St. Louis classical calendar for the week of December 14, 2015

The Songs of Africa Ensemble

Share on Google+:

African Musical Arts presents the Songs of Africa Ensemble on Tuesday, December 15, at 7:30 p.m. "Singing in more than 20 different African languages, their performances are audience-interactive, educational, and entertaining! The performance will be in the Goldberg Formal Lounge of the Danforth University Center at 6475 Forsyth Boulevard on the Washington University campus. For more information: africarts.org.

BandTogether presents a Holiday Concert on Saturday, December 19, at 8 PM. "We hope that you will make BandTogether a part of your holiday this year and join us for 'My Favorite Things,' our annual holiday concert. Come celebrate with us and hear classics like 'Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,' 'The Nutcracker,' “'Charlie Brown Christmas,' and 'O Holy Night,”' among many others. The BandTogether Colorguard will also be performing and showcasing their spinning and dancing skills with a routine set to the classic 'All I Want For Christmas Is You.'" The performance takes place at the 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity in University City, MO. For more information: www.bandtogetherstl.com.

The Chamber Chorus at St. Alphonsus Church

The St. Louis Chamber Chorus presents Concert Three: Christmas - Auf Deutsch! on Sunday, December 20, at 3 p.m. "The centerpiece of our festivities is the richly Romantic Friede auf Erden, an early work by Schoenberg, which is combined with various German carols often arranged by non-Germans! These include Stephen Paulus, John Rutter, and a commission from Yakov Gubanov." The concert takes place at Trinity Lutheran Church, 812 Soulard St. in Soulard. For more information: www.chamberchorus.org

The St. Louis Symphony's Crescendo Circle presents Sips and Symphonies on Thursday, December 17 at 7:00 PM. “What is Sips and Symphonies? It is a great way to learn about music in a fun, casual environment.” A special cocktail is created for each event to accompany the music. The event takes place at The Tavern of Fine Arts, 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The St. Louis Symphony presents A Gospel Christmas with the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus conducted by Kevin McBeth, on Thursday, December 17, at 7:30 p.m. "Grammy® Award-winning tenor Thomas Young joins the STL Symphony and IN UNISON Chorus led by Kevin McBeth for a night of soul-stirring Gospel music to celebrate the most joyous of seasons." The concert takes place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Santa at the symphony

Steven Jarvi conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Holiday Festival Chorus in the Macy's Holiday Celebration Friday and Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., December 18-20. "Make your spirit bright at Powell Hall as it's transformed into a magical place for all ages! Join us for St. Louis' favorite holiday tradition featuring timeless classics like 'White Christmas,' 'Winter Wonderland,' 'Most Wonderful Time of the Year,' selections from the beloved film The Polar Express, with a visit with jolly ol' St. Nick himself." The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents a classical open stage night on Monday, December 14, from 7:30 - 9 PM. “Come by yourself or bring your quartet. Sight read through a Beethoven quartet or use this as an opportunity to put the finishing touches on that Hindemith Viola Sonata you have been working on. All ages and skill levels are welcome. We have a 6' grand piano and an accompanist.” The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents a concert of music by Mendelssohn, Smetana, Dubois, and more by the St. Louis Flutete, a flute quartet, on Tuesday, December 15 at 5:30 p.m. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents a concert by violinist Ra'Geen Washington on Friday, December 18 at 5:30 p.m. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

Chuck's Choices for the weekend of December 11, 2015

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

Share on Google+:

New This Week:

Bad Jews
Photo: Eric Woolsey

New Jewish Theater presents Bad Jews through December 23. "Good Jews, Bad Jews - it's all relative in this razor sharp and savage comedy about family, faith, and legacy. Meet Daphna Feygenbaum, a "Real Jew" with an Israeli boyfriend who she met on Birthright. When Daphna's cousin Liam brings home his shiksa girlfriend Melody for their grandfather's shiva and declares ownership of "Poppy's" Chai necklace, a vicious and hilarious family brawl ensues.A gleefully funny, thought-provoking evening of theatre. Outrageously and laceratingly funny, it's about what you choose to believe when you're chosen." Rabbis Amy Feder abd Michael Alper from Temple Israel will host a talk back session after the 2 p.m. performance on Sunday, December 13. Performances take place in the Marvin and Harlene Wool Studio Theater at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive in Creve Coeur. For more information: www.newjewishtheatre.org or call 314-442-3283.

My take: New Jewish Theater has brought some intriguing new shows to town over the years, and this one appears to be a good example. In her review for KDHX, Tina Farmer says Bad Jews is "a clever script filled with just the right levity, enabling the excellent cast to deliver a deeply evocative and thought-provoking story that sneaks up on you with surprising force."

The Presenters Dolan presents Feyza Eren in A Bossa Nova Christmas on Thursday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m. "A native of St. Louis, Feyza Eren spent 15 years singing performing in the most popular concert halls and jazz clubs in Istanbul and jazz festivals throughout Turkey and Europe, She was a featured vocalist with the Ricky Ford Orchestra, and played at the Val de Jazz Festival in France and the Lionel Hampton Jazz Club in Paris." The performance takes place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis.

My take: With El Niño and global warming delivering a one-two punch of abnormally warm weather, St. Louis is already starting to feel a bit like Brazil, so why not go all the way? Besides the Emerald Room is a pretty cool, intimate space for cabaret and The Monocle bar's Art Deco Parisian decor is pleasantly classy.

Devil Boys from Beyond
Photo: John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre presents the comedy Devil Boys from Beyond Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through December 19. "Men are from Mars; women are from Venus; all the rest are from Pluto. A high-camp parody of '50s B-movies and trashy romance novels, mixed with a dash of 'Adult Swim' cartoon. Fold in a heaping portion of screwball comedy and stir gently but keep it lumpy!" Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

My take: Ah, Stray Dog theatre! This small, smart local company treats is actors and its audiences like royalty and has produced some very fine work over the years. I'm a bit biased in that I've done a number of shows with them and always found the experience worthwhile, but the continued growth of their audience numbers and long string of good reviews indicate that I'm not alone in my admiration. "[T]he crisp, quick paced show," writes Tina Farmer in her review for KDHX, "is a mash up of science fiction and romantic comedy with abundant laughs, quirky characters, compromising situations, and a retro feel. To keep with the season, there's also and uplifting ending and genuine, positive messages about sexuality, gender roles, and acceptance."

