Chuck's Choices for the weekend of January 23, 2015

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

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Winter Opera St. Louis presents Mascagni's L'Amico Fritz Friday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, January 23 and 25. "A woman, a man, and a bet between friends. What will it take for Suzel and Fritz to admit they love each other?" Performances take place at The Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School, 425 S. Lindbergh. The opera is sung in Italian with project English supertitles. For more information, visit winteroperastl.org.

My take: Although nowhere near as well-known as Mascagni's one big hit, the tragic one-act Cavalleria Rusticana, L'Amico Fritz is considered by many critics to be musically superior, even though its comic libretto is considerably lighter. Nobody gets killed here and everything ends happily. I don't think the opera has ever been performed in St. Louis, so this may be your first (and possibly) only chance to see it on a local stage. Winter Opera's theatre is one of the best in town for musical theatre; it's a pity the shows don't run longer.

Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents the comedy Fox on the Fairway through January 25. "Filled with mistaken identities, slamming doors, and over-the-top romantic shenanigans, The Fox On the Fairway is a fast-paced and charmingly madcap adventure about love, life, and man's eternal love affair with golf." 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.

My take: Best known for his wildly popular comedy Lend Me a Tenor, Ken Ludwig seems to be a dab hand at farce. "Director Lyndsay Somers Hick," says KDHX's Tina Farmer, "makes the most of the expansive set’s many entrances, repeatedly employing a slapstick chase element the actors gleefully embrace and the audience continuously responds to. Solid casting and a willingness to play big for laughs results in a light and fluffy farce in which everyone ends up happy, the characters and the audience." This is the sort of thing KTG does well, so it should be plenty of good, clean, fast-paced fun.

COCA Theatre Company presents the musical Mirette Friday through Sunday, January 23-25. "COCA Theatre Company (CTC) presents Mirette, with book by Elizabeth Diggs, music by Harvey Schmidt, lyrics by Tom Jones and based on the book Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully. Mirette is an imaginative, musical adaptation of the award-winning children's book, set in late 19th century Paris. A willful young girl is delighted when she discovers her mother's new boarder is none other than the Great Bellini, whose glorious tightrope-walking days were cut short when he lost his nerve. Demonstrating an innate talent for balancing, she convinces the reluctant Bellini to teach her his craft. Mirette is directed by Chris Limber, with musical direction by Phil Woodmore and circus staging by Josh Routh." COCA is at 524 Trinity in University City. For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

My take: Yes, that's the Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones who produced one of the longest-running musicals in history, The Fantasticks. Chris Limber is a veteran actor and director here in St. Louis as well as a cabaret performer, so I think you can expect a polished production of this rarely-seen musical.

Emily C. Johnson

The Chapel Venue presents Emily C. Johnson in New Girl in Town: A Cabaret at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 24. The pianist and music director is Maggie McCarthy and the show features guest appearances by singers Sarah Dowling, Kevin Urday, Kendra Moore, Lillian Johnson, Eileen Engel, Sara Rae Womack, and Rachel Kuenzi. The Chapel is at 6238 Alexander in Clayton. For more information: thenewgirlstl.weebly.com.

My take: Emily gave us a preview of her show at the Cabaret Project open mic this past Wednesday, with sparkling performances of "Taylor the Latte Boy" (by the talented team of Heiser and Goldrich) and "The Trolley Song" (from Meet Me in St. Louis). The Chapel is a nice, intimate space that works well for cabaret, and it charges nothing for artists to perform there, so every dime of every ticket sales goes straight to the performers. Your ticket price includes two drinks at the bar as well. Such a deal.

Photo: Carol Rosegg

The Fox Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella January 20 - February 1. "With its fresh new take on the beloved tale of a young woman who is transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, this hilarious and romantic Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA combines the story's classic elements - glass slippers, pumpkin, and a beautiful ball along with some surprising twists. More than just a pretty face with the right shoe size, this Cinderella is a contemporary figure living in a fairytale setting. She is a spirited young woman with savvy and soul who doesn't let her rags or her gowns trip her up in her quest for kindness, compassion and forgiveness. She longs to escape the drudgery of her work at home and instead work to make the world a better place. She not only fights for her own dreams, but forces the prince to open his eyes to the world around him and realize his dreams too." The Fox is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, fabulousfox.com.

