St. Charles Community College presents the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Wednesday through Friday at 7:30, Saturday at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m, and Sunday at 2 p.m., April 19-23. “Follow us down the rabbit hole for this contemporary adaptation of Alice's Adventures! You can expect the time-honored cast of the usual characters, nonsensical interpersonal exchanges, and Jefferson Airplane-influenced soundtrack in this devised, collaboratively created production that won't follow too many of the usual rules we've come to expect when we go to the theatre." Performances take place in the FAB Theater in the Donald D. Shook Fine Arts Building on the campus at 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville, MO. For more information, call 636-922-8050 or visit stchas.edu.
St. Louis Actors' Studio presents August: Osage County by Tracy Letts through April 30. "A vanished father, a pill-popping mother and three sisters harboring shady little secrets. When the large Weston family unexpectedly reunites after Dad disappears, their Oklahoman family homestead explodes in a maelstrom of repressed truths and unsettling secrets. Mix in Violet, the drugged-up, scathingly acidic matriarch, and you've got a major new play that unflinchingly - and uproariously - exposes the dark side of the Midwestern family." Performances take place at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.
The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents A Big Easy Murder through April 30. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.
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| Chuck Lavazzi |
Mustard Seed Theatre presents Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., through April 30. “Set in 1936 Ireland, the play explores the potential for romance and the lure of pagan rituals in a family's day-to-day life.” There is no performance on Easter Sunday, April 16. Performances take place at the Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Blvd. For more information, call (314) 719-8060 or visit the web site at www.mustardseedtheatre.com.
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville presents the musical The Drowsy Chaperone Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., April 19-23. "During a very fancy wedding reception five, reluctant, identically clad bridesmaids hide out in an upstairs bedroom, each with their own reason to avoid the proceedings below. As the afternoon wears on, these five very different women, joyously discover a common bond in this wickedly funny, irreverent, and touching celebration of women's spirit." Performances take place in the Dunham Hall Theater on the campus in Edwardsville, IL. For more information, call 618-650-2774 or visit siue.edu.
Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents the musical The Drowsy Chaperone Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., April 19-23. "It all starts with a man in a chair, who is feeling a little bit blue. To cure his sadness, he throws on one of his old favorite records: the original cast recording of the fictitious 1928 musical The Drowsy Chaperone. He paints us the picture of a hilarious wedding between famous actress Janet Van De Graaf and oil tycoon Robert Martin. The wedding is expected to run smoothly, but toss in an aspiring starlet, a desperate Broadway producer, a couple of suspicious pastry chefs, an erroneous womanizer, and a rather tipsy chaperone and well...things get a little complicated. Sit back and cure any of your 'non-specified sadness,' with this wildly humorous, Tony Award-winning musical." Performances take place on the Browning Mainstage Theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information, www.webster.edu/conservatory/season or call 314-968-7128.
The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents Gossip Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., April 20-23. "Who killed Jane “The Bitch" Nelson while dozens of celebrities sipped champagne? It's a sleazy mystery indeed, implicating many of the city's movers and shakers, and it's a gold mine for any newspaper covering it. Baxter, owner of the biggest paper in town, wants an answer to that question and he tags T.M. Power for the job. “I'm a political journalist” Power protests, “Not a gossip columnist!” But his boss prevails, and our hero suddenly finds himself in the underbelly of big city corruption, knee-deep in lawyers, actors, and hookers, all scheming and conniving in a comedic web that leads to one of the biggest stories Power has ever covered. In Gossip, George F. Walker skewers our appetite for celebrity and fame with this film noir-inspired puzzle of a play." The performances take place in the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information, call 314-935-6543 or visit pad.artsci.wustl.edu.
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| The Lion King Photo: Daniel Murphy |
The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus Live April 19 - May 7. "The Off-Broadway hit comedy Men Are From Mars - Women Are From Venus LIVE!, is a one-man fusion of theatre and stand-up, and is a light-hearted theatrical comedy based on the New York Times #1 best-selling book of the last decade by John Gray. Moving swiftly through a series of vignettes, the show covers everything from dating and marriage to the bedroom. This hysterical show will have couples elbowing each other all evening as they see themselves on stage. Sexy and fast paced, this show is definitely for adults, but will leave audiences laughing and giggling like little kids! " The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: playhouseatwestport.com.
