Chuck's Choices for the weekend of August 16, 2019

Yet more musicals are on the list this week, but so is a revamped Greek tragedy and the annual Fringe Festival.

---

New This Week:

---

Antigone
Photo by Joey Rumpell

Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble and ERA Theatre present Antigone, adapted from the Sophocles tragedy by Lucy Cashion, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 pm, August 14-31. " Antigone explores themes of fidelity, citizenship, civil disobedience, and the struggles and consequences the characters within the world of the play encounter as a result of their choices. Antigone's story of fighting civic law to obey divine law became famous in the Classical Greek tragedy Antigone, which premiered in Athens in 441 B.C. Since then, scholars, poets, and playwrights have written their own translations, adaptations, and critiques of the Antigone story, each from a different point of view. The continuation of this tradition resulted in a new version of Antigone, which was performed in October 2017 by SLU theatre majors in St. Louis and then with a performance by PPA participants at WERDCC in March 2018. The collaboration now continues with this ERA/SATE co-production in St. Louis." Performances take place at The Chapel Venue, 6238 Alexander Drive. For more information: slightlyoff.org.

My take: Lucy Cashion has a well-established reputation for doing surprising and often astonishingly creative things with well-known theatrical material. Some of you will remember Moscow! her remarkable one-hour distillation of Chekov's The Three Sisters that was a hit of the St. Lou Fringe in 2015 or her Oedipus Apparatus, which completely re-shaped the playing space at West End Players Guild back in 2017. As Michelle Kenyon writes at her blog, this re-thinking of the Greek tragedy is "both convention-challenging and thought-provoking, showcasing a superb cast of local performers." On a theatre scene dominated by musicals, this show truly stands out.

---

Guys and Dolls
Photo by John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the Frank Loesser musical Guys and Dolls Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm through August 24, with additional performances at 2 pm on Sunday, August 18, and at 8 pm on Wednesday, August 24. "Guys and Dolls takes us from the heart of Depression-era Times Square, to the cafés of Havana, and into the sewers of New York City to give us what some have called the perfect musical comedy. This timeless tale follows ruthless gamblers, sexy nightclub performers, and the hot-tempered law enforcers who keep them all in line." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

My take: I love Guys and Dolls. The show is based on the short story "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" by Damon Runyon, a name much more famous in 1950 than today. A sports reporter and author of magazine fiction, Runyon romanticized the gamblers, hustlers, and hookers of the Big Apple into quaint characters with rough exteriors and hearts of genuine platinum. The book, by Abe Burrows, based on a treatment by screenwriter Jo Swerling, is faithful to its origins as it tells the story of two mismatched couples. And Frank Loesser's score displays a fine craftsmanship that is getting harder to find in commercial musicals these days. I'm sorry to say I missed the Muny's production earlier this year because of travel commitments, but you can bet that I won't miss Stray Dog's version, which has been getting a lot of love from the critics. At stltoday.com, Calvin Wilson calls it "immensely entertaining...the essence of old-school cool." At KDHX, Tina Farmer says it's "a thoroughly entertaining show that captures all the excitement and romance of the popular musical in a smaller, more intimate but no less compelling setting."

---

A Man of No Importance
Photo by Michael Young

R-S Theatrics presents the musical A Man of No Importance Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 7 pm through August 25. "The show has music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and a book by Terrence McNally, based on the 1994 Albert Finney film, of the same title. It tells the story of an amateur theatre group in Dublin and their leader, who is determined to stage a version of Salome at his church, despite the objections of church authorities. " Performances take place at black box theatre at The Marcelle, 3310 Samuel Shepard Dr. in Grand Center. For more information: r-stheatrics.com.

My take: With a book by noted playwright Terrence McNally and a score by the team that brought you Ragtime and Once On This Island, A Man of No Importance is, as Michelle Kenyon writes at her blog, a "witty, charming and poignant show that deserves a wider audience...It's a well-constructed story with some important themes of community, self-expression, family relationships, and more, as well as an overarching tone of sheer love for the theatre. ..Go see this if you can." It's also the last show to be directed for R-S by company founder Christina Rios, who steps down from her position as head of the company at the end of the current season. It's apparently a strong finale, as Mark Bretz writes at Ladue News: "Rios and her inspired cast realize the cadence not only in their characters but in the era and locale as well. A Man of No Importance continues R-S’ tradition of presenting polished and pensive musicals such as Parade while doing so in uplifting fashion.

