St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of July 29, 2024

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

Tim Schall and Joe Dreyer

Act Two Theatre presents Love Letters Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through August 11. “Two friends, rebellious Melissa Gardner and straight-arrow Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, have exchanged notes, cards, and letters with each other for over 50 years. From second grade, through summer vacations, to college, and well into adulthood, they have spent a lifetime discussing their hopes and ambitions, dreams and disappointments, and victories and defeats. But long after the letters are done, the real question remains: Have they made the right choices or is the love of their life only a letter away? Step into the captivating world of A.R. Gurney’s ‘Love Letters’ where the timeless allure of handwritten correspondence unveils a poignant journey through love, loss, and longing.” Performances take place at the St. Peters Cultural Center in St. Peters, MO. For more information: www.acttwotheatre.com.

The Blue Strawberry presents Sunday Standard Time with Tim Schall and Joe Dreyer on Sunday, August 4, at 6 pm. “Join Tim Schall (vocals) and Joe Dreyer (piano) and Willem Von Hombracht (bass) in the lounge for a casual, classy Sunday evening of jazz standards, a little sophisticated pop and a dash of classic Broadway.”   The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com

Curtain’s Up Theater Company presents the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm through August 11th. "This beloved take on the classic biblical fable tells the story of Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob. Sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph's life takes an unexpected and traumatic turn. Yet, his warm spirit, boundless optimism, and his dreamlike nature pull him through the darkest moments of his life into greatness beyond even his imagination." Performances take place  at the Nazarene Community Theater in Roxana Illinois. For more information: curtainsuptheater.com.

First Run Theatre presents A Comedy Double Feature Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm, August 2 through 11. The plays are The Conversation About The Keys - Part One - Tim Without Thaliaby Yu-Li Alice Shen and Cash Flow by Marjorie Williamson. Performances take place at the Kranzberg Black Box theatre at Grand and Olive in Grand Center. For more information: sswww.metrotix.com.

Fly North Theatricals presents The Big Machine a new musical by Colin Healy. The Big Machine, which is also a featured show in the St. Louis Fringe Festival, opens on Friday, August 2, at 7:30 pm and runs through Sunday, August 18 at The Marcelle, 3310 Samuel Shepard in Grand Center. For more information: flynorthmusic.com/

The Hawthorne Players present the musical Bright Star by Steve Martin through August 4. “Bright Star tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s. When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past—and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives.” Performances take place in the Florissant Civic Center Theatre in Florissant, MO. For more information: /www.hawthorneplayers.info

The Muny presents Waitress July 30 through August 5 at 8:15 pm.  “Waitress promises to be a sweet slice of Muny heaven! Featuring memorable music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Sara Bareilles, the story centers on Jenna, a baker who dreams of escaping her job, small town and rocky marriage. Adapted from the 2007 film, it’s a satisfying celebration of friendship, motherhood and the magic of a homemade pie. A Muny and U.S. regional premiere.” For more information: muny.org.

Red
Photo: Peter Spack

New Jewish Theatre presents Red Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 4 and 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through August 11. “Master abstract expressionist Mark Rothko has just landed the biggest commission in the history of modern art, a series of murals for New York’s famed Four Seasons Restaurant. In the two fascinating years that follow, Rothko works feverishly with his young assistant, Ken, in his studio on the Bowery. But when Ken gains the confidence to challenge him, Rothko faces the agonizing possibility that his crowning achievement could also become his undoing. Raw and provocative, RED is a searing portrait of an artist’s ambition and vulnerability as he tries to create a definitive work for an extraordinary setting.”  Performances take place at the SFC Performing Arts Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive. For more information: jccstl.com/arts-ideas/new-jewish-theatre/current-productions.

The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival presents The Tempest as its 2024 touring production, opening on Tuesday, July 30, at 6:30 pm at Spring Church in Grand Center. “The 90-minute TourCo performance created especially for audiences of all ages sets sail on July 30 and will travel to 24 parks across the region. Pack your picnic, blankets and chairs and join us for a summer adventure.” Performances run through August 25th. For a complete schedule: stlshakes.org.

Stages St. Louis presents Disney’s Newsies through August 25. “It’s time to make headlines with Disney’s NEWSIES, the smash-hit, crowd pleasing, Tony Award-Winning musical that marks the first Disney production to be featured in STAGES’ mainstage season! This rousing tale takes us to New York City where a band of newsboys, led by the charismatic Jack Kelly, become unlikely heroes as they stand up to the titans of the publishing industry. Along the way they learn what it means to come together, fight for what they believe in, and truly seize the day. Disney’s NEWSIES is an uplifting story fit for every member of the family and packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message.” Performances take place at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: stagesstlouis.org

Stray Dog Theatre presents the musical Ruthless Thursdays through Saturdays at 8, August 1 through 24, with additional performances  at 2 pm on Sundays August 11 and 18. “Eight-year-old Tina Denmark knows she was born to play Pippi Longstocking, and she’ll do anything to win the part in her school musical. Her mother, fellow students, and the rest of the world had better watch out because nothing will stop her quest for stardom! Cunningly spoofing classic musicals and campy films from Gypsy to The Bad Seed, this aggressively outrageous musical garnered rave reviews during its long Off-Broadway run.” Performances take place at Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee in Tower Grove East. For more information: www.straydogtheatre.org.