My take: Based on Rodgers and Hammerstein's famous made-for-television musical from 1957, this retooled stage version has a new book by playwright Douglas Carter Beane (best known for his comedy As Bees in Honey Drown). "More than just a pretty face with the right shoe size" says the official press release, "this Cinderella is a contemporary figure living in a fairytale setting. She is a spirited young woman with savvy and soul who doesn't let her rags or her gowns trip her up in her quest for kindness, compassion and forgiveness. She longs to escape the drudgery of her work at home and instead work to make the world a better place. She not only fights for her own dreams, but forces the prince to open his eyes to the world around him and realize his dreams too." At Ladue News, Mark Bretz calls it "effervescent and charming" while the Post-Dispatch's Judy Newmark says it "looks like a storybook come to life."

Held Over:

Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?, based on the classic film, through February 1. “A progressive couple's proud liberal sensibilities are put to the test when their daughter arrives home bursting with excitement and an unexpected fiancé. Expectations and reality collide when questions of race, fear and cultural beliefs are staring them directly in the face. A new adaptation of the award-winning film explores family and acceptance and asks which has the greater hold on our hearts.” 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: Reviews have been very positive for this show. Writing for Broadwayworld.com, for example, Chris Gibson calls it "an engaging and thoroughly entertaining theatrical experience that I cannot recommend highly enough." "Under Seth Gordon's expert direction," writes Malcom Gay at the Riverfront Times, "the Rep's cast teases the nuances from Kreidler's adaptation, delivering a powerful, immersive performance that - if not exactly challenging to an audience already won over to its essential argument - masterfully navigates the shifting waters of race, class, familial acceptance and personal responsibility as they move to overrun the narrow cultural channels that have defined them." Other critics have been equally enthusiastic. I saw the show last weekend and I agree that a winner is coming to dinner.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of January 19, 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.

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Alton Little Theater presents the comedy Alone Together Thursday through Sunday, January 22-25, at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. "In the hilarious Broadway comedy, Alone Together, Mom and Dad have spent the last thirty years raising three active sons. How they looked forward to the peace, the quiet and the privacy of an empty nest. After considerable comic turmoil and revelation of deep feelings, the nest is finally emptied. Peace now? Quiet? Not for long. All three sons come charging back home after experiencing some hard knocks in the real world, and Mom and Dad have quite a time pushing them out again." For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

Winter Opera St. Louis presents Mascagni's L'Amico Fritz Friday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, January 23 and 25. "A woman, a man, and a bet between friends. What will it take for Suzel and Fritz to admit they love each other?" Performances take place at The Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School, 425 S. Lindbergh. The opera is sung in Italian with project English supertitles. For more information, visit winteroperastl.org.

Carol Schmidt

The Cabaret Project and 88.1 KDHX present the monthly Cabaret Open Mic Night on Wednesday, February 18, from 7 to 10 PM at the Tavern of Fine Arts. The special guest Master of Ceremonies this month is Cabaret Project Executive Director Tim Schall and the music director is Carol Schmidt. If you're planning to sing, be prepared to do one or two songs and bring music, preferably in your key. It's also recommend that you have your song memorized. At least one of the two songs should be medium or up-tempo. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt at Waterman in the Central West End. There's free parking in the lot right across the street. For more information, visit tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com or call 314-367-7549.

Hard Road Theatre Productions presents Drinking Habits Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, January 23-31. "Set in the present day outside the small town of Shady Glenn, USA, Drinking Habits revolves around a couple of nuns who, unknown to their Mother Superior, have been secretly making wine and selling it to the village locals in order to keep their convent open. Problems begin when the threat of a possible early frost could ruin their harvest. Meanwhile, Mother Superior is in a tizzy when she believes a spy from Rome is coming to shut her convent down. Throw in a couple of nosy reporters, a new member to the convent, a local “magical” priest, and a simple groundskeeper and you end up with several mistaken identities, some tender romances, and tons of laughs." Performances will be held at Highland High School Kennel, 12760 Troxler Avenue in Highland, IL. For more information: www.hardroad.org.

Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents the comedy Fox on the Fairway through January 25. "Filled with mistaken identities, slamming doors, and over-the-top romantic shenanigans, The Fox On the Fairway is a fast-paced and charmingly madcap adventure about love, life, and man's eternal love affair with golf." 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. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Circus Harmony presents Giubilante Saturdays at 2 and 7 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, January 24 - February 1. Performances take place at City Museum, 701 N. 15th Street. Show admission is free with museum admission. For more information: circusharmony.org.

(L-R): Anderson Matthews and Richard Prioleau
©Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?, based on the classic film, through February 1. "A progressive couple's proud liberal sensibilities are put to the test when their daughter arrives home bursting with excitement and an unexpected fiancé. Expectations and reality collide when questions of race, fear and cultural beliefs are staring them directly in the face. A new adaptation of the award-winning film explores family and acceptance and asks which has the greater hold on our hearts." 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. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

New Jewish Theater presents Imaginaing Madoff January 22 - February 8. "A fantasia conjured by the playwright featuring an imagined conversation between unrepentant Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff and Holocaust survivor, poet and investment client Solomon Galkin. In an all-night study session, these two Jewish men find themselves in a moral showdown as they banter about a myriad of subjects from baseball, to the Talmud, to human decency and the story of Abraham and Isaac. The play concerns itself with the terrible beauty and magnificent danger of absolute faith, either in God or men. As an audience, we share a sense, even to the end, that we can change what's already past. It is a moral investigation." 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.

Clayton Community Theatre presents James Goldman's The Lion in Winter Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, January 22 - February 8. "Sibling rivalry, adultery, and dungeons - Lion in Winter, by James Goldman, is a modern day classic. Comedic in tone, dramatic in action - the play tells the story of the Plantagenet family who are locked in a free for all of competing ambitions to inherit a kingdom. The queen, and wealthiest woman in the world, Eleanor of Aquitaine, has been kept in prison since raising an army against her husband, King Henry II. Let out only for holidays, the play centers around the inner conflicts of the royal family as they fight over both a kingdom, as well as King Henry's paramour during the Christmas of 1183. As Eleanor says, "every family has its ups and downs," and this royal family is no exception." Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre. For more information, call 314-721-9228 or visit placeseveryone.org.

COCA Theatre Company presents the musical Mirette Friday through Sunday, January 23-25. "COCA Theatre Company (CTC) presents Mirette, with book by Elizabeth Diggs, music by Harvey Schmidt, lyrics by Tom Jones and based on the book Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully. Mirette is an imaginative, musical adaptation of the award-winning children's book, set in late 19th century Paris. A willful young girl is delighted when she discovers her mother's new boarder is none other than the Great Bellini, whose glorious tightrope-walking days were cut short when he lost his nerve. Demonstrating an innate talent for balancing, she convinces the reluctant Bellini to teach her his craft. Mirette is directed by Chris Limber, with musical direction by Phil Woodmore and circus staging by Josh Routh." COCA is at 524 Trinity in University City. For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

 The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Murder in Mayberry. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Emily C. Johnson

The Chapel Venue presents Emily C. Johnson in New Girl in Town: A Cabaret at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 24. The pianist and music director is Maggie McCarthy and the show features guest appearances by singers Sarah Dowling, Kevin Urday, Kendra Moore, Lillian Johnson, Eileen Engel, Sara Rae Womack, and Rachel Kuenzi. The Chapel is at 6238 Alexander in Clayton. For more information: thenewgirlstl.weebly.com.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Phantom of the Grand Ole Opery through April 26. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com

