St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of February 15, 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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Act Two Theatre presents the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee through February 21. "An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home life, the tweens spell their way through a series of [potentially made-up] words hoping to never hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box" Performances take place in the St. Peters Cultural Arts Centre at 1 St Peters Centre Blvd, St. Peters, MO 63376. For more information: act2theater.com.

Eve Seltzer

The Presenters Dolan present Eve Seltzer: An American Cabaret on Thursday, February 18, at 8 p.m. "Eve makes her St. Louis cabaret debut. She has performed at The Metopolitan Room, Sylvana and Jules in NYC." The performance takes place in The Emerald Room at The Monocle Bar, 4510 Manchester in The Grove neighborhood. For more information: presentersdolan.com.

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.

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!

Chuck Lavazzi
Photo: Jill Ritter Lindberg

The Cabaret Project and 88.1 KDHX present the monthly cabaret open mic night on Wednesday, February 17, from 7 to 10 PM at the Tavern of Fine Arts “Drop by and enjoy a night of great music from St. Louis cabaret artists, backed up by special guest music director Ron McGowan on the baby grand.” The master of ceremonies is Chuck Lavazzi, senior performing arts critic at 88.1 KDHX. If you're planning to sing, be prepared to do one or two songs and bring music, preferably in your key. At least one of your two songs should be a medium-or up-tempo number. We'd also recommend that you have your song memorized. 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: thecabaretproject.org.

The Emerald Room Cabaret presents Cher the Love Cabaret on Friday and Saturday, February 19 and 20, at 8 p.m. "This February, 'Cher' The Love with this cabaret tribute to the fabulous icon! 'Cher The Love' spans the full and comprehensive songbook of this amazing Diva's career with comedy and a just enough love to send you off with a few butterflies!" 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.

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," February 19-28. 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.

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!

Educating Rita
Photo: John Lamb

The West End Players Guild continues their 105th season with Willy Russell's comedy Educating Rita Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, February 18-21. "Frank is a tutor of English in his fifties whose disillusioned outlook on life drives him to drink and to bury himself in his books. Enter Rita, a forthright 26-year-old hairdresser who is eager to learn. After weeks of cajoling, Rita slowly wins over the very hesitant Frank with her innate insight and refusal to accept no for an answer. Their relationship as teacher and student blossoms, ultimately giving Frank a new sense of self and Rita the knowledge she so craves." There will also be a show on Thursday, February 18, 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.

Eleemosynary
Photo: John Lamb

Mustard Seed Theatre presents the comedy Eleemosynary Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through February 21. "Both funny and poignant, this play examines the subtle and often perilous relationship between three remarkable women: a young girl, her mother, and her grandmother. Artie abandons her daughter Echo to be raised by Echo's grandmother, Dorothea. But when Dorothea's health begins to fail, can Artie and Echo move beyond the superficiality of words and begin to build a deeper relationship?" Performances take place at the Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Blvd. For more information, call (314) 719-8060 or visit the web site at www.mustardseedtheatre.com. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

KTK Productions presents Farce of Nature February 19-28. "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.

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.

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.

I'll Be Back Before Midnight
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the thriller I'll Be Back Before Midnight Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through February 20. "Having suffered a nervous breakdown, Jan retreats with her husband to an old, country farmhouse where the owner delights in telling gruesome ghost stories. Before long, eerie sounds and visions are tormenting Jan. Is she suffering another breakdown or is someone trying to drive her mad?" Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Ben Nordstrom

The Sheldon Concert Hall presents Ben Nordstrom: Isn't It Romantic on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 16 and 17, at 10 a.m. "One of St. Louis' most acclaimed musical theater performers, Ben Nordstrom celebrates Valentine's Day with love songs from the Great White Way. Guest vocalist Julie Hanson Battaglia, who has appeared on Broadway and at theatres around the country, joins Nordstrom for this romantic program of Broadway favorites." The performance takes place at The Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: thesheldon.org.

COCA presents the musical Three Little Birds Saturday at 2 and 5 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 4 p.m., February 20 and 21. "Based on the known and loved reggae music of Bob Marley, join the fun of this musical, which has been adapted from the children's book “Three Little Birds” by Cedella Marley. An empowering tale about triumph over anxiety, the musical's young protagonist, Ziggy, must find a way to leave the house despite a fear of hurricanes, mongooses and other things in his native Jamaica. Music and lyrics by Bob Marley himself, mon." COCA is at 524 Trinity in University City. For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

Brass Rail Players present Meshuggah Nuns Live through February 21. The performances take place at The Turkey Hill Grange, 1375 Illinois Rte. 15 in Belleville, IL. For more information, visit brassrailplayers.org.

St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley presents Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream through February 20. Performances take place in the Fisher Theatre on the campus at 3400 Pershall Road. For more information, call 314-644-5522.

