St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of June 12, 2023

What's on St. Louis theater and cabaret stages this coming week. Please leave a comment if anything was wrong or got left out.

Albion Theatre presents Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends through June 25. “A tea party is arranged supposedly to console an old friend, but it reveals the troubled relationships of the others at the party.  One of Ayckbourn’s most successful plays, it has been called ‘the saddest.…and the funniest” of his plays’.” Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: https://albiontheatrestl.org.

The Cherokee Street Theatre Company presents The Clash of the Titans Live Parody through June 17th. “Perseus must prove his worth to his daddy, foil his step-mom, complete  heroic tests, battle Medusa and the KRAKEN to save the Princess Andromeda live on stage Cherokee Street Theater style.” Performances take place through June 1st at Upstairs at The Golden Record, 2720 Cherokee, and June 9 through 17 at the Playhouse at Westport Plaza. For more information: www.cherokeestreettheatercompany.com.

Circus Flora presents Undercover through June 25. “This summer, Circus Flora enters the daring world of espionage! With nods to beloved spy stories throughout the years, Undercover introduces the world’s top double agent who faces an archvillain obsessed with world domination. Our spy has plenty of helpful allies – but the villain has a team, too. Will good overcome bad . . . and how? Aerialists, acrobats, contortionists, and comedians will craft this thrilling story, which will captivate your whole family!” Performances take place at The Big Top on Washington next to Powell Hall in Grand Center. For more information: circusflora.org.

Immigrant Song's Performers

Immigrant Song presents a free Father’s Day Concert on Sunday, June 18, at 4 pm. “Immigrant Song is a non-profit 501c3 organization founded in 2017 in response to the nationwide spike in domestic hate crimes based on the victim's race, religion, sexual orientation, gender and disability. We create intimate concerts featuring a deliberately diverse group of musicians and singers, styles and cultures. This is the sixth in our concert series, and the first in which we celebrate our fathers and forefathers.” The concert features 21 local singers and musicians with musicl direction by Larry D. Pry. Katie McGrath is producer and director. The concert takes place at the Kirkwood Park Lions Amphitheater in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: www.immigrantsong.org.

The Lemp Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre and Jest Mysteries present Death of a Blackheart through August 26. "Ahoy matey! Join us for an exciting evening of murder, mystery and pirates at the best comedy dinner theater show in town. Don your favorite pirate gear and escape to the high seas for an adventure fraught with peril! What part will you play in this hilarious show full of fair maidens, lost boys, rival pirates and wenches? Whichever character you acquire, beware of that famous pirate Captain Jack Blackheart! Aye, he's a scurvy seadog if my eye ever seed one! Gee, I hope no one kills him off!" The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place in south city. For more information: www.lempmansion.com

Just One Look
Photo: The Midnight Company

The Midnight Company presents Just One Look by Joe Hanrahan, starring Kelly Howe as Linda Ronstadt, on selected Wednesdays through August 30 at 7:30 pm. “Linda Ronstadt ruled the pop charts and filled stadiums in the 70’s and 80’s. The reigning rock goddess of her era, she later took on light opera - Gilbert and Sullivan on Broadway - and The Great American Songbook with Nelson Riddle. Her involvement in social issues accelerated during her relationship with California Governor Jerry Brown, then running for President. But for Linda, it was always a search for the next great song. Kelly Howe will portray Linda Ronstadt and sing her sensational songs.” Performances continue at The Blue Strawberry, 356 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

The Muny presents Beautiful: The Carol King Musical June 12-18 at 8:15 pm.  “An inspiring true story of a music legend, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical takes you on an unforgettable journey of a remarkable career. A tapestry of creativity and innovation, Carole King paved the way for female artists for generations to come.” Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information: muny.org.

Gloria: A Life
Photo: John Gitchoff

New Jewish Theatre presents Emily Mann’s Gloria: A Life Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 4 and 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, through June 18 “Gloria: A Life explores the iconic feminist's legacy. Decades after Gloria Steinem began raising her voice for equality and championing the voices of others, her vision is as urgent as ever. This play embodies Steinem's philosophy that conversation is a catalyst for change as it celebrates one of the most inspiring women of our time.” Performances take place at the SFC Performing Arts Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive. For more information: jccstl.com/arts-ideas/new-jewish-theatre.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg

New Line Theatre presents Sondheim’s musical comedy A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm through June 24. “To close New Line's 31st season, Sondheim and comic playwright and screenwriter Burt Shevelove take the classical Roman comedies of Plautus, mash them up with American vaudeville, and the result is one of the great musical farces of all time, every bit as smart and subversive as Sondheim’s later shows. In 1962, this show satirized America’s hang-ups about sex at the beginning of the Sexual Revolution; today, the show bumps up against lots of complicated questions we’ve all been asking lately, about sex, gender, and more.” Performances take place at the Marcelle Theatre in Grand Center. For more information: www.newlinetheatre.com.

