What's
on St.Louis theater and cabaret stages this coming week. Please leave a comment if anything was wrong or got left out
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| Tim Schall
and Carol Schmidt |
The Blue Strawberry presents a
David Giuntoli in
A
Swingin’ Holiday Soirée on Thursday December 7 at 7:30
pm. “David Giuntoli invites you to "A Swinging' Holiday Soirée" at
Blue Strawberry alongside musical director Carol Schmidt on piano,
Ben Coan on bass and one or two surprise performers! Featuring songs
made famous by Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett,
Michael Feinstein and others.” The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N.
Boyle. For more information:
bluestrawberrystl.com.
The Blue Strawberry presents a holiday edition of
Sunday
Standard Time with
Tim Schall and
Carol
Schmidt on Sunday December 10 from 6:00 to 8:00pm. “Join Tim
Schall (vocals) and Carol Schmidt (piano) along with special guests
Lavonne Byers and Mark Saunders in the lounge for a casual, classy
Sunday evening of jazz standards, a little sophisticated pop and a
dash of classic Broadway, along with some seasonal favorites.”
The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information:
bluestrawberrystl.com.
Cherokee Street Theatre presents
The Goonies Live
Holiday Show through December 9. “A group of young
misfits called The Goonies discover an ancient map and set out on an
adventure to find a legendary pirate's long-lost treasure. Prepare
to celebrate the 1980s classic as a live-action laugh-out-loud
holiday parody.” Performances take place upstairs at The Golden
Record, 2720 Cherokee. For more information:
https://www.cherokeestreettheatercompany.com
 |
| Christmas with C.S. Lewis |
Emery Entertainment presents
Christmas with C.S.
Lewis starring Gregory Williams Welsch December 7-17.
"In the early years of his young adult life C. S. Lewis believed the
story of Christ’s birth was nothing more than feel-good myth. That
all changed after a particular encounter with his great friend and
fellow author, J R R Tolkien. Although both men loved mythology in
general, Tolkien was convinced that the Jesus myth was the one true
myth. That was the start of Lewis’ journey from Atheism to
Christianity. From that point on, Christmas, for Lewis, took on an
entirely different meaning. Here we find him at his home near Oxford
on Christmas Eve hosting a group of Americans who are Christmassing
in England. They are about to experience an unforgettable assortment
of Yuletide recollections which stimulates a whole range of emotions
– curiosity, laughter, gladness and even some tears. Above all, they
will discover how that encounter with Tolkien forever changed his
Christmas celebrations." Performances take place at the Westport
Playhouse in Westport Plaza. For more information:
www.aneveningwithcslewis.com.
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The Greatest Show on Earth
Photo courtesy of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey |
Enterprise Center presents
Ringling Brothers and
Barnum and Bailey: The Greatest Show on Earth Saturday
and Sunday, December 9 and 10. “Bringing to life an arena spectacle
at unbelievable scale, The Greatest Show On Earth will debut
stunning feats of real human achievement, musical performances
blended with aerial artistry, modern comedy, and never-before-seen
acts on highwire, trapeze, bicycles, and more. The reimagined
American icon will captivate families through a multi-platform,
360-degree experience that brings fans into the action, creating
real connections between audiences and performers from all over the
world.” Performances take place at the Enterprise Center downtown.
For more information:
https://ringling.com
ERA Theatre presents
Never Let Go: a one-woman Titanic
Thursdays through Saturdays at 7 pm, December 7 through 16.
“Twenty-four years ago, Rose 'Dawson' miraculously survived the
sinking of the Titanic. But her lover, Jack Dawson, did not, and she
is not over it. Despite her grief, she's pursuing her dream of
becoming an Academy Award-nominated actress. In this production,
Rose pitches the idea of turning her story into a work of theatre,
or even a motion picture, to an audience of potential producers and
investors. She shifts seamlessly from past and present, often
without warning, and artistically, and maybe somewhat insanely,
blurs the distinction between reality and imagination. Join us for
the maiden voyage of your life and never let go!” Performances take
place at the Kranzberg Arts Center in Grand Center. For more
information:
www.metrotix.com.
 |
Cirque
de Soliel's 'Twas the Night Before...