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents Molière's comedy The Miser Wednesdays through Sundays, February 17-28. “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.

The Monocle presents an open mic night every Mondays 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.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville presents David Auburn's drama Proof Wednesday through Sunday, February 17-21. "On the eve of her 25th birthday, Catherine, a troubled young woman, has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father, a famous mathematician. Now, following his death, she must deal with her own volatile emotions; the arrival of her estranged sister, Claire; and the attentions of Hal, a former student of her father's who hopes to find valuable work in the 103 notebooks that her father left behind. Over the long weekend that follows, a burgeoning romance and the discovery of a mysterious notebook draws Catherine into the most difficult problem of all: How much of her father's madness - or genius - will she inherit? Winner of the 2001 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for Best Play, PROOF is a must see." Performances take place in the Dunham Hall Theatre on the campus in Edwardsville, IL. For more information, call 618-650-2774 or visit siue.edu.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Ayad Akhtar, author of the current mainstage show Disgraced, in a panel discussion on Public Perceptions of Islam in Post-9/11 America on Monday, February 15, at 7:30 pm. Also on the panel will be Faizan Syed, Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations - St. Louis and Dr. Ghazala Hayat, Former Board President, Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis. The moderator will be Associate Director of the Rep, Seth Gordon. The event takes place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

Lindenwood University presents the musical Violet February 19-27. “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.

The cast of The Weir

Cocktails and Curtain Calls presents The Weir, the award-winning play by Irish playwright Conor McPherson, Monday through Thursday at 8:00pm, through February 18. It will be the first local production to utilize the new Members' Project Code, under the auspices of the Actors' Equity Association. All profits from ticket sales go directly to the artists. Performances will take place at McGurk's Irish Pub and Dressel's in the Central West End. For details on performance times and locatsions, visit CocktailsandCurtainCalls.com. Read the 88.1 KDHX review! 

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

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of November 20, 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:

White Christmas
Photo: Kevin White

The Fox Theatre presents the musical Irving Berlin's White Christmas Tuesday through Sunday, November 17-22. The Fox Theatre is at 517 North Grand in Grand Center. "This holiday season discover the perfect gift for everyone on your list! Start with a timeless tale of joy and goodwill, fill it with classic Irving Berlin songs, top it off with glorious dancing and lots of snow and join us at the Fox for Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS. Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS tells the story of a song-and-dance team putting on a show in a magical Vermont inn and falling for a stunning sister act in the process. Full of dancing, laughter and some of the greatest songs ever written! Give everyone the gift they're dreaming of with this merry and bright holiday musical." For more information, fabulousfox.com or call 314-534-1678.

My take: Based on the 1954 film of the same name, this is one of those cheerful, tune-filled and nostalgia-stuffed Great American Songbook shows that never fails to please most audiences. "The stage version makes significant changes to the script that streamline the story," notes Tina Farmer at KDHX, "moving the show along efficiently and keeping the running time to a pleasant two hours. While the number of characters and plot twists have been trimmed, the wholesome story of doing good, finding love, and ending on a happy note remains intact. The current version is quite polished and entertaining, with an emphasis on the songs and dance numbers...Berlin's songs are a gift of the season and a reflection of the American spirit. Each one evokes strong emotions, and the arc of the story and songs mirrors the optimism of an era that created so many of the memories we consider "traditions." The energetic dances, particularly the complex, high-speed tap numbers, tie the show together with a bright, enticing bow."

Craig Pomranz

Topper Productions and Michael Bogus present Craig Pomranz in Love Takes Time Saturday, November 21 at 7 p.m. "Craig Pomranz brings his new show "Love Takes Time" from NYC and London to Webster Groves. Featuring diverse songs ranging from Irving Berlin up to Cyndi Lauper and Stevie Wonder. you'll wonder if "time" in the title refers to time spent longing for love, time in love, or references in song? You'll have to come and decide for yourself." The performance takes place at Cyrano's 603 East Lockwood in Webster Groves. For more information: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2450793

My take: It has been far too long since we've had a chance to see native St. Louis son Craig Pomranz on a local stage. Reviewing his 2011 appearance at the Kranzberg Center, I noted his ebullient stage persona, self-deprecating sense of humor, impressive vocal technique and acting skills. I haven't seen anything at Cyrano's performance space, but I have dined there often enough to suggest that you should seriously consider a dinner/show combo.

