St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of October 17th, 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.

Black Mirror Theatre Company presents Roll With It through October 23. Performances take place at the Kranzberg Center in Grand Center. “After an SUV rollover leaves 25-year-old Katie paralyzed from the chest down, she and her former self struggle with physical, emotional, psychological, and financial challenges as they aim to recover, and find purpose and beauty in daily living. Katie’s journey with friends, family and caregivers is inspiring, difficult, funny, and honest.” For more information: www.blackmirrortheatre.org

John McDaniel

The Blue Strawberry presents John McDaniel: Coming Home Thursday October20 and 8, at 7:30 pm. “Join St. Louis’s own Grammy & Emmy Award winner, John McDaniel, as he brings some terrific songs and stories home to the Lou.  From nine shows on Broadway to TV’s Rosie O’Donnell Show, he’s made music with the best.  Fun, laughs and great tunes are in store for one night only!"  The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

The Blue Strawberry presents Broadway’s Judy Kuhn Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm, October 21 and 22. “Join four-time Tony Award nominee Judy Kuhn for an evening of songs and stories. Kuhn is perhaps best known for singing the title role in Disney's Pocahontas and her enchanting "Colors Of The Wind" remains one of the most beloved Disney ballads to this day. Her prolific career on Broadway includes the 2016 revival of Fiddler on the Roof, Fun Home (Tony & Drama League Award nominations), the Roundabout’s 1993 revival of She Loves Me (Tony Award nomination), Richard Nelson’s Two Shakespearean Actors (Lincoln Center Theatre), Chess (Tony & Drama Desk nominations), Les Misérables (Tony & Drama Desk nominations), Rags (Drama Desk nomination), Alan Menken & Tim Rice's King David, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood (original cast). Most recently, Kuhn appeared in John Doyle’s production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins at CSC, and in 2019, she starred in Trevor Nunn’s critically acclaimed revival of Fiddler on the Roof in London's West End, for which she received her second Laurence Olivier Award nomination. Joining Kuhn as emcee and music director is St. Louis-native John McDaniel, a Grammy and Emmy Award winning music director, composer, director, arranger, orchestrator, and producer who is also an artistic director at the Tony Award winning Eugene O’Neill Theater Center."  The show is also available via live video stream. The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

Chuck Lavazzi and Carol Schmidt

The Cabaret Project and The Blue Strawberry present a Singers Open Mic on Tuesday, October 18, from 7 to 9:30 pm. “Chuck Lavazzi is your host, with pianist and music director Carol Schmidt. If you plan to sing bring sheet music or a chart in your own key, and perform your favorite Broadway, pop, or jazz tunes. Medium/up-tempo songs are encouraged but not required. Or you can just relax, have a drink and dinner or a snack, and enjoy the music. No admission or cover, but there is always a tip jar! All proceeds go to The Cabaret Project, a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to promoting, developing, and sustaining the art cabaret in St. Louis. "  The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

Clayton Community Theatre presents Wendy Wasserstein’s Uncommon Women and Others Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, through October 23.  “The year is 1978. Eight women - who six years earlier were classmates at a prestigious, New England women’s college during the heady early years of the women’s movement - share memories and reflect on how their lives have unfolded so far, in light of their own expectations and those of society. Wasserstein’s characters strive to define and chart new paths for themselves in a challenging world still fraught with traditional stereotypes. Uncommon Women and Others was her breakthrough play; Wasserstein wrote it in 1975 while earning a graduate degree at Yale Drama School and revised it in 1977. The play entered the public consciousness soon after its debut in 1978 in New York City; it remains very popular and is still frequently performed today.” Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Rd. For more information: www.placeseveryone.org

Hadestown
Photo: Kevin Berne

The Fabulous Fox presents the musical Hadestown through October 23. “Hadestown intertwines two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Mitchell’s beguiling melodies and Chavkin’s poetic imagination pit industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. Performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, dancers and singers, Hadestown is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go.” The Fabulous Fox is on North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: www.fabulousfox.com

The Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents the musical Little Shop of Horrors October 21-30. “Little Shop of Horrors has devoured the hearts of theatre goers for over 30 years. The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names Audrey II after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down-and-out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it – BLOOD. Over time, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out-of-this-world origins and intent toward global domination!” Performances take place at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: ktg-onstage.org