---

The St. Lou Fringe Festival runs through August 17 at multiple venues in the Grand Center area including the Kranzberg Arts Center, Grandel Theatre and the .ZACK Arts Center. Performances include traditional theater, dance, music, comedy, circus arts, performance art, cabaret, and burlesque, with acts from St. Louis and around the country. As the Fringe web site says, the festival is designed to be uncensored, original, and rapid-fire. "Tech is minimal and time is a factor at our festivals. Shows are often kept brief (Fringes most frequently have shows right around 60 minutes in length) and technical requirements kept simple (minor sets, streamlined cues, nothing elaborate)." For a complete schedule, visit stlouisfringe.com.

My take: From its humble beginnings as a loosely organized experiment back in 2012, the St. Lou Fringe has evolved into a major performing arts festival, featuring both national touring acts and local performers. It have, in short, come a long way, baby. The Fringe has garnered national media attention and has also formed partnership with many local arts and education organizations. No wonder festival founder Em Piro got a special award from the St. Louis Theater Circle back in 2014 for the Fringe's contribution to the local performing arts scene. There's no better time to fringe.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of June 22, 2015

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

For information on events beyond this week, check out the searchable database at the Regional Arts Commission's events web site.

Share on Google+

The Barber of Seville
Photo: Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Rossini's comedy The Barber of Seville in rotating repertory with three other operas through June 27. "There's a good reason it's one of the world's most popular operas! Rossini's zany and sparkling score sets the gold standard for opera that is fresh, elegant, funny, and brimming with vocal fireworks. Delight as the young barber Figaro helps Count Almaviva steal the beautiful Rosina from under the nose of her doddering guardian." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org or call 314-961-0644. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

O'Fallon TheatreWorks presents Beauty and the Beast Jr. at the O'Fallon Municipal Centre auditorium through June 27. The O'Fallon Municipal Centre is located at 100 North Main Street in O'Fallon, MO. For more information, visit www.ofallon.mo.us or call 636-379-5606.

COCA presents Bring It On: the Musical, Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27. “Bitingly relevant and sprinkled with sass, Bring It On takes audiences on a high-flying journey filled with the complexities of friendship, jealousy, betrayal, and forgiveness.” COCA is at 524 Trinity in University City. For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

Jefferson College presents the classic musical Bye Bye Birdie through June 27. Performances take place at the Jefferson College Fine Arts Theatre on the campus in Hillsboro, MO. For more information, visit jeffco.edu or call 636-481-3369 or 636-789-3000 ext. 3369.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Summer Showbiz presents Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors through June 27. Performances take place in the Dunham Hall theater on the campus in Edwardsville, IL. For more information, call 618-650-2774.

Stages St. Louis presents Disney's The Aristocats, based on the film, through June 28. "Sacrè bleu! Madame's furry felines have been cat-napped! What's a cat to do? Luckily, Thomas O'Malley and his rag-tag bunch of Alley Cats are ready to spring to the rescue of Duchess and her Aristokittens. What happens next is anyone's guess! You'll be clapping your paws and wagging your tail to our hep, jazzy beat. With songs like "The Aristocats," "Scales and Arpeggios," and "Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat," this modern version of the familiar Disney classic is just purrrrr-fect for the entire family. " Performances take place at the Westport Playhouse in Westport Plaza. For more information, visit stagesstlouis.org or call 314-821-2407.

Emmeline
Photo: Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Tobias Picker's drama Emmeline in rotating repertory with three other operas through June 27. " Inspired by a compelling true story from a mill town in 19th century New England, Emmeline's heart-wrenching saga echoes the age-old Oedipus legend." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org or call 314-961-0644. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents A Fistful Of Hollers through August 29. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

The Muny presents the classic musical Hairspray nightly at 8:15 PM, June 23-30, in the outdoor theatre in Forest Park. "Winner of eight Tony® Awards including the 2003 Tony® for Best Musical, Hairspray brings its infectious beat and hilarious fun to the Muny for 8 performances. Set in the changing times of 1960s Baltimore, Tracy Turnblad dreams of dancing on the Corny Collins Show AND creating a perfect integrated world! Does she have the moves and the courage? Based on the 1988 John Waters Film of the same name, Hairspray features incredible dance numbers and a blazing set of pop tunes including “Good Morning Baltimore” and “You Can't Stop The Beat!”" For more information, visit muny.org or call 314-361-1900.

The Looking Glass Playhouse presents the musical The Little Mermaid Wednesday through Sundaym June 24-28. Performances take place at 301 West St. Louis Street in Lebanon, Ill. For more information, visit www.lookingglassplayhouse.com.