Susan Werner

The Presenters Dolan presents singer/songwriter Susan Werner on Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Singers and songwriters don't get more talented than Susan Werner. She's a master of so many genres, and about to add Broadway. Susan is the composer and lyricist of Bull Durham, scheduled to open next year." The performances take place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

My take: Speaking of performers who have been absent from the local scene for far too long, Susan Werner is someone I haven't seen since her appearance at the late, lamented Cabaret at Savor back in the spring of 2008. As I wrote back then, Susan Werner writes really great songs. She writes the kind of songs that make people like me want to go out and buy copies of the sheet music so we can learn them. She writes songs that can be funny, sad, wry, world-weary, romantic, cynical, cheerfully upbeat and politically subversive - sometimes all at once. And she performs everything impeccably. File this under "don't miss."

Held Over:

Rapture, Blister, Burn

The West End Players Guild continues their 105th season with Gina Gionfriddo's Rapture, Blister, Burn Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, through November 22. "After grad school, Catherine and Gwen chose polar opposite paths. Catherine became a 'rock star' in the academic world and a go-to cable TV commenter, while Gwen built a home with her husband and children. Decades later, unfulfilled in polar opposite ways, each woman covets the other's life, commencing a dangerous game of musical chairs." There will also be a show on Thursday, November 19, 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: This is a funny and perceptive script about the way so many of us wonder about what might lie down the road not taken, and the cast includes some of our finest local actors. It delivers a message of female empowerment without beating the audience over the head and does it in an amusingly subversive way.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of July 3, 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 Fantasticks

Insight Theatre Company presents the classic musical The Fantasticks July 2-18. "This long running show is a funny and romantic musical about a boy, a girl, two fathers, and a wall. The narrator, El Gallo, asks the audience to use their imaginations and follow him into a world of moonlight and magic. The young lovers do come to realize that, just as El Gallo had said, 'Without a hurt, the heart is hollow.'" 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: I haven't seen this production yet, but the play itself is one of the great musicals of the past century, with a memorable score and a funny and literate book. Based on Rostand's The Romancers, the show has a very Gallic outlook on life and love that makes it unusual in American musical theatre and always worth seeing.

Grand Center presents the Grand Center Theatre Crawl on Friday, July 3, from 6 to 9 p.m. at various locations in the Grand Center Arts District. " It's a 'tasting menu' of the best of St. Louis theatre, and it's free! Every half hour, 6-9pm, you'll stroll to a different Grand Center venue for a short show from one of your favorite St. Louis theatre companies. See shows from nine St. Louis theatre companies, and yes, there will be prizes!" Featured theatre companies include Prison Performing Arts, West End Players Guild, St. Louis Actors' Studio, Insight Theatre Company, R-S Theatrics, and Union Avenue Opera. For more information: grandcenter.org

My take: Here's a chance to get sneak previews of some of what's coming up on local stages. I'll be there as part of the West End Players Guild team. We'll be presenting some readings from our first show, David Ives' Venus in Fur, and handing out (appropriately) licorice whips. Come on down!

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of April 17, 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 Cockfighter
Photo: John Lamb

The West End Players Guild concludes their 104th season with the drama The Cockfighter Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, April 10-19. "At once elegant and brutal, this coming-of-age story is set against the savage backdrop of professional cockfighting. The gift of a fighting bird of his own sets a young boy on a journey to adulthood and to choices that will change him - and his family - forever. Based on the novel by acclaimed southern author Frank Manley and adapted for the stage by Vincent Murphy, it is another St. Louis premiere." There will also be a show on Thursday, April 16, at 8 PM and the playwright will conduct a special talkback session with the audience after the April 18th performance. 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: Honesty compels me to point out that I am on the board at West End. That said, this production would be worth recommending no matter where it was being done. The script treats its characters with honesty and respect and asks hard questions about the choices we make in life. "A lyrical coming-of-age work," writes Lynn Venhaus at the Belleville News-Democrat, “'The Cockfighter' is tinged with hope and regret, imbued with a captivating sense of place, and enhanced by heartfelt performances." In his review for KDHX, Robert Nickles says the show "goes for the heart," and so it does. The script is not without its issues, but this generally strong production carries it well and features some first-rate performances.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Photo: ProPhotoSTL

Upstream Theater presents The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge adapted for the stage and directed by Patrick Siler with live music composed and performed by Sleepy Kitty, through April 19. Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

My take: Coleridge probably never intended his poem for theatrical use and, while it was required reading when I was young (back during the Roman Empire), it has probably receded from popular consciousness over the decades. How many people today would even recognize the image of having an albatross around one's neck—much less know where it came from? Still, as Judy Newmak writes in her review for the Post-Dispatch, "he avant-garde stage version playing at Upstream Theater feels completely fresh, a “dream theater” piece that blends art forms old and new. Adapted and directed by Patrick Siler, the hourlong piece uses poetry, drama, music and modern dance to wind through a story that — like a dream — coheres eloquently without constraint of logic." "The vivid imagery of this haunting sea voyage is orchestrated sublimely by Patrick Siler," says the St. Louis Theater Snob, "who adapted and directed the piece, with Jerry Vogel at the helm as the nameless title character. Vogel's commanding presence is palpable -- as heavy in grief, anxiety and remorse as he is buoyant in joy and realization." Upstream in unafraid to take chances and it looks like this is a winner.

