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.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of November 14, 2022

Now including both on-line and live events during the pandemic. 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.

Touch Baseball and
Tim Shegitz

The Blue Strawberry presents A Night of Comedy Improv and Magic with Touch Baseball and Tim Shegitz Monday at 7:00 pm, November 14. “Direct from the Improv Shop, Touch Baseball is two-person, comedy improv team featuring long-time St. Louis improvisers Ryan Myers and Ashley Rube. After playing together on numerous teams for over 3 years, Ryan and Ashley formed Touch Baseball at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic to find hope and distraction from the literal end of the world. Just back from headlining at House of Cards in Nashville, Tim Shegitz regularly performs at Hollywood’s Magic Castle and Las Vegas WonderGround. Timothy’s magic features mystery--wrapped around a story--with a comedy flair. " The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

Chuck Lavazzi and Carol Schmidt

The Cabaret Project and The Blue Strawberry present a Singers Open Mic Tuesday, November 15, from 7 to 9:30 pm. “Chuck Lavazzi is your host, with pianist and music director Carol Schmidt. If you plan to sing bring sheet music or a chart in your own key, and perform your favorite Broadway, pop, or jazz tunes. Medium/up-tempo songs are encouraged but not required. Or you can just relax, have a drink and dinner or a snack, and enjoy the music. No admission or cover, but there is always a tip jar! All proceeds go to The Cabaret Project, a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to promoting, developing, and sustaining the art cabaret in St. Louis." The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

Meghan Kirk

The Blue Strawberry presents Some Songs for You with singer Meghan Kirk and pianist Ron McGowan Wednesday at 7:00 pm, November 16. “Let the world disappear for a while, as song bird Meghan Kirk and pianist Ron McGowan take you on a musical journey through some of the greatest songs ever written." The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

The Blue Strawberry presents Ben Jones: I Think We Should See Other People Saturday at 7:30 pm, November 19. “Ben Jones returns to Blue Strawberry with a funny, moving and deeply personal evening of classic standards, soaring showstoppers and modern hits, punctuated with raucous, side-splitting and devastatingly honest stories from his own love life. Serenading audiences with his 'extraordinary voice' (Night Life Exchange), Jones appears alongside his music director and collaborator, the legendary Ron Abel." The Blue Strawberry is at 364 N. Boyle. For more information: bluestrawberrystl.com.

The Lemp Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre and Jest Mysteries present A Dickens of a Killilng through January 27th, 2023. "Death is in the air as guests join Marilyn Monroe, Babe Ruth, Baaaaa Huuuumbug!!! Ebenezer Scrooge will be back to his old tricks and is bound to make a few enemies at this Christmas Party chock full of Charles Dicken's Characters. Just when Beep (The Minstrel) gets everyone in the Holiday Spirit, Scrooge barges in and starts talking about gruel. Geez, hope no one snuffs Scrooge out before he stops bellowing! Guests will dive into the fictious world of Charles Dickens and join Pip, Martha Cratchit, Oliver Twist, The Ghost of Jacob Marley, Tiny Tim and so many more in this cheerful murder mystery parody of a Holiday Classic. Whether you want to participate a little or a lot, you're sure to have a jolly good time, in jolly olde England, where there is sure to be "A Dickens of a Killing!" The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place in south city. For more information: www.lempmansion.com

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the second annual production of Michael Wilson’s adaptation of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol November 18 through December 30. “At long last, the ghosts of Ebenezer Scrooge’s past, present and future have caught up with him. Now London’s most infamous miser must face down his demons, reconcile the consequences of his choices and experience the power and joy of a miraculous redemption. This magical production will again be directed by Hana S. Sharif, Augustin Family Artistic Director at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and choreographed by Kirven Douthit-Boyd, Artistic Director at The Big Muddy Dance Company. The world of Charles Dickens’ will be brought to life by Tim Mackabee (Scenic Design), Dede Aytie (Costume Design), Seth Reiser (Lighting Design), and Hana S. Kim (Production Design). Chales Coles and Nathan Roberts provide the music and sound design, with musical direction by Tre’von Griffith.” Performances take on the main stage of the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus.. For more information: www.repstl.org.

