A Good Read

Mario Farwell

You wouldn't know it by what gets performed on local stages but there is, in fact, a playwright's community in St. Louis.  It's not large, but it is active.  First Run Theatre is the only local organization that focuses on works by area writers, but the St. Louis Writers' Group does readings every month.  They've just released the schedule for the first half of 2011 (see the full press release below), along with an invitation to local writers to get their stuff heard.

The location - the upstairs room at Big Daddy's a bar and grill just around the corner from my house in Soulard - is a surprisingly pleasant one.  There's not that much action in the bar on Monday nights so there's not a lot of noise leaking up from downstairs, and nothing goes with a play reading better than booze and food.  Big Daddy's menu ain't gourmet, but as pub grub goes it's not bad.

Call  314-865-1296, or send an e-mail to farwemar at aol.com for more information.

Here's the full press release:
====================

St. Louis Writers' Group will begin its new year of play reading and workshop with an evening of one-act plays on February 7, 6:30 pm at Big Daddy's. If you're interested in having one of your plays included in this evening of one-acts, plays please contact me at farwemar at aol.com .

St. Louis Writers' Group is also looking for scripts for the upcoming year of readings. We develop full-length plays, one-act plays, screenplay, teleplays and musicals. Writers who are interest in learning the craft of scriptwriting are welcome to attend our meeting.

CJ Zander will be running the play writing workshops on the third Monday of
every month starting on February 21, 6:30pm at Big Daddy's. CJ Zander is a director, producer, writer, professor of theatre and great guide in helping writers navigate the process of play development.

St. Louis Writers' Group upcoming schedule:

February 7 - Play reading
February 21 - Workshop
March 7 - Play reading
March 21 - Workshop
April 4 - Play reading
April 18 - Workshop
May 2 - Play reading
May 16 - Workshop
June 6 - Play reading
June 20 - Workshop

The St. Louis Writers' Group is dedicated to the development of area playwrights, screenwriters and writers of musical theater through reading, discussions and workshops. For more information about this reading or organization or for information about submitting a work for a reading, checkout our web site, www.stlwritersgroup.com, Phone 314-865-1296, or send an e-mail to farwemar at aol.com

High Times

In my capacity as the senior performing arts critic and performing arts producer at 88.1 KDHX, I get a fair number of press releases about local theatre events on a regular basis. It occurred to me that I could do worse than to pass the news along to anyone who might actually be reading this here blog.

Here, then, is the first in a series of series of releases relevant to the local theatre scene, prefaced by my own sagacious (or not) views on the subject.  I have edited the original copy for length but not for content.

My take: I was somewhat underwhelmed by High when I saw it last year.  The script struck me as clumsily written and overly dependent on the "big secret" gimmick to create dramatic tension.  Of the three characters described in the press release below, only the addict, Corey, seemed to have any real life or depth - possibly because the author is also a recovering addict.  On the other hand, given the fact that High has been in a pretty much constant state of revision for some time now, it's possible that the show I saw and the one that New Yorkers will see in the spring will be very different animals.

Given the celebrity-driven nature of the Broadway stage, it's possible that Turner's name on the bill might be enough to assure High of an audience, but I wouldn't bet on it.

The press release:

The Rep to Produce High on Broadway

After a successful run in St. Louis, Matthew Lombardo’s new play is Broadway-bound

ST. LOUIS, MO – The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) announced today that it is a producer of Matthew Lombardo’s High, directed by Rob Ruggiero and starring movie and stage actress Kathleen Turner, opening on Broadway this spring.

Leonard Soloway, Chase Mishkin, Terry. E. Schnuck, Ann Cady Scott, Timothy J. Hampton, James and Catherine Berges, The Shubert Organization and The Rep will produce the Broadway run.
High will begin previews on Friday, March 25 and open officially on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at the Booth Theatre in New York City. High will play Tuesday – Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2:00 pm & Sunday matinees at 3:00 pm.

Tickets will be available beginning Monday, January 24 online at Telecharge.com or by phone at (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250. The Booth Theatre Box Office (222 W. 45th St) will open on Friday, March 4th. Ticket prices range from $61.50–$111.50 with a special preview price of $61.50–$91.50 for performances March 25–April 18.

A $26.50 ticket will be reserved for the first row for all performances, for audience members ages 17–21. Interested ticket buyers can purchase these seats at the Booth Theatre box office only, the day of the performance.  There will be a limit of two tickets per person.

In July 2010, High premiered at TheaterWorks in Hartford, Connecticut, followed by the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park in September 2010 and The Rep in October 2010.

The cast includes Tony Award® nominee Kathleen Turner as Sister Jamison Connelly, Tony Award® nominee Stephen Kunken (Enron) as Father Michael Delpapp and Evan Jonigkeit making his Broadway debut as Cody Randall.

High explores the universal themes of truth, forgiveness, redemption and human fallibility. When Sister Jamison Connelly (Turner) agrees to sponsor a 19 year–old drug user in an effort to help him combat his addiction, her own faith is ultimately tested. Struggling between the knowledge she possesses as a rehabilitation counselor and a woman of religious conviction, she begins to question her belief in miracles and whether people can find the courage to change.