The Fox Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella January 20 - February 1. "With its fresh new take on the beloved tale of a young woman who is transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, this hilarious and romantic Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA combines the story's classic elements - glass slippers, pumpkin, and a beautiful ball along with some surprising twists. More than just a pretty face with the right shoe size, this Cinderella is a contemporary figure living in a fairytale setting. She is a spirited young woman with savvy and soul who doesn't let her rags or her gowns trip her up in her quest for kindness, compassion and forgiveness. She longs to escape the drudgery of her work at home and instead work to make the world a better place. She not only fights for her own dreams, but forces the prince to open his eyes to the world around him and realize his dreams too." The Fox is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, fabulousfox.com. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The cast of Safe House
©Photo by Eric Woolsey

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Safe House January 21 - February 8. "In 1843 Kentucky, the Pedigrews hold a unique place in their community as free people of color. While one brother has dreams of opening his own business as a cobbler and creating a life for his family, the other risks everything in an effort to help slaves escape. Inspired by the lives of his ancestors, playwright Keith Josef Adkins tells a gripping and heart-wrenching story of love, freedom and survival." 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.

Peabody Opera House presents the Seasame Street Live: Let's Dance! Thursday through Sunday, January 22-25. For more information, visit peabodyoperahouse.com or call 314-622-5420.

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.

Passion on tap

The artistic directors of The Chamber Project

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When, just over a year ago, I published a post on this here blog about the innovative programming being done by The Chamber Project St. Louis, I never would have guessed that I might become part of that programming thirteen months later.

I guess it's a good thing it was a positive article!

Those of you who know me might be a bit surprised to learn that I'm appearing as a guest soloist in a classical chamber music concert. Yes, I played a number of instruments in my feckless youth, but none of them very well and none of them at all now. And while I'm a fixture (not of the plumbing variety) on the local cabaret scene, I do not have anything remotely like a classically trained voice.

I do, however, have plenty of experience as an actor, and it's in that capacity that I made my debut with The Chamber Project last night (September 11, 2014; the concert repeats on September 18) in Kenji Bunch's "Sonnet 128" for narrator, cello, and percussion. This haunting and charming little work (around seven minutes long) is part of a longer evening titled "Passion" which, according to the group's web site, explores "the passion makes the heart sing and that keeps us going through thick and thin."

The evening opens with the prelude to Bach's "Cello Suite No. 1," which segues straight in to the Bunch. It's a dramatically smart move, and the leap from the 17th century to the 21st ("Sonnet 128" premiered at Tanglewood in 2003) feels remarkably seamless to me.

A short break for a stage re-set and audience discussion is then followed by "And Legions Will Rise" for violin, clarinet, and marimba by St. Louis native Kevin Puts. The composer says the work "is about the power in all of us to transcend during times of tragedy and personal crisis. While I was writing it, I kept imagining one of those war scenes in blockbuster films, with masses of troops made ready before a great battle. I think we have forces like this inside of us, ready to do battle when we are at our lowest moments." The fact that it was written just a few months before the 9/11 attack is one of those "you can't make this stuff up" real-life coincidences.

The concert closes with Beethoven's "String Trio, op. 9 no. 1" In G major, a lively and engaging work from the point in the composer's life when he was just beginning to hit his musical maturity. His first symphony was still two years away when he wrote the three trios of his Op. 9, but you can hear the beginnings of the revolutionary changes he would bring to the forms of the 18th century structural and harmonic models in this music.

The essentials: The Chamber Project of St. Louis, with yours truly as special guest, repeats their "Passion" program at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 18, at the Schlafly Tap Room, 2100 Locust. The performance is part of their "On Tap" concert series at local imbibing establishments where you can consume the libation of your choice along with the music—much as audiences often did back in Beethoven's day. For more information on this and other Chamber Project projects, check out their web site.

Minterview: Emilie Nevins-Carter makes her cabaret debut

[Minterview = mini-interview]

The cabaret scene in St. Louis continues to expand, and this Thursday marks the cabaret debut of Emilie Nevins-Carter, a singer whose sister, Dionna Raedeke, has already made quite a name for herself in town.

