Showing posts with label washington University. Show all posts
Showing posts with label washington University. Show all posts

Thursday, March 01, 2018

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of March 2, 2018

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

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New This Week:

August: Osage County
Photo by Jerry Naunheim, Jr.
The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents Tracy Letts's drama August: Osage County Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm through March 4. "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." 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.

My take: This might just be the ultimate dysfunctional family comedy/drama, both because of its operatic length (three hours, with intermission) and because Letts tosses in just about every trope imaginable. I'm not a big fan of the script, but Steve Callahan, writing for KDHX, has a lot of praise for the production. "The Wash U student cast," he writes, "is led by Peggy Billo, a brilliant Equity 'ringer' who gives a truly bravura performance as Violet. Helen Fox is most impressive as Barbara, her mother's chief antagonist and others in the cast do excellent work. Director Andrea Urice has done masterful work with this enormously demanding script."


Chicago
The Fabulous Fox presents Kander and Ebb's Chicago Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2 and 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 1 and 6 pm, March 2 - 4. "CHICAGO has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one show-stopping song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you've ever seen. It's no surprise that CHICAGO has wowed audiences from Mexico City to Moscow, from Sao Paulo to South Africa" The Fox is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

My take: "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen; you are about to see a story of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, and treachery - all those things we all hold near and dear to our hearts. Thank you." Those are the first lines spoken in Chicago, and they're a microcosm of both the story line and the attitude of the show. If you didn't know it was over forty years old, you might be justified in thinking Chicago had been written yesterday. The story of murderess Roxie Hart—whose bogus change of heart makes her on overnight sensation with the celebrity-obsessed press and public—is as current as the latest bogus Facebook meme. And it provides an opportunity for satirical pot-shots at judges, lawyers, celebrity hounds and, of course, the celebrities themselves. When I first saw this show, I thought it was deeply cynical. Now it just feels realistic.


That Uppity Theatre Company presents Playhouse Emissions: Climate Change Theatre on Sunday, March 4, at 11 am. 'There is overwhelming scientific consensus that climate change is real, human-caused and will have catastrophic effects. Yet, it is still a struggle to educate and motivate the public to take action. This free special Arts Festival Platform will reprise several of the vignettes and performances seen at the Ethical Society last fall, produced by That Uppity Theatre Company Producing Artistic Director Joan Lipkin (Ethical Society Ethical Humanist of the Year Awardee) and Pamela Reckamp. As shared by some of the leading actors in St. Louis including John Flack, Don McClendon, Elizabeth McCormick, Pamela Reckamp and Donna Weinsting, the plays were selected from over 25 cultures, including perspectives from low-lying nations threatened by sea-level change and countries facing severe heatwaves, floods or droughts. The Platform will also include performances from Ashley Tate and the Ashleyliane Dance Company." The event takes place at the Ethical Society, 9001 Clayton Road.

My take: Speaking of realism, here's theatre dedicated to raising awareness about a very real threat to human civilization (not that we don't already have plenty). That Uppity Theatre Company remains our preeminent local theatre company with a conscience.


Held Over:

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.

My take: This popular ensemble show has been around for a while now, having premiered in 2001 in Orlando, Florida, in a 76-seat theatre that once housed a perfume shop. It's last visit at the Westport Playhouse was ten years ago, and it seems to have lost none of it's comic shine. "Who will enjoy this," asks Ann Lemmons Pollack in a review of the show last year, "beyond women of what they call un age certain? People of both genders around them unless they have no sense of humor. That includes family, friends and co-workers. One of life's cruel jokes is that the menopause hits many households about the same time adolescence does. Here's something to tide us over." Since this is effectively a remounting of that same production, I think I'm on safe ground putting it on the hit list, as I did last January.

Sunday, March 27, 2016

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of March 28, 2016

[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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The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Clueless through April 16. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com

The Presenters Dolan presents An Evening with the St. Louis Cabaret Conference Pro Track on Sunday, April 3, at 7 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Join Conference Producer Tim Schall as he performs with six singers from St. Louis and around the nation: Claudia Hommel, Amy Friedl Stoner, David Meulemans, Tracey O'Farrell, Ben Watts and Brooke Michael Smith. The group goes on to NY later this year!" The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Photo: Tom Gannam
Stray Dog Theatre presents the rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM March 31 - April 16. “The 'internationally ignored song stylist' Hedwig Schmidt, an East German diva, is also the victim of a botched sex-change operation. As she tours the U.S. with her loyal band, Hedwig candidly shares her life story. Raucous, soulful and wickedly funny with a brilliant rock score, this show has inspired legions of fans." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

Tesseract Theatre Company presents Helvetica, A Play About Stories Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m., April 1-10. "A children's author, with the help of her beloved stuffed bear, must face the trials of life and death through fantasy and adventure." Performances take place at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar. For more information: tesseracttheatre.org.

The Presenters Dolan presents Lisa Rothauser and Tor Hyams in Life. Who Knew? on Thursday, March 31, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "This show sold out NY's 54 Below, 42 West and Joe's Pub. Lisa is a hometown girl who was in the cast of The Producers on Broadway, and sings like it. Husband Tor Hyams is a Grammy-nominated songwriter. It's a helluva show." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

Lutheran High School North presents the musical The Little Mermaid Thursday through Saturday at 7:00 p.m., March 31 - April 2. Lutheran High School North is at 5401 Lucas and Hunt road in north St. Louis County. For more information: lhsnstl.org.

