St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of July 24, 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.

Act Two Theatre presents Peter and the Starcatcher Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, July 27 through August 6. Performances take place at the St. Peters Cultural Center in St. Peters, MO. For more information: www.acttwotheatre.com

Stella Katherine Cole

The Blue Strawberry presents An Evening with Stella Katherine Cole Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 7 pm, July 28-30. “To watch Stella perform is to be transported back in time. Her voice, personality, and presence all shine with a timeless quality, as if she’s been plucked straight out of an old MGM movie. The joy she derives from the music of the Great American Songbook is irresistible. Spend a few minutes scrolling through the thousands of comments on her viral singing videos, and you’ll see she has people of all ages falling in love with this music. Come spend an evening with Stella as she performs some of her favorite songs from the Great American Songbook.”  The performance takes place in the lounge at The Blue Strawberry, 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com

Fly North Theatricals presents the musical Caroline, Or Change by Jeanine Tesori and Tony Kushner July 28 through August 12. “Set in one of the most pivotal times in America's history, the Tony-nominated and rarely produced "Caroline, or Change: is riveting, moving and awe-inspiring. Featuring a virtuosic score by Jeanine Tesori (Shrek The Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie), it blends blues, gospel and traditional Jewish melodies, creating a breathtaking medium for Kushner's provocative and personal story. Performances take place at The Marcelle, 3310 Samuel Shepard in Grand Center. For more information: flynorthmusic.com

The Grand Center Arts District presents Sankofa Live! Friday and Saturday at 7 pm, July 28 and 29. “Sankofa Live! is an original play written and directed by Myah Maedell Singh. It is a dramatic production of scenes, monologues, African Dance and Drumming! Featuring some of St. Louis’s most talented Artists.” Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre, 3619 Grandel Square in Grand Center. For more information: www.grandcenter.org/event/sankofa-live.

The Hawthorne Players present the musical The Color Purple Fridays and Saturday at 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm, July 28 through August 4.  “The musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel (and the popular 1985 Steven Spielberg film) spotlights Celie, a downtrodden young woman whose personal awakening over the course of 40 years forms the arc of this epic story. With a joyous score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, African music and blues, The Color Purple is a story of hope, a testament to the healing power of love, and a celebration of life.”  Performances take place in the Florissant Civic Center Theatre in Florissant, MO. For more information: www.hawthorneplayers.info

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

The Years
Photo The Midnight Company

The Midnight Company presents The Years by Cindy Lou Johnson Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 and Sundays at 2 pm through July 29. “The play opens on a tumultuous day for two sets of cousins: Andrea and Eloise, and Isabelle and Andrew. It is Andrea’s wedding day, and she and her sister Eloise, are dealing with the recent death of their father, which was soon followed by their mother’s suicide. On the day of her wedding, Andrea has gone into work to help someone, and returning home is mugged. Meanwhile Eloise has just learned of her husband’s betrayal and the end of their marriage. They make it through that turbulent day. And as the story continues, thirteen years pass, and all of the cousins are forced to deal with the vagaries of life and death that the years deliver.” Performances take place at The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive in Clayton. For more information: midnightcompany.com

The Midnight Company presents You Made Me Love You: A Tribute to Judy Garland starring Jennelle Gilreath Owens, opening on Thursday, July 27, at 7:30 pm and running through August 9. The show is written by Joe Hanrahan with a band headed by John and Lea Gerdes.  Performances take place at The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. .For more information: midnightcompany.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 Little Shop of Horrors July 25-31 at 8:15 pm.  “A delicious comedy for the heart of summer! Little Shop of Horrors is a campy thriller that follows meek floral assistant Seymour on his quest to win over the love of his life, Audrey. A total eclipse of the sun and a scheming man-eating plant threatens his dream and takes over Seymour’s life. Expect the unexpected and get ready to feed your inner quirkiness with this hangry tale. Whatever you do, do not feed the plant!”   Performances take place on the Muny's outdoor stage in Forest Park. For more information: muny.org.

Stages St. Louis presents the musical Clue through August 20. “Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie which was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, CLUE is a hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery. The play begins on a dark and stormy night at a remote mansion, where six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party. When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects. Sip soup with Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Mrs. Peacock, Colonel Mustard, and a host of other classic oddballs as you unravel this whodunnit. CLUE is laugh-a-minute, high-octane fun for the entire family!” Performances take place at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: https://stagesstlouis.org.

Union Avenue Opera presents Donizetti’s comedy Don Pasquale Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, July 28 through August 5. "Take a trip with us to Rome for this uproarious, screwball comedy—perfect for seasoned operagoers and newcomers alike. Don Pasquale, a wealthy old bachelor, is determined to disinherit his rebellious nephew Ernesto—who refuses to marry for money, insisting on marrying the poor widow Norina for love. With the help of the mastermind Dr. Malatesta, the lovers hatch an outrageous plan to teach the old Don a lesson once and for all. This unorthodox love triangle yields a hilarious and touching masterpiece that takes a riotously entertaining slant on the threat of disinheritance, a mock marriage, and a spendthrift wife who believes husbands should be seen and not heard." Performances are sung in Italian with projected English supertitles and take place at Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information: unionavenueopera.org

Looking for auditions and other artistic opportunities? Check out the St. Louis Auditions site.

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