Telegraph
Photo: Whitney Curtis

The Performing Arts Department at Washington University presents Telegraph by Will Jacobs, winner of the 2014 A.E. Hotchner New Play Festival, April 16-19. "A peculiar telegraph operator, Mr. Rivers, looks for lost love in the lyricism of electrical impulse. His search is disrupted by the arrival of the very determined Mrs. Emily Stone, who brings light to the darkened corners of his Pennsylvania home. Together, they grapple with love and laughter within the abstractions of language and the rhythms of dots and dashes. Winner of the 2014 A.E Hotchner Playwriting Competition." The performances take place in the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theater 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: When this play was still in development last fall, it was presented as part of the Hotchner Festival at Washington University. Back then, KDHX critic Steve Callahan was very taken with it. "It's a magical and engaging play," he wrote. "And it is going to receive a full production next April. I recommend it."

Held Over:

The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through April 18. "This raucous show within a show kicks off when a hilariously loony Victorian musical troupe 'puts on' its flamboyant rendition of an unfinished Charles Dickens mystery. Each performance ends differently depending on how the audience chooses to finish the story that Dickens didn't!" Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

My take: This clever show-within-a-show musical has always been a favorite of mine. If your only exposure to Holmes' music has been his big tacky hit "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)," you're in for a surprise with this show with it's clever mock-Victorian score and witty lyrics. There's a good reason why it won the 1985 Tony Award. Reviews have described it as a rowdy good time. Typical is Mark Bretz's review at Ladue News, which describes this as "a clever, ingratiating production that is filled with verve and panache."

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of April 6, 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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Jeremy Webb in Buyer and Cellar
©Photo by Jerry Naunheim Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Buyer and Cellar through April 12. "Inspired by Barbra Streisand's coffee table book, My Passion for Design, this uproarious fictional account of celebrity eccentricity takes us into Babs' basement, where she houses her unique collections in a small street of shops. An underemployed actor becomes the caretaker, interacting with Barbra in moments both hilarious and surprisingly tender. A runaway hit in New York, this one-man show takes us into the ultimate fantasy of a star-struck dreamer as he fills the oddest of odd jobs." Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The West End Players Guild concludes their 104th season with the drama The Cockfighter Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, April 10-19. "At once elegant and brutal, this coming-of-age story is set against the savage backdrop of professional cockfighting. The gift of a fighting bird of his own sets a young boy on a journey to adulthood and to choices that will change him - and his family - forever. Based on the novel by acclaimed southern author Frank Manley and adapted for the stage by Vincent Murphy, it is another St. Louis premiere." There will also be a show on Thursday, April 16, at 8 PM and the playwright will conduct a special talkback session with the audience after the April 18th performance. 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.

Kay Love

The Presenters Dolan present Kay Love in Girls Just Want to Have Fun (the women who wrote the songs) on Saturday, April 11, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Kay does cabaret at its purest. The shows of this wonderful singer are completely put together." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

The University of Missouri at St. Louis presents Good People on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., April 9-12. "In South Boston, this month's paycheck covers last month's bills, bingo is a night out on the town, and single-mom Margie Walsh has lost her job again and is a Bingo game away from homelessness. She reaches out to an old flame from her youth - now a successful doctor - Margie risks everything to find her fresh start in this humor - filled drama, from Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, about how the twists and turns of life are fated to determine our path." The performance takes place at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus. For more information, touhill.org or call 314-516-4949.

The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts presents John Lithgow: Stories by Heart on Saturday, April 11, at 7:30 PM. " Invoking memories of his grandmother and father before him, Lithgow traces his roots as an actor and storyteller, interspersing his own story with two great stories that were read to him and his siblings when they were children. These are "Uncle Fred Flits By" by P.G. Wodehouse and "Haircut" by Ring Lardner. In the first, a fretful young Englishman is taken on a wild afternoon's escapade in suburban London by his irrepressible uncle. In a hilarious tour de force, Lithgow performs with zany abandon, portraying ten distinct, outrageous characters (including a parrot). By contrast, "Haircut" is a darkly comic look at Midwestern American implacability. It is a captivating yarn told by a gossipy barber in small-town Michigan as he gives a shave and a haircut to a stranger in town. " The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts is at 701 College Rd., at Alton St. on the McKendree University campus in Lebanon, IL. For more information: www.thehett.com.

Over Due Theatre presents the musical Little Shop of Horrors Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, April 10-19. Performances take place at the Olivette Community Center, 9723 Grandview Drive, in Olivette, MO. For more information, call 314-210-2959 or visit overduetheatrecompany.com.