Love and Information
Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.
The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents Love and Information Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, April 1-10. "57 vibrant scenes. Over 100 colorful characters. In this kaleidoscopic collection of micro-stories, Caryl Churchill explores the roller coaster of existence in our dizzying world. Within the play's vivid anthology, the characters engage in a varied menu of touching and humorous life vignettes, affirming that while we may require vast amounts of knowledge in our digitally-defined era, our hunger for human connection remains essential. The play, by one of Britain's most esteemed playwrights, premiered in 2012 at London's Royal Court Theatre." Performances take place in the Hotchner Studio Theatre in the Mallinckrodt Student Center on the Washington University campus. For more information, visit pad.artsci.wustl.edu or call 314-935-6543.

The St. Louis Art Museum presents a live HD broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera's production Puccini's Madama Butterfly on Saturday, April 2, at 11:55 a.m. "Anthony Minghella's breathtaking production has thrilled audiences ever since its premiere in 2006. Kristine Opolais reprises her acclaimed portrayal of the title role, opposite Roberto Alagna as Pinkerton, the naval officer who breaks Butterfly's heart. Ana María Martínez, Latonia Moore, Roberto De Biasio, and Gwyn Hughes Jones star in a second set of performances. Karel Mark Chichon conducts." The live digital HD video broadcast from New York takes place in The Farrell Auditorium at the Art Museum in Forest Park. For more information: slam.org.

The Fox Theatre presents the Tyler Perry starring in his comedy Madea on the Run Friday through Sunday, April 1-3. The Fox is on North Grand in Grand Center. "Madea is at it again in Tyler Perry's most outrageously funny stage play ever. In trouble with the local authorities, Mabel Simmons, notoriously known as Madea, is on the run from the law. With no place to turn, she volunteers to move in with her friend Bam who is recovering from hip replacement surgery. Bam is so grateful that her faithful friend Mabel is putting her own life on hold in order to nurse Bam back to health. Unknown to Bam however, Madea is only using the concerned friend gag as a way to hide out from the police. But as they say...all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. Madea's presence at Bam's house is just what the doctor ordered." For more information: fabulousfox.com.

The Westport Playhouse presents Men Are From Mars-Women Are From Venus Live! opening on Friday, April 1, and running through April 17. "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." Performances take place at the Westport Playhouse in Westport Plaza. For more information: marsvenuslive.com.

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play Friday tat 7:30 pm, Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. April 1-3. “After the collapse of civilization, a group of survivors share a campfire and begin to piece together the plot of “The Simpsons” episode “Cape Fear” entirely from memory. Seven years later, this and other snippets of pop culture have become the live entertainment of a post-apocalyptic society, sincerely trying to hold onto its past. Seventy-five years later, these are the myths and legends from which new forms of performance are created. A paean to live theatre, and the resilience of Bart Simpson through the ages, Mr. Burns is an animated exploration of how the pop culture of one era might evolve into the mythology of another” Performances take place in the Stage III Auditorium in Webster Hall on the Webster University campus. For more information, events.webster.edu or call 314-968-7128.

Old Wicked Songs
Photo: Eric Woolsdy
New Jewish Theater presents the Old Wicked Songs through April 3 "Hoping to reconnect with his music and shatter the artistic block that has plagued his career, a young American piano prodigy travels to Vienna in the spring of 1986. He is assigned to a vocal teacher who gives him the "Dicheterliebe" song cycle by Robert Schumann. Marans incorporates the poetry of Heinrich Heine and the music of Robert Schumann into the series of events. Through the sessions between the two men, Marans creates a link between two generations who find they much more in common than they think. This is the inspirational journey of two very different men who, with music as their one common bond, must find a way to break through their pasts." 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.

Lion's Paw Theatre Company presents Plays on the Menu, a reading of the plays Old Boy Friend by Neil LaBute, Ski Lift by Chris Holbrook, and Motherhood by August Strindberg, on Tuesday, March 29, at noon at The Hearth Room at The Hawken House, 1155 South Rock Hill Road. The readings include lunch. For more information: lionspawtheatre.org.

Lion's Paw Theatre Company presents Plays on the Menu, a reading of the plays Old Boy Friend by Neil LaBute, Ski Lift by Chris Holbrook, and Motherhood by August Strindberg, on Wednesday, March 30, at noon at St. Louis Artists' Guild, 12 North Jackson in Clayton. The readings include lunch. For more information: lionspawtheatre.org.

Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Swing
Photo: John Gitchoff
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Satchel Paige and the Kansas City Swing through April 10. "The crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd-it's what every baseball player dreams of. In 1947, Jackie Robinson had broken baseball's color barrier, while Satchel Paige and his Negro League All-Stars were barnstorming against their white counterparts in the Majors. It was baseball by day and jazz by night as the impassioned and devoted players tried to find their place in a country on the verge of change." 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.

Amy Friedl Stoner
The Presenters Dolan presents Amy Friedl Stoner in Tapestry: The Music of Carole King on Friday, April 1, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Amy's got a great voice, and she and her band Mirage do totally right by Carole King." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

The Monroe Actors Stage Company presents Moliere's comedy Tartuffe, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., February 5-14, in the Historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Waterloo, Illinois. For more information, visit www.masctheatre.org or call 618-939-7469.