The University Theatre at Saint Louis University presents Monster by Neal Bell Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. April 21-30. "Adapted from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Monster takes a disturbing yet poignant look at one man's obsession with creating life and the destructive after effects of abandoning his creation." The University Theatre is located in Xavier Hall, 3733 West Pine Mall. For more information: slu.edu/utheatre.
The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Murder at the Abbey through April 29. "Welcome to the world of Downton Abbey! A world full of aristocracy, old money but never anything as droll as murder! Congratulations! You've been invited to the dinner party held by the Earl of Grantham himself! Some would kill for the opportunity to meet the Crawley family. They'll all be there! The Earl, his beautiful wife and three daughters...not to mention all the other characters in, (and around), the Grantham house. That's right! All the family, staff and townsfolk will be there. You'll meet lots of fun characters...and you'll play as big, (or as small), of a part as you wish. Up to you. Hope nothing bad happens...but if it does...we might need you to help us figure it out? Or perhaps you're the killer?" The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.
UMSL Theatre and Cinema Arts presents My Country: A Devised Work Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m, April 21-30. "What does your country look like? Inspired by the poem written by Sam Beadle, My Country, delves into how we view our country as citizens of different races, creeds, religions, gender, etc. And through it all, how do you define your country, how do you maintain empathy and your own humanity?" Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: kranzbergartscenter.org.
The West End Players Guild continues its 106th season with the world premier of Oedipus Apparatus, written and directed by Lucy Cashion, based on Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, April 21-30. There will also be a show on Thursday, April 27, at 8 PM. "Lucy Cashion is one of St. Louis's most exciting and creative young theatre artists. Her Equally Represented Arts Theatre Company is well-known for cutting edge works such as Trash Macbeth, Make Hamlet and The Residents of Craigslist. Now Lucy brings to our stage the world premiere Oedipus Apparatus, her original work inspired by Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus. It is most definitely NOT the version of this classic tale you read in freshman English!" Performances take place at the Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 North Union at Enright in the Central West End. For more information, call 314-367-0025 or visit www.westendplayers.org.
Lion's Paw Theatre Company presents Plays on the Menu, a reading of the plays Running in Circles Screaming by Jeni Mahoney, Breakfast and Bed by Amy Fox, and The News from St Petersburg by Rich Orloff on Tuesday, April 18, at noon at The Hearth Room at The Hawken House, 1155 South Rock Hill Road and on Wednesday, April 19, at noon at St. Louis Artists' Guild, 12 North Jackson in Clayton. The readings include lunch. For more information: lionspawtheatre.org.
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| Seven Guitars |
Shakespeare Festival St. Louis presents Shake 38, a city-wide performance festival in which all 38 of Shakespeare's plays are performed by 38 different groups in a variety of neighborhoods and locations. Performances take place Wednesday through Sunday, April 19-23. For a complete schedule: sfstl.com.
St. Louis Community College at Meramec presents Spinning Into Butter Wednesday through Sunday, April 19-23. "Set on a Vermont College campus, Spinning Into Butter explores racism in America today. The playwright presents ideas about race relations as we see a liberal dean of students, Sarah Daniels, investigate racist comments written to one of the college's few African American students. As a result, Sarah, along with other faculty members and students, explore their own personal ideas about racism leading to surprising discoveries and insights. Who is racist? This performance promises to spark lots of relevant discussion." The production is recommended for mature audiences. Performances take place in the theatre on the campus at 11333 Big Bend Road. For more information, stlcc.edu/MC or call 314-984-7500.
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| Sweeney Todd Photo: John Lamb |
Equally Represented Arts presents twelfth period, or not another twelfth night, opening on Wednesday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m. and running Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. (except for April 29, when there is no performance) through May 6th. "Created and Presented by Equally Represented Arts, eratheatre.org An experimental, multi-space, theatrical production From William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and high school, circa 1999 Welcome to Illyria Preparatory Academy - 'Where some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.'” Performances take place at Centene Center for the Arts, 3547 Olive in Grand Center. For more information: eratheatre.org.
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 Calendar.
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.