St. Louis Community College at Forest Park presents Mike Bartlett's Contractions on Friday, November 18, Saturday November 19 at 7:30pm, and Sunday November 20 at 2:00pm. "Emma’s been seeing Darren. She thinks she’s in love. Her boss thinks she’s in breach of contract. In a series of cordial but increasingly tense conversations, the two dissect the differences between “sexual” and “romantic,” negotiate the nature of Emma’s interoffice relationship, and face the consequences of shrinking privacy and binding contracts." Performances take place in the Theater at the Bastian Center for the Performing Arts on the Forest Park Campus. All performances are free of charge. For more information: stlcc.edu.

St. Louis University Theatre presents Everybody, directed by guest artist Alicia Like, Thursday through Sunday, October November 17-20. “Everybody, a one-act play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, premiered Off-Broadway in 2017 at the Signature Theatre and was first published in 2018. It is a modern retelling of Everyman, the most well-known and anthologized example of a medieval morality play, which was adapted from a Dutch play by an anonymous 15th-century English writer. Morality plays first appeared in the 12th century, evolving from the Catholic Church’s cycle plays and liturgical dramas, which reenacted biblical scenes, and became popular in the late Middle Ages (15th/16th centuries). They began as religious allegories designed to teach the audience a moral lesson by representing abstract concepts and ideas as characters.” Performances take place at the Xavier Hall Main Stage on the campus at 3733 West Pine Mall in Grand Center. For more information: www.slu.edu.

Slaying Dragons presents Giving Mental Illness a Stage, the company’s 12th anniversary fund raiser, Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 6:30 pm, and Sunday at 1:30 pm, November 18-20. The mission of Slaying Dragons is to destroy the sitgma of mental illness through theatre. The event features performances from three of the company’s previous shows and takes place at the Center for Spiritual Living in St. Louis. For more information: www.slayingdragons.org.

Tesseract Theatre Company presents the musical Ordinary Days by Adam Gwon Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 4 pm, November 18-27. “Ordinary Days tells the story of four young New Yorkers whose lives intersect as they search for fulfillment, happiness, love, and cabs. Through a score of vibrant and memorable songs, their experiences ring startlingly true to life. Ordinary Days is an original musical for anyone who's ever struggled to appreciate the simple things in a complex place. With equal doses of humor and poignancy, it celebrates how 8.3 million individual stories combine in unexpected ways to make New York City such a unique and extraordinary home.” Performances take place at the .ZACK, 3224 Locust in Grand Center. For more information: www.tesseracttheatre.com.

The Good Ship St. Louis

Upstream Theater presents the world premiere of The Good Ship St. Louis, a new play by Philip Boehm with original music by Anthony Barilla, running through November 20. “On May 13, 1939, a ship left Hamburg flying the German Nazi flag and carrying over 900 Jewish refugees. They held valid visas for Cuba and most planned to emigrate to the United States. But when they reached Havana their documents were declared invalid, and the US declined to admit them. The ship returned to Europe, where the refugees were caught up in the tide of war and occupation. The ship was the MS St. Louis, and we are taking this voyage a starting point for a soulful examination of the basic human right to asylum by linking its story to the history of our city with the same name, known for welcoming refugees from the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s”. Performances take place at the Marcelle Theatre, 3310 Samuel Shepard Dr. in Grand Center. For more information: upstreamtheater.org.

The Washington University Performing Arts Department presents The Dust Thursday and Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 2 and 8 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm, November 17-20. “Love and Mortality. Existence and Destruction. These are the tensions at play in Hsu Yen Ling’s ‘The Dust.’ The play presents a series of seemingly unrelated scenes unfolding at what the writer calls the “instant of explosion.” Explosion of a building? Of a city? Of individual lives? A mother meets an estranged son. A professional couple debate what they choose to know about how they will die. A surrogate mother imagines starting a new world with the birth father. The Dust presents fragments of lives hovering on the brink of annihilation, and yet, all these people are doing their very best to move beyond fear to live lives of authentic happiness. Annelise Finnegan’s translation gives Hsu’s beautiful work a clear theatrical voice. First produced in November of 2013 in Taiwan, this is the U.S. premiere of The Dust. Performances take place in the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatreon the Washington University Campus. For more information: pad.wustl.edu.