Act Inc presents Love From a Stranger by Frank Vosper, from a story by Agatha Christie, June 26 and 27. Performances take place in the Emerson Black Box Theatre at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts on the Lindenwood campus in St. Charles, MO. For more information, visit actincstl.com.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Mayhem In Mayberry through July 26. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com

Silhouettes Production Company presents the musical Next to Normal Thursday trough Saturday, June 25-27. " Nominated for eleven Tony Awards in 2009, Next to Normal tells the story of a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effects that her illness has on her family. As she attempts to alleviate her symptoms, other issues rise to the surface, such as grief, loss, suicide, drug abuse, and ethics in modern psychiatry. " Performances take place at Life Church, 8134 Mexico Road, St. Peters, MO. For more information: silhouettesn2n.bpt.me.

St. Louis Shakespeare's Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre presents The One Hour Game Of Thrones Parody Fridays and Saturdays at 8 and 10:30 p.m. through June 27. "If you enjoyed MSMT's world-famous, internationally-renowned 1-hour productions of The Star Wars Trilogy, The Ten Commandments, Lord Of The Rings, then you will spend exactly 60 minutes to see The One Hour Game Of Thrones Parody!" Performances take place at the Regional Arts Commission in University City. For more information: stlshakespeare.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

One Summer on 2nd Street

Circus Flora presents its new show, One Summer on 2nd Street through June 28 under the air-conditioned, red-and-white, big top tent in Grand Center next to Powell Hall. "Travel back with us to The Jazz Age - to a time at which American cities grew rapidly, becoming home to families from all walks of life and corners of the map. We'll journey together to a typical block in a typical city on a typical day - and meet a very atypical set of families. Find yourself enchanted by a small Ukrainian family who tame the cats that live in the alley. Feel the excitement as Russian carriage drivers ride wildly through the streets, and the Flying Wallendas maneuver their way along clotheslines strung between buildings. Experience the bliss of young love, determined to stand strong amid their families' protests. These stories, and more, will come alive under the Big Top this summer." For more information, visit circusflora.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Act Inc presents Woody Allen's comedy Play It Again, Sam June 27 and 28. Performances take place in the Emerson Black Box Theatre at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts on the Lindenwood campus in St. Charles, MO. For more information, visit actincstl.com.

Richard the Lionheart
Photo: Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents the American premiere of Handel's Richard the Lionheart in rotating repertory with three other operas through June 26. "If you only know him from Robin Hood, you don't know the whole story of Richard the Lionheart. Shipwrecked on the way to the Third Crusade, one of England's bravest kings must disguise himself to protect his future bride and prevent war in a foreign land. But who can he trust in this all-too-real game of thrones? Handel's virtuosic vocal writing in this opera, never before heard in the United States, makes Richard an eagerly-anticipated event for all music-lovers." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org or call 314-961-0644. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

La Rondine
Photo: Ken Howard

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents Puccini's La Rondine in rotating repertory with three other operas through June 28. " Can a beautiful, sophisticated Parisian courtesan find happiness with a young man from the country? Or is her love affair doomed by a past she cannot keep secret? Celebrated OTSL music directorStephen Lord brings Puccini's gorgeous music and romantic storytelling to life in this stunning, newbelle epoque period production." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center at 135 Edgar Road on the Webster University campus. All performances are sung in English with projected English text. For more information: experienceopera.org or call 314-961-0644. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Smokey Joe's Café
Photo: Peter Wochniak

Stages St. Louis presents the musical revue Smokey Joe's Café, based on the songs of Lieber and Stoller through June 28. " Welcome to the neighborhood for a nostalgic exploration of the lives, loves, and aspirations of a group of friends who know how to rock 60s style. Featuring nearly 40 chart-topping hits that span over three decades of popular American music, this thrilling Grammy Award-winning song celebration will knock your socks off. Relive the glory days of rock and roll with such pop standards as "Stand By Me,""Jailhouse Rock," "I'm A Woman," "Hound Dog," and "On Broadway." Now, Baby, that's rock 'n' roll! Words and Music by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller." Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information, visit stagesstlouis.org or call 314-821-2407. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The St. Lou Fringe Festival runs through June 27 at several venues in the Grand Center area including the Kranzberg Arts Center (501 N. Grand) and TheStage at KDHX. Performances include traditional theater, dance, music, comedy, circus arts, performance art, cabaret, and burlesque, with acts from St. Louis and around the country. For a complete schedule, visit stlfringe.com.

