St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of September 23, 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

Aquarian Rising Productions presents Top Dog/Under Dog by Suzan Lori-Parka Fridays and Saturdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 4 pm, through September 29.  “A darkly comic fable of brotherly love and family identity, Topdog/Underdog tells the story of Lincoln and Booth, two brothers whose names were given to them as a joke, foretell a lifetime of sibling rivalry and resentment. Haunted by their past, the brothers are forced to confront the shattering reality of their future. This piece features mature content. “ Performances take place at the Jefferson Avenue Mission, 2241 Jefferson Avenue. For more information: www.ticketleap.events.

Blues in the Night
Photo: Keshon Campbell

The Black Rep presents the musical Blues in the Night through September 29. “This dynamite, dramatic revue thrills us with the universal language of the blues. The soul of the blues wails out full and strong in Blues in the Night, a scorching, Tony-nominated musical! The 26 hot and torchy numbers that tell of the sweet, sexy, and sorrowful experiences that three women have with the lying, cheating snake of a man who does them wrong will leave you energized, inspired, and ready to wail.” Performances take place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: www.theblackrep.org.

The Blue Strawberry presents Seeking My Fred Astaire with singer Hannah Bagnall and pianist/music Joe Dreyer on Thursday, September 26, at 7:30 pm.  “Looking for love in the modern world is tricky, but looking for love when you were raised on an exclusive diet of Old Hollywood dreamboats like Gene Kelly, William Powell, and Fred Astaire? That's a whole other problem! With a delightful mix of songs from musical theatre, jazz standards, and a few you might not have heard, Hannah Bagnall will make you laugh and sigh as she dreams of finding her very own Fred Astaire!” The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

Ann Hampton Callaway

The Blue Strawberry presents Finding Beauty: Inspired Classics and Originals with singer, songwriter, and pianist Ann Hampton Callaway on Friday and Saturday, September 2y and 28, at 7:30 pm.  “Ann’s show is comprised of classics from her songwriting inspirations- Carole King, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Paul Simon, and many more. Also, the recent inductee into The Women Songwriters Hall of Fame shares songs from her new CD “Finding Beauty: Originals Vol. 1.” Expect AHC hits like Streisand's “At the Same Time” as well as new songs she's co-written with Oscar winner Alan Bergman, Grammy winner Melissa Manchester, and Grammy nominee, Amanda McBroom. Spoil yourself with a spellbinding show of rousing showstoppers and exquisite ballads, as we follow the arc of Ann’s musical inspiration!” The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com. [Read my interview at KDHX.]

The Fabulous Fox presents the Back to the Future: The Musical September 24 – October 6. "When Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past, and send himself... back to the future. When Back to the Future hits 88mph, it’ll change musical theatre history forever.”   The Fabulous Fox is on North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

Trayf
Photo: Jon Gitchoff

New Jewish Theatre presents Trayf Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 4 and 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through September 29. “Zalmy lives a double life. By day, he drives a Chabad “Mitzvah Tank” through 1990s New York City, performing good deeds with his best friend Shmuel. By night, he sneaks out of his orthodox community to roller-skate and listen to rock and roll. But when a curious outsider offers him unfettered access to the secular world, is it worth jeopardizing everything he’s ever known? This road-trip bromance is a funny and heartwarming ode to the turbulence of youth, the universal suspicion that we don’t quite fit in, and the faith and friends that see us through.”  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.

American Idiot
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindbergh

New Line Theatre presents the rock musical American Idiot, based on the album by Green Day, through October 5. “Lost and disconnected in a post-9/11 America, three friends, Johnny, Tunny and Will, struggle to find meaning in their lives. The three men flee the constraints of their hometown for the thrills of city life, but their paths quickly diverge as Tunny enters the armed forces, Will is called back home to attend to a pregnant girlfriend, and Johnny descends into an urban underworld, following a seductive love interest and a deadly new friendship. As each of the three learns to navigate his "alienation," we see in them America's struggle to find a new path in this new millennium, after a long period of darkness.” Performances take place at the Marcelle Theatre in Grand Center. For more information: www.newlinetheatre.com.

Dial M for Murder
Photo: Jon Gitchoff

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the thriller Dial M for Murder through October 13. “Step into the shadows of a meticulously planned murder. In the elegant home of Tony and Margot Wendice, a sinister game of cat and mouse unfolds. Tony, a calculating mastermind, plots to kill his wife for her inheritance, fueled by revenge and greed. When his perfect plan spirals into chaos, a web of lies and deceit is spun, threatening to ensnare the innocent. Join the relentless Inspector Hubbard as he unravels the twisted truth. Will Tony’s trap hold, or will justice be served? Experience the suspense and intrigue of Dial “M” for Murder, a play that will leave you breathless until the final curtain falls.” Performances take on the main stage of the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: www.repstl.org.

Tempest in a Teapot
Photo: Joey Rumpell

SATE presents the world premiere of Tempest in a Teapot by Shualee Cook Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 pm, through September 28. “At age 10, Alice Liddell inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. But at age 21, she finds herself trapped between the fantasy world created for her, and the restrictive Victorian world of Oxford, England – each with a very specific role she is expected to play. Then a chance meeting with Carroll after years of silence leads her down the rabbit hole again to the Mad Tea Party, where a seemingly casual suggestion by Carroll that she read Shakespeare’s The Tempest turns into a philosophical treasure hunt. With help from the Mad Hatter, March Hare, Dormouse and Cheshire Cat, Alice proceeds to act out the classic play in hope that it holds the key to her crisis of identity, and offers a way of dealing with her magical but complicated past.,Performances are at The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive. For more information: www.eventbrite.com.

Stages St. Louis presents the musical Ragtime through October 20. “At the dawn of a new century, everything is changing and anything is possible. A sweeping musical portrait of early twentieth-century America, RAGTIME, tells the story of three families united by courage, compassion, and a belief in not only the American dream, but the promise of tomorrow. Told through a dazzling array of musical styles from the era, this Tony Award-Winning musical is bursting with emotion and hope as the surprising interconnections of the heart are discovered and history’s timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, and hope and despair are confronted.” Performances take place at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: stagesstlouis.org.

The St. Louis Writers Group presents the second of three rounds of its annual Playwright Slam Event on Monday, September 23, at 6:30 pm. “Get ready for a night of fun impromptu theater. The order of scripts to be read will be chosen at random. Each script will be given a five minute read, and rated by a panel of judges based upon audience reaction. The judges will select several plays to move on to round two which will be ten minutes of the same script, from which a winner will be chosen.”  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.

Take Two Productions presents the Stephen Sondheim musical Merrily We Roll Along September 27 through October 5.  “The authors of the landmark Company reunite to turn the traditional showbiz musical on its head in this thrilling and compelling Broadway fable about friendship, compromise and the high price of success. Stephen Sondheim and George Furth expertly blend the excitement and energy of a backstage musical with a poignant and emotional contemporary story about the importance of staying true to one's ideals.” Performances take place in Johnson Hall at Third Baptist Church, 620 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: https://www.taketwoproductions.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.