La Rondine
Photo: Rebecca Haas

The Westport Playhouse presents Disbelief, and Evening of Wonder and Laughter on Friday, November 11th, at 7:30 pm. “Spend the evening being amazed and amused by three mysterious and hilarious magicians. You'll leave the theatre smiling and wondering, "how did they do that?"”. The Westport Playhouse is in the Westport Plaza Business and Entertainment District. For more information: thewestportplayhouse.com.

Winter Opera presents Puccini’s La Rondine Friday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm, November 18 and 20. “Inspired by Viennese Operetta, La Rondine by Giacomo Puccini tells the story of true love between the courtesan Magda and a young modest boy named Ruggero. As a kept woman of Rombaldo, Magda leads a comfortable life in Paris, but will she decide on a life of luxury or love? Enjoy the lush melodies of Puccini in this timeless love story.” Performances take place at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, 201 E. Monroe in Kirkwood, MO. For more information: https://www.winteroperastl.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.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of January 22, 2018

Black Anthology

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Black Anthology presents 1:05 on Friday and Saturday at 7 pm, January 26 and 27. The show is a performance that is written, choreographed, directed, and produced entirely by Washington University undergraduates and takes place at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. For more information: blackanthology.wustl.edu

The Looking Glass Playhouse presents the rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., January 25 - February 4. " A.J. kicked British butt, shafted the Indians and smacked down the Spaniards, all in the name of these United States - who cares if he didn't have permission? Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson creators, Michael Friedman (Love's Labour's Lost, The Fortress of Solitude) and Alex Timbers (Love's Labour's Lost, Peter and the Starcatcher), cook up an alternate universe (and draw parallels to today's political/populist landscape) with their musical about the seventh U.S. president. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson follows America's seventh president from his early days as a child on the wild frontier to his controversial reign in the White House." Performances take place at 301 West St. Louis Street in Lebanon, Ill. For more information, visit www.lookingglassplayhouse.com.

The Cabaret Project and The Improv Shop present The Blue Velvet Lounge Saturday, January 27, at 8 pm. There are also performances on February 10 and 24. "The Cabaret Project teams up with The Improv Shop to co-present their dynamic, fully improvised theater piece featuring live jazz standards - direct from the mythical Blue Velvet Lounge. Each performance features eight smart, funny improvisers who create the stories and sagas of the patrons of the Blue Velvet Lounge - on the spot. Surrounded by live jazz vocal standards, this character driven story is a different show each night it's performed. The Blue Velvet Lounge is a perfect evening out for lovers of cabaret and comedy. Food and drink available at the Improv Shop." The performance takes place at The Improv Shop, 3960 Chouteau in The Grove. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

Hard Road Theatre Productions presents the jukebox musical Breaking Up is Hard to Do Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm through January 27. "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do is an original jukebox musical featuring 18 Neil Sedaka songs, including "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do", "Where the Boys Are", "Sweet Sixteen", "Calendar Girl", "Stupid Cupid", and "Love Will Keep Us Together." Set during Labor Day weekend in 1960, the show follows two friends, Lois and Marge, who travel to a resort, Esther's Paradise, in the Catskill mountains to help Marge overcome a recent breakup. While there, romance flourishes in the most unusual places and a visitor from Dick Clark's American Bandstand might just save Esther's Paradise from financial ruin." Performances will be held at the Highland School Kennal, 12760 Troxler Ave, in Highland IL. For more information: www.hardroad.org.

The Kranzberg Arts Center presents Grammy and Emmy Award-winning pianist and songwriter John McDaniel and cabaret star Barb Jungr in Come Together, an Evening of Music by The Beatles, on Saturday, January 27, at 7 and 9 pm. "In this exciting and critically-acclaimed collaboration, two giants of cabaret from both sides of the Atlantic, the extraordinary and award winning vocalist and performer, London's Barb Jungr and St. Louis born John McDaniel, himself a Grammy and Emmy award winning arranger and pianist, investigate The Beatles song catalogue in their own unique and inimitable fashion. Barb and John celebrate Paul, John, George and Ringo with brand new, breathtaking, inspiring and often unexpected arrangements! This concert is their St. Louis debut together." Performances take place in the cabaret room at the Kranzberg, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: metrotix.com.