"I am absolutely thrilled that The Rep has the opportunity to help produce High on Broadway," said Steve Woolf, artistic director of The Rep.  "We were asked to sign on as a producer because of the work we did in developing High during its pre–Broadway run and the success which the show had in St. Louis. Initially, we were reluctant to do this because we did not want to commit The Rep’s money to backing a Broadway show.  After giving it a little more thought, we were able to come up with a unique plan whereby we asked supporters of The Rep to invest in the Broadway production on our behalf.  Through this mechanism, we have raised about 30% of the capitalization of the Broadway production from investors in St. Louis.  It has been a great opportunity for us to be part of the Broadway producing team, without putting any of The Rep’s money at risk," said Woolf.

Over 19,000 people came to see High at The Rep during its four–week run, with 90% of shows completely selling out, making it the one of the highest selling shows in The Rep’s history.

Playwright Matthew Lombardo is also thrilled with The Rep’s involvement in taking High to Broadway. "I am so excited to continue my collaboration with The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. This venue in particular has been instrumental in the development of my play and it is so wonderful to have them onboard as one of our Broadway producers. This accomplishment would not have been possible without The Rep’s unwavering commitment and dedication."

High contains mature themes, strong language, and nudity. A parent or guardian will be required to accompany audience members under 17.


For more information on High on Broadway visit http://www.highonbroadway.com. To purchase tickets, visit Telecharge.com or call (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250.

For information on The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and the current season of shows, visit http://www.repstl.org or call (314) 968-4925.

St. Louis Theatre calendar for the week of January 24, 2011

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

I'm now adding my own purely personal comments to events about which I think I have anything worthwhile to say. Because that's what bloggers do.  If I have left your show out, please leave a comment with all the details.

Everydaycircus Inc. performs shows hourly from 11 AM to 4 PM each weekend at City Museum, 701 N. 15th St. Shows are FREE with regular museum admission. (645-4445 or 231-CITY).

The Fall of Heaven

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents The Fall Of Heaven Tuesdays through Sundays through January 30. Performances take place at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org. St. Louis audiences tend to give standing ovations for almost anything, but the one we gave Mosley's adaptation of his novel The Tempest Tales the night I saw this show was thoroughly deserved. A wonderful, literate script, top-notch cast, flawless direction and (as usual) polished tech work all combined to make an unforgettable evening of theatre. Get your tickets now! Read Andrea Braun's review for 88.1 KDHX.

Circus Harmony presents Grazioso, their “annual confluence of music and circus arts”, Fridays at 7 PM, and Saturdays at 2 and 7 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM, through January 30. Performances take place on the third floor of CIty Museum downtown. The show features 27 flying children and a 7-piece band, under the direction of Adam Rugo. For more information, visit circusharmony.org or call 314-436-7676. Tickets include admission to City Museum.

The Hundred Dresses

The COCA Family Theatre Series presents The Hundred Dresses, adapted from the Newbery Honor and Caldecott Medal book, Friday at 7 PM and Saturday at 2:20 and 7 PM, January 28 and 29. COCA is at 524 Trinity in University City. For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

West County Family Y's Y-Rep Troupers and the Chesterfield Community Theatre present King Midas and the Golden Touch Friday at 10 AM and 12 PM, Saturday at 12 PM and Sunday at 2 PM, January 28 through 30. Performances take place at the West County YMCa, 16464 Burkhardt Place. For more information, call (636) 532-6515 Ext. 227.

The Missouri History Museum presents a Teens Make History production of Nobody’s Boy, described as a “story of the struggle for freedom in antebellum St. Louis”, Saturdays at 11:30 AM, through February 19. The museum is at Lindell and De Baliviere in Forest Park. For more information, call 314-746-4599 or visit mohistory.org.

Pericles

The Black Rep presents Shakespeare's Pericles through January 30. Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For more information, call 314-534-3810.  It will be interesting to see what they do with this rarely-performed bit of semi-Shakespeare (scholars think he may have only written half of it). The company web site describes it as "a panorama of breathtaking visual imagery creating a stunning metaphor for the African American experience". The full title is Pericles, Prince of Tyre - a purely fictional character who has, AFAIK, nothing to do with the real-life Athenian statesman. Read Andrea Braun's review for 88.1, KDHX.

Reckless

Clayton Community Theatre presents the dark comedy Reckless Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, January 28 through February 6. Performances take place at the Washington University South Campus Theatre. For more information, call 314-721-9228 or visit placeseveryone.org.

Mustard Seed Theatre presents Shadowlands, based on the real-life story of C.S. Lewis, who unexpectedly falls in love with young American poet Joy Gresham. Performances take place Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, January 28 through February 13, 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.

The Missouri History Museum presents The Tragical Comedy of the French, Spanish, French American Ville de Saint Louis Saturdays at 2 PM through February 26. The museum is at Lindell and De Baliviere in Forest Park. For more information, call 314-746-4599 or visit mohistory.org.

The Year of Magical Thinking

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the one-woman show The Year Of Magical Thinking, starring St. Louis’s own Fontaine Syer, Tuesdays through Sundays through January 30. 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.  Fontaine, as many of we local theatre veterans will recall, was one of the driving forces behind the late Theatre Project Company.  Read Andrea Braun's review for 88.1, KDHX.

The Sixth Annual Keven Kline Awards Nominations

[Updated January 25, 2011, to include the official press release and list of participating companies.]

As my earlier post on the subject indicated, I'm something of a skeptic as to the vaule of the Kevin Kline Awards as a way to raise awareness of theatre among the general public here in St. Louis. That said, the annual awards are still often a topic of lively discussion in theatre circles, so I'd be doing the local theatre scene a disservice if I didn't at least let everyone know who was nominated for what.

