St. Louis Theatre + Broadway News

John O'Hurley-Led SPAMALOT Opens at the MUNY Tonight!

(6/17/2013) - The Muny presents John O'Hurley in the first show of its fantastic 95th Season, Monty Python's Spamalot, directed and choreographed by Denis Jones.The show opens tonight, June 17, and will run through June 23.

Now Playing Onstage in St. Louis - Week of 6/16/2013

(6/16/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 6/16/2013 for St. Louis

(6/16/2013) - STAGES ST. LOUIS previously announced that due to unprecedented patron demand and unanimous rave reviews, Always... Patsy Cline adds tonight, June 16 at 7:30 p.m. to its original production schedule, this is in addition to the added performance of Sunday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. Always... Patsy Cline had the largest advance of any production in the history of STAGES' 27 years and continues to SELL OUT performances on a daily basis. The production will also break all box office records. The audience is clamoring to return to see the production for a second time and is nightly stopping the show with thunderous applause with numbers like 'Crazy,' 'Lovesick Blues,' and 'Your Cheating Heart.'

STAGE TUBE: Meet Michelle Ragusa and John O'Hurley from The Muny's SPAMALOT!

(6/14/2013) - Michelle Ragusa stars in The Muny's production of Monty Python's SPAMALOT as The Lady of the Lake, alongside John O'Hurley as King Arthur this summer. In these conversations with Muny Executive Producer, Mike Isaacson Michelle discusses Ragusa's hilarious and captivating character, and O'Hurley's comedic chops. Click below!

BWW Interviews: Characters' Psychology Intrigues DREAMGIRLS Star, Kelvin Roston, Jr.

(6/14/2013) - It is hard to connect the soft-spoken young actor with whom I am conversing to the soul-singing, hip-swinging rogue he is playing onstage at the Pickard Theatre. Indeed, the more we chat, the more Kelvin Roston, Jr., who plays James 'Thunder' Early in the Maine State Music Theatre hit production of Dreamgirls, seems to be full of surprises.

Stephen Wallem Replaces Alexander Gemignani in SHREK at the MUNY

(6/10/2013) - The Muny announced two principal casting changes for the 2013 season. Stephen Wallem will play the title role in Shrek, and Dee Hoty will play the Reverend Mother Mary Regina in Nunsense Muny Style!

BWW Reviews: Stray Dog Theatre's Spellbinding Production of SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION

(6/10/2013) - Stray Dog Theatre returns to their roots during their 10th anniversary season by presenting the first play they ever produced; John Guare's SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION. Since this is a play set in 1990, it's particularly interesting to view it through the lens of the information age that we live in today. Guare's work emphasizes the importance of making personal connections with others, and we've definitely overachieved in the sheer volume of connections we have the ability to make these days, we've just managed to make them less personal, which really defeats the purpose. And, that's is why this work is still so vital and engaging.

BWW Reviews: Stages St. Louis Presents Stunning Production of ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE

(6/9/2013) - ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE is a wonderful show, brimming with good humor and a great selection of classic country tunes. More than just a tribute show, this musical offering actually has a story to tell to go along with its superb collection of material covered by the iconic singer. But, what really makes this show successful are the performances by the cast and the band, all of whom do absolutely impeccable work. With the entire run sold out, or nearly so, this review is just confirmation of what a lot of you already know; this is exceptional, must-see entertainment produced by Stages St. Louis.

Now Playing Onstage in St. Louis - Week of 6/09/2013

(6/9/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 6/09/2013 for St. Louis

Audra McDonald Kicks Off GO BACK HOME Summer, Fall 2013 Tour

(6/8/2013) - According to Audra McDonald's official website, the singer will be taking her first solo album in seven years, Go Back Home, on a national tour. Go Back Home was released May 21 on Nonesuch Records. McDonald's new tour dates across North America will kick off with a performance at the Midland Center for the Arts in Midland, MI, tonight, June 8. Scroll down for a full list of tour dates!

(6/7/2013) - STAGES ST. LOUIS has announced, due to unprecedented patron demand and unanimous rave reviews, Always... Patsy Cline will add Sunday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m. to its original production schedule, this is in addition to the added performance of Sunday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. Always... Patsy Cline had the largest advance of any production in the history of STAGES' 27 years and continues to SELL OUT performances on a daily basis. The production will also break all box office records. The audience is clamoring to return to see the production for a second time and is nightly stopping the show with thunderous applause with numbers like 'Crazy,' 'Lovesick Blues,' and 'Your Cheating Heart.'