Aida in Concert
Photo: Dan Donovan

Union Avenue Opera presents a concert performance of Verdi’s Aida on Saturday, August 3, at 8 pm. “Behold the tragic romance of Aida, an Ethiopian princess enslaved by the Egyptians, and Radames, an Egyptian general who must choose between his love for her and his allegiance to his country. As war rages between their countries, Aida and Radames must choose between loyalty and desire. Their romance is threatened by the wrath of Amneris, the Egyptian princess who also loves Radames, and Amonasro, the Ethiopian king who is Aida’s father. You will be captivated by Verdi’s masterful score, which includes the famous Triumphal March and the aria “Celeste Aida” in this spectacular concert version of one of the most popular operas of all time, featuring stunning music and unforgettable voices.” 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.

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.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of July 22, 2024

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

Nicholas King

The Blue Strawberry presents An Evening With Nicholas King on Wednesday July 24 at 7:30 pm.  “Nicholas King has been performing since he was 4 years old. Nicolas has worked, performed and collaborated alongside artists as Neil Simon, Tony Danza, Andrea McArdle, Jack Jones, Lainie Kazan, Rita Rudner, Faith Prince, Billy Paul, Jennifer Holliday, Debby Boone, and Linda Lavin among many others. He performed alongside his mentor, the legendary Liza Minnelli, starring when he was 11 years old as her opening act from 2002-2012, touring all over the country. King has performed concerts from Las Vegas to London, and on many iconic stages including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Birdland, Ronnie Scott’s, 54 Below, Joe’s Pub, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and aboard Silversea, Vacaya, and Crystal Cruises.”   The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com

The Hawthorne Players present the musical Bright Star by Steve Martin July 26 through August 4. “Bright Star tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s. When literary editor Alice Murphy meets a young soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past—and what she finds has the power to transform both of their lives.” Performances take place in the Florissant Civic Center Theatre in Florissant, MO. For more information: /www.hawthorneplayers.info

Old Times

The Midnight Company presents Harold Pinter’s Old Times Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through July 27. “There are three characters in Old Times, a man named Deeley, his wife Kate, and Anna, a friend of Kate’s whom they have not seen for twenty years. Beneath the surface of their taut, witty conversation lurks suggestions of darkness, until the present is overwhelmed with intimations of some frightening past.” Performances take place at The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive in University City. For more information: www.midnightcompany.com

The Muny presents Fiddler on the Roof July 19 through July 25 at 8:15 pm. "The legendary musical tells the story of Tevye the milkman, who clings to the Jewish customs of Anatevka, his hometown in pre-Revolutionary Russia". For more information: muny.org.

Red
Photo: Peter Spack

New Jewish Theatre presents Red Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 4 and 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, July 25 through August 11. “Master abstract expressionist Mark Rothko has just landed the biggest commission in the history of modern art, a series of murals for New York’s famed Four Seasons Restaurant. In the two fascinating years that follow, Rothko works feverishly with his young assistant, Ken, in his studio on the Bowery. But when Ken gains the confidence to challenge him, Rothko faces the agonizing possibility that his crowning achievement could also become his undoing. Raw and provocative, RED is a searing portrait of an artist’s ambition and vulnerability as he tries to create a definitive work for an extraordinary setting.”  Performances take place at the SFC Performing Arts Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive. For more information: jccstl.com/arts-ideas/new-jewish-theatre/current-productions.

The LaBurte New Theater Festival

The St. Louis Actors’ Studio presents the tenth annual LaBute New Theater Festival through July 28. “STLAS received hundreds of submissions worldwide and selected four to be produced on the stage at The Gaslight Theater, along with a brand new piece by esteemed film director, screenwriter and playwright Neil LaBute, for whom the festival and is named and who serves on its creative team. This year's productions include the following works/playwrights: Grief & Woe by Paul Bowman of New Albany, Ind.; Cage by Barbara Blatner of New York, NY; Walrus by Brandt Adams of Brooklyn, NY; Love in the Time of Nothing by Jayne Hannah of North Providence, RI; and Who’s On First by Neil LaBute.” Performances take place at The Gaslight Theater on North Boyle in the Central West End. For more information: www.stlas.org

The St. Louis Writers Group presents a reading of four short plays on  Monday, July 22, at 6:30 pm.  The reading takes place at Square One Brewery and Distillery in Lafayette Square.  More information is available at the St. Louis Writers Group Facebook page.