CSZ St. Louis presents The ComedySportz Show on Saturday nights at 7:30 pm. The show is "action-packed, interactive and hilarious comedy played as a sport. Two teams battle it out for points and your laughs! You choose the winners the teams provide the funny!" Performances take place on the second floor of the Sugar Cubed, 917 S Main St. in St Charles, Mo. For more information: www.cszstlouis.com.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents The Comic Book Killer through April 14. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Faceless
Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Faceless through February 4. "Two young women face off in a courtroom, locked in a battle of wills and theologies. Susie Glenn, 18, is on trial. Radicalized online into planning acts of terrorism, she's zealously committed to her cause. Her prosecutor, Claire Fathi, is a Harvard-educated Muslim woman who lives the faith that Susie professes to understand. Their edgy exchanges create a propulsive, escalating tension that makes this brilliantly topical play a true legal thriller." Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents the comedy/drama Good People through January 28. "Welcome to Southie, a Boston neighborhood where a night on the town means a few rounds of bingo, where this month's paycheck covers last month's bills, and where Margie Walsh has just been let go from yet another job. Facing eviction and scrambling to catch a break, she thinks an old fling who's made it out of Southie might be her ticket to a fresh start. But is this apparently self-made man secure enough to face his humble beginnings? Margie is about to risk what little she has left to find out. With his signature humorous glow, Lindsay-Abaire explores the struggles and unshakeable hopes that come with having next to nothing." Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre of the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road. For more information, call 314-821-9956 or visit ktg-onstage.org.

The How and the Why

New Jewish Theater presents The How and the Why January 24 - February 11. "In Sarah Treem's smart and provocative play about science, family and survival of the fittest, evolution and emotion collide as two women of different generations struggle to come together both on a professional and on a personal level. The play explores many areas of struggle for women, especially in the field of scientific research: the fierce competition among scientists for recognition of their discoveries; the struggles in the academic world for prestigious positions and grant funding: and female attitudes about sex, relationships, men, motherhood and families." Performances take place in the Marvin and Harlene Wool Studio Theater at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive in Creve Coeur. For more information: www.newjewishtheatre.org or call 314-442-3283.

Gateway Center for Performing Arts' Youth Theatre Company opens its 2017-2018 Mainstage Season with the musical A Little Princess Friday at 7 pm, Saturday at 2 and 7 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm, January 26 - 28. Based on the classic story by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess has music by award-winning composer Andrew Lippa and lyricist Brian Crawley. "Separated from her father and the openhearted Africans who have helped him raise her, young Sara Crewe is sent to boarding school in London. When things go badly for her there, her imaginative powers come to the rescue - helping to transform a drab institution into a place of magic and mystery. As the girl wins the affection of the other boarders, she draws the ire of Miss Minchin, the dour headmistress, who forces Sara to work as a maid when her father is reported dead and his fortune is seized. Sara counters all of Miss Minchin's best efforts to degrade her, all the while maintaining the grace and virtue of a little princess. Performances take place at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, 3125 South Kingshighway in south city. For more information: www.gcpastl.org/tickets.

The Marvelous Wonderettes
Photo: Eric Woolsey

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents The Marvelous Wonderettes through January 28. "The pop doesn't stop in this smash hit musical! A high school prom in 1958 and a 10-year reunion in 1968 provide the backdrop for some of the biggest hits of both decades, performed by an irrepressible quartet of young women. Featuring a stacked playlist that includes "Mr. Sandman," "It's in His Kiss," "Respect," "Son of a Preacher Man" and "Lollipop," it's a joyous snapshot of a musical era." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Mayhem in Mayberry through April. "Welcome to the 10th annual Mayberry-fest. Everyone is looking forward to the highlight of this event - the Miss Mayberry contest. YOU and Sheriff Andy Trailer will judge the contestants (chosen from the audience) on beauty, poise, cookin' skills and a new category this year - Hog callin'. Will the next Miss Mayberry be the vivacious Dazey Doof from Hazzard County? Or the beautiful hillbilly, Elly May Klumpett? Or will it be the lovely Lois Lame from Smallville? Don't county out the charming Paris Hoosier from Hoosierville. She's the main reason the train stops at Petticoat Junction! Sheriff Andy, Deputy Blarney and Aint Bee invite you to join the fun and the mayhem in Mayberry cause it won't be the same without y'all." The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Menopause the Musical

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents Menopause the Musical, "a celebration of women and The Change," through March 31. Four women meet while shopping for a black lace bra at a lingerie sale. After noticing unmistakable similarities among one another, the cast jokes about their woeful hot flashes, mood swings, wrinkles, weight gain and much more. The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: playhouseatwestport.com.