The Presenters Dolan present Gina Otto in The Lovers, the Dreamers, and Me on Thursday, April 9, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Jazzy standards segue into pop, Broadway and sassy, Western Swing. An accomplished local singer, sharp and funny and endearing, steps into the cabaret scene." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

Ken Haller

The Presenters Dolan present Ken Haller in a return engagement of his show Mama's Boy on Friday, April 10, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. " Ken Haller turns 60 this Halloween, and his birthday present to YOU is his long-awaited, brand new cabaret show "Mama's Boy". Ken got love of music from his Irish-Catholic mom who would sing standards while keeping house and raising five kids. You won't want to miss this heartwarming, hilarious, moving show from one of St. Louis's foremost cabaret artists!" The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information: gaslightcabaretfestival.com.

The University of Missouri at St. Louis presents Hal Holbrook in Mark Twian Tonight on Saturday, April 11, at 8 p.m. "Returning to the Touhill after a sold out 2012 performance, Hal Holbrook reprises his magnificent portrayal of legendary American author, humorist, and storyteller Mark Twain. Holbrook knows Twain as well as he knows himself, bringing richness to the character far beyond the quoting of Twain's most memorable lines. His ever-changing selection of material from Twain's vast body of work coincides with current events, keeping the show as fresh as ever, and amazing audiences with the relevancy to today." The performance takes place at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus. For more information, touhill.org or call 314-516-4949.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Muuurder in Maaaybury through April 25. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through April 18. "This raucous show within a show kicks off when a hilariously loony Victorian musical troupe 'puts on' its flamboyant rendition of an unfinished Charles Dickens mystery. Each performance ends differently depending on how the audience chooses to finish the story that Dickens didn't!" Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

OnSite Theatre Company presents Off the Record by Alec Wild Fridays at 8 PM, and Saturdays at 7 and 9 PM, through April 11. "The timely comedy, Off the Record, follows the gubernatorial campaign of a promising candidate as a surprising scandal puts him and his staff on their toes and forces them into damage-control mode. As the audience takes on the role of the press corps following the candidate, pieces of information about the candidate and his wife leak to the audience bit by bit via cellphone." Audiences will board the bus at Tavolo, 6118 Delmar. For more information: www.OnSiteTheatre.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

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 Monroe Actors Stage Company presents Prescription Murder Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., Aprl 10-19, in the Historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Waterloo, Illinois. For more information, visit www.masctheatre.org or call 618-939-7469.

Upstream Theater presents The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge adapted for the stage and directed by Patrick Siler with live music composed and performed by Sleepy Kitty, April 10-19. Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org.

Clinton County Showcase presents The Sting April 10-19. “This show takes place in Chicago many years ago in a world of small-time hustlers and their girls, their money nonexistent but their ingenuity abundant. Johnny Hooker joins a friend in a successful con of a 'runner.' Unfortunately for them, the runner works for a powerful, vindictive rackets boss, Doyle Lonnegan, who is infuriated and arranges the killing of Johnny's friend. Hoping to avenge this senseless murder, Johnny enlists the aid of the master con man Henry Gondorf. Together they decide to try the big con called 'The Wire.'” Performances take place at the Avon Theater, 525 North 2nd Street Breese IL. For more information, visit ccshowcase.com.

The Fox Theatre presents the “international percussion sensation” Stomp Friday through Sunday, April 10-12. The Fox Theatre is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

The Florissant Fine Arts Council presents the drama To Kill a Mockingbird on Friday, April 10, at 8 PM at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker Road at Waterford Drive in Florissant, MO. "This Pulitzer Prize winning Harper Lee Classic novel turned play offers a keyhole view into the struggles faced by a small town and its people." For more information: florissantfinearts.com/wp1/

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

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Christopher Durang's Vanya And Sonia And Masha And Spike through April 12. "Stuck in their family home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Vanya and his adopted sister Sonia live a quiet existence until their lives are thrown into comic upheaval with the arrival of their B-list celebrity sister, Masha, and her 20-something boy toy, Spike. Add to that a soothsaying housekeeper, a star struck young neighbor and a rather odd costume party, and the stage is set for mayhem and hilarity in this present-day homage to Chekhov. Winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play." Performances take place on the mainstage at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

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

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of February 9, 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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KTK Productions presents the comic thriller Any Number Can Die February 13-22. "A hilarious take off on the mystery plays of the Twenties complete with sliding panels, robed figures, wills being read at midnight, etc. The idioms, costumes, hairdos, and make up of the period add to the thrills and laughter. Four ingenious murders take place in an island mansion as a pair of elderly detectives set to work on their first case. The ever popular storm, the unexpected guests, the cryptic poem, and the missing fortune all add to the intricate and inventive mystery off which the laughs bounce." Performances take place at Southampton Presbyterian Church, 4716 Macklind. For more information: kurtainkall.org or call 314-351-8984.