The Presenters Dolan presents Joe Mancuso in That's (My) Life on Saturday, April 2, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Joe Mancuso makes his cabaret debut at The Gaslight. He tells his personal story - and how tragic events changed his life, putting him on a musical journey to becoming an award-winning vocalist, recording artist and St. Louis favorite." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

The Presenters Dolan presents Katie McGrath and Nicole Hudson in Where the Heart Is on Sunday, April 3, at 3 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Katie and Nicole join forces to explore one of their favorite and our most urgent topics: St. Louis, the city we love and long to change. Through a combination of songs from Broadway, main street and mean streets." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

Would you like to be on the radio? KDHX, 88.1 FM needs theatre reviewers. If you're 18 years or older, knowledgeable in this area, have practical theatre experience (acting, directing, writing, technical design, etc.), have good oral and written communications skills and would like to become one of our volunteer reviewers, send an email describing your experience and interests to chuck at kdhx.org. Please include a sample review of something you've seen recently.

Friday, March 04, 2016

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of March 4, 2016

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

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New This Week:

Jeffrey M. Wright
The Presenters Dolan present Jeffrey M. Wright in The 40's: Theirs...And Mine on Saturday, March 5, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "A very popular and immensely likable leading man, Jeff Wright comes back with his sold-out splash. Songs made famous by Comden and Green, Cole Porter, Garth Brooks, Jimmy Webb, U2 and Rodgers and Hammerstein." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take: Jeff, as I have written in the past, has classic “leading man” charisma, an equally classic crooner’s voice and substantial musical theatre credentials. Granted, I have worked with Jeff on stage in the past and know him fairly well so I'm not exactly disinterested. But I know real talent when I see it, and he's got it.

Elephant's Graveyard
Photo: Joe Angeles
The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents Elephant's Graveyard Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, February 26 - March 6. "Something went very wrong when Sparks Traveling Circus arrived in the small Appalachian town of Erwin, Tennessee in 1916. Join us for this unbelievable, yet true, story about the desire for spectacle and Old Testament-style retributive justice in America." Performances take place in the Edison theatre in the Mallinckrodt Student Center on the Washington University campus. For more information, visit pad.artsci.wustl.edu or call 314-935-6543.

My take:The Elephant’s Graveyard by George Brant," writes Steve Callahan at KDHX, "is part poetic dream, part nightmare. And though it’s set in a small Tennessee town in 1916 its thrill and its horror are frighteningly resonant with rising populist urges we see in headlines every day. It’s a play you will never forget...This Wash U production is an example of the very best that Educational Theatre can offer—and it can offer very fine things indeed. The student cast are, without exception, excellent. The designers of set, lights, costumes and sound quite perfectly serve the needs of this play. And I’ve never heard more wonderfully managed live music." University-based theatre companies have the kinds of resources that can allow them to take on risky and unusual material that other companies can't, and Washington University has been at the forefront of that kind of theatre lately.

Robert Breig
The Presenters Dolan present Robert Breig in Making Every Moment Count-The Music of Peter Allen on Sunday, March 6, at 3 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Robert Breig celebrates the life and times of Peter Allen, a giant of live performance in the 70s and 80s. Judy Garland discovered him in 1964, at age 20, performing in a trio at the Hong Kong Hilton. (Allen was Australian.) He left immediately to go on tour with Garland, and soon after married her daughter, Liza Minelli. Thus anointed, he started performing in small cabarets in New York, including Reno Sweeney, the Continetental Baths and the Bitter End. His grew so popular that he regularly sold out the 6,000-seat Radio City Music Hall. His signature songs were "I Go to Rio" and "Quiet Please, There's a Lady Onstage." If you don't know his music or performance genius, check out the video of Peter Allen below." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take: Robert is a very open and engaging personality on stage with a smooth, seamless voice that is a good match for Mr. Allen's music. The fact that he created this show in collaboration with cabaret powerhouses Lina Koutrakos and Rick Jensen (both fiercely talented performers in their own right) is icing on the cake.

L-R: Maria Kanyova and Neil Nelson
Winter Opera St. Louis presents Verdi's Il Trovatore Friday at 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM, March 4 and 6. 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.

My take: We saw the final dress rehearsal of this production on Wednesday, and while there were a few minor technical glitches of the sort one would expect in a final dress, the production looked very solid on the whole. The principal singers—tenor Jorge Pita Carreras as Manrico, soprano Maria Kanyova as Leonora, mezzo Claudia Chapa as Azucena, and baritone Neil Nelson as Count di Luna—all have impressive voices. Ms. Kanyova, Ms. Chapa, and (especially) Mr. Nelson are also fine actors, highly invested in their characters (not always a given in opera, even in these more theatrically aware days). The orchestra sounds great and the Viragh Center is one of the best venues for musical theatre in town.

Held Over:

Beautiful—The Carole King Musical
Photo: Joan Marcus
The Fox Theatre presents Beautiful—The Carole King Musical opening on Tuesday, February 23, and running through March 6. "BEAUTIFUL - The Carole King Musical tells the inspiring true story of King's remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation." The Fox is on North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

My take: Abby Mueller shines in the title role of this bright, fast-paced jukebox musical loosely based on the early years of Carole King's songwriting career, culminating with her emergence as a singer in her own right with her best selling Tapestry LP in 1971. The performers playing pop idols like The Drifters, The Shirelles, Little Eva, and The Righteous Brothers, though, really steal the show. There's just enough plot to keep things going without getting in the way of a nostalgic score that highlights hits by King and her first songwriting partner (and first husband) Gerry Goffin as well as equally well-known tunes by their fellow songwriters at Aldon Music, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Go and enjoy.