Emilie's show, “When We're Together,” is presented on Thursday, July 3, by Mariposa Artists (headed up by Robert Breig, a notable cabaret artist in his own right) at The Chapel Venue. I took a few minutes catch up with Emilie during the final week of rehearsal.

Q: Putting together a solo cabaret show involves a huge commitment, in terms of both time and money. What made you decide to take the plunge?

A: I've been singing in some capacity almost my entire life. I believe that, for myself, singing isn't an optional activity. Over the last several years I've spent a lot of time thinking about where and how I want to continue to use my gift and passion both for my enjoyment and hopefully for the enjoyment of others. Finally, in the last year everything has come together in such an obvious way that I knew the time was now. I chose the setting of a solo cabaret show because I love the intimate way it allows an artist to weave music and story together. And also because of the freedom that an artist has to combine different musical genres. It's more than simply a handful of songs back to back. It allows us to use the elements of music to amplify the story and tell it better than we ever could otherwise.

Q: So what is the story behind “When We're Together”?

A: The arc of the show really tells the story of my life and how love and music have woven themselves into every area of my life and family. The particular lyric “when we're together…” comes from the song “Could I Have This Dance”. To me, the song represents an incredibly significant time in my life and...well…you'll have to wait to hear the rest Thursday night! ;)

Q: Fair enough. I'm always curious as to how performers decide on their artistic collaborators. Your music director is Beckie Menzie is well known in Chicago and your director Lina Koutrakos is famous as both a performer and teacher. What made you decide to work with them?

A: A few years ago, I attended a workshop that was led by these two incredibly talented ladies. My level of respect for them and their respective art is through the roof and their combined encouragement played a big role in helping me decide to do a show. Beckie has the rare gift of being able to go seamlessly from the stylistic extremes of classical piano to jazz/improv piano and everything in between. Lina is such an experienced performer and writer and has an incredible ability to take an artist's vision for their show and turn it into reality. Most importantly, there's the hard-to-put-a-finger-on-it “chemistry” that I have shared with both of them from the very beginning!

Q: What's the most important thing you'd like people to take away from your show?

A: I want people to leave the show feeling inspired to love. Life can tend to knock us down and keep us so busy that we only give love our left over energy or even forget to intentionally love at all. In sharing my imperfect but hopeful story of love through music I hope people will leave filled with a new passion to love their family, love music, love God, love life and love themselves.

For more information on Emilie's show, visit emilie.brownpapertickets.com. The show begins at 7:30 PM on Thursday, July 3, the The Chapel Venue, 6238 Alexander Drive in Clayton. Doors open at 6:45 PM and the admission price includes two complimentary drinks.

The Chapel is a unique performing arts venue that charges no fee to the artists, so every cent of your ticket price goes straight to the performers. The space is non-smoking and wheelchair accessible. Note that while the City of Clayton is discouraging Fair St. Louis attendees from parking on Alexander Drive, it's OK to park there for this show.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of September 20, 2013

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

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Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the Kander and Ebb musical Cabaret through October 6. “In this multi award-winning musical, a young, naïve American writer arrives in 1930s Berlin and is swept away by the decadent pleasures of the sexy, seedy world that is the Cabaret. At the center of it all is the beguiling Sally Bowles, who takes the stage every night. Inside the Kit Kat Klub life is beautiful, but outside the world is about to change.” Performances take place 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: After multiple revivals and substantial script and score revisions, does this dramatic portrait of a nation on the eve of destruction still have the power to shock and move an audience? Judging by the standing ovation that greeted Cabaret when we saw it, I'd say the answer is "yes, in spades." There were occasional missteps and the amplified voices were not always as clear as they might have been, but those are minor flaws in an otherwise fine production distinguished by smart direction and solid acting; see my capsule review for more details.

Mariposa Artists presents A Night With Day, a cabaret tribute to Doris Day with singer Beverly Brennan and pianist and music director Rick Jensen. The show features songs from Doris Day's big band days, her movies and musicals, and her recording career. As Day was a lifelong animal welfare activist, profits from the show will be donated to The Humane Society of Missouri. Performances take place Friday and Saturday, September 20 and 21, at 8 PM at The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive in Clayton, MO. For more information: brownpapertickets.com/event/422428.