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.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of April 3, 2015

As always, the choices are purely my personal opinion. Take with a grain (or a shaker) of salt.

Share on Google+:

New This Week:

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents Jason Robert Brown's two-character musical The Last Five Years Friday through Sunday, April 3-5. "An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love over the course of five years. The show's unconventional structure consists of Cathy, the woman, telling her story backwards while Jamie, the man, tells his story chronologically; the two characters only meet once, at their wedding in the middle of the show." Performances take place in the Stage III Auditorium on the Webster University campus. For more information, events.webster.edu or call 314-968-7128.

My take: I'm a great admirer of the work of Jason Robert Brown as well as of this production's music director, Neal Richardson. The Last Five Years is a compelling piece with much food for thought and I’d strongly recommend it to anyone interested in unconventional and creative musical theatre. There is a dearth of hope in the narrative, but a wealth of great music.

Lola Van Ella

The St. Lou Fringe presents The Life and Times of Marie Anoinette on Friday, April 4, at 7 p.m., preceded by a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. "We've hand-picked some of the top visual and performing artists to bring the story of MARIE ANTOINETTE to life through music, food, dance, burlesque, and visual art. Hosted by international burlesque star, St Louis' own Lola Van Ella." The event takes place at The Ready Room, 4196 Manchester in The Grove. For more information: stlfringe.com.

My take: The story of Marie Antinette hosted by a stripper. What'snot to like, I ask you? Besides, the St. Lou Fringe (for which this is a fund-raiser) is a cultural treasure and deserves our support.

Held Over:

Jeremy Webb in Buyer and Cellar
©Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Buyer and Cellar through April 12 (extended from March 29). "Inspired by Barbra Streisand's coffee table book, My Passion for Design, this uproarious fictional account of celebrity eccentricity takes us into Babs' basement, where she houses her unique collections in a small street of shops. An underemployed actor becomes the caretaker, interacting with Barbra in moments both hilarious and surprisingly tender. A runaway hit in New York, this one-man show takes us into the ultimate fantasy of a star-struck dreamer as he fills the oddest of odd jobs." Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

My take: One-man shows can be risky propositions, but this one is apparently a success. "If you are a Streisand fan (and who among us isn't?)," writes Bob Cohn at St. Louis Jewish Light, "'Buyer & Cellar' is a double treat. Not only is the play itself highly amusing and satisfying, it also contains enough Streisand trivia to satisfy an entire season of questions on 'Jeopardy.'" "Jonathan Tolins is a very clever writer," says Bob Wilcox at KDHX. "Jeremy Webb is a very smart actor. Put them together, with some inventive guidance from director Wendy Dann, and you get a quite enjoyable ninety minutes or so in the Studio Theatre at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis."

Kinky Boots
Photo: Matthew Murphy

The Fox Theatre presents the musical Kinky Boots through April 5. The Fox Theatre is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. "In Kinky Boots, Charlie Price has reluctantly inherited his father's shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father's legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola. A fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he's meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible... and discovers that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world." For more information: fabulousfox.com.

My take: A show with music by Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein obviously has two very strong things going for it from the start, and this tour apparently makes the most of its material. "A pure delight from beginning to end," writes Amy Burger at KDHX, "on the surface, Kinky Boots is a story about shoes; but at it's heart, it's a really a story about having the freedom to wear whatever shoes you want and always feeling comfortable in them."

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
©Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Christopher Durang's Vanya And Sonia And Masha And Spike through April 12. "Stuck in their family home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Vanya and his adopted sister Sonia live a quiet existence until their lives are thrown into comic upheaval with the arrival of their B-list celebrity sister, Masha, and her 20-something boy toy, Spike. Add to that a soothsaying housekeeper, a star struck young neighbor and a rather odd costume party, and the stage is set for mayhem and hilarity in this present-day homage to Chekhov. Winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play." Performances take place on the mainstage at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.

My take: This starts out as a broad, noisy parody of Chekov but finishes as something much more deep and satifying. "Playwright Christopher Durang," writes Tina Farmer at KDHX, "won a Tony Award for this insightfully hilarious look at aging and modern life through a lens tinted with Chekhov and Greek tragedy. The actors in The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike bring these characters to life convincingly, emphasizing their quirks, vanities and flaws in a production layered with humor and pathos, second questions and, perhaps, second chances." I couldn't agree more. Director Michael Evan Haney can be proud of this one.