Disgraced
Photo: Peter Wochniak
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar through March 6. "Successful corporate lawyer Amir Kapoor comes from a Pakistani family, but he long ago distanced himself from his roots to embrace life as a slick New Yorker. On course to become a partner at his law firm, Amir's carefully constructed world begins to unravel when unexpected events cause him to question his own beliefs. Raw, turbulent and unsettling, this smart drama reveals hidden attitudes toward modern culture and faith. Winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama." 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: The playwright who gave us the brilliant Invisible Hand at the Rep Studio back in 2012 it again with a powerful portrayal of the problems immigrants face, especially when they're part of a demonized and poorly understood minority. How much can you assimilate before you lose your own identity? And is it ever enough for people who will always see you as the "other" no mater what you do or say? We learn from history that we do not learn from history, which makes this a very relevant play these days.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

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

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

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

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The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents And Away You Go through March 27. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

And in This Corner...Cassius Clay
Metro Theatre Company and the Missouri History Museum present And in This Corner...Cassius Clay by Idris Goodwin through February 28. "This is the story of young Muhammad Ali as he struggles with racism and segregation in Jim Crow Louisville, Kentucky, how a chance encounter with police officer Joe Morgan (later to become his first coach) sets him on the path toward becoming a legendary boxer and how finally he learns that it is not enough to achieve personal success, one must also work for the good of others." Performances take place in the Lee Auditorium at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. For more information: mohistory.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Beautiful—The Carole King Musical
Photo: Joan Marcus
The Fox Theatre presents Beautiful—The Carole King Musical opening on Tuesday, February 23, and running through March 6. "BEAUTIFUL - The Carole King Musical tells the inspiring true story of King's remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation." The Fox is on North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Clueless through April 16. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com

St. Louis University Theatre presents The Dead, "a charming, intimate musical based on the James Joyce short story," through February 28. Performances take place in Xavier Hall, 3373 West Pine Mall. For more information, call 314-977-3327 or visit slu.edu/utheatre.

Disgraced
Photo: Peter Wochniak
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar through March 6. "Successful corporate lawyer Amir Kapoor comes from a Pakistani family, but he long ago distanced himself from his roots to embrace life as a slick New Yorker. On course to become a partner at his law firm, Amir's carefully constructed world begins to unravel when unexpected events cause him to question his own beliefs. Raw, turbulent and unsettling, this smart drama reveals hidden attitudes toward modern culture and faith. Winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama." 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!

YoungLiars present The Dispute: A Spectacle for Lovers and Fighters running through February 26. "It's 1744 (sort of) and an exasperated playwright with a wicked case of writer's block accidentally launches the world's first reality entertainment. Four self-absorbed teenagers, raised in total isolation, are turned loose on each other to figure out who committed the first infidelity - men or women. Baroque Farce, Euro-Dance, and The Dandy Warhols collide in this new adaptation of Marivaux's classic comedy where Courtship Etiquette turns into Mortal Combat and the only true love is the one in the mirror. The creative team that brought you Whammy! The Seven Secrets to a Sane Self and other HotCity favorites make their debut as YoungLiars. Performances take place in the fourth floor ballroom at the Centene Center for Arts and Education, 3547 Olive Street in Grand Center. For more information: youngliarsdispute.brownpapertickets.com. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents Elephant's Graveyard Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, February 26 - March 6. "Something went very wrong when Sparks Traveling Circus arrived in the small Appalachian town of Erwin, Tennessee in 1916. Join us for this unbelievable, yet true, story about the desire for spectacle and Old Testament-style retributive justice in America." Performances take place in the Edison heatre in the Mallinckrodt Student Center on the Washington University campus. For more information, visit pad.artsci.wustl.edu or call 314-935-6543.

KTK Productions presents Farce of Nature through February 28. "From the successful writing team of Jones Hope Wooten, comes the Texas premiere of the newest, Southern-fried comedy! Meet the Wilburn family of Mayhew, Arkansas, and spend an outrageously funny day at The Reel 'Em Inn--finest little fishing lodge in the Ozarks. Can the lodge be saved from gangsters, love-starved females, jealous husbands, ruthless corporate executives, bad Swedish accents, a cranky, senior citizen maid packing heat, a jittery man masquerading as a woman, and vicious critters right outside the door? By the delightfully chaotic climax of this one remarkable day, love has blossomed, truths have been revealed and the lives of all - family, guests and gangsters alike - change in incredible and surprising ways in this laugh-'til-your-sides ache comedy!" Performances take place at Southampton Presbyterian Church, 4716 Macklind. For more information: kurtainkall.org or call 314-351-8984.

Gidion's Knot
Photo: John Lamb
St. Louis Actors' Studio presents Gidion's Knot through February 28 at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. "Over the course of a parent/teacher conference, a grieving mother and an emotionally overwhelmed primary school teacher have a fraught conversation about the tragic suicide of the mother's son, Gidion. Gidion may have been bullied severely-or he may have been an abuser. As his story is slowly uncovered, the women try to reconstruct a satisfying explanation for Gidion's act and come to terms with excruciating feelings of culpability." For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Improv Shop presents Heartbreak running through March 19. "Heartbreak is an improvised serial show where we explore, in depth, the stages of doomed relationships. Watch characters go from strangers to friends, friends to lovers, and from lovers to heartbreakers. Heartbreak. It doesn't happen all at once." The Improv Shop is at 510 North Euclid in the Central West End. For more information on this and other Improv Shop shows: theimprovshop.com.

The Florissant Fine Arts Council presents the one-woman play The Lady With All the Answers on Sunday, February 28, at 2 p.m. at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker Road at Waterford Drive in Florissant, MO. "For decades, renowned advice columnist Ann Landers answered countless letters from lovelorn teens, confused couples and a multitude of others in need of advice. No topic was off-limits. Landers regaled her readers with direct, insightful and often humorously honest responses. Over the course of a long night in 1975 Chicago, "the lady with all the answers" for others grapples with a dilemma of her own. While revisiting favorite columns on such topics as nude housekeeping and the correct way to hang toilet paper, Ann composes the most important letter of her life. As she shares her struggles to complete the column with us, we learn as much about ourselves as we do about the wise, funny, no-nonsense woman whose daily dialogue with America helped shape the social and sexual landscapes of the last half-century." For more information: florissantfinearts.com.