Congratulations to all the nominees.  The awards ceremony will take place Monday, March 28 at the Loretto-Hilton Center in Webster Groves. For more information, surf on over to the official web site.

Here's the official press release from the KK organization:
========================================


ST. LOUIS, MO - Twenty-two St. Louis theater companies are represented in the nominations for the Sixth Annual Kevin Kline Awards. Thirty plays and musicals produced in the St. Louis area during 2010 now share 112 nominations in 22 different categories for the coveted award.

The Muny received the most with 21 nominations, followed by The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis with 17 nominations and Stages St. Louis with 15.
 
Stages St. Louis’ production of the musical Promises, Promises received 7 nominations, the highest of any musical nominated. The non-musical production with the highest number of nominations was High by The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, receiving 8 nominations.
 
Fifty-eight actors, directors, choreographers, playwrights, composers and designers, along with an additional 13 acting Ensembles receivednominations. Three artists received multiple nominations.
    
“We are incredibly lucky to have such an overwhelming amount of professional productions and talent in the St. Louis theatre community,” said Edward Coffield of the Kevin Kline Awards. “2010 was an especially fantastic year for theatre in St. Louis, of which these nominations are just one testament.” 

The Professional Theatre Awards Council (PTAC), a non-profit, 501c(3) organization, was formed in 2004 to promote and celebrate excellence in St. Louis professional theatre. During the twelve months of 2010, 118 different plays and musicals were evaluated by a floating pool of 45 judges. Each show was seen by seven judges (children’s shows were seen by three judges), and each judge was required to submit his or her ballot within 24 hours of attending a production, thus insuring that each production was weighed on its own merits rather than in comparison to others.

The Sixth Annual Kevin Kline Awards ceremony will be held on Monday, March 28, 2011, at the Loretto-Hilton Center in Webster Groves. Ticket information will be available soon on the Kevin Kline Awards website at www.kevinklineawards.org. 

2010 Participants
Act Inc
Avalon Theatre Company
Bear Stage
Black Cat
The Black Rep
Blue Rose Collective
Citilites Theatre
DisAbility
Dramatic License Productions
Echo Theatre Company
First Run Theatre
Gitana
HotCity Theatre
Insight Theatre Company
ITC/The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
JPEK
Max and Louie Productions
Metro Theatre Comapny
The Midnight Company
Muddy Waters Theatre
The Muny
Mustard Seed Theatre
New Jewish  Theatre
NewLine Theatre
Non-Prophet Theatrer Company
OnSite Theatre Company
Playback Theatre Workshop
Royal Dumpe
Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble (SATE)
Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
Soundstage Productions
St. Louis Shakespeare/Magic Smoking Monkey
Stages St. Louis
St. Louis Actors Studio
Stray Dog Theatre
Temporary Theatre
Upstream Theater
West End Players Guild
Y-Rep


2010 Nominations

Outstanding Production for Young Audiences
Delilah’s Wish, Metro Theatre Company
A Peter Rabbit Tale, The Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company
Amelia Earhart, The Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company
The Aristocats, Stages St. Louis
The Nutcracker, The Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company

Outstanding New Play or Musical
The Sinker, HotCity Theatre
Eye on the Sparrow - The World Within St. Louis, Gitana
Oedipus King, Upstream Theatre
Treading Backward Thru Quicksand Without Wearing Your Water Wings, Black Cat

Outstanding Costume Design
Tartuffe, Mustard Seed
Hamlet, Shakespeare Festival  St. Louis
Aristocats, Stages St. Louis
Crumbs From the Table of Joy, Mustard Seed Theatre
High, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Lighting Design
Crime and Punishment, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Big River, Stages St. Louis
Promises, Promises, Stages St. Louis
High, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Set Design
Crime and Punishment, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
It Had to be You, Max and Louie Productions
Promises, Promises, Stages St. Louis
Oedipus King, Upstream Theatre
High, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Sound Design
The 39 Steps, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outlying Islands, Upstream Theatre
Hamlet, Shakespeare Festival  St. Louis
Slasher, HotCity Theatre

Outstanding Ensemble in a Play
The 39 Steps, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Outlying Islands, Upstream Theatre
Hamlet, Shakespeare Festival  St. Louis
High, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
The Chosen, Mustard Seed Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
Kari Ely, Why Torture is Wrong, and The People Who Love Them, HotCity Theatre
Kimiye Corwin, Hamlet, Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis
Colleen Backer, Our Town, Stray Dog Theatre
Patrese McClain, Crumbs From the Table of Joy, Mustard Seed Theatre
Kelley Ryan, Equus, HotCity Theatre
Betsy Bowman, The Tempest, Shakespeare Company of St. Louis
Susan Greenhill, Next Fall, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
Jerry Vogel, Outlying Islands, Upstream Theatre
Bobby Miller, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, New Jewish Theatre
Evan Jonigkeit, High, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Richard Lewis, The Chosen, Mustard Seed Theatre
Aaron Orion Baker, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Muddy Waters

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
Michelle Hand, Fires in the Mirror, Mustard Seed Theatre
Magan Wiles, My Name is Rachel Corrie, Blue Rose Stage Collective
Kathleen Turner, High, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Kari Ely, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Muddy Waters

