St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of December 9th 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

The Blue Strawberry presents A Cash Christmas, a Johnny Cash tribute show with Scott Moreau, on Tuesday December 10th at 7 pm. “Featuring numerous holiday favorites, some of Johnny’s biggest hits, his self-penned Christmas songs as well as anecdotes from Johnny’s favorite Christmas memories. Little Drummer Boy, Christmas Time’s A-Comin’, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Blue Christmas, Silent Night, I Walk The Line, Ballad Of The Harp Weaver and more!”   The performance takes place at The Blue Strawberry, 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

Gina Malone and Jeffrey Carter

The Blue Strawberry presents Holidays at Home, with singer/actress Gina Malone and pianist/music director Jeffrey Carter on Sunday December 15th at 7 pm . “Gina Malone is known locally as a concert and opera singer, as well as a singing actress and teaching artist. Most notably, she’s performed with Union Avenue Opera, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and St. Louis Shakespeare Festival among others. Jeffrey Carter is professor of music at Webster University where he leads the unique program in music direction for musical theatre. Carter and Ms. Malone bring iconic sounds of the season in solos and duets and singalongs to Blue Strawberry as they toast the holiday season.”   The performance takes place at The Blue Strawberry, 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

Christmas with C.S. Lewis

Emery Entertainment presents “Christmas with C.S. Lewis,” starring Gregory Williams Welsch, at the Westport Playhouse through December 15. “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.” For more information: www.westportstl.com.

First Run Theatre Playwright’s Workshop presents a reading of the new play The Death of Francis Tumblety, M.D. by Otis Sweendy. The play asks the question “Did Jack the Ripper die in St. Louis in 1903?” The reading takes place at Square One Brewery and Distillery in Lafayette Square.  For more information: firstruntheatre.org.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Stages St. Louis present the musical Million Dollar Quartet Christmas through December 22. “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas brings Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins back together for a festive jam session that will have you jingling ALL the way! In the decked-out Sun Records studio, filled to the brim with Christmas cheer and enough musical talent to power a city grid, these legendary musicians blend their chart-topping hits with seasonal cheer. Get ready for a holly jolly journey through this iconic rock n’ roll musical!” Performances take on the main stage of the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: www.repstl.org.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the Rep Holiday Benefit fundraiser on Tuesday, December 10 at 7:00 pm. “Following last year’s sold-out success featuring John Goodman, The Rep is back with another evening of holiday magic! This year’s event will feature Celebrity Guest Sean Gunn and special Musical Guest Denise Thimes. The Holiday Benefit aims to raise $300,000 to support The Rep’s educational and community programs.” The Holiday Benefit takes place on the main stage of the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: www.repstl.org.

The Sheldon Concert Hall and Out of Blue Strawberry present singer Stella Cole in a night of Broadway, Great American Songbook, and jazz standards on Friday, December 13th, at 8 pm. “With her powerhouse vocals, captivating stage presence, and the emotional connection she creates with her audiences, Stella Cole is a singer you won’t forget. Stella exists out of time. She could have been plucked straight out of and old MGM movie. The joy she feels from the Great American Songbook is palpable and irresistible, and the honesty of her performance profoundly moving.” The shows takes place at the Sheldon Concert Hall in Grand Center. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

Christmas Carol: the Remix

St. Louis Shakespeare Festival presents Christmas Carol: The Remix, created by Q Brothers Collective, running through December 22. In this comedy update on the Dickens classic, Scrooge is visited by the Ghosts of Hip-Hop Past, Present, and Future. As they show him the path of rhythm and redemption, will he throw off his selfish chains and get down to the beat? Performances take place in the .ZACK in Grand Center. For more information: stlshkes.org.

Bell, Book and Candle
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the John Van Druten’s Bell, Book and Candle Thursdays through Saturdays at 8, December 5 through 21, with an additional performance  at 2 pm on Sunday December 15. “In 1950s New York, Gillian Holroyd is a modern-day witch who casts spells and performs feats of supernaturalism. When Gillian encounters charming publisher Shep Henderson, she casts a love spell to gain Shep’s interest in order to thwart a rival. Gillian finds herself falling in love with Shep, which poses a problem: witches, unfortunately, cannot fall in love, and this pesky imperfection leads to a number of difficult life lessons.” Performances take place at Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee in Tower Grove East. For more information: www.straydogtheatre.org

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

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