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents Molière's comedy The Miser Wednesdays through Sundays through February 28. "Molière's classic comedy introduces us to Harpagon, a man so consumed by greed that he is set on sacrificing the happiness of his children in marriages of convenience. But Harpagon's son and daughter, Valère and Mariane, will plot against their father to marry those they love instead. Molière treats the age-old conflict between love and money with unparalleled and sparkling wit." Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hilton center on the Webster University campus. For more information, events.webster.edu or call 314-968-7128. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Gitana Productions presents New World, an original one-act play by Lee Patton Chiles about three refugee women from Afghanistan, Bosnia and the Republic of the Congo. The play is based on interviews and documented accounts of three women who came to St. Louis hoping to create a new world by healing old world wounds. Performances are Thursday, February 25, at noon at St. Louis Community College at Meramec in the Meramec Theater, 11333 Big Bend; and Sunday, February 28, at 4:30 p.m. at Parkway United Church of Christ, 2841 North Ballas Road, in Town and Country. A Q and A session with the participation by the Center for Survivors of Torture and War will follow each performance. For more information: gitana-inc.org.

The Monocle presents an open mic night Wednesdays from 9:00pm to midnight. "Musical Theater actor? Cabaret singer? Balladeer? Belter? Coloratura soprano? Crooner? Student? Teacher? Performer? Fan? Come on down and sing. All are welcome. Ron Bryant is your accompanist. Bring your sheet music"." The monocle is at 4510 Manchester in The Grove neighborhood. For more information: themonoclestl.com.

Lion's Paw Theatre Company presents Plays on the Menu, a reading of the plays Johnny and Rosie by Quincy Long, Prague Summer by Rich Orloff, and The Way to Miami by Donald Steele, on Tuesday, February 23, at noon at The Hearth Room at The Hawken House, 1155 South Rock Hill Road; and on Wednesday, February 24, at noon at St. Louis Artists' Guild, 12 North Jackson in Clayton. The readings include lunch. For more information: lionspawtheatre.org.

The Emerald Room Cabaret presents The Rocky Horror and a Little Bit More Cabaret on Friday and Saturday, February 26 and 27, at 8 p.m. "Enjoy the hits of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" live! Now a monthly tradition at The Emerald Room at The Monocle! " The performances take place in The Emerald Room at The Monocle Bar, 4510 Manchester in The Grove neighborhood. For more information: www.buzzonstage.com/st-louis.

Jefferson College presents the Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew Thursday through Sunday, February 25-28. The performance takes place at the Jefferson College Fine Arts Theatre on the campus in Hillsboro, MO. For more information, visit jeffco.edu or call 636-481-3369 or 636-789-3000 ext. 3369.

The Presenters Dolan present Ken Haller in The TV Show on Thursday, February 25, at 8 p.m. "Ken performs songs written for TV from "Sesame Street" to "Smash," from "Cinderella" to "Animaniacs," from "Moonlighting" to "The Monkees." And of course, there will be songs with lyrics you love ("Mary Tyler Moore"), lyrics you never knew existed ("Bewitched"), and lyrics you can't get out of your head (the Barry Manilow Commercial Jingle Extravaganza!). KDHX's Chuck Lavazzi calls it "a tremendously entertaining and often extremely funny romp through TV land." The performance takes place in The Emerald Room at The Monocle Bar, 4510 Manchester in The Grove neighborhood. For more information: presentersdolan.com.

The Stage@KDHX presents Tim Schall: 1961 on Friday, February 26, at 8 PM. "In 1961 the Beatles debuted at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, Bob Dylan entered the Greenwich Village folk scene, 19 year old Carole King wrote her first #1 hit, Moon River won the Oscar for Best Song and in February of that year Tim Schall was born! Join Tim as he celebrates his birthday in a show dedicated to the music of his natal year." Carol Schmidt is pianist and music director for the show, with Michele Isam on percussion, vocals, and sax and Ben Wheeler on bass. The Stage@KDHX is in the KDHX building at 3524 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: ticketfly.com.

Lindenwood University presents the musical Violet through February 27. "As a girl, Violet was struck by a wayward axe blade when her father was chopping wood, leaving her with a visible scar across her face. With enough money finally saved she's traveling across the 1964 Deep South towards a miracle - the healing touch of a TV evangelist that will make her beautiful. Though she may not succeed in having the scar on her face healed, Violet is able to repair those that are lying deeper than her skin, and on the way she meets a young African-American Soldier whose love for her reaches far past her physical 'imperfections.'" Performances take at the black box theatre at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts on the Lindenwood campus in St. Charles, MO. For more information, call 636-949-4433 or visit lindenwood.edu/center.

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.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of October 16, 2015

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

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New This Week:

The cast of Company
Photo: Joe Angeles
The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents the Stephen Sondheim musical Company Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through October 18. "Phone rings, door chimes, in comes Company! First produced in 1970, Company was nominated for a record-setting fourteen Tony Awards and won six, including Best Musical. Company takes an unvarnished look at marriage through the eyes of Bobby who, unmarried on his thirty-fifth birthday, finds himself lost in the company of his married friends. With his trademark wit and sophistication, Stephen Sondheim examines the flawed nature of human relationships as Bobby journeys towards the realization that, in spite of all of his friends' failings, there is no point in 'Being Alive' unless he has someone with whom to share it." Performances take place in the Edison Theatre in the Mallinckrodt Student Center on the Washington University campus. For more information, pad.artsci.wustl.edu or call 314-935-6543.