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
Jason Cannon, Outlying Islands, Upstream Theatre
Scott McMaster, Outlying Islands, Upstream Theatre
Jim Butz, Hamlet, Shakespeare Festival  St. Louis
Drew Pannebacker, Equus, HotCity Theatre
Alan Knoll, This Wonderful Life, Dramatic License Productions

Outstanding Director of a Play
Philip Boehm, Outlying Islands, Upstream Theatre
Bruce Longworth, Hamlet, Shakespeare Festival  St. Louis
Doug Finlayson, Equus, HotCity Theatre
Philip Boehm, Oedipus King, Upstream Theatre
Rob Ruggiero, High, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Deanna Jent, The Chosen, Mustard Seed Theatre

Outstanding Production of a Play
Outlying Islands, Upstream Theatre
Hamlet, Shakespeare Festival  St. Louis
High, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
The Chosen, Mustard Seed Theatre

Outstanding Director of Musical
Ron Himes, Five Guys Named Moe, The Black Rep
Paul Blake, Damn Yankees, The Muny
Michael Hamilton, Promises, Promises, Stages St. Louis
Marc Bruni, Sound of Music, The Muny
Edward Coffield, Man of La Mancha, Insight

Outstanding Choreography
Lazette Rayford-O’Brien, Five Guys Named Moe, The Black Rep
Heather Beal, The Me Nobody Knows, The Black Rep
Mary MacLeod, Damn Yankees, The Muny
Suzanne Viverito, Cats, The Muny

Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical
Five Guys Named Moe, The Black Rep
The Wild Party, New Line
Damn Yankees, The Muny
Cats, The Muny
Aristocats, Stages St. Louis
Show Boat, The Muny
State Fair, Stages St. Louis
Last of the Red Hot Mamas, New Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Sharisa Whatley, The Me Nobody Knows, The Black Rep
Brandi Wooten, Promises, Promises, Stages St. Louis
Jo Ann Hawkins White, Show Boat, The Muny
Johanna Elkana-Hale, Last of the Red Hot Mama, New Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Joneal Joplin, The Fantasticks, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Lara Teeter, Beauty and the Beast, The Muny
Kevin Loreque, Cats, The Muny
Michel Bell, Show Boat, The Muny

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Vanessa Rubin, Yesterdays: An evening with Billie Holiday, The Black Rep
Stephanie J. Block, Cats, The Muny
Ashley Brown, The Sound of Music, The Muny
Leah Horowitz, Show Boat, The Muny
Hollie Howard, State Fair, Stages St. Louis

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Ben Nordstrom, Gutenberg! The Musical!, Temporary Theatre
John Sparger, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Bear Stage
Jeffrey Pruett, The Wild Party, New Line
Eric Kunze, Damn Yankees, The Muny
Ben Nordstrom, Promises, Promises, Stages St. Louis

Outstanding Musical Direction
Charles Creath, Five Guys Named Moe, The Black Rep
Sallie duMaine, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Bear Stage
Michael Horsley, Damn Yankees, The Muny
Lisa Campbell Albert, Promises, Promises, Stages St. Louis
Ben Whiteley, Sound of Music, The Muny
Catherine Majetka, Show Boat, The Muny
Henry Palkes, Last of the Red Hot Mamas, New Jewish Theatre

Outstanding Production of a Musical
Five Guys Named Moe, The Black Rep
Big River, Stages St. Louis
Damn Yankees, The Muny
Promises, Promises, Stages St. Louis
Sound of Music, The Muny
Show Boat, The Muny
State Fair, Stages St. Louis

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of January 17, 2011

Updated Saturday, January 22, 2011

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

I'm now adding my own purely personal comments to events about which I think I have anything worthwhile to say. Because that's what bloggers do.

Cooking With Elisa

Upstream Theatre presents Cooking With Elisa through January 23. Performances take place at 305 South Skinker. This is the US premiere of the play by Argentine author Lucía Laragione, in an English version by Upstream's Artistic Director Philip Boehm.  Bonnie Taylor directs. For more information, visit www.upstreamtheater.org or call 314-863-4999.  Read Missy Miller's review for 88.1, KDHX.

First Run Theatre presents An Evening of One Acts Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM though January 23. The plays are "Don’t Stop Believing” by Courtney Kennedy and “A Moment of Grace” by Bill Borst. Performances take place at DeSmet Jesuit High Schoo, 233 N New Ballas Road. For more information, call 314-352-5114 or visit www.firstruntheatre.com.

WAPP Theater Company presents An Evening with Taylor Pietz and Mike Dowdy on Saturday, January 22, at Black Cat Theatre, 2810 Sutton in Maplewood. Al Fischer is pianist and music director. For more information, call 314-781-8300 or visit blackcattheatre.org.  I've worked with both of these ladies and can testify to their immense talent and theatrical smarts.  Together, they ought to be an unbeatable team.

Everydaycircus Inc. performs shows hourly from 11 AM to 4 PM each weekend at City Museum, 701 N. 15th St. Shows are FREE with regular museum admission. (645-4445 or 231-CITY).

The Fall of Heaven

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents The Fall Of Heaven Tuesdays through Sundays through January 30. Performances take place at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org. St. Louis audiences tend to give standing ovations for almost anything, but the one we gave Mosley's adaptation of his novel The Tempest Tales the night I saw this show was thoroughly deserved. A wonderful, literate script, top-notch cast, flawless direction and (as usual) polished tech work all combined to make an unforgettable evening of theatre. Get your tickets now! Read Andrea Braun's review for 88.1 KDHX.

