!). Bring music in your key."  The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

John Lloyd Young

The Blue Strawberry presents John Lloyd Young Friday and Saturday, October 7 and 8, at 7:30 pm. “John Lloyd Young is the Tony and Grammy award-winning Frankie Valli from Broadway's Jersey Boys as well as the star of the Clint Eastwood directed Warner Bros film. John Lloyd Young: Broadway’s Jersey Boy is a celebration of classic hits from the ‘50s and ‘60s presented in the authentic acoustic style of original rock ‘n’ roll, Doo-Wop, and R&B standards. Along with tracks from Young’s critically acclaimed debut album “My Turn”, the show features “Sherry”, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”, “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me”, “In the Still of the Night” along with treasures from Roy Orbison to The Platters, the Righteous Brothers to Paul McCartney, Adele to Luther Vandross, Little Anthony, Elvis, Tom Jones and more."  The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

The Lemp Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre and Jest Mysteries present Dead Like Me through October 29th. "Death is in the air as guests join Marilyn Monroe, Babe Ruth, Juliet and her Romeo, Nixon and other grizzly ghouls as they emerge from the Land of The Dead for the annual Brotherhood of Obituary Occupants Union Meeting (That’s BOO for short). Be sure to leave your pulse at home because everyone at this party is dead... even you! There are lots of shadowy characters at this fun, interactive murder mystery but none are as sneaky as P.T. Barnum himself. He’s always got some devious slimy trick up his translucent sleeves. Gee, hope nothing happens to him! But just in case it does... will you figure out who-dun-it? Or will all waggling fingers be pointing at you?"  The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place in south city. For more information: www.lempmansion.com

Metro Theater Company presents Seedfolks live October 9 through November 6. “A vacant lot in a broken neighborhood in the middle of the city can become a lot of things. How could it ever be a source of hope? A dozen different characters and their stories come to life, beginning with Kim, a nine-year-old Vietnamese immigrant who plants six precious lima beans. One by one, the people of his community, many also immigrants, sow seeds of hope amid the dirt and grit, tending dreams to full bloom. As the garden grows, so does the community, blooming into something bigger, better, and beyond all expectations. As told by award-winning novelist Paul Fleischman, the garden draws neighbors out of their lonely isolation to rediscover and celebrate the community around them.” Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre in Grand Center and can also be viewed via streaming video beginning on October 19th. For more information: www.metroplays.org

Laka

The Midnight Company presents the World Premiere of St. Louis Woman, a play with music starring Laka, written and directed by Midnight’s Artistic Director, Joe Hanrahan. Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm (October 9 and 16 only),  October 6 – 22. “St. Louis Woman will honor the enduring legacy of some of the amazing women in St. Louis who brought this city to the world with their timeless music, dance and poetry. Laka will portray such legendary artists as Josephine Baker, Tina Turner and Katherine Dunham (and present the poetry of Maya Angelou, the song stylings of chart-toppers Fontella Bass and Ann Peebles, and the Gospel classics of the legendary Willie Mae Ford Smith.) These women were born in St. Louis, or came here when young (typically to join Gospel choirs), or, in Dunham’s case, moved here during the height of their careers to continue their momentous work. Performances take place at the .ZACK theatre, in Grand Center For more information: midnightcompany.com.

Something Rotten
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg

New Line Theatre presents the musical Something Rotten Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm through October 15 “It's 1595, and brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but they're stuck in the shadow of the Renaissance rock star Will Shakespeare. When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting, all at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first musical. This smart, subversive musical comedy mashes up the crass commercialism of today’s Hollywood with the people and plays of Shakespeare’s London, to ask fascinating, funny questions about commercial success, popular success, artistic success, and personal success. And beneath the rapid-fire Shakespeare jokes, the show comically deconstructs itself and musical theatre as an art form, exploring what makes musicals tick and why we love them. The show was nominated for ten Tonys, nine Drama Desk Awards, and twelve Outer Critics Circle Awards.” .  Performances take place at the Marcelle Theatre in Grand Center.For more information: http://www.newlinetheatre.com.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Private Lives by Noël Coward through October 23. “Sparks fly in Noël Coward’s witty and sophisticated romantic comedy of manners, featuring the unexpected and tumultuous collision of two former lovers.” Performances take place on the Berges Mainstage Theatre at COCA in University City. For more information: www.repstl.org

The St. Louis Actors’ Studio presents Fiction by Steven Dietz Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm, October 7-23. “Linda and Michael Waterman are both successful fiction writers, happily married to one another. They thrive on the give and take of their unusually honest and candid relationship. However, when Linda is diagnosed with a tumor, she asks her husband to share his diaries with her. The entries dive into Michael's past stay at a writer's retreat and a hidden affair. Michael says that his entries are only works of fiction. The boundaries between past and present, fact and fiction, trust and betrayal begin to break down, and that's all before Michael reads Linda's diaries. No life, as it turns out, is an open book.” Performances take place at The Gaslight Theater on North Boyle in the Central West End. For more information: www.stlas.org

St. Louis University Theatre presents The Government Inspector Thursday through Sunday, October 6-9. “When the locals in a small town in Russia learn that an undercover government inspector is coming for a surprise visit, an unfortunate case of mistaken identity sends the village spiraling into a world of panic and greed. The Government Inspector is often said to be Nikolai Gogol’s masterpiece, a comedy of errors that provides clever commentary on the extensive political wrongdoing of Imperial Russia. When it opened, it caused an uproar in the Russian press. Eventually, Tsar Nicholas I had to intervene in order for the production to move forward. Since its premiere in the 1830s, The Government Inspector has been translated and adapted for many different productions, most notably the Chichester Festival in 2005.” Performances take place at the Xavier Hall Main Stage on the campus at 3733 West Pine Mall in Grand Center. For more information: www.slu.edu

The St. Louis Writers' Group presents round 1 of the 2022 Playwright Slam Tuesday, October 4 at 6:30 pm, . Each script will be given a five minute read, and rated by a panel of judges based on audience reaction. The judges will select several plays to move on to round two next week. The readings take place at Big Daddy’s in Soulard. For more information, visit the St. Louis Writers' Group Facebook page.

Stray Dog Theatre presents the Sondheim’s A Little Night Music Thursdays through Saturdays October 6-22. There are additional performances at 2 pm Sunday, October 16 and 8 pm Wednesday October 19. “Set in a weekend country house in turn of the century Sweden, this musical farce brings together surprising liaisons, long simmering passions, and a taste of love’s endless possibilities. Hailed as witty and wildly romantic, the story centers on the elegant actress Desirée Armfeldt and the spider’s web of sensuality, intrigue, and desire that surrounds her.” Performances take place at Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee in Tower Grove East. Tickets are only offered in physically distanced groups of two or four. For more information: www.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.