The Gin Game
Photo: John Lamb

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents The Gin Game through December 20 at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. "This winner of the 1978 Pulitzer Prize, which originally starred Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn and was later revived with Julie Harris and Charles Durning, uses a card game as a metaphor for life. Weller Martin is playing solitaire on the porch of a seedy nursing home. Enter Fonsia Dorsey, a prim, self righteous lady. They discover they both dislike the home and enjoy gin rummy, so they begin to play and to reveal intimate details of their lives. Fonsia wins every time and their secrets become weapons used against one another. Weller longs for a victory to counter a lifetime of defeats but it doesn't happen. He leaves the stage a broken man and Fonsia realizes her self-righteous rigidity has led to an embittered, lonely old age." For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

My take: Donald Coburn's script has been a staple of small theatre groups for a long time now, and with good reason. It's filled with great lines for two very well-drawn characters. "Similar to the game of gin itself," writes Tina Farmer at KDHX, "the story behind each of the two characters in the show is neither as simple nor straightforward as it may first appear, and neither are willing to reveal their hand too quickly. The result is a show that teeters on the line between comic and tragic, accidentally revealing truth that is at times humorous to behold, at times painful to consider."

Wicked
Photo: Joan Marcus

The Fox Theatre presents the musical Wicked, based on the novel by Gregory McGuire, running through January 3. "Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One - born with emerald green skin - is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for 'the most complete - and completely satisfying - musical in a long time' (USA Today)." The Fox Theatre is at 517 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, fabulousfox.com or call 314-534-1678.

My take: I haven't seen this particular tour, but in my review of the 2005 tour I noted that composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz and book author Winnie Holtzman have done a remarkable job of simplifying and reducing the story of Gregory McGuire's original novel while still remaining true to the original characters and their relationships. The score is one of Schwartz's best, and that's saying something.

Held Over:

All is Calm
Photo: John Lamb

Mustard Seed Theatre presents the a capella musical All is Calm Thursdays through Sundays through December 23. "Join us in celebrating the power of peace in this a capella 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: As I say in my review, this show combines splendid and often quite complex a cappella singing with readings of letters from soldiers and other historical documents. It's powerfully moving and beautifully performed by a fine ensemble of eleven of our town's most talented singing actors. Highly recommended, especially given the current level of hateful and aggressive political rhetoric that is currently despoiling our holiday season.

Symphony Preview, December 11-13, 2015: Dear John

John Williams receiving the
2009 National Medal of Arts

This weekend the St. Louis Symphony is repeating what is starting to look like a holiday tradition with a celebration of the film music of John Williams, conducted by maestro David Robertson. If it's anything like previous programs of Williams' music, it will certainly make a joyful noise — and isn't that largely what the season is all about?

John Williams, who will turn 84 in February, is probably the best known and most frequently recorded film music composer of the last 100 years. He's certainly one of the most honored, with five Oscars, four Golden Globes, 22 Grammys, seven BAFTA awards, and, for all I know, a partridge in a pear tree. With 49 Oscar nominations, he is the second most-nominated individual in that award's history. His most visible work has been for blockbusters like "Jurassic Park", the first Harry Potter film, the "Indiana Jones" films, and the "Star Wars" series, but Mr. Williams's involvement with the film music business extends all the way back to his days as a jazz keyboardist and film and TV studio pianist. Remember piano riff for "Peter Gunn"? That's him.

When you go, expect an evening of Williams's Monster Hits, including music from "Jurassic Park," "Superman," and "Home Alone". And if a program this close to Christmas doesn't include the popular "Christmas Memory" song from that last movie, I'll eat my mistletoe.

There will be new music as well. The SLSO web site promises selections from the score of the latest "Star Wars" installment "The Force Awakens". Judging from past programs, you can probably also expect music from "Empire of the Sun," "Saving Private Ryan," "Amistad," and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". That last one has a wonderful microtonal opening that has to be heard live to be fully appreciated.

I'm promising nothing, though. Unlike other SLSO concerts, this one does not have any downloadable program notes, so the program itself will be a bit of a surprise.

The SLSO has had quite a public affair for some time now with movies and movie music. Previous seasons have included showings of classic silent films such as "Phantom of the Opera" and "City Lights" with the scores performed live, as well as more recent blockbusters like "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Matrix." This season we've already had a screening of "Back to the Future" with the Alan Silvestri score played live. In January we'll have the charming animated comedy "Ratatouille" with Michael Giacchino conducting his own score and in April the music of John Williams returns as the SLSO presents a screening of "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial".

Granted, it's a match born out of financial necessity more than love, as these programs nearly always sell out and are probably quite profitable. But if they attract audiences who have never experienced the heady cocktail of a live orchestral performance then I, for one, am all for it.

The Essentials: David Robertson conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in The Music of John Williams on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., December 11-13. The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

St. Louis classical calendar for the week of December 7, 2015

The Bach Society at St. Stanislaus Church

Share on Google+

The Bach Society of St. Louis presents Let's Talk (and Sing) Bach on Tuesday, December 8 at noon. "Maestro A. Dennis Sparger talks about the composer's life, his music, and how his music has shaped the 75-year history of the Bach Society of Saint Louis Chorus and Orchestra. Of course, music is not all about talk, so two of the Society's gifted Young Artists, accompanied by Sandra Geary, will provide musical examples." The event takes place at the Missouri History Museum at Lindell and Debaliviere in Forest Park. For more information: www.bachsociety.org.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis presents Christmas at the Cathedral on Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m., December 12 and 13, at the cathedral at 4431 Lindell. "This year experience something new as we present the Sonos Handbell ensemble with mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade in this special concert of Christmas favorites as they join the Archdiocesan Choirs for Christmas at the Cathedral." For more information: www.cathedralconcerts.org.