Stages St. Louis presents Disney’s Newsies July 26 – August 25. “It’s time to make headlines with Disney’s NEWSIES, the smash-hit, crowd pleasing, Tony Award-Winning musical that marks the first Disney production to be featured in STAGES’ mainstage season! This rousing tale takes us to New York City where a band of newsboys, led by the charismatic Jack Kelly, become unlikely heroes as they stand up to the titans of the publishing industry. Along the way they learn what it means to come together, fight for what they believe in, and truly seize the day. Disney’s NEWSIES is an uplifting story fit for every member of the family and packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message.” Performances take place at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: stagesstlouis.org

Cascade's Fire

Tesseract Theatre presents the musical Cascade’s Fire through July 28th. “A young woman returns to her old university to investigate the mysterious death of her ex-girlfriend. Unsure of who to trust and who to help, she finds herself trying to uncover a conspiracy that could burn the whole town to the ground.”  Performances take place at the Marcelle Theatre in Grand Center.For more information: www.tesseracttheatre.com.

Union Avenue Opera presents a concert performance of Verdi’s Aida Fridays, July 26 and August 3, at 8 pm and Sunday, July 28, at 3 pm. “Behold the tragic romance of Aida, an Ethiopian princess enslaved by the Egyptians, and Radames, an Egyptian general who must choose between his love for her and his allegiance to his country. As war rages between their countries, Aida and Radames must choose between loyalty and desire. Their romance is threatened by the wrath of Amneris, the Egyptian princess who also loves Radames, and Amonasro, the Ethiopian king who is Aida’s father. You will be captivated by Verdi’s masterful score, which includes the famous Triumphal March and the aria “Celeste Aida” in this spectacular concert version of one of the most popular operas of all time, featuring stunning music and unforgettable voices.” 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.

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.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of July 15, 2024

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

King Headley II
Photo: Keshon Campbell

The Black Rep presents August Wilson’s King Hedley II through July 14.  “Peddling stolen refrigerators hoping to open a video store one day, King Hedley, an ex-con, toils with self-worth. Getting, spending, killing, and dying in a world where getting is hard and killing is commonplace are threads woven into this 1980s installment in the author’s renowned cycle of plays about the Black experience in America. Drawing on characters established in “Seven Guitars,” “King Hedley II” shows how shadows of the past can darken the present as King seeks retribution for his mother’s lies.” Performances take place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: www.theblackrep.org.

Tim Schall and Joe Dreyer

The Blue Strawberry presents Sunday Standard Time with Tim Schall and Joe Dreyer on Sunday July 21 at 6 pm. “Join Tim Schall (vocals) and Joe Dreyer (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. Joe 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 Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by Heather Sartin with an all female cast, Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through July 21.  Written between 1601-1602, the second play in Shakespeare’s Shipwreck Trilogy remains one of the Bard’s most familiar and best- loved comedies.  Sword fights, long lost twins, singing, dancing, and yellow socks all work together to weave a tale of restoration and love.  This will be a 90-minute, no-intermission production, and there will be a mini-concert preshow by the Reveler's Guild musical troupe.” Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Rd. For more information: www.placeseveryone.org

The Romanov Family Yard Sale
Photo: David Hackett

ERA presents The Romanov Family Yard Sale Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm through July 20. "It is July 1919, one year after the last ever Russian Tsar, Tsarina, and their children were murdered. The distant, and more importantly living, Romanov cousins have set up a yard sale in a formerly Tsar-sponsored Russian theatre wrecked by the Bolsheviks. No one cares about these Romanovs, but they are Romanovs nonetheless. Join them in a very real theatre play and a very real yard sale where everything must go!" Playing at The Kranzberg Blackbox, 501 N Grand Blvd in Grand Center. For more information: www.eratheatre.org.

The Improv Shop presents an improvised musical by The One Four Fives on Saturday, July 20 at 8 pm. “It’s the opening (and err, closing) night of a Broadway-style musical, completely made up on the spot! Based on an 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, just east of The Grove in Midtown. For more information: theimprovshop.com.

Old Times

The Midnight Company presents Harold Pinter’s Old Times Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through July 27. “There are three characters in Old Times, a man named Deeley, his wife Kate, and Anna, a friend of Kate’s whom they have not seen for twenty years. Beneath the surface of their taut, witty conversation lurks suggestions of darkness, until the present is overwhelmed with intimations of some frightening past.” Performances take place at The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive in University City. For more information: www.midnightcompany.com

The Little Mermaid
Photo: Phillip Hamer

The Muny presents The Little Mermaid through July 16 at 8:15 pm.  “One of our most popular shows ever, Disney’s The Little Mermaid returns to the Muny stage for the third time. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s beloved tale centers on young Ariel, who yearns to venture beyond her underwater home and go where the people are, up on land. Theatregoers of all ages will want to be part of this world.”  For more information: muny.org.