Treemonisha
Photo: Eric Woolsey

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha through June 24. “Sometimes out of the deepest tragedy springs the greatest hope. Embark on a life-affirming journey of love and creativity in Scott Joplin’s opera Treemonisha, re-imagined with two new acts by composer Damien Sneed and librettist Karen Chilton. As Joplin celebrates his wedding to his new bride, Freddie Alexander, he is inspired to write a masterpiece — with Freddie as his muse. His heroine will be called Treemonisha, and she will lead her community into a bright and bountiful future of education, opportunity, and prosperity.” Performances are sung in English with projected English supertitles and take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University Campus. For more information: opera-stl.org

Tosca
Photo: Eric Woolsey

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Puccini’s Tosca opening on Saturday, May 25, at 7:30 pm and running through June 25. “The year is 1800. Rome is caught in the middle of a war between Napoleon and the Austrian empire, and republican sympathizers are on the run from the police. Spying, double-crossing, and torture have become the order of the day. Tosca would do anything to protect her lover, the painter Cavaradossi — a fact that the lustful police chief Scarpia is all too ready to exploit. When Cavaradossi is accused of harboring political prisoners, Scarpia asks Tosca to make an unthinkable decision. Little does he know how fiercely she will fight to protect herself and those she loves. ” Performances are sung in English with projected English supertitles and take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University Campus. For more information: opera-stl.org

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Mozart’s comedy Così fan tutte through June 23. “Love makes fools of us all. Guglielmo and Ferrando naively insist that their girlfriends Fiordiligi and Dorabella could never fall for other men, and the two women believe that their suitors are the hottest catches in town. But when the jaded Don Alfonso and housemaid Despina team up to prove the young couples wrong, things are primed for an epic battle of the sexes. Set to some of Mozart’s most beautiful music, Così fan tutte embraces the line between romantic comedy and social satire.” Performances are sung in English with projected English supertitles and take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University Campus. For more information: opera-stl.org.

Susannah
Photo: Eric Woolsey

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Carlisle Floyd’s drama Susannah and running through June 24. “The young and innocent Susannah lives with her brother in a small town in Appalachia. One fateful day, men from her church happen to spot her bathing in a stream and begin to spread vicious rumors about her. As gossip circulates, the community turns their back on Susannah, forcing her to choose between conformity and isolation. But Susannah won’t be made a victim forever. She refuses to give a false confession, inflaming the town around her with tragic, life-altering consequences. Set to a rich score, this classic American opera offers a powerful indictment of religious and social hypocrisy.” Performances are sung in English with projected English supertitles and take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University Campus. For more information: opera-stl.org.

Twelfth Night
Photo: St. Louis Shakespeare Festival

St. Louis Shakespeare Festival presents the comedy Twelfth Night Tuesdays through Sundays at 8 pm through June 25. “Often regarded as Shakespeare’s greatest comedy, Twelfth Night is bursting with romance, music and high times. The tale of Viola and her shipwrecked twin brother – separated and finding their way in a strange new world – this year’s Shakespeare in the Park sets them in glamorous, celebrity-filled Miami. In a world of appearances, not everyone is who they seem, but love is love in this glorious Latin-inflected story of longing and reinvention.” Performances take place nightly at 8 pm except for Mondays at Shakespeare Glenn next to the Art Museum in Forest Park. For more information: stlshakes.org.

St. Louis Story Stitchers present The Why Of My City,  a new play by Mario Farwell about St. Louis’s black neighborhoods and historic figures, Thursday and Friday, June 15 and 16, at 7 pm. “Wanda, a young African American, returns to St. Louis after graduating high school.  She wants to explore opportunities, but Zoot Suit, a well-known gangster, entices her to come work for him. The community rallies to prevent Wanda from making a serious mistake and with the help of Scott Joplin, Madam CJ Walker, Cool Papa Bell and Tina Turner, they manage to save her from the clutches of Zoot Suit.” Performances take place at the ZACK Theatre, 3224 Locust in Grand Center. For more information: storystitchers.org.

Stages St. Louis presents the musical Aida through July 2. “A timeless love story for the ages, Disney’s AIDA tells the tale of the transcendent love triangle between Aida, a Nubian princess stolen from her country; Amneris, an Egyptian princess; and Radames, the soldier they both love. Set in a time of great turmoil in ancient Egypt, this story of forbidden love has thrilled audiences for over twenty years. Wrapped in an electric Tony and Grammy Award-Winning score by Elton John and Tim Rice, AIDA is both a stunning musical theatre experience, and an uplifting story of faith, duty, and redemption.” Performances take place at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: stagesstlouis.org.

Stray Dog Theatre presents the comedy Vampire Lesbians of Sodom by Charles Busch Thursdays through Saturdays through June 24. “One of the longest running comedies in Off Broadway history, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom tells the saga of two fatally seductive vampiresses. Their immortal paths collide throughout history, from ancient Sodom to 1920s Hollywood, and end up in current day Las Vegas. Their bitter rivalry as actresses endures for more than two thousand years! Showbiz has never been so blood thirsty.” 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
 

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