The St. Louis Ambassadors of Harmony present Sounds of the Season on Friday at 8 p.m., and Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m. December 11-13. The a cappella chorus presents a show that combines comedy and the lighter side of popular holiday songs with classic carols and sacred music that tell the story of the season. The performance takes place at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the UMSL campus. For more information: touhill.org.

The St. Louis Art Museum presents a high-definition video broadcast of the Metropolitan Opera's production Mozart's The Magic Flute on Saturday, December 12, at 21:55 p.m. "The groundbreaking broadcast that launched the Met's award-winning Live in HD series to movie theaters in 2006, The Magic Flute enchanted opera lovers from around the world with the whimsical humor and breathtaking puppetry of Julie Taymor's hit production, presented in a shortened English-language version. Under the baton of Maestro James Levine, a winning ensemble cast-including Nathan Gunn, Ying Huang, Matthew Polenzani, Erika Miklósa, and René Pape-brings fresh life to Mozart's timeless fairy tale." The live digital HD video broadcast from New York takes place in The Farrell Auditorium at the Art Museum in Forest Park. For more information: slam.org.

"John Williams Hollywood Bowl" by Alec McNayr - Flickr.
Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Commons

David Robertson conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in The Music of John Williams on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., December 11-13. The program includes music from Home Alone, Harry Potter and Star Wars and other classic film scores. The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Second Presbyterian Church presents Advent Vespers on Sunday, December 13, at 5 p.m. "Experience the joyful anticipation of Advent in this service of readings and music. The Second Church Choir, Handbell Choir, and organist Andrew Peters offer a program of music to give listeners an opportunity to pause in the midst of the hectic holiday season. The Vespers service also includes congregational hymns and readings. Free and open to the public." The church is at 4501 Westminster Place in the Central West End. For more information: secondchurch.net.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents classical guitarists Adam Gabbert and David Ferrara in a joint solo guitar recital on Saturday, December 12, at 8 p.m. The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Town and Country Symphony Orchestra presents a special Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 13, at 2:30 PM. "The Orchestra also performs in a variety of musical styles - classical, pops, Christmas pops, operettas, and oratorios." The performance takes place in Ridgway Auditorium at The Principia, 13201 Clayton Road. For more information: tcsomo.org.

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of December 7, 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.

Share on Google+

All is Calm
Photo: John Lamb

Mustard Seed Theatre presents the a capella musical All is Calm Thursdays through Sundays through December 20. "Join us in celebrating the power of peace in this a capella 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. Read my review!

Bad Jews
Photo: Eric Woolsey

New Jewish Theater presents Bad Jews through December 23. "Good Jews, Bad Jews - it's all relative in this razor sharp and savage comedy about family, faith, and legacy. Meet Daphna Feygenbaum, a "Real Jew" with an Israeli boyfriend who she met on Birthright. When Daphna's cousin Liam brings home his shiksa girlfriend Melody for their grandfather's shiva and declares ownership of "Poppy's" Chai necklace, a vicious and hilarious family brawl ensues.A gleefully funny, thought-provoking evening of theatre. Outrageously and laceratingly funny, it's about what you choose to believe when you're chosen." Rabbis Amy Feder abd Michael Alper from Temple Israel will host a talk back session after the 2 p.m. performance on Sunday, December 13. Performances take place in the Marvin and Harlene Wool Studio Theater at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive in Creve Coeur. For more information: www.newjewishtheatre.org or call 314-442-3283.

The Presenters Dolan presents Feyza Eren in A Bossa Nova Christmas on Thursday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m. "A native of St. Louis, Feyza Eren spent 15 years singing performing in the most popular concert halls and jazz clubs in Istanbul and jazz festivals throughout Turkey and Europe, She was a featured vocalist with the Ricky Ford Orchestra, and palyed at the Val de Jazz Festival in France and the Lionel Hampton Jazz Club in Paris." The performance takes place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents A Christmas Sleigh-Ing through December 30th. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com

Stray Dog Theatre presents the comedy Devil Boys from Beyond Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through December 19. "Men are from Mars; women are from Venus; all the rest are from Pluto. A high-camp parody of '50s B-movies and trashy romance novels, mixed with a dash of 'Adult Swim' cartoon. Fold in a heaping portion of screwball comedy and stir gently but keep it lumpy!" Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

The Gin Game

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents The Gin Game through December 20 at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. "This winner of the 1978 Pulitzer Prize, which originally starred Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn and was later revived with Julie Harris and Charles Durning, uses a card game as a metaphor for life. Weller Martin is playing solitaire on the porch of a seedy nursing home. Enter Fonsia Dorsey, a prim, self righteous lady. They discover they both dislike the home and enjoy gin rummy, so they begin to play and to reveal intimate details of their lives. Fonsia wins every time and their secrets become weapons used against one another. Weller longs for a victory to counter a lifetime of defeats but it doesn't happen. He leaves the stage a broken man and Fonsia realizes her self-righteous rigidity has led to an embittered, lonely old age." For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents soprano Angela Moore and pianist Carol Schmidt in a Holiday Cabaret to benefit the Five Acres Animal Shelter on Monday, December 7, at 8 p.m. All donations collected and a portion of food and drink sales will go to the shelter. "Come for the music, food, and drink. Give for the animals." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Monocle Varieté presents Holi-Dazzle Done Fridays and Saturdays at 9 and 11 p.m., December 11 - 26. "Holi-Dazzle is the avant-retro variety show that will help you make it through the season that's not all fun and good cheer. Isn't it just sometimes weird, and a little crazy? And not dazzling in the right way? Get your holiday cure right here on our stage." This ninety-minute comedy show will have you rolling in the aisles with the bawdy humor of the late Joan Rivers." The performance takes place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis

Alton Little Theater presents Miracle on South Division Street Thursdays through Sundays, December 10-20, at 2450 North Henry in Alton, IL. "Meet the Nowaks of Buffalo, NY: Clara and her three grown kids have always known they were special, ever since the miraculous night in 1942 when the Blessed Mother appeared to Grandpa in his barbershop! Since then, the neighborhood has looked upon the Nowaks' 20-foot commemorative shrine as a beacon of hope and faith amidst the urban rubble. And now daughter Ruth unveils her plan to write and star in a one-woman show about the family miracle so the “whole world will know!” However, as her plans for theatrical immortality unfold, the entire family's faith is shaken to the very core when a deathbed confession causes the family legend to unravel. The results are heartfelt and hilarious." For more information, call 618.462.6562 or visit altonlittletheater.org.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents The Naughty List through January 2. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com

The Monocle presents an open mic night every Monday from 8:00pm to 11:00pm" "Musical Theater actor? Cabaret singer? Balladeer? Beleter? 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.

Peter and the Starcatcher
Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Peter and the Starcatcher through December 27. "An apprentice starcatcher and a young orphan boy find themselves on a life-changing adventure when they are charged with protecting magical starstuff from a fearsome pirate. Pursued by a giant crocodile, mysterious mermaids and angry islanders, their fantastical journey is filled with spectacle and whimsy. This swashbuckling prequel to Peter Pan is rich in stage magic, off-the-wall humor and touching sincerity as it takes us on a voyage to an island where dreams are born and time is never planned. Winner of five 2012 Tony Awards." 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!

Clinton County Showcase presents A Seussified Christmas Carol through December 13. "A whimsical reinvention of Dickens' most beloved Christmas story in wacky rhymed couplets. With zoot fruited juices and binka bird geese, from Bed-Headed Fred to Timmy Loo Hoo, this tale of glorious holiday cheer is similar to something Dr. Seuss might have come up with - if he ever had his way with the story..." Performances take place at the Avon Theater, 525 North 2nd Street Breese IL. For more information, visit ccshowcase.com.

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents Shotgun Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., through December 13. "It is four months after Hurricane Katrina demolished the levees in New Orleans. A Caucasian man named Beau and his son, Eugene, lost their house due to the flood. Now they are renting half of a shotgun duplex from an African American woman named Mattie. Mattie's father also lost his home in the flood, so he is now living with her in her half of the duplex. Both families find that they are having difficulties inhabiting the home together. Will they be able to work it out" Performances take placein the Stage III Auditorium at 470 E. Lockwood on the Webster University campus. For more information, events.webster.edu or call 314-968-7128.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville presents Since Africa through December 12. Performances take place in the Metcalf Student Experimental Theatre on the campus in Edwardsville, IL. For more information, call 618-650-2774 or visit siue.edu.

Sublime Intimacy
Photo: Patrick Huber

Max and Louie Productions presents Sublime Intimacy by St. Louis actor/playwright Ken Page through December 20. "Sublime Intimacy is the remembered tales of five friends: an ex-Hollywood actor,a psychology professor, a painter, an actress and a Broadway musical performer whose lives were elevated, touched and indeed changed by their love of a dancer and his dance. While each person's story is different, they overlap, intertwine and inform each other as the lives and tales of friends often do. We the audience, like the characters, are allowed to share in the intimate beauty of the art form through the performances of "The Dancer" as the play unfolds. Sublime Intimacy, isn't that what we all want?" Performances take place in the black box at the Kranzberg Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information, visit maxandlouie.com.

Chesterfield Community Theatre presents musical The Velveteen Rabbit Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., December 11-13. "Margery Williams classic story The Velveteen Rabbit or How Toys Become Real has been reimagined into a short musical! Follow the journey of a stuffed rabbit on her quest to become real. With a little love from a child, and just a pinch of fairy magic we realize “everything that is real was imagined first.” Watch this story come alive on stage this holiday season." Performances take place at the West County YMCA, 16464 Burkhardt Place. For more information, call (636) 532-6515 Ext. 227.

The Fox Theatre presents the musical Wicked, based on the novel by Gregory McGuire, opening on Wednesday, December 9, and running through January 3. "Long before that girl from Kansas arrives in Munchkinland, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One - born with emerald green skin - is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for 'the most complete - and completely satisfying - musical in a long time' (USA Today)." The Fox Theatre is at 517 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information, fabulousfox.com or call 314-534-1678.

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.

Symphony Review: A resplendent "Messiah" with Bernard Labadie and soloists, December 3-6, 2015

Bernard Labadie
Photo: Francois Rivard

As I noted in one of my symphony preview posts a few days ago, it's far from clear exactly what set of historical accidents turned George Frederick Handel's 1741 oratorio "The Messiah" into a Christmas tradition here in the USA. But traditional it is, and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, under the direction of early music specialist Bernard Labadie, are observing it in fine style this weekend.

[Get more out of the music with my preview articles—part 1 and part 2]

Conducting without a score, a baton, or (for that matter) a podium, Mr. Labadie creates a luminous, bracing, and altogether splendid "Messiah". It's beautifully played, impeccably sung, and filled with small touches that allow Mr. Labadie to put his own unique stamp on the music without getting in the way of Handel's music. His "Hallelujah" chorus, for example, has subtle dynamic shadings that make this well-worn number feel almost brand new, and the slow diminuendo at the end of "We like sheep" was so striking and unexpected that it drew spontaneous applause on opening night. The final "Amen" was beautifully structured, building slowly and powerfully so that the final entrance by the sopranos felt like a ray of light suddenly bursting through the windows of his musical cathedral.

Allyson McHardy

So, yeah, magical moments all around.