The Muny presents Fiddler on the Roof July 19 through July 25 at 8:15 pm. "The legendary musical tells the story of Tevye the milkman, who clings to the Jewish customs of Anatevka, his hometown in pre-Revolutionary Russia". For more information: muny.org.

Cthulhu: the Musical

Puppeteers for Fears, Oregon's only dedicated puppet musical horror troupe, presents its original show, Cthulhu: the Musical!, on Tuesday, July 16, at 7:30 pm. “Far from the lo-fi puppet show stereotype, the production features a full cast of five actors with elaborate custom-made puppets, a full-rock band, and projected multimedia backgrounds for an immersive and engaging theatrical experience. The play is adapted from the 1929 short story, The Call of Cthulhu,” by horror icon, H.P. Lovecraft, and tells the story of his most famous creation: Cthulhu, a giant, malevolent, octopus-faced elder god who hibernates beneath the ocean, communicating to humans through their dreams, slowly driving them mad.” The performance takes place at City Winery in The Foundry in Midtown. For more information: puppeteersforfears.com. [Watch the video interview on Chuck's Culture Channel.]

The LaBurte New Theater Festival

The St. Louis Actors’ Studio presents the tenth annual LaBute New Theater Festival through July 28. “STLAS received hundreds of submissions worldwide and selected four to be produced on the stage at The Gaslight Theater, along with a brand new piece by esteemed film director, screenwriter and playwright Neil LaBute, for whom the festival and is named and who serves on its creative team. This year's productions include the following works/playwrights: Grief & Woe by Paul Bowman of New Albany, Ind.; Cage by Barbara Blatner of New York, NY; Walrus by Brandt Adams of Brooklyn, NY; Love in the Time of Nothing by Jayne Hannah of North Providence, RI; and Who’s On First by Neil LaBute.” Performances take place at The Gaslight Theater on North Boyle in the Central West End. For more information: www.stlas.org

My Heart Says Go

Tesseract Theatre presents the musical My Heart Says Go through July 21st. “A celebration of risk-taking and the power of persistence, My Heart Says Go follows first-generation college student, Indigo, who defies his father and drops out of medical school to become a singer-songwriter. Indigo is accompanied on his journey by a new friend, Clara, who has her own struggles at home. Performances take place at the Marcelle Theatre in Grand Center. For more information: www.tesseracttheatre.com.

Tesseract Theatre presents the musical Cascade’s Fire opening on Friday, July 19th, and running through July 28th. “A young woman returns to her old university to investigate the mysterious death of her ex-girlfriend. Unsure of who to trust and who to help, she finds herself trying to uncover a conspiracy that could burn the whole town to the ground.”  Performances take place at the Marcelle Theatre in Grand Center.For more information: www.tesseracttheatre.com.

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.

Opera Review: Union Avenue's "Carmen" gets Season Thirty off to a strong start

Union Avenue Opera is opening its 30th season with Bizet's "Carmen," a venerable work which, according to a New York Times article from some years back, is the fourth most-performed opera in North America.  And why not?   It has drama, it has some of Bizet’s most memorable and therefore most popular melodies and last – but most definitely not least – it has sex.

Joel Balzun
Photo: Dan Donovan

No, it’s not R or even PG sex, but when Carmen sings the famous "Habanera" while sinuously gyrating around army corporal Don Jose, there’s not much room for doubt what everybody is thinking of when they’re singing about l’amour.  The theatrical vitality of a production of “Carmen” hinges on the ability of the mezzo in the title role can convince the audience that she’s so utterly irresistible that she can entice a straight arrow like Don Jose to abandon the military life and join Dancaïre and his merry bandit band.

Mezzo Elise Quagliata, whose resume includes roles as diverse as Fricka and Sister Helen Prejean, is a slinky, seductive, dangerous Carmen. She’s completely believable as the most desirable woman in Seville and has a big voice to go with it. "Si je t'aime, prends garde à toi!" ("If you love me, beware") indeed.

Meroë Khalia Adeeb
Photo: Dan Donovan

Her chemistry with baritone Joel Balzun’s swaggering, supremely self-confident toreador Escamillo is palpable.  Balzun has a booming voice that they could probably hear out on Delmar on opening night. He completely dominates the stage during the familiar Toreador song in Act II.

