The St. Louis Area Theatre Calendar

For the Week of 3/18/2019

Updated Sunday, March 17, 2019

Brought to you by Stage Left and 88.1 KDHX.

To submit your event, send an email to calendar at stageleft.org. Your event information should be in text format (i.e. not part of a graphic), but feel free to include publicity stills for inclusion here and on the enhanced version of this calendar at the Stage Left blog (where you can offer comments, updates and corrections).

And don't forget to check out my list of St. Louis theatre links!


New shows this week include cabarets from Ari Axelrod and Beverly Brennan, the Cabaret Project's Singers Open Mic (hosted by yours truly) and the Disney musical Newsies at St. Charles Community College.
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The St. Louis Writers' Group presents a reading of the play Amor Ex Machina by Brad Slavik on Monday, March 18 at 6:30 pm. " Hal is a reclusive geeky young man who, except for his neighbor Jake, interacts only with fellow geeks on the Internet. This dramatically changes when HAL encounters LayC28 on line and sees a chance for a real relationship. All seems well until Hal discovers LayC28's secret." The event takes place upstairs at Big Daddy's, 1000 Sidney in Soulard. For more information: www.stlwritersgroup.com.

The Lemp Mansion Comedy-Mystery Dinner Theater presents Bullets in the Bathtub through April 13. The Lemp Mansion is at 3322 DeMenil Place. For more information: lempmansion.com.

La Cage aux Folles
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre presents the musical La Cage aux Folles Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM through March 23. "What happens when the son of a middle-aged gay couple brings home the daughter of an arch-conservative politician -- and her parents -- for dinner? Musical comedy ensues. Come join us on the French Riviera for a night of love, laughs, illusions and truths, and the triumph of family over bullies and bigots." Performances take place at the Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, three blocks east of Grand, in Grand Center. For more information, visit newlinetheatre.com or call 314-534-1111.

Ari Axelrod
Mariposa Artists presents Ari Axelrod in A Celebration of Jewish Broadway on Saturday, March 23, at 8 pm. "Direct from its sold out NYC debut at the historic Birdland Theater, Ari Axelrod presents “A Celebration of Jewish Broadway” honoring the songs and stories of Jewish composers and their contributions to the American Musical. Beloved melodies and lyrics by the likes of Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Schwartz, and Carole King will transport the audience back to the streets of the theatre district, your bubbie's Shabbos table, or the places of your dreams." The show takes place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: www.metrotix.com.

CSZ St. Louis presents The ComedySportz Show on Saturday nights at 7:30 pm. The show is "action-packed, interactive and hilarious comedy played as a sport. Two teams battle it out for points and your laughs! You choose the winners the teams provide the funny!" Performances take place on the second floor of the Sugar Cubed, 917 S Main St. in St Charles, Mo. For more information: www.cszstlouis.com.

Beverly Brennan
Mariposa Artists presents Beverly Brennan in Love and Marriage on Friday, March 22, at 8 pm. "With her new show "Love and Marriage", Bev offers an inside take on long term relationships - the good, the bad and the outrageously funny. With stories, jokes and songs her show will take you on the roller coaster ride of falling in love and the consequences. Songs include hits by Patsy Cline, Billy Joel, John Lennon and James Brown as well as selections from musical theater and the great American Song Book. It's time to get real and tell it like it is about being married to the same (wonderful) guy for 46 years! Rick Jensen serves as musical director and accompanist for this show on Beverly's birthday!! Co-directed by Lina Koutrakos and Ken Haller." The show takes place at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand in Grand Center. For more information: www.metrotix.com.

Alpha Players present the comedy My Three Angels through March 24. Performances take place at The Florissant Civic Center Theater, Parker Rd. at Waterford Dr. in Florissant, MO. For more information: alphaplayers.org, call 314-921-5678.

St. Charles Community College presents the musical Newsies opening Friday, March 22, at 7 pm and running through March 30. “This rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a band of teenaged “newsies,” is a feel-good musical that speaks to us all. When titans of publishing raise distribution prices at the newsboys' expense, Jack rallies newsies from across the city to strike against the unfair conditions. This Disney film-turned-Tony-winning-Broadway hit inspires everyone to fight for what is right and to seize the day! Newsies is packed with non-stop thrills and a timeless message that is perfect for the whole family." Performances take place in the SCC Center Stage Theater in the Donald D. Shook Fine Arts Building on the campus at 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive in Cottleville, MO. For more information, call 636-922-8050 or visit stchas.edu.

Nonsense and Beauty
Photo: Jerry Naunheim, Jr.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the St. Louis premiere of Nonsense and Beauty through March 24. "In 1930, the writer E.M. Forster met and fell in love with a policeman 23 years his junior. Their relationship, very risky for its time, evolved into a 40-year love triangle that was both turbulent and unique. Based on a true story, Nonsense and Beauty captures the wit and wisdom of one of the last century's great writers. This world premiere, developed as part of The Rep's 2018 Ignite! Festival of New Plays, explores the power of love and forgiveness." Performances take place in the studio theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org.

The Bissell Mansion Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre presents Nursery Crimes through May 9. The Bissell Mansion is at 4426 Randall Place. For more information: bissellmansiontheatre.com.

The Play the Goes Wrong
Photo: John Gitchoff
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the comedy The Play That Goes Wrong running through April 7. "Calamity, disaster, fiasco: whichever word you'd like to choose, the opening night performance of The Murder at Haversham Manor has gone decidedly wrong. A maelstrom of madcap madness ensues, complete with collapsing scenery, unconscious actors and a stage crew pushed to the brink. Will The Rep survive this train wreck of a play? Come find out!" Performances take place at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. For more information: repstl.org

Carol Schmidt
The Cabaret Project presents the Singers Open Mic Night on Wednesday, March 20, from 7 to 10 pm. Drop by and enjoy a night of great music from St. Louis cabaret artists, backed up by pianist and music director Carol Schmidt and hosted by 88.1 KDHX's Chuck Lavazzi. If you're planning to sing, be prepared to do one or two songs and bring music, preferably in your key. It's also recommend that you have your song memorized. The event takes place at Sophie's Artist Lounge on the second floor of the .ZACK performing arts space at 3226 Locust in Grand Center. For more information: thecabaretproject.org.

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 Calendar.
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.