Bashir Lazhar
Photo: Peter Wochniak

Upstream Theater presents Bashir Lazhar by Évelyne de la Chenelière through February 12. "An Algerian refugee in Montreal is hurriedly hired as a substitute for a class of sixth graders who, like him, have experienced recent trauma. As he devotes his heart and soul to his students, his unorthodox methods challenge a system embedded in routine. A timely and poetic piece about grief and healing, love and survival. In 2011 the play was adapted into the Oscar-nominated film Monsieur Lazhar." The play stars J. Samuel Davis with live music by Farshid Soltanshahi Performances take place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, including show times: upstreamtheater.org. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

The Wildey Theater presents Rob Becker's one-man comedy Defending the Caeman on Friday and Saturday, February 13 and 14. The Wildey Theatre is at 252 North Main Street in Edwardsville, Illinois. For more information, visit wildeytheatre.com.

Kevin Cherry

Mariposa Artists presents Kevin Cherry in Feelin' Good on Friday and Saturday, February 13 and 14, at 8 p.m. The show is directed by Ken Haller and features Patty Becker on piano. "Late in life, Kevin Cherry took his voice from the shower to the stage with the Gateway Men's Chorus. That led to ensemble performances in community engagements and on to St. Louis Cabaret Project conferences and showcases. Now he brings his tenor voice in three octaves to the Kranzberg Arts Center for an evening of light music." The performance takes place at the Kranzberg Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: kevincherry.brownpapertickets.com

St. Louis Community College at Meramec presents Larry's Shue's farce The Foreigner Wednesday through Sunday, February 11-15. Performances take place in the theatre on the campus at 11333 Big Bend Road. For more information, call 314-984-7500.

God of Carnage
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through February 21. "A comedy of manners ... without the manners. Two married couples meet to sort out a playground fight between their sons. At first, niceties are observed but as the evening progresses and the rum flows, the gloves come off and the night becomes a side-splitting free-for-all." Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Jason Graae and Liz Callaway

Edison Theatre Ovations! presents Liz Callaway and Jason Graae in Happily Ever Laughter: A Valentines Party on Saturday, February 14, at 8 p.m. "Celebrate valentine's day with Liz Callaway and Jason Graae as they return to St. Louis for a romantic but platonic evening of love songs, high belting, and hilarity! With more than 11 Broadway shows, 60 recording/cast albums, and 35 movies and tv shows between them, these Broadway buddies will have you head over heels for their sweet stylings." The performance takes place at the 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity in University City. For more information: edison.wustl.edu.

The Gateway Men's Chorus presents Homegrown Cabaret Friday, February 13, at 8 PM. "Seventeen members of the Gateway Men's Chorus each take the spotlight in solo turns at a special fundraising concert, turning their personal stories into song. Ticket price includes drinks, hor d'oeuvres, a silent auction, and a tax-deductible contribution to the GMC's GALA Fund, which helps send the chorus to the 2016 GALA Festival.Ticket price includes drinks, hor d'oeuvres, a silent auction, and a tax-deductible contribution to the GMC's GALA Fund, which helps send the chorus to the 2016 GALA Festival." The concert takes place in the Rialto Ballroom at the Centene Center for the Arts, 3547 Olive Street in Grand Center. For more information: gmcstl.org.

The Monroe Actors Stage Company presents Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., through February 11, in the Historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Waterloo, Illinois. For more information, visit www.masctheatre.org or call 618-939-7469.

Mr. Marmalade
Photo: John Lamb

The West End Players Guild continues their 104th season with the comedy Mr. Marmalade Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, February 13-22. "Growing up isn't easy these days. Little Lucy is spending her childhood doing all the things little girls like to do - playing house, having tea parties and playing with friends both real and imaginary. But even as a tot, Lucy seems to have learned most of what she knows about life from reality TV and her childhood is chock-full of very odd, very adult stuff - the oddest of which may be Mr. Marmalade. He's the imaginary friend who rarely has time for Lucy because he's way too busy dealing with the demands of his day planner, anger management issues and some very adult naughty habits." There will also be a show on Thursday, February February 19, 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 Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Murder in Mayberry. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

Brass Rail Players present Dan Goggins' musical comedy Nunsense II: The Second Coming February 13-22. The performances take place at The Turkey Hill Grange, 1375 Illinois Rte. 15 in Belleville, IL. For more information, visit brassrailplayers.org.

GoodPeople Theatre presents the one-act play Old Wounds, written and directed by Mollie Jeanette Amburgey, Thursday through Saturday, February 12-14. "Old Wounds is a one-act performance piece about two old friends who reunite one evening for dinner which turn into a discussion of a dark event that happened in their pasts." The performances take place at the Betty Grable Room on the 7th floor of the Moonrise Hotel, 6177 Delmar in the Loop. For more information: goodpeopletheatre.tickleap.com/old-wounds.