There are stellar performance in the supporting cast as well. Micaëla, for example, far too often comes off as a simpering victim. Not so in soprano Meroë Khalia Adeeb’s performance, which adds  some backbone to the character.

Mezzo Holly Janz and soprano Gina Galati (General Director of Winter Opera) are in very much the same league as Carmen’s friends Mercédès and Frasquita. Their voices blend perfectly in the Act III fortune-telling number (“Mêlons! – Coupons!”) as they shuffle (“Mêlons”) and cut (“Coupons”) the cards to reveal increasingly fanciful versions of their futures. Baritone Jacob Lasetter is properly cynical at the ethically flexible Lieutenant Zuniga.

As Don Jose, Brendan Tuohy is vocally solid, as he demonstrated in his Act II “Flower Song” ("La fleur que tu m'avais jetée"), but overall his character lacks passion. I didn’t see the journey from loyal soldier in Act I to delusional killer in Act IV, and without that Jose can come across as more pathetic than tragic.

Holly Janz, Marc Schapman, Elise Quagliata,
Xavier Joseph, and Gina Galati
Photo: Dan Donovan

The orchestra has never sounded better under Scott Schoonover's baton and the chorus is, as always, first rate. Marc Freiman’s stage direction is straightforward and keeps the action moving without drawing attention to itself.

Viewed from a contemporary standpoint, the libretto of “Carmen,” based as it is on an 1845 novella by Prosper Mérimée, clearly looks sexist and, in its treatment of “gypsy” subculture, a tad racist. Attempts to update the opera and somehow modernize the characters tend, in my experience, to create more problems than they solve. Treating “Carmen” as the period piece that it is dodges those bullets and, ultimately, make it easier to enjoy the experience of seeing it. Especially when it’s done this well.

The bottom line is that this is, hands down, the best “Carmen” we have had locally in over a decade. Performances are in French with English supertitles and conclude this Friday and Saturday, July 12th and 13th, at 8 pm at the Union Avenue Christian Church in the Central West End. Don’t miss it.

This article originally appeared at 88.1 KDHX, where Chuck Lavazzi is the senior performing arts critic.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of July 8, 2024

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

King Headley II
Photo: Keshon Campbell

The Black Rep presents August Wilson’s King Hedley II through July 14.  “Peddling stolen refrigerators hoping to open a video store one day, King Hedley, an ex-con, toils with self-worth. Getting, spending, killing, and dying in a world where getting is hard and killing is commonplace are threads woven into this 1980s installment in the author’s renowned cycle of plays about the Black experience in America. Drawing on characters established in “Seven Guitars,” “King Hedley II” shows how shadows of the past can darken the present as King seeks retribution for his mother’s lies.” Performances take place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: www.theblackrep.org.

Clayton Community Theatre presents Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by Heather Sartin with an all female cast, Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, July 11 through 21.  Written between 1601-1602, the second play in Shakespeare’s Shipwreck Trilogy remains one of the Bard’s most familiar and best- loved comedies.  Sword fights, long lost twins, singing, dancing, and yellow socks all work together to weave a tale of restoration and love.  This will be a 90-minute, no-intermission production, and there will be a mini-concert preshow by the Reveler's Guild musical troupe.” Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Rd. For more information: www.placeseveryone.org

The Romanov Family Yard Sale
Photo: David Hackett

ERA presents The Romanov Family Yard Sale Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm through July 20. "It is July 1919, one year after the last ever Russian Tsar, Tsarina, and their children were murdered. The distant, and more importantly living, Romanov cousins have set up a yard sale in a formerly Tsar-sponsored Russian theatre wrecked by the Bolsheviks. No one cares about these Romanovs, but they are Romanovs nonetheless. Join them in a very real theatre play and a very real yard sale where everything must go!" Playing at The Kranzberg Blackbox, 501 N Grand Blvd in Grand Center. For more information: www.eratheatre.org.

The Midnight Company presents Harold Pinter’s Old Times Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm, July 11 through 27. “There are three characters in Old Times, a man named Deeley, his wife Kate, and Anna, a friend of Kate’s whom they have not seen for twenty years. Beneath the surface of their taut, witty conversation lurks suggestions of darkness, until the present is overwhelmed with intimations of some frightening past.” Performances take place at The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive in University City. For more information: www.midnightcompany.com

Eileen Engel

The Midnight Company presents Eileen Engel in Jacey’s Jazz Joint on Sunday, July 14, at 7:30 pm. “Engel is Jacey.  You’re at her place, and she wants you to have the best time.  Jacey and her band will be performing some of the best songs you’ve ever heard, done in their inimitable Jacey’s Jazz style.  As the evening goes on, the songs will trigger memories, and Jacey will re-veal stories of where the money came from to open the joint (a guy named Johnny), how the thorny relationship with Johnny evolved, and the dangerous conclusion to their romantic journey.  The heartfelt songs Jacey sings echo the joy and pain of their love.” The show is written and directed by Joe Hanrahan with music direction by Colin Healy.   Performances take place at The Blue Strawberry, 364 N. Boyle in Midtown. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com

The Muny presents The Little Mermaid July 8 through 16 at 8:15 pm.  “One of our most popular shows ever, Disney’s The Little Mermaid returns to the Muny stage for the third time. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s beloved tale centers on young Ariel, who yearns to venture beyond her underwater home and go where the people are, up on land. Theatregoers of all ages will want to be part of this world.”  For more information: muny.org.