Stages St. Louis to Present Disney's CINDERELLA, 6/19-30

(6/7/2013) - STAGES ST. LOUIS invites you into the magical world of Disney's Cinderella, for its Theatre for Young Audiences production, this June 19-30 at the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School. Disney's treasured retelling of everyone's favorite fairy tale comes to glorious life on stage with an enchanting score including, the Disney anthem, 'A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes,' and the magical 'Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo'.Disney's Cinderella will charm its way into your heart, and once again remind you that dreams really do come true!

BWW Reviews: New Line Theatre's Hilarious Production of BUKOWSICAL

(6/6/2013) - Scatological, unpredictable, and oddly whimsical at times, BUKOWSICAL is not easily defined or categorized, and that's actually part of its appeal to me. Spencer Green (book, lyrics) and Gary Stockdale (book,lyrics and music) have concocted an interesting musical stew, some of which details the life and times of writer Charles Bukowski, and some of which seems to be skewering the entire idea altogether. For instance, the man himself doesn't bring to mind anything remotely resembling a warm and fuzzy character, and yet the music for this piece is incredibly sunny and upbeat. This makes for a fascinating juxtaposition between the lyrical content and the music that accompanies it. In fact, the words are often graphic and vulgar, but, at times, they're also surprisingly erudite and witty. These contradictions alone act to sum up Bukowski's complicated existence and ultimate status as a wordsmith. New Line Theatre's production captures this drunken genius in all his splendor. You may be shocked by what you see or hear, but I guarantee you won't forget it. This is cutting edge theatre at its finest.

BWW Reviews: The Black Rep's Funky and Fresh Production of THE WIZ

(6/6/2013) - While I'm well acquainted with L. Frank Baum's classic tales of the land of Oz, and I've certainly seen numerous stage adaptations of his work, I'd never had the opportunity to see THE WIZ, unless you count the film version (and I don't), until now. After viewing the Black Rep's splendid production I'm happy to report that it's a tune-filled spectacle that brims with color and movement. It has an Afrocentric, funky mid-1970's era vibe (book by William F. Brown, most of the music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls) that actually makes it seem more hip than you would expect.

ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE Breaks STAGES ST. LOUIS Records, Adds 6/23 Performance

(6/5/2013) - STAGES ST. LOUIS is thrilled to announce, due to unprecedented demand,Always... Patsy Cline will add Sunday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. to its original production schedule.Always... Patsy Cline had the largest advance of any production in the history of STAGES' 27 years and continues to SELL OUT performances on a daily basis. The audience is clamoring to return to see the production for a second time and is stopping the show with thunderous applause with numbers like 'Crazy,' and 'Lovesick Blues.'

Audra McDonald Adds GO BACK HOME Summer, Fall 2013 Tour Dates

(6/3/2013) - According to Audra McDonald's official website, the singer will be taking her first solo album in seven years, Go Back Home, on a national tour. Go Back Home was released May 21 on Nonesuch Records. McDonald's new tour dates across North America will kick off with a performance at the Midland Center for the Arts in Midland, MI, on June 8. Scroll down for a full list of tour dates!

Photo Flash: New Production Shots from New Line Theatre's BUKOWSICAL

(6/2/2013) - New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre,' closes its 22nd season now through June 22, 2013, with the regional premiere of one of the most outrageous shows the company has ever produced. With book and lyrics by Spencer Green and Gary Stockdale, and music by Stockdale, BUKOWSICAL is a wacky, high-energy - and gleefully adult - musical comedy, an ironic and insightful 21st-century reboot of the classic American musical comedy, exploring the intersection between sex, drugs, booze, and art, all through the life story of the great American novelist and poet Charles Bukowski. BroadwayWorld has new shots of the cast in action below!

Now Playing Onstage in St. Louis - Week of 6/02/2013

(6/2/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 6/02/2013 for St. Louis

BWW Reviews: Lively and Fun ANYTHING GOES at the Fox Theatre

(6/1/2013) - The award-winning revival of ANYTHING GOES (music/lyrics by Cole Porter, original book by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, with a revision by Howard Linday and Russel Crouse, and an update by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman) arrives at the Fox Theatre in splashy and resplendent fashion, with a plethora of catchy musical numbers and a game cast. I've seen this musical several times before, it is a community theatre staple after all, but this production easily blows them all away. Sure, it's a period piece, and a bit old fashioned in some regards, but it perks along nicely thanks to an energetic cast and engaging direction and choreography. Even if you have seen it before, this presentation is well worth seeing, and a splendid time is guaranteed for all.

ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE Kicks Off Stages' 27th Season Today

(5/31/2013) - STAGES ST. LOUIS celebrates music legend and cross-over sensation Patsy Cline, today, May 31 through June 30 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood. The touching true story, Always... Patsy Cline combines humor, heartache and 27 of Patsy's most unforgettable hits, such as 'Crazy,' 'Walkin' After Midnight,' 'Sweet Dreams,' and more.

BWW Reviews: Upstream Theater's Triumphant Production of AN ILIAD

(5/30/2013) - Writers Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare have concocted an intriguing take on Homer's The Iliad (translation by Robert Fagles) with their brilliantly interactive work, AN ILIAD. The distinction comes from the fact that this play not only utilizes the basic historical information contained within that classic Greek epic, but also confronts us with the sad truth that war has become a constant in our lives, and that some things are simply out of our control whether we like it or not. This amazing piece of theater is brought to the stage by Upstream Theater, and it's brought to life by actor Jerry Vogel. It's an experience that absolutely demands your time and attention as a theater-goer.

BWW Reviews: Max & Louie Productions' Splendid MRS. MANNERLY

(5/29/2013) - There's something about playwright Jeffrey Hatcher's writing style that I can connect with. Maybe it's the fact that he peppers his dialog with so many references to 1960's era television fare that I can't help but be drawn back to my own childhood. Sure, I spent a lot of time outdoors, but there were certain prime hours of the day when the re-runs on the local independent channels were not to be missed (not by me,anyway). Now, I never wanted to or had the desire to ever attend a manners class, but as we can see by the way most humans behave these days, maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing if everyone did. Max & Louie Productions has put together a wonderful staging of Hatcher's MRS. MANNERLY, which takes a humorous look at a that point in our past when etiquette somehow became antiquated, and it's a superbly performed and directed presentation that shouldn't be missed.

HANDS ON A HARDBODY, RENT, & More Set for New Line Theatre's 2013-2014 Season

(5/26/2013) - New Line Theatre, "the bad boy of musical theatre," announces its 23rd season of adult, alternative musical theatre, including the regional premiere of the new musical thriller NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, running Oct. 10-Nov. 2, 2013; the Pulitzer Prize winning rock opera RENT, running March 6-29, 2014; and the regional premiere, straight from Broadway, of the new rock musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY, running May 29-June 21, 2014.

Now Playing Onstage in St. Louis - Week of 5/26/2013

(5/26/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 5/26/2013 for St. Louis

BWW Reviews: The St. Louis Actors' Studio Hilarious and Moving Production of TALKING HEADS

(5/25/2013) - TALKING HEADS started life as a series of BBC television monologues before it became a play (actually a couple of them), and if you're expecting a rather static work you'll be pleasantly surprised by these compelling, poignant, and sometimes hilarious vignettes. Author Alan Bennett (as both writer and performer he was a member of the famous Beyond the Fringe revue, which included the late Peter Cook and his partner in crime, Dudley Moore) has put together a fascinating career that includes stage plays, screenplays, novels and radio plays, and this particular collection showcases his ability to craft intriguing and engaging situations and characters. The St. Louis Actors' Studio's current production is distinguished by a wonderful cast and fine direction, making it a must-see presentation.

VIDEO: In Rehearsal with Stages St. Louis' ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE!

(5/24/2013) - Take a peak into rehearsals of Stages St. Louis' upcoming production of ALWAYS...PATSY CLINE, starring Jacqueline

BWW Reviews: The New Jewish Theatre's Giddy Delight of SCHLEMIEL THE FIRST

(5/24/2013) - SCHLEMIEL THE FIRST is a giddy delight, with songs and laughs barreling along at a frenetic pace. Based on the play by Isaac Bashevis Singer (conceived and adapted by Robert Brustein), this Klezmer musical (composed by Hankus Netsky and Zalmen Miotek, with lyrics by Arnold Weinstein) is guaranteed fun from start to finish, and The New Jewish Theatre has put together an exceptional production that is well worth your time and attention.