Winter Opera St. Louis presents Bizet's Les Pecheurs De Perles (The Pearl Fishers) Friday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, January 26 and 28. Performances take place at The Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School, 425 S. Lindbergh. For more information, visit winteroperastl.org.

The Fox Theatre presents the musical School of Rock, running through January 28. "Based on the hit film, this hilarious new musical follows Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star posing as a substitute teacher who turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. This high-octane smash features 14 new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber, all the original songs from the movie and musical theater's first-ever kids rock band playing their instruments live on stage." The Fox is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

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.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of January 15, 2018

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Hard Road Theatre Productions presents the jukebox musical Breaking Up is Hard to Do Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, January 19 - 27. "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do is an original jukebox musical featuring 18 Neil Sedaka songs, including "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do", "Where the Boys Are", "Sweet Sixteen", "Calendar Girl", "Stupid Cupid", and "Love Will Keep Us Together." Set during Labor Day weekend in 1960, the show follows two friends, Lois and Marge, who travel to a resort, Esther's Paradise, in the Catskill mountains to help Marge overcome a recent breakup. While there, romance flourishes in the most unusual places and a visitor from Dick Clark's American Bandstand might just save Esther's Paradise from financial ruin." Performances will be held at the Highland School Kennal, 12760 Troxler Ave, in Highland IL. For more information: www.hardroad.org.

CSZ St. Louis presents The ComedySportz Show on Saturday nights at 7:30 pm. The show is "action-packed, interactive and hilarious comedy played as a sport. Two teams battle it out for points and your laughs! You choose the winners the teams provide the funny!" Performances take place on the second floor of the Sugar Cubed, 917 S Main St. in St Charles, Mo. For more information: www.cszstlouis.com.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents The Comic Book Killer through April 14. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Faceless

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Faceless January 17 - February 4. "Two young women face off in a courtroom, locked in a battle of wills and theologies. Susie Glenn, 18, is on trial. Radicalized online into planning acts of terrorism, she's zealously committed to her cause. Her prosecutor, Claire Fathi, is a Harvard-educated Muslim woman who lives the faith that Susie professes to understand. Their edgy exchanges create a propulsive, escalating tension that makes this brilliantly topical play a true legal thriller." Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents the comedy/drama Good People January 19 - 28. "Welcome to Southie, a Boston neighborhood where a night on the town means a few rounds of bingo, where this month's paycheck covers last month's bills, and where Margie Walsh has just been let go from yet another job. Facing eviction and scrambling to catch a break, she thinks an old fling who's made it out of Southie might be her ticket to a fresh start. But is this apparently self-made man secure enough to face his humble beginnings? Margie is about to risk what little she has left to find out. With his signature humorous glow, Lindsay-Abaire explores the struggles and unshakeable hopes that come with having next to nothing." Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre of the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road. For more information, call 314-821-9956 or visit ktg-onstage.org.

Cocktails and Curtain Calls presents In the Shadow of the Glen by John Millington Synge running through January 21st. "In The Shadow of the Glen, Dan Burke is convinced that his wife, Nora is playing away so he fakes his own death, waits for proof and scuppers her plans. However Nora leaves with her head held high on the arm of a not so perfect stranger." Performances take place in the Patriot Room at McGurks Irish Pub, 1200 Russell in Soulard. For more information: eventbrite.com or call (314) 249-7488

Circus Harmony presents Legato Saturdays at 2 and 7 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through January 21. The show is "a look at circus thru the decades from 1920-2010." Performances take place at City Museum, 701 N. 15th Street. Show admission is free with museum admission. For more information: circusharmony.org.