The Giver

Metro Theatre Company and the The Edison Theatre at Washington University present the St. Louis premiere of The Giver, Eric Coble's stage adaptation of Lois Lowry's celebrated novel, through January 23. Each performance will be immediately followed by a discussion exploring questions raised by the story. The play is recommended for adults and young people 10 and over. For more information, call the Edison Theatre Box Office at (314) 935-6543 or call Metro Theater at (314) 997-6777.  Read Bob Wilcox's review for 88.1, KDHX.

Circus Harmony presents Grazioso, their “annual confluence of music and circus arts”, Fridays at 7 PM, and Saturdays at 2 and 7 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM, January 22 through 30. Performances take place on the third floor of CIty Museum downtown. The show features 27 flying children and a 7-piece band, under the direction of Adam Rugo. For more information, visit circusharmony.org or call 314-436-7676. Tickets include admission to City Museum.

Carolbeth True

The Sheldon Concert Hall presents Jazz and Pop Standards with pianist Carolbeth True and vocalist Christi John on Saturday, January 22, at 11 AM. The Sheldon is at 3648 Washington. For more information, call 314-533-9900 or visit thesheldon.org.

The St. Louis Family Theatre Series presents the musical Junie B. Jones, based on the books by Barbara Park, Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM, January 22 and 23. Performances take place at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre at Parker and Waterford in Florissant, MO. For more information, call 314-921-5678 or visit www.florissantmo.com.

Alton Little Theater presents the drama Kindertransport through January 21 at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

The COCA Family Theatre Series presents Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, based the picture book by Mo Williams, Saturday and Sunday, January 22 and 23. COCA is at 524 Trinity in University City. For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

Mariposa Artists presents a Moonglow Cabaret Series concert on Saturday, January 22, from 6 to 8 PM. The featured performers are Liz Murphy, Katie McGrath, Charlene Reimann, Debbie Schuster, and Jeff Wright. Carol Schmidt is the pianist and music director. The free concert takes place at Schwaig Art Glass, 1916 Park Avenue in Lafayette Square. For more information, call 314-776-4442 or visit fabartscenter.com.  Mariposa Artists is the brainchild of St. Louis cabaret artist Robert Breig and is dedicated to providing opportunities for other local cabaret pros.  The performers in this concert represent a great cross-section of the local cabaret scene and the venue - a charming art glass studio in the gracious Lafayette Square neighborhood - adds considerably to the atmosphere.

The Missouri History Museum presents a Teens Make History production of Nobody’s Boy, described as a “story of the struggle for freedom in antebellum St. Louis”, Saturdays at 11:30 AM, January 22 through February 19. The museum is at Lindell and De Baliviere in Forest Park. For more information, call 314-746-4599 or visit mohistory.org.

Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents the comedy Perfect Wedding Saturday and Saturday at 8 PM  January 22 and 23. Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre of the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road. For more information, call 314-821-9956 or visit ktg-onstage.org.  Read Laura Kyro's review for 88.1, KDHX.

Pericles

The Black Rep presents Shakespeare's Pericles through January 30. Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For more information, call 314-534-3810.  It will be interesting to see what they do with this rarely-performed bit of semi-Shakespeare (scholars think he may have only written half of it). The company web site describes it as "a panorama of breathtaking visual imagery creating a stunning metaphor for the African American experience". The full title is Pericles, Prince of Tyre - a purely fictional character who has, AFAIK, nothing to do with the real-life Athenian statesman. Read Andrea Braun's review for 88.1, KDHX.

RS Theatrics presents a staged reading of Don Nigro's Scarecrow on Saturday, January 22, at 8 PM. The performances take place at Soundstage Productions in the Crestwood Plaza ArtSpace. For more information, call (314) 968-8070 or visit soundstageproductions.net.

Webster University's Opera Studio presents an evening of scenes from operas, including Don Giovanni, Carmen, Puccini's La Rondine and Menotti's The Old Maid and the Thief, in honor of the 100th anniversary of Gian-Carlo Menotti's birth. Performances are Saturday at 7 PM and Sunday at 4 PM, January 22 and 23, in the Heagney Theatre
at Nerinx Hall High School, 530 E. Lockwood Avenue. For more information, call 314-968-7032.

Black Cat Theatre presents the children's musical Snow White and the 8th Dwarf Saturday, January 22, at 11 AM. The performance takes place at 2810 Sutton in Maplewood, MO. For more information, call 314-781-8300 or visit blackcattheatre.org.

The Missouri History Museum presents The Tragical Comedy of the French, Spanish, French American Ville de Saint Louis Saturdays at 2 PM, January 22 through February 26. The museum is at Lindell and De Baliviere in Forest Park. For more information, call 314-746-4599 or visit mohistory.org.

The Missouri History Museum presents the Freed-Yorick Theatre Ensemble production of Voices, “a performance piece that weaves the writings of Emily Dickinson, Anne Frank, Langston Hughes, Helen Keller and Henry David Thoreau together in a thrilling collage set to original music”. Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM through January 23 at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. For more information, call 314-361-9017 or visit mohistory.org.  Read Andrea Braun's review for 88.1, KDHX.