My take: You can't go wrong with Sondheim and particularly with this show, with its trenchant and yet touching take on the difficult business of cobbling together romantic relationships. The Washington U. students are apparently doing well by this material, to judge by what our critic Sarah Richardson had to say over at KDHX. "Annamaria Pileggi does a fine job directing this enjoyable production", she writes. "The singing is strong and moving...The cast performs admirably...this is a great opportunity to see a delightful and moving production."

Dogfight
Photo: John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre presents the musical Dogfight Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through October 24. "A contemporary musical with timeless themes of love and compassion woven into 1960's America as our boys stand at the brink of service in Vietnam." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

My take: Based on the 1991 movie of the same name, Dogfight juxtaposes the personal cruelty of a contest in which three Marines each try to find the ugliest girl to take to a dance in hopes of winning the prize for having the biggest "dog" of a date with the impersonal cruelty of the Vietnam war. Writing for the Ladue News, Mark Bretz notes that the "youthful cast expertly conveys all the emotions of the time. Seeing that bravado so genuinely portrayed on stage makes the memories of history all that more painful and powerful". I'll admit to being a bit biased in Stray Dog's favor, having done a number of shows with them over the years, but my experience has been that you can usually count on them for professional work and innovative programming.

Heathers
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre presents the regional premiere of the musical Heathers, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, through October 24. "New Line opens its 25th season with the regional premiere of the pitch-black musical comedy HEATHERS, written by the award-winning team of Kevin Murphy (Reefer Madness) and Laurence O'Keefe (Bat Boy, Legally Blonde). This hilarious, big--hearted, and homicidal new musical is based on the 1989 cult film, truly one of the darkest teen comedies of all time. The original screenwriter Daniel Waters called it, 'a Carson McCullers-style novel of a girl who meets the Antichrist as a teenager.'" Performances take place at the Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, three blocks east of Grand, in Grand Center. For more information, visit newlinetheatre.com or call 314-534-1111. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

My take: New Line is in a new space and judging from the reviews it's a big improvement over their old digs at the Washington University South Campus Theatre on Clayton. "The company's new space is comfortable," writes Tina Farmer at KDHX, "and offers good views from every seat in the house, a bonus when watching a show with such a strong ensemble." The show is just the kind of edgy material that Scott Miller and New Line have made a speciality for many years now.

De Kus
Upstream Theater presents De Kus (The Kiss) by Dutch author Ger Thijs, translated by Paul Evans through October 25. "When a lonely stand-up comic and an anxious housewife meet on a country path, they embark on a journey toward an unknown and surprising fate...where one kiss could change the entire world." Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

My take: The program for this show includes the following quote from the playwright: "Sometimes people discover heir purpose, their dignity, not in happiness, but in a twist of fate". As someone who found happiness as an indirect result of what most people would probably consider to be an unpleasant twist of fate, I could not agree more. Notices for the local premiere of this two-character play have been good, demonstrating that Upstream has once again demonstrated that taking on risky material can be very rewarding.

One Too Many
The Presenters Dolan present the a cappella group One Too Many on Friday, October 16, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Six-Man A Capella. Tight harmonies, sharp, funny, homegrown. If you like Straight No Chaser, you'll be very happy. These guys are on the move." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take: These guys came to the open mic night I host for The Cabaret Project at the Tavern of Fine Arts a few months ago and just knocked everybody out. Is the cabaret tent big enough to include a cappella? I'd say so, and I'd say this is just the group to prove it.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents singers Tim Schall, Deborah Sharn, and Bridgette Kossor, with pianist Rocky Tucker, in an evening of jazz standards and sophisticated pop on Friday, October 16, at 8 p.m. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

My take: Speaking of the Tavern of Fine Arts, here they are presenting an evening of great singing by some of the area's top vocalists. The Tavern's performance space is cozy and decorated with a regularly-changing array of local art, and their food and wine list has much to offer.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of September 25, 2015

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

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New This Week:

The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents the A.E. Hotcchner Playwriting Festival Friday and Saturday, featuring new plays by student authors. This year's plays are : We the Congressman by Katie Goldston on Friday, September 25, at 7:00 p.m.; Library Love Story by Rachel Wilson on Saturday, September 26, at 2:00 p.m.; and The Divine Buoyancy of Being by Cary J. Simowitz on Saturday, September 26, at 7:00 p.m. The performances take place in the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre in the Mallinckrodt Student Center on the Washington University campus. For more information, call 314-935-6543 or visit pad.artsci.wustl.edu.

My take: Anything that encourages new playwrights is good as far as I'm concerned, and some of the plays from the Hotchner festival have gone on to have lives outside of the festival. Drop by and see what the next generation of authors is producing.

The Full Monty
Photo: Peter Wochniak
Stages St. Louis presents the musical The Full Monty, based on the hit movie, through October 4. "Welcome back STAGES' red-hot award-winning smash hit THE FULL MONTY! If you were sold out the first time, you'll want to be sure to meet Jerry, Dave, Harold, Ethan, Malcolm, and "Horse" - six unemployed steelworkers who come up with a bold and unconventional way to make some much-needed cash, after witnessing their wives go wild for a group of male strippers. In the process, they discover renewed self-esteem and the importance of family, friendship, and the very human desire to live life to the fullest. With razor-sharp humor and toe-tapping pizzazz, THE FULL MONTY is musical theatre at its most heart-warming. " Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information, visit stagesstlouis.org or call 314-821-2407. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

My take: Not everybody agrees with me, but I think this stage version of the classic British comedy works pretty well, with a book by noted playwright Terrence McNally that respects the original screenplay and a very effective score by David Yazbeck. Stages has demonstrated that they can be relied upon for a professional production, so I have no hesitation in recommending this.