Photo: Michael Last |
The Fabulous Fox presents
Cirque de Soleil’s ‘Twas the
Night Before… through December 10. “‘Twas the Night
Before… is Cirque du Soleil’s first holiday show, based on the
classic poem “A Visit from Saint Nicolas” by Clement Clarke Moore.
Memorable lines from this cherished classic inspired Cirque’s story
about a jaded young girl who rediscovers the magic of the holidays.
A festive flurry of love and cheer created especially for families,
‘Twas the Night Before… features thrilling acrobatics, lovable
characters - and a soundtrack including holiday classics re-invented
by Cirque du Soleil. The show was conceived and is directed by
Cirque du Soleil Senior Artistic Director James Hadley, a 25-year
veteran of circus productions and live theater.” The Fabulous Fox is
on North Grand in Grand Center. For more information:
fabulousfox.com
First Run Theatre presents
Leannán Sidhe
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through December
3. “Leannán Sidhe is Irish Gaelic for "fairy
lover." Our play is centered around Mya, a writer who lives in
her dreams. In her world the full moon is constantly out, it's
always summer, and the dashing British actor Vincent Thane is her
lover. But is Vincent real, another fantasy, or some of
both? A funny and moving play about how dangerous it can be to
achieve your dreams.” Performances take place at the Kranzberg
Center in Grand Center. For more information:
firstruntheatre.org.
Fly North Theatricals presents
The 25th Annual Putnam
County Spelling Bee December 8-17. “Winner of the Tony
and Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County
Spelling Bee, about an eclectic group of six pre-pubescents who are
vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime, has charmed
audiences across the country with its effortless wit and
humor. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching
stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a
series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the
soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding" of the bell
that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one
speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice
box.” Performances take place at the Greenfinch Theater & Dive,
2525 S. Jefferson. For more information:
flynorthmusic.com.
The Lemp Mansion
Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre and
Jest Mysteries
present
Harm for the Hoidays through January
13, 2024. "This may look like a festive Holiday Party for a
family-owned, candle-making business but there is danger lurking
beneath the mistletoe! Slimy characters, sneaky thieves,
blackmailers, cheats and liars prowl around every corner and you
oughta know since you’re one of them! They’re malicious
conspiring reveals the true nature of Harm Enterprises…organized
crime (shhh…don’t tell Grandpa!) But the shortest fuse in the
room belongs to Hector Harm, he’s the grinchiest of the Harm
siblings and he’s got one of his beady little eyes on old Grandma
Harm’s Job. Hope he doesn’t snuff her out before her time!"
The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place in south city. For more
information:
www.lempmansion.com
 |
Into the Woods
Photo: John Gitchoff |
New Jewish Theatre presents
Sondheim’s Into the Woods
Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 4 and 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm,
November 30 through December 17. “What happens after happily ever
after? Stephen Sondheim’s beloved musical revisits all your favorite
fairy tale characters including Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the
Beanstalk and Little Red Riding Hood as they work to make their
wishes come true, only to realize that sometimes getting what you
want isn’t all you dreamed it would be. This Tony-Award winning
musical adventure is at turns delightful and haunting, but always
enchanting.” Performances take place at the SFC Performing Arts
Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive. For more information:
jccstl.com/arts-ideas/new-jewish-theatre
 |
Jesus and Johnny Appleweed's Holy Rollin'
Family Christmas
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg |
New Line Theatre presents the world premiere of the rock
musical
Jesus & Johnny Appleweed's Holy Rollin' Family
Christmas, with book, music, and lyrics by Scott Miller,
Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm through December 16. “Poor Harry
Goodson learns his lessons the hard way, as he’s visited overnight
by his dead twin brother, Jesus Christ, Sandra Dee, and Johnny
Appleweed, and he finally learns what his family already knows, that
the answer to all his problems is marijuana! A wacky companion piece
to the unintentionally hilarious 1936 scare film Reefer Madness,
this new musical is a crazy mashup of A Christmas Carol, Reefer
Madness, and 1950s musical comedy, a tongue-in-cheek response to the
War on Drugs and the Culture Wars, a comic look at what a little pot
and a little truth can do to a normal, average, Midwestern, American
family at mid-century, just as America plunges into the chaos of the
1960s.” . Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre in
Grand Center. For more information:
http://www.newlinetheatre.com
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents
It’s a
Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play through December 23.