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

Clinton County Showcase presents Prelude to a Kiss trough February 15. "Prelude to a Kiss is a 1988 play by Craig Lucas. It tells the story of a couple that falls in love despite the girl's pessimistic outlook on life. Shortly after their wedding, a supernatural event tests the strength of their love and commitment to each other." Performances take place at the Avon Theater, 525 North 2nd Street Breese IL. For more information, visit ccshowcase.com.

St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley presents John Guare's comedy Six Degrees of Separation February 13-21. Performances take place in the Fisher Theatre on the campus at 3400 Pershall Road. For more information, call 314-644-5522.

The Black Rep presents Stick Fly through February 22. "This is the new, knockout comedy-drama featuring steamy romance, sexual sparks and generational conflicts. A wealthy African-American family gather in Martha's Vineyard for a few, super-charged days, and the results are gasp-worthy revelations. Directed by Lorna Littleway, director of The Piano Lesson." Performances take place at the Emerson Performance Center at Harris-Stowe State University in midtown. For more information: theblackrep.org Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Mustard Seed Theatre presents White to Gray through February 22. "Mustard Seed Theatre is proud to offer the world premiere of local playwright Rob Maesaka’s White to Gray-the story of a young couple, one white and one Japanese-American, en route to the mainland from Hawaii on a cruise ship when bombs drop on Pearl Harbor. Amidst fear and uncertainty and caught in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, loyalties are tested and love comes under suspicion." Performances take place at the Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Blvd. For more information, call (314) 719-8060 or visit the web site at www.mustardseedtheatre.com. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents Edward Albee's dark comedy Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? February 13 - March 1 at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. "George, a professor at a small college, and his wife, Martha, have just returned home, drunk from a Saturday night party. Martha announces, amidst general profanity, that she has invited a young couple-an opportunistic new professor at the college and his shatteringly naïve new bride-to stop by for a nightcap. When they arrive the charade begins. The drinks flow and suddenly inhibitions melt. It becomes clear that Martha is determined to seduce the young professor, and George couldn't care less. But underneath the edgy banter, which is crossfired between both couples, lurks an undercurrent of tragedy and despair. George and Martha's inhuman bitterness toward one another is provoked by the enormous personal sadness that they have pledged to keep to themselves: a secret that has seemingly been the foundation for their relationship. In the end, the mystery in which the distressed George and Martha have taken refuge is exposed, once and for all revealing the degrading mess they have made of their lives." For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

The Winslow Boy
©Photo by Lon Brauer

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Terrence Rattigan's The Winslow Boy February 11 - March 8. "When young Ronnie Winslow is expelled from military school for stealing a five-shilling postal order, his father wages an exhaustive fight to clear his son's name. What begins as a private matter quickly becomes a larger question of the rights of the individual against the power of the state. Though the legal battle jeopardizes his health and the reputation of the entire family, Arthur Winslow is determined that right will prevail, no matter what the sacrifice." 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.

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

Chuck's St. Louis theatre choices for the weeend of November 20, 2014

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 Presenters Dolan present Christopher Limber: Riffs in a Set of 10 on Thursday, November 20, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "Riffs in a Set of 10" is a hip and hot blend of Jazz and poetic interludes recalling the sizzling after-midnight club scene of the 1940's. Homage and affection is paid in joyous, tuneful reflections of the greats: Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Mel Torme, Duke Ellington and Billy Holiday among others. Rhythmical illusion comes alive, setting the scene for 10 classic Jazz numbers rendered faithfully by an ensemble of musicians and St. Louis Cabaret favorites. Featuring Rose Fischer,Michele Isam, Joe Dreyer and David Torretta." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information, visit the web site.

My take: I saw the earlier and shorter version of this at the St. Lou Fringe Festival this past summer and was impressed, to say the least. it was a polished and sophisticated bit of entertainment back then. The intervening months are likely to have made it even more so.

The Presenters Dolan present Lara Teeter: Lucky to Be Me on Saturday, November 22, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. " Join Lara Teeter as he reprises his sold out show (after taking taking it to NY's 54 Below from its debut in St. Louis last spring), in which he shares his journey as artist, teacher, husband and dad. Claimed by both our town and Broadway (a Tony Nominee) as one of its own, Lara Teeter shows us just how fresh the songbook is in a master song and dance man's hands. And feet." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information, visit the web site.

My take: I caught the world premiere of this show last summer at the Gaslight. Back then I described it as "high-energy entertainment from a veteran of the musical theatre stage both in the Big Apple and here in St. Louis." Since then it has been to NYC and back, so expect great things.