"Messiah" is not the most theatrical of Handel's oratorios, but even so it works best when the soloists understand and convey often highly charged emotions in the text and the score. All four of this weekend's singers do that, with perhaps the most fully engaged performances coming from mezzo Allyson McHardy and, most impressively, from bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen, who was a last-minute substitution for an ailing Philippe Sly.

Ms. McHardy, cutting a commanding figure in an emerald-green skirt and lacy black top, showed impressive power and variety. She's the imperious voice of doom in "But who may abide the day of His coming" and then the voice of hope in "O thou that tellest good tidings." Her role is written for an alto, but I thought Ms. McHardy had plenty of power in her low notes.

Kyle Ketelsen
Photo: Dario Acosta

Mr. Ketelsen was fully engaged with the text as well. His "The people that walked in darkness" was gripping, as was the dramatic "Why do the nations so furiously," a minor vocal glitch not withstanding. Like Ms. McHardy, he has a voice with a very solid low end, projecting easily into the hall.

Soprano Lydia Teuscher doesn't have much in the way of stage experience in her resume, but you'd never know it from the way she communicates the emotional core of her lyrics. Resplendent in a gold gown, she simply glowed in "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion" and in the recitatives leading up to the chorus's "Glory to God in the highest."

On the night we attended, tenor Jeremy Ovenden didn't have quite the vocal power of his fellow soloists, but he had all the flexibility and accuracy you could ask for in "Comfort ye, my people" and "Every valley shall be exalted." Those two numbers are the first vocal sounds we hear after the opening "Sinfonia" so it's vital that they make a strong impression, and he nailed them.

Lydia Teuscher

Amy Kaiser's chorus never fails to impress me with their fine vocal blend and accurate elocution, but I must say they are exceeding even their own high standards this time around. There was dramatic urgency in their "Surely He hath born our griefs" and real power in "He trusted in God that he would." Their "Glory to God in the highest" was sheer jubilation, amplified by the theatrical use of offstage trumpets in the dress circle.

The orchestra sounded at the top of their game as well, with fine work by the strings and flawless solos from Karin Bliznik and Jeff Strong on trumpets, among others. The continuo part was nicely realized by Maryse Carlin on harpsichord and Andrew Peters on positif organ (small portable organ that went out of fashion after the 18th century).

Jeremy Ovenden

I'm told that Mr. Labadie worked the orchestra and chorus particularly hard in rehearsals, making sure that they knew every nuance of his highly personal approach to the well-known music. That effort has paid off in a "Messiah" that respects Handel, but does so in a way that is all Mr. Labadie's own. I really can't recommend this performance highly enough.

The St. Louis Symphony's "Messiah" continues through Sunday, December 6th, at Powell Hall in Grand Center. Next weekend, the SLSO goes to the movies as David Robertson conducts a program of the music of John Williams December 11-13. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Symphony Preview, December 3-6, 2015, Part the Second: A long-standing tradition

Apparently not everyone stands for the "Hallelujah"
(Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe)

In a recent post I looked at the way Handel's Messiah got moved from Easter to Christmas. This time I'd like to take a look at an even more puzzling question: Why does everyone stand during the "Hallelujah" chorus that concludes Part 2?

The usual explanation is that King George the II stood when he first heard it at the London premiere in March of 1743 and everybody else followed suit because, hey, he was the king. It's a great story with only one little flaw: there's no evidence that George II ever attended a performance of Messiah at all. The story appears to come, not from a contemporary account, but (according to Matthew Guerrieri in a 2009 article for the Boston Globe, whence cometh the picture above) from a secondhand description in a letter written by James Beattie 37 years later (a classic example of how urban legends originate). The story is, in short, almost certainly apocryphal.

The tradition appears to go back a long way, though. When George Harris attended a Messiah performance in 1750 he observed that "[a]t some of the chorus's the company stood up," suggesting that the custom extended beyond just the "Hallelujah." Six years later, another account mentions the audience standing for "grand choruses." In his video series on Messiah Andrew Megill, Music Director of Masterwork Chorus, describes a letter written by a woman who attended a Messiah in Handel's time complaining of audience members who weren't standing during the appropriate choruses—suggesting that the practice was already fairly well established.

The bottom line, though, is that nobody really seems to know where the custom originated or, for that matter, why so many of us are still doing it. Like the Christmas performance tradition, it seems to be a meme that just won't die. For anyone attending Messiah for the first time, it must seem just another example of the sometimes baffling and contradictory rules of etiquette that go with classical music concerts.

The Essentials: Bernard Labadie conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, with soloists Lydia Teuscher, soprano; Allyson McHardy, mezzo-soprano; Jeremy Ovenden, tenor; and Kyle Ketelsen, bass-baritone, in Handel's Messiah. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., December 3-6. The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Symphony Preview, December 3-6, 2015, Part the First: Why a "Messiah"?

G.F. Handel, prospering

Share on Google+:

The Christmas season in upon us. For those of us keeping track of the entertainment scene, that means an inevitable encounter with at least one performance of all of the following: a stage adaptation of Dickens's A Christmas Carol (probably with music), Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, and Handel's Messiah. The latter is coming our way this weekend, in fact, from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus under the baton of early music specialist Bernard Labadie.

The Dickens and Tchaikovsky make perfect sense since they're both explicitly Christmas stories. But how did Messiah get in there? It was first performed on April 13th, 1742 in Dublin, repeated that same June, and then moved to London, where it was first presented on March 23, 1743. I can't find any evidence that the work was in any way associated with Christmas during Handel's life. In fact, as Christopher H. Gibbs points out in his program notes for a 2007 NPR broadcast of Messiah from Philadelphia , "Handel performed it some three dozen times—every time, it should be noted, around Easter, not Christmas." As Jonathan Kandell notes in an article for the September 2009 edition of Smithsonian, however, "[b]y the early 19th century, performances of Messiah had become an even stronger Yuletide tradition in the United States than in Britain."