Venus in Fur
Photo: John Lamb
The West End Players Guild opens their 105th season with David Ives' Venus in Fur Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, September 25 - October 4. " It's the end of a rainy day and a dismal casting call. As the director packs up to head home the door swings open, and in walks the woman who seems born for the role - strangely, eerily so. Is it the director's dream come true, or a stylish nightmare? Venus in Fur is David Ives at his best - very sexy, very funny and very, very smart. " There will also be a show on Thursday, October 1, at 8 PM. 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.

My take: Full disclosure: I'm on the board and play reading committee at West End and was a big supporter of this play. I was very impressed by the Rep's production of this smart comedy/drama/fantasy when they did it and I expect good things from this production. I have worked with both of the actors and can personally attest to their skill. Trust me, Paula Stoff Dean was born to play this part.

Held Over:

All the Way
Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the drama All the Way through October 4. " It's 1963. Following the assassination of JFK, Lyndon Johnson becomes America's "accidental president." Launched into the presidency over a country in turmoil, LBJ maneuvers and manipulates his way through a series of power plays to pass the Civil Rights Act and to guarantee a full term in the Oval Office. Deception, bullying and blackmail are all strategies in his arsenal. But in this 2014 Tony Award Winner for Best Play, featuring a large landscape of people and characters, LBJ makes clear that it's not personal, it's just politics. " 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: If this play tells us anything, it's that the fight for justice never ends because the forces of hate, fear, and repression never go away. Brian Dyskstra heads a large and impressive cast as LBJ, beset on all sides because he decided to place principle above party and the good of the nation about political expedience by pushing through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It's hard to imagine a contemporary politician at the national level who would have this kind of courage, which does not bode well for the republic. This is great theatre and a great moral lesson. You will be sorry if you miss it. Performances continue through October 4th.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of September 21, 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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All the Way
Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the drama All the Way through October 4. " It's 1963. Following the assassination of JFK, Lyndon Johnson becomes America's "accidental president." Launched into the presidency over a country in turmoil, LBJ maneuvers and manipulates his way through a series of power plays to pass the Civil Rights Act and to guarantee a full term in the Oval Office. Deception, bullying and blackmail are all strategies in his arsenal. But in this 2014 Tony Award Winner for Best Play, featuring a large landscape of people and characters, LBJ makes clear that it's not personal, it's just politics. " 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!

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Dead! Like Me through November 14. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents The Divine Buoyancy of Being by Cary J. Simowitz on Saturday, Septermber 26, at 7:00 p.m. as part of The A.E. Hotchner Playwriting Festival. "You've graduated. You're catapulted into the world. The obvious question is, What now? But four endlessly curious and hysterically funny friends have other questions. What happened? What job? What the f---? And finally, What if?" The performance takes place in the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre in the Mallinckrodt Student Center on the Washington University campus. For more information, call 314-935-6543 or visit http://the performing arts department at washington university presents we the congressman by katie goldston on friday, septermber 25, at 7:00 p.m. as part of the a.e. hotchner playwriting festival. "it's an uptown smack down; bones crunch, eye' ta_blan>pad.artsci.wustl.edu.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville presents the Equally Represented Arts production of The Residents of Craigslist at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, as part of Xfest: 4 Days of Experimental Theater. "The Residents of Craiglist is a one-act theatrical work that realizes the classified advertisements website Craigslist as a full yet lonely house containing a myriad of people - its residents." The performance takes place in the Metcalf Theater on the campus in Edwardsvile, IL. For more information, call 618-650-2774 or visit siuexfest.com.

The Full Monty
Photo: Peter Wochniak
Stages St. Louis presents the musical The Full Monty, based on the hit movie, through October 4. "Welcome back STAGES' red-hot award-winning smash hit THE FULL MONTY! If you were sold out the first time, you'll want to be sure to meet Jerry, Dave, Harold, Ethan, Malcolm, and "Horse" - six unemployed steelworkers who come up with a bold and unconventional way to make some much-needed cash, after witnessing their wives go wild for a group of male strippers. In the process, they discover renewed self-esteem and the importance of family, friendship, and the very human desire to live life to the fullest. With razor-sharp humor and toe-tapping pizzazz, THE FULL MONTY is musical theatre at its most heart-warming. " Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road in Kirkwood. For more information, visit stagesstlouis.org or call 314-821-2407. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Get "Hitched" To A Redneck Or Die through October 31. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com

The Monroe Actors Stage Company presents the Frank Loesser musical Guys and Dolls, based on the stories of Damon Runyon, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., theough September 27, in the Historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Waterloo, Illinois. For more information, visit www.masctheatre.org or call 618-939-7469.

The Black Mirror Theatre Company presents Happy Days by Samuel Beckett Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., through September 27. "Sinking into the earth, sun ablaze, no trees, no shade, a bell, ever ending sleep, with only a bag to see you through life. Who could cope with it all and still go on singing - only a woman! This is how Samuel Beckett described Happy Days." Performances take place The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive. For more information, visit brownpapertickets.com or email blackmirrortheatre at gmail.com.