The St. Louis Actors’ Studio presents the tenth annual LaBute New Theater Festival July 12 through 28. “STLAS received hundreds of submissions worldwide and selected four to be produced on the stage at The Gaslight Theater, along with a brand new piece by esteemed film director, screenwriter and playwright Neil LaBute, for whom the festival and is named and who serves on its creative team. This year's productions include the following works/playwrights: Grief & Woe by Paul Bowman of New Albany, Ind.; Cage by Barbara Blatner of New York, NY; Walrus by Brandt Adams of Brooklyn, NY; Love in the Time of Nothing by Jayne Hannah of North Providence, RI; and Who’s On First by Neil LaBute.” Performances take place at The Gaslight Theater on North Boyle in the Central West End. For more information: www.stlas.org

The St. Louis Writers Group presents Three Short Plays on  Monday, July 8, at 6:30 pm. The readings take place at the Square One Brewery and Distillery in Lafayette Square.  More information is available at the St. Louis Writers Group Facebook page.

Tesseract Theatre presents the musical My Heart Says Go opening on Thursday, July 11, and running through July 21st. “A celebration of risk-taking and the power of persistence, My Heart Says Go follows first-generation college student, Indigo, who defies his father and drops out of medical school to become a singer-songwriter. Indigo is accompanied on his journey by a new friend, Clara, who has her own struggles at home. Performances take place at the Marcelle Theatre in Grand Center. For more information: www.tesseracttheatre.com.

Carmen

Union Avenue Opera presents Bizet’s Carmen Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, through July 13. “Follow the fate of Don José, a naïve soldier who falls under the spell of the fiery Carmen, and abandons his duty and his love for Micaëla, a sweet country girl. But Carmen’s free spirit and seductive charms lead her to another man, the handsome bullfighter Escamillo, and drive José to jealousy and violence. With unforgettable melodies like the ‘Habanera’ and the ‘Toreador Song’, Carmen is a thrilling spectacle of love, lust, and betrayal. Come see why Bizet’s masterpiece of operatic romance and drama is one of history’s most popular operas ever written.” Performances are sung in French 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.

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.

Review: Opera Theatre's 2024 Center Stage concert is a fitting tribute to the company's founder

Tuesday night (June 25th) Opera Theatre of St. Louis presented the ninth edition of its justly celebrated “Center Stage” concert.  I was looking forward to this year’s annual showcase of opera and musical theatre selections for two reasons.

[Watch my interviews with Patricia Racette. and Daniela Candillari on Chuck's Culture Channel]

First, the performances by the young singers from the Richard Gaddes Festival Artists and Gerdine Young Artists programs have been consistently excellent since I started attending these concerts in 2019.

David Wolfe
Photo: Eric Woolsey

Second (and every bit as important) is the fact that they are backed up by the full St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO). In the past, the orchestra has worked under a series of guest conductors. That changed in 2022 when OTSL appointed their first-ever Principal Conductor, Daniela Candillari—thereby providing a continuity of musical leadership that is cause for applause.

I was not disappointed. Once again, the evening was immensely entertaining, with a wide variety of music and excellent performances all the way around.

Working in the limited space in front of the nearly 80-piece orchestra on the Loretto-Hilton stage, directors Ian Silverman, Olivia Gacka, and James Robinson, and Artistic Director of Young Artist Programs Patricia Racette, provided enough staging for dramatic context while still maintaining a brisk pace.

L-R: Madeleine Lyon, Brad Bickhardt
Photo: Eric Woolsey

Rather than go into details on every number (which would tax both your patience and my memory) I’m going to concentrate on what were, for me, the more notable moments (your mileage may vary). For inquiring minds who want to know, you’ll find the complete program below.

The evening got off to an energetic start with, appropriately enough, a Prologue—specifically the one from “Pagliacci” as baritone David Wolfe, in the role of the clown Tonio, took the stage to welcome the audience. It was a funny, captivating performance.