An important piece of the puzzle is supplied is supplied by Luke Howard in his program notes for a 2009 Messiah performance by UMS Choral Union:

The tradition of performing Messiah at Christmas began later in the 18th century. Although the work was occasionally performed during Advent in Dublin, the oratorio was usually regarded in England as an entertainment for the penitential season of Lent, when performances of opera were banned. Messiah's extended musical focus on Christ's redeeming sacrifice also makes it particularly suitable for Passion Week and Holy Week, the periods when it was usually performed during Handel's lifetime. But in 1791, the Cæcilian Society of London began its annual Christmas performances, and in 1818 the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston gave the work's first complete performance in the US on Christmas Day—establishing a tradition that continues to the present.

It apparently took a while for the Christmas tradition to become well established, though. As Marie Gangemil of the Oratorio Society of New York wrote in her program notes for their 2012 Messiah, the first December performance by that organization didn't take place until 1874.

Bernard Labadie

But are these events sufficient to explain why the tradition became so widespread? Might there also be a supply and demand issue here? As Laurence Cummings (director of the London Handel Orchestra) observed in the Smithsonian article cited above: "There is so much fine Easter music—Bach's St. Matthew Passion, most especially—and so little great sacral music written for Christmas. But the whole first part of Messiah is about the birth of Christ."

So there you have it. Boston and New York picked up the idea from London, and the rest of the USA, seeing a chance to fill a product gap, picked it up from them. It's a reminder that memes were spreading long before the Internet, just a lot more slowly.

The Essentials: Bernard Labadie conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, with soloists Lydia Teuscher, soprano; Allyson McHardy, mezzo-soprano; Jeremy Ovenden, tenor; and Kyle Ketelsen, bass-baritone, in Handel's Messiah. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., December 3-6. The concerts take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Symphony Review: Variety is the spice of the St. Louis Symphony's Thanksgiving weekend

Variety was the order of the day Friday night as the St. Louis Symphony livened up the Thanksgiving weekend with classical favorites by Prokofiev and the local premiere of a new contrabass concerto by Chinese composer Tan Dun in a stunning performance by SLSO Principal Double Bass Erik Harris.

[Find out more about the music with my symphony preview article.]

Erik Harris

Tan Dun is probably best known here in the USA for his film and multimedia work—most notably his score for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in 2000—but his musical interests are wide-ranging and heavily weighted toward the theatrical. Some of his earliest works were written for the stage and even his concert pieces often have extra-musical reference points.

In the case of his "Contrabass Concerto: The Wolf" the inspiration was the Chinese novel "Wolf Totem" by Jiang Rong. According to the composer's web site the novel "resonated deeply with Tan Dun’s personal connection and fascination with the spirits of the natural world and the sounds and customs of the ancient cultures along the Silk Road. The symbol of the Mongolian wolf and its life in the grasslands for Tan Dun is a mirror of the human spirit and our relationship to the natural world."

The concerto starts mysteriously with high harmonics in the basses and soft tones from Tibetan singing bowls suggesting a vast, empty landscape. That Largo melancholia introduction soon gives way to an Allegro depicting (to quote the web site again) "the running of the wolves and wild horses across the Mongolian grasslands." An elegiac Andante molto second movement suggests "the loneliness of a young wolf missing its mother; missing the sky and grasslands of its home" while the final Allegro vivace "returns us to the scene of the running horses, heard in the galloping rhythms of the orchestra while the soloist alternates between the lyrical and percussive capabilities of the instrument."

It's all very dramatic—I might even say cinematic—as well as tremendously appealing. As Mr. Harris points out in an interesting video interview with Mr. Robertson that's shown during the stage change preceding the concerto, it also poses some stiff challenges for the soloist, with lots of rapid passages and extended sections calling for bowing and fingering techniques more typical of the Chinese erhu. Mr. Harris, I'm happy to report, appeared to have completely embraced those challenges, delivering a performance that combined impressive technique with artistic sensitivity. Spontaneous applause broke out after the exhilarating first movement and the entire piece got a standing ovation.

Preceding the concerto is Prokofiev's "Symphony No. 1 in D major," op. 25, ("Classical"). One of the composer's most popular works, it takes classical style and gives it a distinctly 20th-century twist, with harmonies and key changes that would probably have astonished Haydn or Mozart. It relies heavily on the strings (especially the violins) to produce an exceptionally light and transparent sound, and the SLSO players did quite well by it. The violins sounded a bit more astringent than they usually do, which worked quite well for this music.

Mr. Robertson, for his part, brought out a wealth of orchestral detail in a superbly balanced and subtly shaded performance. As often as I've heard this music, there were still facets of the score that came through here in ways that I hadn't noticed in the past.

Lara Teeter

The second half of this weekend's concerts opens with a short suite from Rimsky-Korsakov's 1882 opera "The Snow Maiden". The piece is a real rarity—the SLSO hasn't performed it since 1926. Which is rather a shame as it's filled with some vivid music, colorfully evoking the fairy tale world of the opera. The "Dance of the Birds," with its inventive writing for the woodwinds, was especially delightful, especially when played with the kind of precision I heard Friday. Mr. Robertson and his forces brought out all the loopy comedy of the "Coretge," and the concluding "Dance of the Tumblers"—undoubtedly the best-known piece from the opera—was fittingly energetic.

The concerts conclude with another of Prokofiev's greatest hits, the 1936 children's story for narrator and orchestra, "Peter and the Wolf," about a brave lad who outsmarts a nasty predator. The SLSO has taken a variety of approaches to this piece in the past, but this one was perhaps the most remarkable in that it used fanciful watercolor-inspired animation and not one but two narrators: Webster Conservatory acting student Annie Barbour and Webster faculty member Lara Teeter.