The Year of Magical Thinking

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the one-woman show The Year Of Magical Thinking, starring St. Louis’s own Fontaine Syer, Tuesdays through Sundays through January 30. 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.  Fontaine, as many of we local theatre veterans will recall, was one of the driving forces behind the late Theatre Project Company.  Read Andrea Braun's review for 88.1, KDHX.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of January 10, 2011

[Updated Wednesday, January 12, 2011] 

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

I'm now adding my own purely personal comments to events about which I think I have anything worthwhile to say. Because that's what bloggers do.

Christina Rios

Black Cat Theatre Cabaret presents Christina Rios and Dennis Folwarczy on Friday, January 14, at Black Cat Theatre, 2810 Sutton in Maplewood. For more information, call 314-781-8300 or visit blackcattheatre.org.

Cooking With Elisa

Upstream Theatre presents Cooking With Elisa through January 23. Performances take place at 305 South Skinker. This is the US premiere of the play by Argentine author Lucía Laragione, in an English version by Upstream's Artistic Director Philip Boehm.  Bonnie Taylor directs. For more information, visit www.upstreamtheater.org or call 314-863-4999.  Read Missy Miller's review for 88.1, KDHX.

First Run Theatre presents An Evening of One Acts Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, January 14 though 23. The plays are "Don’t Stop Believing” by Courtney Kennedy and “A Moment of Grace” by Bill Borst. Performances take place at DeSmet Jesuit High Schoo, 233 N New Ballas Road. For more information, call 314-352-5114 or visit www.firstruntheatre.com.

Ron Youngman presents his one-man show Follies, Vanities and Scandals, featuring songs from the early 20th century, on Sunday, January 16, at 2 and 7 PM. Carol Schmidt is pianist and music director for the show, which takes place at the Kranzberg Center, 501 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/138624.  I haven't seen Ron's work before, but since he has acknowledged that my own Vaudeville cabaret act, Just a Song at Twilight (which played the Kranzberg Center last spring and summer) was an influence, there was no way I was going to miss this show.  Besides, I've worked with Carol Schmidt in the very recent past and have immense respect for her talent as a result.

Everydaycircus Inc. performs shows hourly from 11 AM to 4 PM each weekend at City Museum, 701 N. 15th St. Shows are FREE with regular museum admission. (645-4445 or 231-CITY).

The Fall of Heaven

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents The Fall Of Heaven Tuesdays through Sundays through January 30. Performances take place at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.  I'm a big fan of Walter Mosley's crime novels, so I'm looking forward to his stage adaptation of his fantasy novel The Tempest Tales.  Great novelists aren't necessarily great playwrights, so it will be something of an adventure.  Read Andrea Braun's review for 88.1 KDHX.

The Giver

Metro Theatre Company and the The Edison Theatre at Washington University present the St. Louis premiere of The Giver, Eric Coble's stage adaptation of Lois Lowry's celebrated novel, through January 23. Each performance will be immediately followed by a discussion exploring questions raised by the story. The play is recommended for adults and young people 10 and over. For more information, call the Edison Theatre Box Office at (314) 935-6543 or call Metro Theater at (314) 997-6777.  Read Bob Wilcox's review for 88.1, KDHX.

Alton Little Theater presents the drama Kindertransport January 14 through 21 at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

Over the River and
Through the Woods

The Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents the comedy Over The River And Through The Woods through January 16. Performances take place in the Guild theatre at Newport and Summit in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, visit theaterguildwg.org or call 314-962-0876.  I acted in the St. Louis premiere of this script several years ago with Act Inc.  It has since made its way around most of the community theatre groups in town, and for obvious reasons:  it's a funny, well-written piece about an eccentric but loving family, with great roles for both young and old actors.  If the Webster folks do right by the script it should be a fun evening.  Read Bob Wilcox's review for 88.1, KDHX.

Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents the comedy Perfect Wedding Thursday [January 20 only] through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday [January 16 only] at 2 PM, January 14 through 22. Performances take place in the Robert G. Reim Theatre of the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 South Geyer Road. For more information, call 314-821-9956 or visit ktg-onstage.org.

Pericles

The Black Rep presents Shakespeare's Pericles through January 30. Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For more information, call 314-534-3810.  It will be interesting to see what they do with this rarely-performed bit of semi-Shakespeare (scholars think he may have only written half of it). The company web site describes it as "a panorama of breathtaking visual imagery creating a stunning metaphor for the African American experience". The full title is Pericles, Prince of Tyre - a purely fictional character who has, AFAIK, nothing to do with the real-life Athenian statesman. Read Andrea Braun's review for 88.1, KDHX.

The Missouri History Museum presents the Freed-Yorick Theatre Ensemble production of Voices, “a performance piece that weaves the writings of Emily Dickinson, Anne Frank, Langston Hughes, Helen Keller and Henry David Thoreau together in a thrilling collage set to original music”. Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, January 13 through 23, at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. For more information, call 314-361-9017 or visit mohistory.org.

Stray Rescue St. Louis presents Wasting Away in Barkaritaville, a benefit stage play inspired by stray dogs, on Saturday, January 14 at 8 PM. Doors open at 7 PM for the event, which includes beverages, finger foods, a raffle and book signing by Stray Rescue founder Randy Grimm, as well as a guest appearance by the STL Parrot Heads. All proceeds benefit Stray Rescue. The show takes place at Stray Dog Theatre, 2336 Tennessee. For more information send email to barkaritaville at yahoo.com. The cast includes yours truly along with a number of other very fine local actors.  It promises to be a fun evening and all in a good cause to boot.