Mariposa Artists presents Robert Breig in Making Evert Moment Count: The Music of Peter Allen on Friday, November 21, at 8 p.m. The show is directed by Lina Koutrakos and features Rick Jensen on piano. " After two sold-out performances, Robert Breig is delighted to bring back "Making Every Moment Count - The Music of Peter Allen" on Friday, November 21st 8PM at The Kranzberg Arts Center. And with Rick Jensen as music director and arranger of songs, this show gives us more than just a glimpse of Peter Allen's life in story and song....to Oz and beyond!" The performance takes place at the Kranzberg Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: brownpapertickets.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's supported here by cabaret powerhouses like Koutrakos and Jensen (both powerful and fiercely talented performers in their own right) is icing on the cake.

The Presenters Dolan present Meghan Kirk: The Story Goes On on Friday, November 21, at 8 PM as part of the Gaslight Cabaret Festival. "The beautifully talented Meghan Kirk has recently moved back to St. Louis from Los Angeles, where she performed regularly at The Gardenia. Her new show, crafted for this performance, is about the songs that have followed her throughout her life. Did you ever have a song pop into your head at a pivotal moment? A song that provided direction, that answered a question? That helped get you through? A song that you might not have thought about for years? These are the songs that make up your life soundtrack." The performance takes place at the Gaslight Theater, 358 North Boyle. For more information, visit the web site.

My take: In my capacity as the host/producer of The Cabaert Project's monthly open mic night, I've had a chance to see Ms. Kirk in action many times and have always enjoyed her work. She's polished, poised, and yet open and engaging. Should be a good show.

The Fox Theatre presents Motown, the Musical Tuesdays through Sundays, November 18-30. "It began as one man's story... became everyone's music... and is now Broadway's musical. MOTOWN The Musical is the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy’s journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and many more. Motown shattered barriers, shaped our lives and made us all move to the same beat. Featuring classic songs such as “My Girl” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” experience the story behind the music in the record-breaking smash hit MOTOWN The Musical!" The Fox Theatre is at 517 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, visit the web site.

My take: As Amy Burger writes in her review for KDHX, this show is a must see for fans of the record label that brought the national spotlight to so many great black performers: Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations; the list just goes on and on. There's also a more serious reason to see this show, though. "At various points," writes Ms. Burder, "it seemed serendipitous that this particular show should be running at this time in this city. The racial themes and moments reflecting both Motown's and the nation's history felt searingly real and meaningful in light of current racial tensions in St. Louis. To that effect, those scenes were much more impactful than they might be playing to a different city."

Mariposa Artists presents Beverly Brennan in A Night With Day on Saturday, November 22, at 8 p.m. The show is directed by Lina Koutrakos and features Rick Jensen on piano. "Beverly Brennan is back on her sentimental journey in "A Night With Day" on Saturday, November 22nd 8 PM, paying tribute to one of her idols, the incomparable Doris Day. The show will feature songs from Doris Day's big band days, her movies and musicals, and her amazing recording career. Bev will also share stories about Doris's life, which has been far from a bed of daisies! With Rick Jensen at the piano - it's magic!" The performance takes place at the Kranzberg Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: brownpapertickets.com.

My take: Ms. Brennan is a local treasure and she's teamed here with one of the great cabaret music directors, Rick Jensen. And that, as her dad (legendary sportscaster Jack Buck) might say, is a winner.

Held Over:

Mustard Seed Theatre presents the a cappella musical All is Calm Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 and 5 PM, November 14-December 14. “Join us in celebrating the power of peace in this acapella musical based on the true story of soldiers during World War I who for one night, put down their arms and played soccer instead of exchanging bullets.” Performances take place at the Fontbonne Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Blvd. For more information, call (314) 719-8060 or visit the web site at www.mustardseedtheatre.com.

My take: This show is apparently going to be a holiday tradition at Mustard Seed, and with good reason. The story of the remarkable holiday truce that spontaneously interrupted the insanity of World War I remains an inspiring reminder of what happens when ordinary people ignore the manipulations of their leadership and allow their basic decency to take control of their actions. The lesson for contemporary politics is clear.

Photo: John Lamb

The West End Players Guild continues their 104th season with Boom Town Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, November 14-23. There will also be a show on Thursday, November 20, at 8 PM. “From the prolific pen of movie and TV star Jeff Daniels, author of more than a dozen plays, comes Boom Town. Angela Tompkins has a husband, a failing convenience store and a dream of running off to Chicago with her lover, the local banker. In an explosive story that mixes small-town politics, love and betrayal, Angela must face reality when her husband discovers the truth.” 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: Daniels has proven to be a prolific and gifted playwright, with an impressive ability to create characters and situations that grab and hold your interest. Full disclosure: I'm on West End's board of directors and play reading committee, which vetted this script for the company.