A familiar figure from both the local and Broadway stages, Mr. Teeter handled the bulk of the narration in a slightly arch and humorous style, while Ms. Barbour was a bit more straightforward. I thought it worked quite well, especially in combination with Natalie Arco's charming animation, but I'm not sure splitting up the narration added anything much. The orchestral playing was excellent, in any case, with fine work by Principal Clarinet Scott Andrews as the cat, Associate Principal Flute Andrea Kaplan as the bird, and Principal Oboe Jelena Dirks as the unfortunate duck who gets swallowed whole by the wolf.

Next at Powell Hall, Bernard Labadie conducts the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, with soloists Lydia Teuscher, soprano; Allyson McHardy, mezzo-soprano; Jeremy Ovenden, tenor; and Philippe Sly, bass-baritone, in Handel's "Messiah." Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., December 3-6. For more information: stlsymphony.org

St. Louis theatre calendar for the week of November 30, 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.

Share on Google+

All is Calm
Photo: John Lamb

Mustard Seed Theatre presents the a capella musical All is Calm Thursdays through Sundays through December 20. "Join us in celebrating the power of peace in this a capella 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. Read my review!

R-S Theatrics presents Animals Out of Paper Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m., through December 8 "When a reclusive origami artist opens her studio to a teenage prodigy and his eager high-school teacher, she discovers that life and love can't be arranged neatly in this drama about finding the perfect fold." Performances take place at The Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive. For more information: r-stheatrics.com. Read the 88.1 KDHX review!

Bad Jews
Photo: Eric Woolsey

New Jewish Theater presents Bad Jews December 3-20. "Good Jews, Bad Jews - it's all relative in this razor sharp and savage comedy about family, faith, and legacy. Meet Daphna Feygenbaum, a "Real Jew" with an Israeli boyfriend who she met on Birthright. When Daphna's cousin Liam brings home his shiksa girlfriend Melody for their grandfather's shiva and declares ownership of "Poppy's" Chai necklace, a vicious and hilarious family brawl ensues.A gleefully funny, thought-provoking evening of theatre. Outrageously and laceratingly funny, it's about what you choose to believe when you're chosen." Performances take place in the Marvin and Harlene Wool Studio Theater at the Jewish Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive in Creve Coeur. For more information: www.newjewishtheatre.org or call 314-442-3283.

The Monocle presents The Bitch is Back Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., December 4 and 5 "Celebrity female impersonator Joe Posa teams up with comedic writer Tony Tripoli of Fashion Police to bring the legendary Joan Rivers back to the stage in "The Bitch is Back!" This ninety-minute comedy show will have you rolling in the aisles with the bawdy humor of the late Joan Rivers." The performance takes place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis.

Lindenwood University presents A Christmas Carol December 3-5. "Lindenwood University is honored to continue it's yearly tradition of presenting Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. This timeless classic follows the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge on a fantastic journey through time and space, forced to confront his past, present, and future through the aid of his spiritual guides." Performances take 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.

Stone Spiral Coffeehouse presents A Christmas Celebration on Friday, December 4 at 8 p.m. The show features prose, poetry, and comedy by Shakespeare, Truman Capote, TS Eliot, and Lewis Carroll, among others, along with seasonal songs and a holiday sing-along. Featured performers are Phyllis Thorpe, Ralf Lucas, and Chuck Lavazzi ,with Tom Lilly on guitar. Stone Spiral is at 2500 Sutton in Maplewood, MO. For more information: www.stonespiralcoffee.com.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents A Christmas Sleigh-Ing through December 30th. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com

The Fox Theatre presents Crirque Dreams Holidaze Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 1 and 6 p.m., December 4-6. "In CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE, Broadway director Neil Goldberg re-imagines the holiday season with over 300 costumes, 20 acts and 30 performers showcasing an endless variety of imaginative, heart-pounding and gravity- defying feats you have to see to believe. Experience gingerbread men flipping mid air, toy soldiers marching on thin wires along with snowmen, icemen and penguins balancing, jumping and spinning in disbelief. The show celebrates the most wonderful time of the year with singers, choreography and exciting production numbers. Performers twirl, bounce and soar thru the air to original music and seasonal favorites brought to life within a stage setting of gigantic gifts, colossal candy canes and 30-foot towering trees & soldiers creating a wonderland of amazement." The Fox Theatre is at 517 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: fabulousfox.com.

Stray Dog Theatre presents the comedy Devil Boys from Beyond Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM December 3-19. "Men are from Mars; women are from Venus; all the rest are from Pluto. A high-camp parody of '50s B-movies and trashy romance novels, mixed with a dash of 'Adult Swim' cartoon. Fold in a heaping portion of screwball comedy and stir gently but keep it lumpy!" Performances take place at The Tower Grove Abbey, 2336 Tennessee. For more information, visit straydogtheatre.org or call 314-865-1995.

The Gin Game

St. Louis Actors' Studio presents The Gin Game December 4-20 at the Gaslight Theatre, 358 North Boyle. " This winner of the 1978 Pulitzer Prize, which originally starred Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn and was later revived with Julie Harris and Charles Durning, uses a card game as a metaphor for life. Weller Martin is playing solitaire on the porch of a seedy nursing home. Enter Fonsia Dorsey, a prim, self righteous lady. They discover they both dislike the home and enjoy gin rummy, so they begin to play and to reveal intimate details of their lives. Fonsia wins every time and their secrets become weapons used against one another. Weller longs for a victory to counter a lifetime of defeats but it doesn't happen. He leaves the stage a broken man and Fonsia realizes her self-righteous rigidity has led to an embittered, lonely old age." For more information, call 314-458-2978 or visit stlas.org.