My take: This is the second solo outing for Ms. Brennan, a St. Louis native (and daughter of sportscasting legend Jack Buck) who grew up on The Hill. Her first, St. Louie Woman, played to sold-out houses both here and in Chicago in 2010.  This time around she has teamed up with another legend: New York-based singer, songwriter, and music director Rick Jensen, recipient of six Manhattan Association of Cabaret and Clubs (MAC) Awards and frequent faculty member at the St. Louis Cabaret Conference. It should be a good show. See my interview with Ms. Brennan for more background.

Held Over:

HotCity Theatre presents Joe Orton's Entertaining Mr. Sloane through September 21. “Young Mr. Sloane thought he already had a SORDID life as a hustler until he became the erotic target of his lewd landlady and her bottled-up brother! Repressed desires, power plays and an unsolved murder all make for one twisted tale!” Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, visit www.hotcitytheatre.org or call 314-289-4063.

My take: Orton's dark comedy/sex farce/satire is now something of a classic (it was written in 1964), if that's not too much of a contradiction. It's been a while since we've had a professional production of it locally and this appears to be a good one. "The entire cast does splendid work in this vinegar-chiffon-pie of a play," writes Steve Callahan in his review for 88.1 KDHX. "Director Bill Whitaker keeps the comedy rolling at a brisk pace, and it's much fun."

Photo: Peter Wochniak

Stages St. Louis presents My Fair Lady September 6 through October 6. 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.

My take: I have always loved this show, a feeling that only increased after I had the pleasure of playing Alfred P. Doolittle in Stray Dog Theatre's production a few years ago. Unlike some musical adaptations of classic plays, My Fair Lady retains the spirit and a fair amount of dialog from its original (Shaw's Pygmalion). The combination of Lerner and Loewe's score and Shaw's bit is unbeatable. "You should see this absolutely fabulous My Fair Lady if you have the chance," writes Andrea Braun in her review for 88.1 KDHX. "I don’t see how it could have been done any better, and overall, it is just a “loverly” production of an American musical theatre treasure.

Photo: John Lamb

Insight Theatre Company presents Thornton Wilder's Our Town through September 29. Performances take place in the Heagney Theatre, 530 East Lockwood on the campus of Nerinx Hall High School in Webster Groves. For more information, call 314-556-1293 or visit insighttheatrecompany.com.

My take: The type of small town life depicted in Wilder's play (the action place between 1901 and 1913) was already passing from the scene when it premiered in 1938. By rights it should be a museum piece by now. But the writing touches so effectively on the universal human experiences of birth, life, and death that it never seems dated. "This is a very, very important play in the history of American theatre," writes Steve Callahan in his review for 88.1 KDHX, "and its stylistic influence has been enormous. I commend Insight for bringing it to us again, and I encourage all of you to see it."

The Lives of our Day

Beverly Brennan

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Operating under the Mariposa Artists banner, local cabaret singer and actor Robert Breig has brought a number of top-flight acts to The Chapel Venue recently, including the lyrical and highly personal Ebb and Flow with St. Louis singer Dionna Raedeke and guitarist Mike Krysl and a visit from Palm Springs cabaret star Jerome Elliot. His latest project is Beverly Brennan's Doris Day tribute show A Night With Day, which plays The Chapel Venue Friday and Saturday, September 20 and 21 at 8 PM.

This is the second solo outing for Ms. Brennan, a St. Louis native (and daughter of sportscasting legend Jack Buck) who grew up on The Hill. Her first, St. Louie Woman, played to sold-out houses both here and in Chicago in 2010.  This time around she has teamed up with another legend: New York-based singer, songwriter, and music director Rick Jensen, recipient of six Manhattan Association of Cabaret and Clubs (MAC) Awards and frequent faculty member at the St. Louis Cabaret Conference.

I managed to get Ms. Brennan to take a few minutes from her final week of rehearsals to field a few questions about the show.

