St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of September 18, 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

Jeff Harnar and Alex Rybeck

The Blue Strawberry presents a Showcase of St. Louis Cabaret Singers on Monday, September 18, at 7 pm. Presented by Jeff Harnar and Alex Rybeck, the showcase is the culmination of an intensive weekend of high-level training with Jeff and Alex. Join singers Chet Whye Jr., Angie Nicholson, Robert Breig, Nancy Wallingford, Journee Carter and Ryan Scott. The evening is directed by Jeff Harnar with Musical Direction by Alex Rybeck. 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 September 24 at 6 pm. “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.

Clayton Community Theatre presents The Cemetery Club Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through September 24.  “Three Jewish widows meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husbands’ graves. Ida is sweet tempered and ready to begin a new life; Lucille is a feisty embodiment of the girl who just wants to have fun; and Doris is priggish and judgmental, particularly when Sam the butcher enters the scene. He meets the widows while visiting his wife’s grave. This play is genuinely funny while with a serious subject matter. It runs through a range of emotions. There are secrets, some anger, a little bit of betrayal, but a lot of love too.” Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Rd. For more information: www.placeseveryone.org

The Improv Shop presents The One Four Fives: An Improvised Musical on Saturday September 23 at 8 pm. “It's the opening (and err, closing) night of a Broadway-style musical, completely made up on the spot!  Based on audience suggestion, The One Four Fives create a musical that has never been seen before.  Every performance is a unique experience full of drama, comedy, emotions, and of course, songs.” The Improv Shop is at 3960 Chouteau in The Grove. For more information: theimprovshop.com

The Lemp Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre and Jest Mysteries present Zombie Love through November 4. "Calling all Zombies! Tired of being judged for munching on the occasional brain? So what if you're not really "alive" anymore. You can still enjoy socializing with the living and enjoying a hilarious show together. Well, we've got the perfect show for you. Drama! Comedy! Looove! ...And, of course, Zombies! But some zombie has ignored rule number one in the “Zombieing for Dummies” handbook…No biting.  Nina Tina Deena May will never be the same…do you know who’s to blame? And, no, it was not Mike Tyson! " The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place in south city. For more information: www.lempmansion.com

Metro Theater Company presents Maddi’s Fridge by Anne Negri, adapted from the Book by Lois Brandt with illustrations by Vin Vogel.  “What if the only way to help a friend was to break a promise? Sofia and Maddi are best friends. They live in the same neighborhood, go to the same school, and play at the same rock-climbing gym. But when Sofia learns a secret about Maddi’s family, she’s faced with a difficult decision: to keep her promise or tell her parents about Maddi’s empty fridge. With humor and heart, this play is sure to inspire conversations with your young people about honesty, sensitivity, empathy and helping others.”  Best enjoyed by ages 5 – 11, the show’s approximate run time is 50 minutes with no intermission. For more information: www.metroplays.org

Professor Sunshine's Traveling Post-Apocalyptic
Rocn 'n Roll Revival

The Midnight Company presents the premiere of the new cabaret theatre show Professor Sunshine’s Traveling Post-Apocalyptic Rock ’n Roll Revival on Wednesday, September 20 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, September 23 at 8 pm. “The Rock ’n Roll Revival is today’s version of Old West traveling shows, when a ragtag theatrical company would sweep into town, bringing some light and entertainment to crumbling, precarious Gold Rush towns.  And now, once again, there are hard, hard times, troubled days in the dark, desolate lands we inhabit, where one can at least hope to see the Show coming to town, lifting spirits with rock songs and road stories. Professor Sunshine (Joe Hanrahan) presents the sultry chanteuse Cheyenne (Kelly Howe), delivering her signature renditions of all the classic, savage rock 'n roll we can remember, pulling together to continue their never-ending tour to the savage horizon ahead. Guaranteed to deliver you - or at least distract you - from these evil days with a new vision of the salvation music can bring.”  Performances take place at The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. .For more information: midnightcompany.com

Prism Theatre Company presents Wrens by Anne V. McGravie through September 24.  “Wrens by Anne V. McGravie, celebrates the independence and courage of seven young women during World War II serving in the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS). Set in 1945 on the eve of victory in Europe, this diverse group of women all struggle with personal feelings about what the end of the war will mean for their futures, and for the freedom and respect they have discovered serving in the Wrens. While wrestling with uncertainty, a sudden crisis forces them to come together to save one of their own. With humor, compassion, and strikingly real characters that touch our hearts, Wrens shines a light on a remarkable group of women who committed themselves to help change the world forever. Content Advisory: This play contains discussions of rape and abortion, and there is one very brief moment of partial nudity.” Performances take place at the black box theatre at the Kranzberg Center in Grand Center. For more information: www.prismtheatrecompany.org

The Lehman Trilogy
Photo: T. Charles Erickson

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents The Lehman Trilogy through September 24. “Experience this epic tale of one family’s passionate pursuit of the American Dream and the piercing cost of greed, excess and unbridled power. In the late 1840s, three young brothers from Bavaria arrived in America with near-empty pockets but full of hope and ambition. Over the course of two centuries, their family business grew to unimaginable heights and ultimately collapsed into bankruptcy” Performances take place on the main stage of the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University Campus. For more information: repstl.org

The St. Louis Writers' Group presents a Week 3 of its annual One-Act Play Festival on Tuesday, September 12, at 6:30 pm. The plays are Candle Light Dinner by Jim Danek, A Bit of Skin by David Hawley, A Difference in Cultures by David Hawley, and a new work by Mark Rubinelli The readings take place upstairs at Big Daddy’s in Soulard. For more information, visit the St. Louis Writers' Group Facebook page.

Million Dollar Quartet
Photo: Phillip Hamer

Stages St. Louis presents the musical Million Dollar Quartet through October 8. “The music industry stars truly aligned by pure happenstance when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins came together for an impromptu 1956 recording session at Sun Records in Memphis. This legendary session became known as the MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET and is the setting for this wildly entertaining audience favorite. Filled with such classic tunes as “Blue Suede Shoes”, “I Walk the Line”, “Hound Dog”, and “Great Balls of Fire”, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is sure to have you dancing in the aisles!” Performances take place at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: stagesstlouis.org

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

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