St. Louis Community College at Wildwood presents It's a Wonderful Life, a live radio play by Joe Landry, on Friday, December 4, at 6:30 p.m. The production features students, staff and community members.. The campus is at 2645 Generations Drive in Wildwood, MO. For more information: calendar.stlcc.edu

The Sheldon Concert Hall presents film maker John Waters in his one-man show A John Waters Christmas: Holier and Dirtier, on Thursday, December 3, at 8 p.m. "Waters pokes fun at the holiday season with adult-appropriate humor, effectively 'putting the X in Xmas,' developing a show for the open minded and slightly left-of-center audience. Regarded as a shocking entertainer, John Waters carefully chooses his material and exploits it through a dirty lens." Performances take place at the Sheldon Concert Hall, 3658 Washington in Grand Center. For more information: sheldonconcerthall.org.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents The Naughty List November 20 - January 2. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com

The Tavern of Fine Arts presents the a cappella vocal group One Too Many on Saturday, December 5, at 8 p.m. "St. Louis' newest a cappella group, One Too Many, brings their precise harmonies and beautifully blended voices back to the Tavern." The Tavern of Fine Arts is at 313 Belt in the Debaliviere Place neighborhood. For more information: tavern-of-fine-arts.blogspot.com.

The Monocle presents an open mic night every Monday from 8:00pm to 11:00pm" "Musical Theater actor? Cabaret singer? Balladeer? Beleter? 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.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents Peter and the Starcatcher December 2-27. "An apprentice starcatcher and a young orphan boy find themselves on a life-changing adventure when they are charged with protecting magical starstuff from a fearsome pirate. Pursued by a giant crocodile, mysterious mermaids and angry islanders, their fantastical journey is filled with spectacle and whimsy. This swashbuckling prequel to Peter Pan is rich in stage magic, off-the-wall humor and touching sincerity as it takes us on a voyage to an island where dreams are born and time is never planned. Winner of five 2012 Tony Awards." 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.

Sharon Hunter

The Presenters Dolan and The Monocle present Sharon Hunter in Play Me on Thursday, December 3, at 7 and 9 p.m. "Play Me, features songs with a mix of rock and pop from the 1970's. These songs were written and sung by some of the greatest male artists of their generation...Neil Diamond, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Rod Stewart, TheEagles and more. Now they are given fresh arrangements and a new sound with a woman's voice and sensual touch." The performancs take place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis.

Clinton County Showcase presents A Seussified Christmas Carol December 4-13. "A whimsical reinvention of Dickens' most beloved Christmas story in wacky rhymed couplets. With zoot fruited juices and binka bird geese, from Bed-Headed Fred to Timmy Loo Hoo, this tale of glorious holiday cheer is similar to something Dr. Seuss might have come up with - if he ever had his way with the story..." Performances take place at the Avon Theater, 525 North 2nd Street Breese IL. For more information, visit ccshowcase.com.

Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts presents Shotgun Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., December 2-13. "It is four months after Hurricane Katrina demolished the levees in New Orleans. A Caucasian man named Beau and his son, Eugene, lost their house due to the flood. Now they are renting half of a shotgun duplex from an African American woman named Mattie. Mattie's father also lost his home in the flood, so he is now living with her in her half of the duplex. Both families find that they are having difficulties inhabiting the home together. Will they be able to work it out" Performances take placein the Stage III Auditorium at 470 E. Lockwood on the Webster University campus. For more information, events.webster.edu or call 314-968-7128.

Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville presents Since Africa December 4-12. Performances take place in the Metcalf Student Experimental Theatre on the campus in Edwardsville, IL. For more information, call 618-650-2774 or visit siue.edu.

The Monocle Varieté presents Stuff It..Turkey's Done Friday and Saturday at 9 and 11 p.m., December 4 and 5. "A comedic romp through giving thanks each fall and the holiday where you carve your turkey, but wish you could carve your loved ones! Stuff It! brings joy to the dreaded family table where the roast precedes the toast!" This ninety-minute comedy show will have you rolling in the aisles with the bawdy humor of the late Joan Rivers." The performance takes place in the Emerald Room at The Monocle, 4510 Manchester in the Grove neighborhood. For more information: buzzonstage.com/st-louis.

Sublime Intimacy
Photo: John Lamb

Max and Louie Productions presents Sublime Intimacy by St. Louis actor/playwright Ken Page December 4-20. "Sublime Intimacy is the remembered tales of five friends: an ex-Hollywood actor,a psychology professor, a painter, an actress and a Broadway musical performer whose lives were elevated, touched and indeed changed by their love of a dancer and his dance. While each person's story is different, they overlap, intertwine and inform each other as the lives and tales of friends often do. We the audience, like the characters, are allowed to share in the intimate beauty of the art form through the performances of "The Dancer" as the play unfolds. Sublime Intimacy, isn't that what we all want?" Performances take place at the Wool Studio Theatre at the JCC, 2 Millstone Campus Drive. For more information, visit maxandlouie.com.

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

Theatre Review: "All is Calm" at Mustard Seed defies the masters of war

The cast of All is Calm
Photo: John Lamb

I missed it the first two times it was presented in 2013 and 2014, but last night I finally got to see Mustard Seed Theatre's much-praised "All is Calm" and I'm glad I finally did. You will be, too.

With a script by Peter Rothstein and musical arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach, this story of the remarkable Christmas truce of 1914—a spontaneous outbreak of peace that occurred at multiple points along the trenches in France—combines splendid and often quite complex a cappella singing with readings of letters from soldiers and other historical documents. It's powerfully moving and beautifully performed by a fine ensemble of eleven of our town's most talented singing actors.

Attired in nondescript period uniforms, the actors take on various roles, moving between the German and Allied sides of the stage.  It's a smart theatrical device that reminds us (as Peter Weiss wrote in "Marat/Sade") that in a war all soldiers ultimately want the same thing: "Not to lie under the earth but to walk upon it without crutches."

Deanna Jent's knowing direction keeps this short and powerful one act moving along without making it feel hurried.  The big emotional moments, like the singing of overlapping versions of "Silent Night" and "Stille Nacht", are allowed to breathe, which maximizes their impact.

At a time when opportunistic politicians are pushing an agenda of hate, fear, and eternal war, this is a play that everyone needs to see. As we used to ask back in the 1960s, "what if they gave a war and nobody came?"

"All is Calm" runs through December 20th 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.