“Engage your imagination in the world of vintage radio broadcasting
as you rediscover the magic of the holiday season with It's A
Wonderful Life - A Live Radio Play. Experience the Golden Age of
Radio through this classic holiday film reimaged as a live radio
performance. Bear witness to this timeliness holiday story that
explores the life of George Bailey, a compassionate and selfless
man, standing on the brink of despair, when an angel named Clarence
is sent down to Earth to teach George the power of kindness, the
importance of family and friends, and the realization that each
life, no matter how ordinary it may seem, is truly wonderful.”
Performances take on the main stage of the Loretto-Hilton Center on
the Webster University campus.. For more information:
www.repstl.org.
 |
Barrymore
Photo: Patrick Huber |
St. Louis Actors’ Studio presents
Barrymore by
William Luce through December 10. “Stalwart St. Louis actor
John Contini returns to the STLAS stage to reprise the role in which
Christopher Plummer won a Tony for his portrayal of John Barrymore.
Each act begins with a stunning entrance onto a stage that the
legendary actor has rented to prepare for a comeback performance of
Richard III. Barrymore jokes with the audience, spars with an
offstage prompter, reminisces about better times, and does delicious
imitations of his siblings Lionel and Ethel.” Performances take
place at the Gaslight Theater, 360 N. Boyle. For more information:
stlas.org.
The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival presents the
Q
Brothers Christmas Carol through December 23. “In this
laugh-out-loud hip-hop remix of Dickens’ classic tale, Ebenezer
Scrooge is visited by the Ghosts of Hip-Hop Past, Present, and
Future. As Scrooge is shown the path of rhythm and redemption, will
he throw off his selfish chains and get down to the beat? Q Brothers
Christmas Carol mixes everything from reggae to rock, taking this
beloved tale of love, forgiveness, and Christmas spirit to the next
level. Best enjoyed by ages 12 & up.” Performances take place at
the National Blues Museum downtown. For more information:
https://stlshakes.org/production/carol.
The St. Louis Writers Group presents a reading of the new
play
The Glory of the Yankee Navy by Stephen Clark on
Tuesday, December 5, at 6:30 pm.“On Beacon Hill in the heart of
Yankee Boston, the Farnsworth family has a crisis when Elliot wants
to sail off and follow the whales.” The reading takes place upstairs
at Big Daddy’s in Soulard. For more information, visit the
St. Louis Writers Group
Facebook page.
Stray Dog Theatre presents the Christopher Durang comedy
Sister
Mary
Ignatius Explains It All to You Thursdays through
Saturdays at 8 through December 16, with an additional performance
at 2 pm on Sunday December 10. “Sister Mary Ignatius has happily
been teaching children about the glories of Catholicism and the
perils of sin and hellfire for years at her church. What’s a good
shepherd to do when it is revealed that members of her flock have
strayed far from the path of righteousness? The results are
surprising, yet absolutely hilarious. Sister Mary examines the sharp
truths about human nature and religion.” Performances take
place at Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee in Tower Grove East. For
more information:
www.straydogtheatre.org.
West End Players presents
Walter Cronkite is Dead
through December 10. “A fierce thunderstorm has shut down airports
up and down the East Coast. Two women, who appear to have nothing in
common, are stuck in a waiting area at Reagan National Airport.
Patty is a chatty southerner—a blue-collar woman from a red
state—who is almost physically unable to tolerate silence. Margaret
is a Washingtonian, reserved, educated, liberal and not interested
in sharing her thoughts, or her table, with Patty. Forced together
for a long night in a public place, the two strangers have no choice
but to share a bottle of wine and begin to talk…and to listen. Their
conversation is funny, difficult, deeply revealing and astonishingly
frank. Patty and Margaret share details of their lives that lead
them to a place of kinship neither of them could have imagined. Yes,
Walter Cronkite is dead, but his wisdom and compassion lives on in
this insightful comedy about what might be possible if people from
opposite sides of the political aisle would stop shouting and take
even one night to listen.” Performances take place at the Union
Avenue Christian Church, 733 Union in the Central West End. For more
information:
westendplayers.org
Looking for auditions and other artistic opportunities? Check out
the
St.
Louis Auditions site.
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.
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.