The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents Library Love Story by Rachel Wilson on Saturday, Septermber 26, at 2:00 p.m. as part of The A.E. Hotchner Playwriting Festival. "Madelyn hides in the sentences on the page inside the book that's on the shelf within the doors of the town library. She will only come out when she's written the “happily ever after ending” to her own love story." The performance takes place in the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre in the Mallinckrodt Student Center on the Washington University campus. For more information, call 314-935-6543 or visit http://the performing arts department at washington university presents we the congressman by katie goldston on friday, septermber 25, at 7:00 p.m. as part of the a.e. hotchner playwriting festival. "it's an uptown smack down; bones crunch, eye' ta_blan>pad.artsci.wustl.edu.

Christ Memorial Productions presents the musical Mary Poppins Friday sand Saturday at 7:30 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, theough September 27. Performances take place at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, 5252 South Lindbergh. For more information, visit CMPShows.org or call 314-631-0304.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville presents The Wonderheads production of The Middle of Everywhere at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, September 25, as part of Xfest: 4 Days of Experimental Theater. "What do you get when you mash together Pixar, Maurice Sendak, and Doctor Who? A time and space bending adventure by mask imagineers the WONDERHEADS, that's what. When two unlikely strangers discover a mysterious device at a bus stop, they are whisked away on a cosmic journey through time and space...but will they claim their place in the universe and find their way home? The Middle of Everywhere is performed in full-face mask, a form so magical it will delight the child in you, whether you're eight or eighty. " The performance takes place in the Metcalf Theater on the campus in Edwardsvile, IL. For more information, call 618-650-2774 or visit siuexfest.com.

The Looking Glass Playhouse presents the classic musical The Music Man Wednesday through Sunday September 24 - October 4. Performances take place at 301 West St. Louis Street in Lebanon, Ill. For more information, visit www.lookingglassplayhouse.com.

Alpha Players present the musical Oliver!, based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, September 25 - October 4 at The Florissant Civic Center Theater, Parker Rd. at Waterford Dr. in Florissant, MO. For more information: alphaplayers.org or, call 314-921-5678.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville presents the Lucky Plush Productions presentation of of The Queue at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23, as part of Xfest: 4 Days of Experimental Theater. "Equal parts dance and theater, The Queue unfolds in a fictional airport, where travelers stumble humorously, tragically and awkwardly into each-others' private lives. Created by Lucky Plush founder/director, Julia Rhodes, and collaborator, Leslie Danzig, The Queue finds its influences in early 20th-century forms of slapstick, vaudeville, Busby Berkeley-style choreography, creaky one-act plays and a 1746 farcical play about a family inheritance. These sources and performance vocabularies collide with contemporary dance and the distinctly non-theatrical context of waiting to create a dance-theater production, showcasing Lucky Plush's signature blend of immediacy, humor and kineticism." The performance takes place in the Dunham Hall Theater on the campus in Edwardsvile, IL. For more information, call 618-650-2774 or visit siuexfest.com.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville presents ROY G BIV: A Story Through the Eyes of a Rock Icon is written and performed by R. Ernie Silva at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 13, as part of Xfest: 4 Days of Experimental Theater. "In the world of music no figure became a greater symbol of the time than the West Coast boy from Seattle. The immortal lefty, the American Rock Icon, that in the midst of the British invasion somehow managed to climb the top of the rock and roll mountain seemingly coming out of nowhere and then in a flash, just like a comet in the night, was gone....But what did it all mean, how did his life and time manage to cross so many roads at once, and leave us wanting for more? In this astonishing look at the life of a rock icon, R. Ernie Silva's brilliant performance as the most prolific rock guitarist of all time, takes us to a space and time, ethereal and eternal! " The performance takes place in the Dunham Hall Theater on the campus in Edwardsvile, IL. For more information, call 618-650-2774 or visit siuexfest.com.

Seminar
Photo: John Lamb
St. Louis Actors' Studio presents Teresa Rebeck's Seminar through October 4 at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. "A provocative comedy from Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck, four aspiring young novelists sign up for private writing classes with Leonard, an international literary figure. Under his recklessly brilliant and unorthodox instruction, some thrive and others flounder, alliances are made and broken, sex is used as a weapon and hearts are unmoored. The wordplay is not the only thing that turns vicious as innocence collides with experience in this biting Broadway comedy." For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

Venus in Fur
Photo: John Lamb
The West End Players Guild opens their 105th season with David Ives' Venus in Fur Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, September 25 - October 4. " It's the end of a rainy day and a dismal casting call. As the director packs up to head home the door swings open, and in walks the woman who seems born for the role - strangely, eerily so. Is it the director's dream come true, or a stylish nightmare? Venus in Fur is David Ives at his best - very sexy, very funny and very, very smart. " There will also be a show on Thursday, October 1, at 8 PM. 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.

The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents We the Congressman by Katie Goldston on Friday, Septermber 25, at 7:00 p.m. as part of The A.E. Hotchner Playwriting Festival. "It's an uptown smack down; bones crunch, eye's gouge and there's even a little poison in the tea. The politics of the USA are played out with rope-a-dope style in this offbeat comedy about a waitress, a news broadcaster, a World Federation Wrestler named The Congressman ... and the writer who made him up." The performance takes place in the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre in the Mallinckrodt Student Center on the Washington University campus. For more information, call 314-935-6543 or visit http://the performing arts department at washington university presents we the congressman by katie goldston on friday, septermber 25, at 7:00 p.m. as part of the a.e. hotchner playwriting festival. "it's an uptown smack down; bones crunch, eye' ta_blan>pad.artsci.wustl.edu.

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.