The Marvelous Wonderettes
Photo: Eric Woolsey

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents The Marvelous Wonderettes through January 28. "The pop doesn't stop in this smash hit musical! A high school prom in 1958 and a 10-year reunion in 1968 provide the backdrop for some of the biggest hits of both decades, performed by an irrepressible quartet of young women. Featuring a stacked playlist that includes "Mr. Sandman," "It's in His Kiss," "Respect," "Son of a Preacher Man" and "Lollipop," it's a joyous snapshot of a musical era." Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Mayhem in Mayberry through April. "Welcome to the 10th annual Mayberry-fest. Everyone is looking forward to the highlight of this event - the Miss Mayberry contest. YOU and Sheriff Andy Trailer will judge the contestants (chosen from the audience) on beauty, poise, cookin' skills and a new category this year - Hog callin'. Will the next Miss Mayberry be the vivacious Dazey Doof from Hazzard County? Or the beautiful hillbilly, Elly May Klumpett? Or will it be the lovely Lois Lame from Smallville? Don't county out the charming Paris Hoosier from Hoosierville. She's the main reason the train stops at Petticoat Junction! Sheriff Andy, Deputy Blarney and Aint Bee invite you to join the fun and the mayhem in Mayberry cause it won't be the same without y'all." The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

Menopause the Musical

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents Menopause the Musical, "a celebration of women and The Change," through March 31. Four women meet while shopping for a black lace bra at a lingerie sale. After noticing unmistakable similarities among one another, the cast jokes about their woeful hot flashes, mood swings, wrinkles, weight gain and much more. The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: playhouseatwestport.com.

The Fox Theatre presents the musical School of Rock, running through January 28. "Based on the hit film, this hilarious new musical follows Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star posing as a substitute teacher who turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. This high-octane smash features 14 new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber, all the original songs from the movie and musical theater's first-ever kids rock band playing their instruments live on stage." The Fox is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

First Run Theatre presents Skeletons in the Closet, an evening of one-act plays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through January 21. The plays are Swept Away by David Hawley and Bird's Nest by Daniel Weshelesky. Performances take place in the Thomas Hunter Theatre at Southampton Presbyterian Church, 4716 Macklind. For more information, call (314) 352-5114 or visit www.firstruntheatre.com.

The Presenters Dolan present Storm Large and her band on Wednesday, January 17, at 8 pm. "When she is not with her band (including two members of Everclear), Storm fronts Pink Martini and symphony orchestras. This is a different Storm - a sexed-up, powerhouse club rocker; a soulful, spiritual, secular hymnodist; an enchanting storyteller made all the more so by her band's impossibly evocative underscoring. And that astonishing voice." The performance takes place at the Sheldon Concert Hall on Washington in Grand Center. For more information: metrotix.com

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.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of December 25, 2017

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The Cabaret Project and The Improv Shop present The Blue Velvet Lounge Saturday, December 30, at 8 pm. There are also performances on January 13 and 27, and February 10 and 24. "The Cabaret Project teams up with The Improv Shop to co-present their dynamic, fully improvised theater piece featuring live jazz standards - direct from the mythical Blue Velvet Lounge. Each performance features eight smart, funny improvisers who create the stories and sagas of the patrons of the Blue Velvet Lounge - on the spot. Surrounded by live jazz vocal standards, this character driven story is a different show each night it's performed. The Blue Velvet Lounge is a perfect evening out for lovers of cabaret and comedy. Food and drink available at the Improv Shop." The performance takes place at The Improv Shop, 3960 Chouteau in The Grove. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents The Christmas Killer through December 31. " Welcome to the party sponsored by Chatty Cathy, (and the "Misfit Toys"). We certainly hope that you can find a good home for one of our toys! Of course, it'll be a fun party as long as the wrong element doesn't show up! We're talking about Ricky Stitch, of course. Gee! I hope nothing bad happens to him! Anyway, you'll meet lots of characters tonight. In fact, you'll be a character too! Whether you'd like to participate a lot, or just a little, we promise you great holiday fun when you attend 'The Christmas Killer!'" The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Cinderella

The Fox Theatre presents the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Cinderella openng on Wednesday, December 27, with performances at 1 and 7:30 pm and running through December 31. "Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella is the Tony Award®- winning Broadway musical from the creators of The Sound of Music and South Pacific that's delighting audiences with its contemporary take on the classic tale. This lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations and all the moments you love-the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball and more-plus some surprising new twists! Be transported back to your childhood as you rediscover some of Rodgers + Hammerstein's most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It's Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” in this hilarious and romantic Broadway experience for anyone who's ever had a wish, a dream... or a really great pair of shoes." The Fox is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