KTK Productions presents Two Witches, No Waiting Fridays through October 23. “Arlene Marcus and her sister, Elzbeth, are known far and wide in South Texas as friendly, charitable and a little eccentric. This is understandable, because it is also known that they are witches. At least, that's the story, especially the one spread by their housekeeper, Opal Dunn, just before she vanished without a trace. Sheriff Jeb Abercrombie seems a little shy about investigating for some reason, which bothers Elzbeth, who has a crush on the lawman. Arlene's son, Jeremy, tries to keep a lid on things by trying to get the sisters to sell their house. And who wants desperately to buy the property? Eustace Sternwood, his fiancés father. Of course, Sternwood didn't reckon on dealing with people who read bumps on his head, a "recipe book" full of spells and potions and getting lost in Elzbeth's "mystery room." Jeremy already has his hands full, so what happens when he seems to be falling in love with Bonnie, the new housekeeper? And just who is she? And why does she keep making reports to someone over her cellphone? It's a heady brew of twists and turns, where barn owls spy on people through windows, closets fly open and even the house itself seems alive. Of course, it's all par for the course, especially when you have , Two Witches, No Waiting.” Performances take place at the Saint John The Baptist Gymnasium, 4200 Delor Street in south St. Louis. For more information: kurtainkall.org

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 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

St. Louis Woman

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, through October 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.

Some of My Best Friends Are
Photo: Joan Lipkin

The Missouri History Museum presents “Some of My Best Friends Are”: A Musical Reunion, on Thursday, October 20, at 5:30 pm.  “St. Louis playwright Joan Lipkin wrote, directed, and produced this award-winning theatrical exploration of the lesbian and gay experience. With music and lyrics by Tom Clear, it was the first theatrical work of its kind in Missouri. The sold-out performances of Some of My Best Friends Are were held in the basement theater of the St. Marcus Church in 1989. The production was widely featured on television and radio, and it changed St. Louis’s cultural and political landscape. This one-time program will reunite much of the original cast and crew to reflect on this groundbreaking work, and the audience will have a chance to share their memories too. Kick off the evening with live choral performances from CHARIS, the St. Louis Women’s choir, and Black Tulip Chorale, St. Louis’s LGBTQ+ all-expression, gender, identity, and orientation mixed-voice choral organization. Explore the Museum’s galleries and visit tables from local LGBTQ+ organizations, including Black Pride, Metro Trans Umbrella Group, PFLAG, the St. Louis Queer+ Support Helpline, and more. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from Sugarfire Smoke House.” The Missouri History Museum is in Forest Park. For more information: https://mohistory.org/events/a-musical-reunion

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

Fiction
Photo: Patrick Huber

The St. Louis Actors’ Studio presents Fiction by Steven Dietz Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm through October 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

The St. Louis Writers' Group presents the final round of the 2022 Playwright Slam Tuesday, October 18 at 6:30 pm. Ten-minute selections from each of the six finalists from previous rounds will be read and rated by a panel of judges based on audience reaction. The judges will then select the winning play. The readings take place at Big Daddy’s in Soulard. For more information, visit the St. Louis Writers' Group Facebook page.

A Little Night Music
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the Sondheim’s A Little Night Music Wednesday through Saturday, October 19 through 22. “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

Upstream Theater presents The Doors Cry for Those Who Left, an evening of music and poetry and a preview of their upcoming play The Good Ship St. Louis, on Monday, October 17, at 8 pm. “The evening features live music by Farshid Soltanshahi and Patrick Siler, and includes poems on the theme of displacement, as well as monologues from The Good Ship St. Louis, as performed by Sarah Burke, Kari Ely, Wendy Greenwood, Christopher Hickey, Miranda Jagels Félix, Peter Mayer, and Caitlin Mickey. Reception to follow!”  The event takes place in the Hall of Nations at The International Institute, 3401 Arsenal in South St. Louis.

The Washington University Performing Arts Department presents Sondheim’s Into the Woods Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm, October 21-30. Performances take place in the Edison Theatre on the Washington University Campus. For more information: pad.wustl.edu

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.