Q: What made you decide to do a Doris Day tribute show?  Were there things about her life, career, or some choices that really spoke to you?  If so, what were they?

A: Doris Day was always in the background when I was a little girl in the 1950s. I love that she is so multitalented and that she has always had the power to reinvent herself. She is a survivor.

Q: Most people probably remember Day's "squeaky clean" image from the romantic comedies she did with actors like Rock Hudson, Gig Young, and Jack Lemmon in the 1960s, but she had a somewhat rocky off-screen life.  Does the show reflect that?

A: I share the dark side and tell the truth with my tribute: four marriages, affairs and an unfulfilled personal life, including her only son's death from cancer.  She was in many ways, the opposite of what people think! Happy endings in movies, not life, a Midwestern gal in Hollywood, never did Broadway, wanted to be a dancer, not singer, great judge of leading men but not lovers or husbands.

Rick Jensen

Q: What would you like audiences to take away from "A Night With Day"?

A: I want my audience to take away more love for an American icon who is underrated and a complicated woman. Also that Rick Jensen is a frigging genius!

Performances of A Night With Day take place Friday and Saturday, September 20 and 21, at 8 PM at The Chapel Venue, 6238 Alexander Drive at Wydown and Skinker.  The Chapel is a not-for-profit music venue, performance space and art gallery.  Two complimentary drinks (beer, wine, soda) are included with the show. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door or on line at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/422428.

Go with the flow

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When most folks think of cabaret, I expect the image that comes to mind is that of a single performer backed up by a piano, possibly augmented with bass or percussion.  That's certainly the most common arrangement but, as singer (and visual artist) Dionna Raedeke and guitarist Mike Krysl will be demonstrating this Friday, it's by no means the only one.

A relatively new addition to the St. Louis cabaret scene, Ms. Raedeke has garnered raves for her singing and musical taste.  "Dionna is one of my new favorite singers," says actor, singer and teacher Jason Graae. "Her voice has such a haunting beauty and it comes directly from her soul."  New York-based singer, songwriter and music director Rick Jensen—who accompanied Ms. Raedeke for her 2011 show Sight - Sound—agrees, describing her as a "vocally compelling and consistently original in her performance."

For her new show, titled Ebb and Flow, Ms. Raedeke has put together an evening in which the sound will be acoustic, the mood mellow, and the song choices rather different from the Great American Songbook standards that are so often associated with cabaret.  Expect 70s rock, contemporary singer/songwriters, and even some new tunes.  Ms. Raedeke, with a nod to her visual artist side (and with tongue somewhat in cheek), describes the evening as a "carefully curated" one that features "everything from Pink Floyd to PINK."

Expect arrangements that will make you re-think familiar songs as well.  An inventive musician who lists influences as diverse as Robin Trower, Django Reinhardt and Leonard Bernstein, Mike Krysl has often impressed me with both the ingenuity and virtuosity of his inventive and original takes on rock and pop standards.  I remember being particularly blown away by what he and singer Shauna Sconce did with some of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon at their recently concluded monthly sessions at The Wine Press.

"Mike Krysl's sound is taut, deep and brilliantly soulful," says local cabaret artist Katie McGrath. "Dionna's voice is plaintive, joyous and straight-arrow true. My favorite musician with my favorite singer. And the angels smile."  As someone who has been both a critic and performer on the local cabaret scene for many years and who has had the pleasure of seeing both Ms. Raedeke and Mr. Krysl in action, I heartily concur.

The one and only performance of Ebb and Flow is this Friday, August 9th, at 8 PM at The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive at the intersection of Skinker and Wydown.  A not-for-profit music venue, performance space and art gallery, The Chapel has played host to a number of cabaret shows over the last few years.  It's an attractive, unconventional space in a quiet residential neighborhood that provides its services free to local musicians as part of its mission to support the arts in St. Louis.  I think that's pretty admirable and worth supporting.

Tickets, which are available at the door and at ebbandflow.brownpapertickets.com (along with some free sample music tracks), are $20 and include two free drinks.  Parking is free as well.  Come on down Friday and smile with the angels.