Lea DeLaria

Jazz St. Louis and The Cabaret Project present Lea DeLaria with special guest Janis Seigal of Manhattan Transer in Delaria + Bowie = Jazz on Wednesday and Thursday, December 27 and 28, at 7:30 p.m. "Lea DeLaria seems to have achieved overnight stardom with her two time, SAG Award winning, stand-out role as Carrie 'Big Boo' Black in the Netflix hit series Orange is the New Black. However, DeLaria's multi-faceted career as a comedian, actress, and jazz musician has, in fact, spanned decades. DeLaria was the featured vocalist at the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival, and has performed in some of the most prestigious houses in the world including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Chicago Symphony, Hollywood Bowl, The Royal Albert Hall and the Sydney Opera House. " Performances take place at the Ferring Jazz Bistro on Washington just east of the Fox in Grand Center. For more information: jazzstl.org.

Peabody Opera House presents Elf: The Musical Tuesday through Thursday, December 26 - 28, at 7:30 pm. "Elf The Musical is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy's enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF." The Peabody Opera House is at 14th and Market, downtown. For more information: peabodyoperahouse.com.

Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates

Metro Theatre Company presents Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates through December 29. In this timeless story, Hans and Gretel Brinker strive to provide for their family and prove their own worth by entering a local speedskating contest - first prize is a pair of gleaming silver skates! The play culminates with a spectacular St. Nicholas Day race on the stage of The Grandel Theatre stage. Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates celebrates generosity, helping others and is an exhilarating tale of courage and determination." Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square in Grand Center. For more information: metroplays.org.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Murder on 34th Street through December 31. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents Oddville, a Love Story? Wednesday through Saturday, December 27 - 30. " Dave Shirley and Robert Dubac have teamed up to create the hilarious new comedy, Oddville: A Love Story? Think Blue Man Group meets The Forty-Year-Old Virgin! Hysterically indescribable, Oddville is a unique piece of brilliant theatre jammed with ingenious props, amplified physical comedy, complex multi-media imagery and a cool nostalgic score. It is a love story with limited words, but a big heart that connects your imagination to your funny bone with fits of laughter." The Playhouse at Westport Plaza is at 635 West Port Plaza. For more information: playhouseatwestport.com.

Photo by John Lamb

Max and Louie Productions presents Souvenir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins through December 31. "Dubbed by her critics as the "Dire Diva of Din", passionate music lover and wealthy socialite, Florence Foster Jenkins enjoyed a remarkably successful concert career even though she was unburdened by talent and deliriously tone deaf. Her story is told through the eyes of her pianist, Cosme McMoon. A truly talented musician, he regards her at first as a little more then an easy way to pay the rent, but his initial contempt gives way to reluctant admiration, then friendship and a unique kind of love." Performances take place at the Marcelle Theatre, 3310 Samuel Shepard Dr. in Grand Center. For more information, visit maxandlouie.com.

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.

St. Lou Fringe Report 4: Big Comedy Finale

This past Saturday (June 27th, 2015) was the last day of the St. Lou Fringe Festival and, by sheer coincidence, also the best one as far as the shows I saw went. Better yet, three of the four I saw were by local groups.

Sorry, Please Continue
www.facebook.com/SorryPleaseContinue

It was mostly a day of comedy, beginning with "Sorry, Please Continue." Described as a mix of the storytelling of the "Moth Radio Hour" with the off-the-cuff wisecracks of "Mystery Science Theatre 3000," the show features "some amazing stories told by anyone who wants to participate mixed with commentary from some of St. Louis’ funniest comedians."

The theme Saturday afternoon was "Family." The first storyteller (Siobhan O'Loughlin, whose "The Rope in Your Hands" was also part of the Fringe) related how she, as a result of a bizarre set of accidents (puppets were apparently involved) found herself sleeping in bed with her sister and her sister's boyfriend—only to be awakened by the couple doing the Horizontal Cha-Cha right next to her. The second storyteller (Christine Compas) described how she became embroiled in a true Wedding From Hell. Burlap and Christmas lights were involved.

Both stories, while fairly interesting, were transmuted into comedy gold by the three members of "Sorry, Please Continue" (Jeremy Hellwig, Amy Milton, and Stryker Spurlock at this show). They played off each other expertly and invariably timed their interruptions for maximum comic effect. I think it would be easy to come across as snarky or just plain mean in a situation like this, but not these three; it was good-natured fun all the way. If you want to see them in action, they perform on the third Thursday of each month at Foam, 3359 South Jefferson. You can also check out their Facebook page.

