St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of April 17, 2023

To get your event listed here, send an email to chuck [at] kdhx.org Your event information should be in text format (i.e. not part of a graphic), but feel free to include publicity stills.

Ann Hampton Callaway
and Peggy Lee

The Blue Strawberry presents Ann Hampton Callaway in Fever: A Peggy Lee Celebration!, Friday and Saturday, April 21 and 22, at 7:30 pm. “Tony nominee Ann Hampton Callaway, one of the leading pop/jazz singers of our time, has created an exciting night of songs and stories in celebration of her inspiration and one of America’s most beloved artists, Peggy Lee. On the heels of Ann's Streisand Songbook symphonic triumph, this show celebrates the 100th birthday of the trailblazing woman who gave the world “Fever” through six decades of iconic songs from sultry to sizzling.” The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

Tim Schall

The Blue Strawberry presents Sunday Standard Time with Tim Schall and Carol Schmidt on Sunday, April 23, from 6:30 to 9:00pm. “Join Tim Schall (vocals) and Carol Schmidt (piano) in the lounge for a casual, classy Sunday evening of jazz standards, a little sophisticated pop and a dash of classic Broadway. Tim is no stranger to the theater and concert stages of St. Louis, Chicago and New York's Lincoln Center. Carol has a rich history of entertaining St. Louis audiences as musician and singer. Together they will help you wind down your weekend with timeless music and a lot of irreverent dry humor.” 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 Tuesday, March 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.

Circus Harmony presents Swashbuckle! Saturdays at 3 and 7 pm and Sundays at 3 pm through June 3rd. “Circus Harm!ony is back with their annual, full length, ticketed show. This year, it is an epic adventure with somersaulting, sword fighting, and circus.  The show features all-new acts co-created with Circus Harmony’s sensational staff and talented students. Swashbuckle! features a Pirate Queen, a sea witch, and a real parrot all after the same treasure. The show is presented in the circus ring at City Museum that Circus Harmony calls home. Acts include unicycling, contortion, minitrampoline, wire-walking and much more. Circus Harmony performs at the City Museum downtown. For more information: circusharmony.org

Wicked
Photo: Joan Marcus

The Fabulous Fox presents the Broadway musical Wicked through May 7.  ‘WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle.  Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”’ The Fabulous Fox is on North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com

The Lemp Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre and Jest Mysteries present Murder at the Abbey through May 6th. "Immerse yourself in a world full of aristocracy, old money a perhaps a touch of murder!  You’ve been invited to the dinner party held by the Earl of Grantham himself. Some would kill for the opportunity to meet the Crawley family.  They’ll all be there!  The Earl, his beautiful wife and three daughters…not to mention all your favorite characters in, and around, the Grantham house." The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place in south city. For more information: www.lempmansion.com

What the Constitution Means to Me
Photo: Dunsi Dai

Max and Louie Productions presents What the Constitution Means to Me through April 23.  “Playwright Heidi Schreck’s boundary-breaking play breathes new life into our Constitution and imagines how it will shape the next generation of Americans. Fifteen-year-old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the United States. In this endearingly funny, hopeful and achingly human new play, actor Michelle Hand brilliantly resurrects Schreck’s teenage and present self in order to trace the profound relationship between four generations of women in her family and the founding document that shaped their lives.”  Performances take place at the Kranzberg Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center.  For more information: maxandlouie.com

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries through May 13. “Doug and Kayleen meet as eight-year-olds in the school infirmary. (He tried to ride his bike off the roof. She has a stomachache that her mother blames on “bad thoughts.”) Their lives intersect for the next three decades as they return to each other, alternately revealing and concealing their injuries — both physical and psychological — as they struggle with attraction, vulnerability,  and love.” Performances take place on the main stage at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: www.repstl.org.

The St. Louis Writers' Group presents a One Act Play Festival Tuesday April 18 at 6:30 pm The evening will feature new plays by local playwrights Jim Bubash, Laura Kyro, Peg Flach, Dennis Fisher and Richard Young The reading takes place upstairs at Big Daddy’s in Soulard. For more information, visit the St. Louis Writers' Group Facebook page.

The SIU-Edwardsville Department of Theater and Dance presents BACCHAE: reboot Wednesday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, April 19 through 23. “Dionysus, God of Theater, has returned to his home to get some respect – or burn the whole place down trying! His fascist cousin, Pentheus is ready for a fight!  It’s a family feud in the House of Cadmus and it’s not going to end well.  This SIUE original adaptation is a provocative mashup of humor, horror, politics, and pop culture, exploring the limits of human wisdom and our never-ending headlong rush into the tragic. Based on THE BACCHAE by Euripides, Chuck Harper, director and co-adapter, along with Eric Ruckh, co-adapter, has taken the classic tragedy to new heights and perhaps, new lows, in their exploration of the human condition and its connection to the ethereal and sublime.” Performances take place at the Dunham Hall Theatre on the campus in Edwardsville, IL. For more information: https://www.siue.edu/artsandsciences/theater/box-office/index.shtml

Into the Woods
Photo by John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents Sondheim’s Into the Woods Thursdays through Saturdays through April 22. There is an additional performance at 2 pm on April 16th.  “When fairy tales collide, familiar characters must brave the darkness of the woods in an effort to break a curse, conquer their fears, and find out if what they’ve always wished for is what they truly want. This Sondheim classic reminds us that life is an unpredictable journey and that no one is alone.” 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.