The Year of Magical Thinking

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the one-woman show The Year Of Magical Thinking, starring St. Louis’s own Fontaine Syer, Tuesdays through Sundays, January 12 through 30. 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.  Fontaine, as many of we local theatre veterans will recall, was one of the driving forces behind the late Theatre Project Company.

The St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of January 3, 2011

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

I'm now adding my own purely personal comments to events about which I think I have anything worthwhile to say. Because that's what bloggers do.

Cooking With Elisa

Upstream Theatre presents Cooking With Elisa January 7 through 23. Performances take place at 305 South Skinker. This is the US premiere of the play by Argentine author Lucía Laragione, in an English version by Upstream's Artistic Director Philip Boehm.  Bonnie Taylor directs. For more information, visit www.upstreamtheater.org or call 314-863-4999.

Everydaycircus Inc. performs shows hourly from 11 AM to 4 PM each weekend at City Museum, 701 N. 15th St. Shows are FREE with regular museum admission. (645-4445 or 231-CITY).

The Fall of Heaven

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents The Fall Of Heaven Tuesdays through Sundays, January 5 through 30. Performances take place at the Loretto-Hlton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, call 314-968-4925 or visit repstl.org.  I'm a big fan of Walter Mosley's crime novels, so I'm looking forward to his stage adaptation of his fantasy novel The Tempest Tales.  Great novelists aren't necessarily great playwrights, so it will be something of an adventure.

The Giver

Metro Theatre Company and the The Edison Theatre at Washington University present the St. Louis premiere of The Giver, Eric Coble's stage adaptation of Lois Lowry's celebrated novel, January 7 - 23. Each performance will be immediately followed by a discussion exploring questions raised by the story. The play is recommended for adults and young people 10 and over. For more information, call the Edison Theatre Box Office at (314) 935-6543 or call Metro Theater at (314) 997-6777.

The Fox Theatre presents Monty Python's Spamalot Friday through Sunday, January 7 through 9. The Fox is at 527 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, call 314-534-1678.  I reviewed the first tour of this when it came through town in November of 2006 and found that it had too much of everything, including running time.  Part of that was apparently due to the sluggish pacing of that tour - possibly an attempt to adjust to the fact that, with a seating capacity of over 5000, the Fox is nearly four times the size of the Shubert in New York, where Spamalot began.  The grapevine says this tour is being produced by a different organization and is using more non-Equity talent.  The load-in is also shorter, suggesting a technically simpler production.

The Theatre Guild of Webster Groves presents the comedy Over The River And Through The Woods January 7 through 16. Performances take place in the Guild theatre at Newport and Summit in Webster Groves, MO. For more information, visit theaterguildwg.org or call 314-962-0876.  I acted in the St. Louis premiere of this script several years ago with Act Inc.  It has since made its way around most of the community theatre groups in town, and for obvious reasons:  it's a funny, well-written piece about an eccentric but loving family, with great roles for both young and old actors.  If the Webster folks do right by the script it should be a fun evening.

The Black Rep presents Shakespeare's Pericles January 5 through 30. Performances take place at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For more information, call 314-534-3810.  It will be interesting to see what they do with this rarely-performed bit of semi-Shakespeare (scholars think he may have only written half of it). The company web site describes it as "a panorama of breathtaking visual imagery creating a stunning metaphor for the African American experience". The full title is Pericles, Prince of Tyre - a purely fictional character who has, AFAIK, nothing to do with the real-life Athenian statesman.

Ridgefield Middle School Talent Nite

Jo Firestone and Dylan Marron present their two-person, 17-character comedy Ridgefield Middle School Talent Nite Friday and Saturday, January 7 and 8, at 8 PM at The Auditorium at Wydown Middle School, 6500 Wydown. For more information, visit talentnite.blogspot.com or send email to ridgefieldtheplay at gmail.com.

Bright Lights, Big City

Who: The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
What: City Lights
Where: Powell Symphony Hall, St. Louis
When: December 29 and 30, 2010

Referring to the ambiguous final frames of Charlie Chaplin's romantic comedy City Lights (Will the Blind Girl still love The Tramp now that her sight has been restored and she can see he's not the gentleman she thought him to be?), film archivist Reg Hartt noted "roughly 20% of every audience I have ever shown the film to needs to be left alone for about fifteen minutes when the picture ends." The enthusiastic applause that followed the movie and the orchestra's flawless live performance of the score made that kind of contemplation impractical at the time, but on the drive home it was possible to reflect on just how anarchically funny and oddly touching Chaplin's masterpiece still is nearly 80 years after its premiere.

Although talkies were already the rage by 1931, Chaplin kept City Lights voice free, convinced that The Tramp would be more of a universal character if he didn't speak. There's a soundtrack with music and synchronized sound effects—including one brilliant scene involving a swallowed whistle and a pack of dogs—but dialogue is still shown with silent film intertitles. It was a smart choice; without extraneous chat, Chaplin's brilliantly choreographed physical comedy takes center stage. The famous boxing sequence, in which Chaplin dances around Eddie Baker's hapless Referee in an effort to avoid Hank Mann's formidable Prizefighter, is just one of a sequence of comic set pieces that are so hilarious because they are so precise.