Wolfe’s Tonio stood in stark contrast with his dark and vengeful Rigoletto in the Act III quartet from the Verdi opera of the same name.  Soprano Laura Santamaria was a tragic Gilda, the naive daughter of Rigoletto who remains smitten by the Duke (played with cynical assurance by tenor Brad Bickhardt) even as she and her father, concealed in the shadows, watch him seduce Maddalena, sister of the assassin Sparafucile. Mezzo Madeleine Lyon was a cheerfully flirtatious Maddalena.

L-R: Elijah English, Luke Elmer
Photo: Eric Woolsey

This has been a good season for countertenors, as Luke Elmer and Elijah English demonstrated in “Hark! How the Songsters of the Grove” from the masque “Timon of Athens” by Henry Purcell. The song demands (and got) virtuoso close harmony as the singers mimicked birdsong, accompanied by flutes and harpsichord. The harpsichord was virtual (Peter Henderson on the synthesizer), the flutes were real (Matthew Roitstein, Andrea Kaplan, and Jennifer Nitchman), and the results were delightful.

Soprano Jouelle Roberson was Cio-Cio-San (a.k.a. Butterfly) and mezzo Michelle Mariposa her long-suffering friend Suzuki in “Il cannone del porto,” from Act II of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly”. It’s the scene in which the two adorn the house with flowers in anticipation of the feckless Pinkerton’s long-awaited return. It’s one of the more heartbreaking moments in opera, delivered with all the tragedy one would wish. Cio-Cio-San is one of the most tragic and sometimes most annoying characters in 19th century Italian opera. Roberson let us see the pure tragedy.

L-R: Michelle Mariposa, Jouelle Roberson
Photo: Eric Woolsey

The course of true love runs more smoothly in Act II of Richard Strauss’s “Arabella” as the wealthy Mandryka (baritone Titus Muzi III), smitten with the title character (soprano Kathleen O’Mara), tells her of a custom in his country in which a woman offers her fiancé a glass of water as a love token—to which the equally smitten Arabella happily agrees. Muzi and O’Mara—this year’s Gaddes Festival Artists—sang this lush, rapturous music beautifully.

Wrapping up the first half of the evening was the Act III finale of Offenbach’s “Les contes d’Hoffmann.” Tenor David Eatmon was the foolishly passionate Hoffman, so entranced by the courtesan Giulietta (soprano Chase Sanders) that he lets her steal his reflection, much to the delight of the evil Dr. Dapertutto (a menacing performance by bass-baritone Justin Ramm-Damron). Hoffman’s friend Nicklausse (Lyon), the appropriately named Schlemil (bass-baritone Jared Werlein), and the dwarf Pitichinaccio (tenor Hakeem Henderson) look on helplessly as the music rises to a powerful climax, with the soloists and chorus singing their hearts out.

L-R: Jared Werelein, Justin Ramm-Damron, 
Chase Sanders, Devin Eatmon, Madeleine Lyon,
Hakeem Henderson
Photo: Eric Woolsey

It was a thrilling moment, just as Offenbach intended.

Candillari and the orchestra kicked off the second half of the concert with a sizzling reading of the overture from the operetta “Gräfin Mariza” (“Countess Mariza”) by Hungarian-born Emmerich Kálmán (1882–1953), one of the many composers who kept the flame of classic Viennese operetta burning well into the early 20th century. They’re all mostly forgotten these days, at least in the English-speaking world, but this lively batch of tunes, in which the csárdás plays a prominent role, is a reminder of why they were so popular in their day.

Violetta’s death scene from “La traviata” is one of Verdi’s great tear jerkers. It begins with Alfredo (tenor Brad Bickhardt) pleading with Violetta (soprano Jennifer Kreider) to leave Paris (“Parigi, o cara”), unaware of just how close she is to death. Verdi’s music is aware, though, as Violetta’s rising and falling vocal line contrasts with Alfredo’s impassioned legato. Bickhardt and Kreider squeezed every bit of pathos out of this, under the masterful direction of Racette.

L-R: Patrick Wilhelm, Georgia Belmont
Photo: Eric Woolsey

Comic relief followed in the “Duo de la mouche” (“The Fly Duet”) from Offenbach’s satirical “Orphée aux enfes” (“Orpheus in the Underworld”). Eurydice, in this version, is seduced by Jupiter, who is disguised as a fly so that he can slip through the keyhole into her boudoir. It’s quite an accomplishment since, when he isn’t addressing the audience in asides, his disguise limits his dialogue to buzzing (“Zi-zi-zi”). Soprano Georgia Belmont was the easily-persuaded Eurydice and baritone Patrick Wilhelm was Jupiter, attired in a fancifully silly fly costume. Hilarity ensued, along with some great singing (and buzzing).

