St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of October 10, 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 October 13 through 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

Clayton Community Theatre presents Wendy Wasserstein’s Uncommon Women and Others Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, October 13-23.  “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 opening on Tuesday, October 11, at 7:30 pm and running 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

KTK Productions presents Two Witches, No Waiting Fridays through Sundays, October 14-23. “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

Metro Theater Company presents the world premiere of Bold, Brave, Curious! Mariah L. Richardson Friday at 11 am and Saturday at 4 pm, October 15 and 16. “Nine-year-old Delilah has sworn to be BFFs with Lupe and Stanley, but when Stanley’s foster mom falls ill, secrets and lies threaten to tear the friends apart. Can the mysterious, magical object they find in Grandmomma’s attic bring them back together? Bold, Brave, Curious! illuminates the power of friendship and empowers young people to examine friendship, bias, community, and individual power. ” Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre in Grand Center. The show is also available for video streaming through October 16th.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. Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm (October 16 only) 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.

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 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 round 2 of the 2022 Playwright Slam Tuesday, October 11 at 6:30 pm. The three finalists from round one will be read and rated by a panel of judges based on audience reaction. The judges will select several plays to move on to the final round next week. The readings take place at Big Daddy’s in Soulard. For more information, visit the St. Louis Writers' Group Facebook page.

The Department of Theater and Dance and SIU-Edwardsville presents Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler Wednesday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, October 12-16. “Filled with a passion for life that cannot be confined by her marriage or “perfect home,” Hedda Gabler strives to find a way to fulfill her desires by manipulating those around her.  Hedda and George have just returned from their honeymoon, but when her former lover Eilert appears with a brilliant new manuscript, George’s hopes for a professorship are dimmed.  Hedda’s desperate dissatisfaction with her life leads to dangerous choices in this startling portrait of a woman hell-bent on destruction.” Performances take place at the Dunham Hall Theatre on the campus in Edwardsville, IL. For more information: www.siue.edu

A Little Night Music
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the Sondheim’s A Little Night Music Thursdays through Saturdays through October 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.