Moscow!
eratheatre.org

Next was the Equally Represented Arts production of "Moscow!" Described as a drinking-game version of Chekov's "Three Sisters," Lucy Cashion's script was an ingenious one-hour reduction of the original, with everyone in the cast (and much of the audience) taking a drink whenever anyone said "Moscow." Which, if you know your Chekov, happens a lot.

Julia Crump, Ellie Schwetye, and Rachel Tibbets headed a remarkably talented cast as the three titular sisters. Under Ms. Cashion's direction, the show moved at light speed, with actors rattling off vast chunks of Chekov with machine-gun precision while marching about the stage in precise steps through the box-like maze of red chairs that served as a set.

Music Arranger and Director Joe Taylor underscored it all with wonderful selection of Russian melodies (mostly Prokofiev and Khachaturian, as I recall) performed live. The entire production, in short, displayed the kind of polish and professionalism that would make it welcome almost anywhere; I hope they repeat it. For more information on ERA, visit their web site.

L-R: Johnny Iguana, Yana, Michael Caskey
claudettes.com / Marisa Klug-Morataya

Next it was music with a weirdly comic edge with "Welcome to Claudette's Bar" at TheStage @ KDHX. The concept is that pianist Johnny Iguana and drummer Michael Caskey were dragooned by the semi-mythical Claudette into playing in her dive bar in Oglesby, IL ("an hour and a half southwest of Chicago's South Side"), where she put them on salary and dubbed them "The Claudettes." She never appears in person, but harasses them via cell phone into selling drinks during their show.

That's all set up in an amusing video before Mr. Iguana and Mr. Caskey come out on stage. As they launched into their live set—which sounded like a hard-driving combination of Vince Guaraldi, Raymond Scott, and Eric Satie on speed—an LED display ran bizarre commercial messages from Claudette. These ranged from weird drink specials ("$8 Midori Shooters," "MONDAY NIGHT: DESIGNER NIGHT! You design shot, I design price") to warnings ("You: Fake ID Me: Real Gun") to the occasional political statement ("This machine kills fascists!"). Mr. Iguana's electric piano is hidden behind a box painted to look the like the back of an old-fashioned upright piano, adding to the diver bar ambience.

Through it all, the duo performed with a slightly unhinged intensity, mugging it up and delivering solid, power-chord punk piano originals along with some fairly bent versions of classics like "California, Here I Come" and "Brazil." It was great fun, but it would have been nice had their vocalist Yana been there to change the sound up a bit. As it is, she appeared only on the video.

For more information on the Chicago-based Claudettes, check out their web site.

Poor Monsters at the Fringe awards
www.facebook.com/poormonsters

The evening ended with one of the most inspired theatrical productions of the festival: "Or What You Will" by the all-female ensemble Poor Monsters: Laurel Kassenbrock, Katy Keating, Alicen Moser, Kristin Rion, Taylor Steward, and Sarah Griffith. The show consisted of twelve short plays by seven women playwrights, all inspired by Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." The plays were presented in sets of two, and after each set the audience decided, by their applause, which of the two would advance to the next round until, in sports bracket fashion, one was finally declared the winner.

Although I enjoyed all twelve of the playlets, my own favorites were Ms. Griffith's "Her Breast Is Fit for Pearls, But I Was Not a Diver," which proves to be a surprisingly touching gloss on the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson; Ms. Moser's "The Shape of Love," in which the playwright, as Feste, tries to invent an increasingly tricky song about the increasingly complex relationships of the play; and Ms. Keating's "Revenge of the Siss," in which Malvolio finally triumphs over his enemies in the boxing ring.

Poor Monsters doesn't appear to have a web site, but they do have a Facebook page where you can find out what they're up to next.

I've been an enthusiastic supporter of the St. Lou Fringe since its scrappy beginnings in June of 2012. Three years later, the Fringe is a major player on the local cultural scene and is attracting attention nation-wide. If you've never "fringed," you have missed an awful lot of unusual—and often unique—entertainment. When it comes around again next summer, don't miss it. I know I won't.