Racette also directed the showpiece “Carceleras” ("The Prisoners' Song") from the zarzuela “Las hijas del Zebedeo” (“The Daughters of Zebedeo) by Ruperto Chapí (1851–1909), Spanish master of the form (he wrote 15, plus a few operas). The title notwithstanding, this spicy and quintessentially Spanish number is all about Luisa (mezzo Gabriela Linares) enumerating the outstanding qualities of her lover Arturo. Linares delivered a scintillating performance, complete with some nice dance moves.

Gabriela Linares
Photo: Eric Woolsey

Not all operatic finales are tragic, as demonstrated by the trio “Marie Thérese! Hab’ mir’s gelobt” (“Marie Thérese! I have promised myself”) which begins the last scene of Strauss’s “Der Rosenkavalier”. In it, the Marschallin (O’Mara) realizes that the time has finally come to release her teenage lover Octavian (Mariposa), the titular Cavalier of the Rose, from his promises so he can marry his true love Sophie (Belmont). This trio, along with the duet for Sophie and Octavian that follows, constitutes one of the most sublime examples of writing for women’s voices in all of opera. All three performers did it full justice; brave!

L-R: Kathleen O'Mara, Michelle Mariposa,
Georgia Belmong
Photo: Eric Woolsey

The concert closed, as it always does, with some numbers from Broadway musicals. This time, though, there was an additional (and delightful) surprise—two Gilbert and Sullivan patter songs. Jared Werlein and baritone Joseph O’Shea dashed the tongue-twister lyrics of “When I Go Out of Door” from “Patience” with impressive precision while throwing in a Vaudeville-style dance duet. Titus Muzi III returned, this time with the full ensemble, for a hilarious “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General.” Director James Robinson included a bit added for Joseph Papp’s 1980 Public Theatre production in which the conductor dares the Major General to repeat the final chorus “really fast.” Which, needless to say, Muzi did, with panache.

From Broadway, we had a first-rate “Fugue for Tinhorns” from “Guys and Dolls” and an equally fine “Together Wherever We Go” from “Gypsy” with mezzo Sophia Baete and a commanding Mama Rose. The pick of the litter, though, was “Make Our Garden Grow,” the harmonically rich finale from Bernstein’s often-revised 1956 musical-cum-operetta “Candide”—and also the finale of the concert.

L-R: Joseph O'Shea, Jared Werelein
Photo: Eric Woolsey

Musically, this is Bernstein at his most ecstatic, growing from a simple duet for Candide (tenor Levi Adkins) and Cunegonde (Belmont) into an overwhelming wall of vocal harmony (including a killer a cappella interlude) with just enough contrapuntal and harmonic complexity to give it a bit of spice. I could not have asked for a better way to close this stunning showcase of young operatic talent. Congratulations to everyone involved, including any singers I have missed. You were all terrific, trust me. I just wish this annual event could run for more than one night.

While we’re on the topic, a footnote regarding OTSL’s Young Artist Programs is perhaps in order.

The full company in the Candide finale
Photo: Eric Woolsey

Gerdine Young Artists is an intensive nine-week professional development program for rising young singers that includes master classes, extensive vocal coaching, and performances in both the OTSL chorus and supporting roles in the festival season.

Admission is highly selective. This season only 28 of over 1100 applicants who submitted video auditions made it into the program. Add in the two performers who were admitted to the Gaddes Festival Artists program—an honor reserved for “exceptionally remarkable young singers”—and you have quite the all-star lineup.

This year’s Gaddes Festival singers were baritone Titus Muzi III and soprano Kathleen O’Mara. If you saw Muzi in this year’s “La Bohème” or last year’s “Tosca” or O’Mara’s Lucia (from “Lucia di Lammermoor”) or Marguerite (from “Faust”) at least year’s concert, I think you’ll agree that they fully deserve to be called “exceptionally remarkable”.

Christine Brewer
Photo: Eric Woolsey

The Gaddes Festival Artists program was named after OTSL’s founder Richard Gaddes, who died last December at the age of 81. This year’s concert, as a result, included fond remembrances of Gaddes from OTSL General Manager Andrew Jorgensen, Artistic Director James Robinson, and celebrated OTSL alumna Christine Brewer. As part of her tribute Brewer and pianist Kirt Pavitt gave us a moving performance of the 1934 song “When I Have Sung My Songs” by Ernest Charles (1895–1984), which Gaddes had requested she sing, as a memorial.

Added to the 22 other musical numbers, the tributes to Gaddes made this one of the longer programs, but only a die-hard curmudgeon (which I am not) could object to such heartfelt sentiments about the man who made OTSL possible. Besides there was, as usual, so much musical variety and so many strong performances that it hardly mattered.

The Opera Theatre season is over now, but the 2025 season has already been announced. Check the OTSL web site for details.

This article originally appeared at 88.1 KDHX, where Chuck Lavazzi is the senior performing arts critic.