In classic auteur fashion, Chaplin produced, wrote, directed, and (for the first time) composed the music for City Lights. By contemporary standards the score is a bit lightweight, repeating a relatively small set of themes with little elaboration, but it serves the film extraordinarily well. Ever the perfectionist, Chaplin labored long and hard over very page. The finished product, in a 2004 performing edition by Timothy Brock, integrates so seamlessly with the on-screen action that, as Brock observed, spoken dialogue "would not only be repetitive but it would be counterproductive".

Performing a live score in synch with a film requires a degree of precision and attention to detail that Chaplin would have understood and which David Robertson and the St. Louis Symphony possess in abundance. The comedic moments were appropriately rambunctious, while the sentimental scenes—usually accompanied by a string quartet—were utterly charming. The whole experience was, in short, an aural and visual delight.

There's something oddly comforting in the realization that a film made so many decades ago can still enchant and entertain an audience in the Internet Age. St. Louisans have one more chance to experience that enchantment on Thursday, December 30th, at 7:30 PM. As a late holiday treat, it's hard to beat. City Lights runs just under 90 minutes and it's family friendly in the best sense of the term in that both kids and adults will find it entertaining. You can even bring your popcorn and drinks into the hall. For more information, call the box office at 314-534-1700 or visit the web site at stlsymphony.org.

Car Talk

Recently on the local theatre email lists there came a pause in the day’s preoccupation with the Kevin Kline Awards to inquire about a bumper sticker seen on many cars at theatrical performances.

Now I don’t have much use for bumper stickers as a tool of persuasion. Do any of you good folks really believe, for example, that the driver doing the Creepy Crawl behind you on I-64 is going to vote yes or no on Proposition Whatever based on the one-line call to action on the rear end of your vehicle? If so, I’ve got the bridge in New York I’d love to sell you, along with several shares in the Beefsteak Mines.

For this bumper sticker, however, I’ll make an exception. It broadcasts a call to action that I can really get behind. It’s the work of local actor and independent businessman Greg Johnston and it consists of four simple words: “Go see a play”.

Now I’ll grant you that, as an actor and theatre/music critic, I’m not entirely a neutral party here. But the fact is that going to see a play – any play, by any company in any theatre – produces benefits that go far beyond simply making the performers feel that all their work was not in vain.

To begin with, the vast majority of the plays (musical or non) on St. Louis stages are entirely local productions. The actors, techies, and backstage support folks are mostly your neighbors and – considering how difficult it is to make a living from acting here in Mound City – probably your co-workers as well.

There’s also a significant economic “ripple effect”, as anyone who has ever tried to get a table at Cyrano’s after a Repertory Theater of St. Louis performance can attest. Restaurants and bars near a theatre almost always see a spike in attendance before and after the show. Add in the other stuff a theatre company has to buy locally – props, costumes, set building materials, office supplies and the like – and the impact can be significant.

Money matters aside, though, the best reason you should go see a play is that there’s nothing quite as compelling as seeing and hearing real, live, non-virtual people on stage. When it’s live and in person, comedy is more hilarious, drama is more gripping, and musical theatre has a visceral impact that the best multi-channel sound system can’t quite deliver. It’s in 3D and you don’t need special glasses.

It won’t cost you an arm, leg, or other bodily appendage, either. While a prime seat for the latest Broadway hit at the Fox might set you back a pretty (or even homely) penny, the prices at the vast majority of local live theatres are closer to those at the local googleplex cinema, and the sound is a heck of a lot better.

Of course, you don’t have to take my word for this. You can check it out yourself. Take a look at my St. Louis Theatre Calendar at calendar.stageleft.org or on this here blog to see what I mean. Or check out the Regional Arts Commission’s searchable calendar at artszipper.com. “Life upon the wicked stage” (to quote Mr. Kern’s Showboat) is alive and well in St. Louis.

So turn off your TV, shut down your PC, and go out and see a play. You’ll have a great time. And you might even be able to get one of those cool bumper stickers.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of December 27, 2010

[Updated Thursday, December 30, 2010]

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

I'm now adding my own purely personal comments to events about which I think I have anything worthwhile to say. Because that's what bloggers do.

Everydaycircus Inc. performs shows hourly from 11 AM to 4 PM each weekend at City Museum, 701 N. 15th St. Shows are FREE with regular museum admission. (645-4445 or 231-CITY).

First Night, Grand Center's annual New Year's Eve celebration of the performing and visual arts, starts at 6 PM on Friday, December 31. In keeping with this year's theme, Fasta-sea, Grand Boulevard will be illuminated and animated in a colorful display of blue and green "aquarium" lights and projections. More than 150 performing and visual artists will participate, including magician Justin Kredible, storyteller Bobby Norfolk, and performers from The Imaginary Theatre Company, The Improv Trick, Upstream Theater, as well as cabaret artists Joe Dreyer and Rosemary Watts. The evening concludes with a fireworks display at midnight.  For more information, visit www.grandcenter.org/firstnight/

David Robertson

The St. Louis Symphony, conducted by David Robertson presents a New Year's Eve Concert on Friday, December 31, at 7:30 PM at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, call 314-534-1700.  This is usually a very festive event which, according to the SLSO web site, will be "full of musical surprises".   One item you won't want to be surprised by: Grand will be closed from Lindell  to Delmar for First Night  (see above). The Veterans Administration parking lot across Delmar and the lot accessible from Samuel Shepard Drive are reserved for SLSO concertgoers at $10 per vehicle.  You'll need to present your concert tickets for admission into the lot.  You might want to arrive early and check out some First Night events before and/or after the concert.