Alton Brown's THE EDIBLE INEVITABLE TOUR to Play Fox Theatre, 2/1/2014

(5/24/2013) - Alton Brown, Iron Chef host and renowned television personality is taking his brand of quirky humor and culinary science on the road with the 'Alton Brown Live! The Edible Inevitable Tour.' Brown will appear at the Fox Theatre on Saturday, February 1 at 8pm. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 7 at 10am. Prices are $60.50, $50.50, $45.50, & $35.50 with a limited number of Gold Circle seats also available. Tickets are available at the Fox Box Office, online at metrotix.com or by calling (314) 534-1111.

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis Opens TWELFTH NIGHT Tonight

(5/24/2013) - Kimiye Corwin and Anderson Matthews will headline Shakespeare Festival St. Louis' production of 'Twelfth Night' tonight, May 24 through June 16 at Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park. Both Corwin and Matthews were last seen in SFSTL's production of 'Hamlet' as Ophelia and Polonius, respectively, in 2010. Preview performances are scheduled for May 22-23. Rick Dildine, executive director of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, will direct.

Producer Rocco Landesman Joins St. Louis Walk of Fame

(5/23/2013) - Broadway producer Rocco Landesman was born and raised in St. Louis, where his family owned the Crystal Palace, a Gaslight Square cabaret that featured cutting edge theater and performers. Landesman developed and produced the Broadway musical Big River, which won 7 Tony Awards in 1985.

TWELFTH NIGHT Features Rats & People Orchestra at Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, Now thru 6/16

(5/22/2013) - In a first for Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, live music will be featured during the performances of 'Twelfth Night,' which is scheduled May 24 through June 16 in Shakespeare Glen, Forest Park. Preview performances are scheduled tonight, May 22-23.

Now Playing Onstage in St. Louis - Week of 5/19/2013

(5/19/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 5/19/2013 for St. Louis

New Line Theatre's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD Will Feature Zachary Allen Farmer, Mike Dowdy and More

(5/17/2013) - New Line Theatre has announced the cast for the regional premiere of the taut musical thriller NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, which will open its 23rd season, running Oct. 10-Nov. 2, 2013, and closing on Halloween weekend. The rest of New Line's 2013-2014 season will be announced soon.

Photo Flash: First Look at New Line Theatre's BUKOWSICAL

(5/16/2013) - New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre,' closes its 22nd season May 30-June 22, 2013, with the regional premiere of one of the most outrageous shows the company has ever produced. With book and lyrics by Spencer Green and Gary Stockdale, and music by Stockdale, BUKOWSICAL is a wacky, high-energy - and gleefully adult - musical comedy, an ironic and insightful 21st-century reboot of the classic American musical comedy, exploring the intersection between sex, drugs, booze, and art, all through the life story of the great American novelist and poet Charles Bukowski. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

BWW Exclusive: Jenny Powers and Rob McClure to Star in The Muny's MARY POPPINS!

(5/14/2013) - The Muny announced principal casting for the sixth show of its fantastic 95th Season, Disney and Cameron Mackinstosh's Mary Poppins the Musical, directed by Gary Griffin and choreographed by Alex Sanchez. Mary Poppins the Musical is sponsored by Ameren.

Now Playing Onstage in St. Louis - Week of 5/12/2013

(5/12/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 5/12/2013 for St. Louis

Photo Flash: Norbert Leo Butz Gives Webster University Commencement Speech at the Muny

(5/11/2013) - Tony Award Winner and Webster University alumnus Norbert Leo Butz delivered the commencement address and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at Webster University's 2013 commencement ceremony this morning, May 11 at The Muny in Forest Park. Scroll down for a photo of the new 'Dr.' Butz giving his speech!

Shakespeare Festival Announces Dining for TWELFTH NIGHT

(5/10/2013) - Shakespeare Festival St. Louis has just confirmed new agreements with Butler's Pantry and the Saint Louis Zoo to provide food and beverages for this year's production of "Twelfth Night" at Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park, it was announced today by executive director Rick Dildine. The show runs May 24-June 16 (excluding Tuesdays); preview performances are scheduled May 22-23.

BWW Reviews: HotCity Theatre's Intriguing Production of MAPLE AND VINE

(5/9/2013) - With his work, MAPLE AND VINE, playwright Jordan Harrison presents an interesting choice for the modern family struggling to cope with the modern world. They are given a chance to let go of all their connections to the information highway and head back in time to 1955. For some, this is the opportunity to start life anew, albeit, in a time that's fraught with issues of its own. HotCity Theatre is presenting an excellent production of this Serling-esque piece, and it's the kind of must-see experience that I always recommend; one that makes you laugh and think.