Chris Gibson - Page 38

Dancing Earth, which Rulan Tangen founded in 2004, reflects both the cultural heritage and the contemporary identity of native peoples. The company boasts an entirely indigenous creative team of nine dancers and more than a dozen composers, costumers, filmmakers, visual artists and stage crew.

The Notes from Home series at the Sheldon begins Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 7:30 pm with An Evening with Ben Nordstrom with musical director Neal Richardson. Ben Nordstrom is a St. Louis transplant who enjoys a busy life on and off the stage. His many stage credits include roles in musicals and plays, Off-Broadway and at regional theatres across the country.

Flood Stage Productions present Jonathon Larson's rock opera RENT running 9/17-9/25 at the Grand Opera House on Main Street in St. Charles. RENT is Larson's reworking of Puccini's La Boheme, and tells the stories of young artists and musicians who are struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side, while dealing with the spectre of AIDS.

Playwright Lynn Nottage's CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE OF JOY, which is set in the 1950's, initially gives us more than enough plot for one play, presenting us with a grief-stricken widower who decides to pack up his two teenage daughters and haul them off to New York. But, Nottage isn't content to play out this scenario on its own, and opts to pile on contrivance upon contrivance in an attempt to create a sort of surreal slice of life comedy-drama. When it works, it's actually quite magical in execution, but when it doesn't, it just seems to be meandering aimlessly toward another predictably unpredictable twist that only serves to further muddy the heart of the story. Thankfully, Mustard Seed Theatre has put together an engaging production of this convoluted work that features solid acting and direction.

Washington University announces their Danforth University Center Chamber music series, which begins on September 20th. Performance are free and open to the public and take place in the Goldberg Formal Lounge of WUSTL's Danforth University Center, 6475 Forsyth Blvd.

Stray Dog Theatre presents MASTER CLASS by Terrence McNally 9/16-10/2/2010. Join Maria Callas, one of the most renowned opera divas of the 20th century, as she teaches a master class. Glamorous, commanding, and larger than life, Callas glories in her illustrious career, dabbles in opera dish, and flat-out seduces the audience. Memories of artistic triumphs and scandalous love affairs consume her. Humorous, titillating and poignant - this is a play (with music) to remember and savor long after the curtain falls.

In the nineteen years since the release of her debut album, Shawn Colvin has won three Grammy Awards, released eight albums, maintained a non-stop national and international touring schedule, appeared on countless television and radio programs, had her songs featured in major motion pictures, and created a remarkable library of work. Combined sales of her albums total more than 2.5 million copies in the United States , and Colvin consistently continues to perform nationally. The Sheldon presents multiple Grammy Award-winner Shawn Colvin with special guest Lauren Shera, Friday, October 1, 2010 at 8 p.m. in the perfect acoustics of the Sheldon Concert Hall.

Insight Theatre Company is pleased to announce that David Auburn's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning drama PROOF opens at The Heagney Theater on the campus of Nerinx Hall on Wednesday, September 29 and runs through Sunday, October 10, 2010.

HotCity Theatre, a professional theatre company with a focus on contemporary programming and new play development announces programming for the 2011 upcoming season. HotCity theatre produces a calendar year season and with the presentation of three new scripts on the Kranzberg Mainstage as well as the 6th Annual GreenHouse New Play Festival, will be adding focus on the portion of their mission relating to the development and production of new scripts.

Multimedia solos and structured improvisations will share the stage with Flamenco and classical Indian works in DANCE CLOSE UP, the biennial concert of new and original choreography by faculty in the Dance Program in Washington University's Performing Arts Department in Arts & Sciences. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Sept. 9 and 10; and at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11.

AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, also published under the title, 'Ten Little Indians', is Agatha Christie's best selling novel and the 7th most popular book of all time with over 100 million copies sold. Eight strangers and two servants are invited to a mansion off the coast of Devon. Once the arrive, statuettes of little soldier boys on the mantel fall to the ground in conjunction with a nursery rhyme telling how each of the ten 'soldiers' met his death until there were none. A mysterious voice accuses each of having gotten away with murder and then one drops dead---poisoned. One down and nine to go! The excitement never lets up in this remarkable thriller!

The Sheldon Art Galleries presents Legends of St. Louis Blues Music, ongoing through August 28, 2010 in the History of Jazz Gallery. Two new Gallery Talks (March 30th and May 1st) have been announced for the Spring in conjunction with the exhibition!

The Carolina Chocolate Drops began as three kids sharing their love of music in weekly musical jam sessions, traveling to North Carolina to play with old-time fiddler Joe Thompson. After forming a traditional string band in tribute to Joe, they began playing at town squares and farmer's markets to perfect their sound, drawing in fans with their unique combination of traditional string band music and modern sensibilities. In 2008, they became the first black string band to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo is a force on the Latin jazz scene. Born in Rio de Janeiro and now based in New York, the virtuoso musician has established himself as an acclaimed performer and composer, collaborating with artists such as Michael Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, Paquito D'Rivera, and Kenny Barron, among many others, and leading his own, groundbreaking ensemble, Trio da Paz.

Tchaikovsky's opera, PIKOVAYA DAMA (THE QUEEN OF SPADES) is based on a story by Pushkin, but the libretto tweaks the story ever so slightly, by having the lead protagonist, Gherman, already in love with the object of his desire before the plot is firmly put into motion. And the change makes all the difference, imbuing the piece with a sense of romanticism that allows for a resolution that's more poignant and unsettling. The Union Avenue Opera have played their 'trump card' with a resplendently dark production of this tragic tale.

Playwright John Patrick Shanley explores the 'feminization' of the male of the species with his work PSYCHOPATHIA SEXUALIS (google Krafft-Ebbing for a more detailed explanation of the historical and ground-breaking, but essentially flawed, text that the title is copped from, but bears no resemblance toward), focusing on a pair of men who wouldn't seem out of place in some Larry David scenario, acting much like the fully grown, but emotionally immature males who dominate his output.

As State Fairs take place around the country, Stages St. Louis concludes its 24th season with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Tony Award-winning Broadway musical STATE FAIR at The Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood from September 3 - October 3, 2010.

The Sheldon Art Galleries announces the Fall 2010 opening of seven new exhibits. Join us for an opening reception with complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres, Friday, October 1 from 5-7 p.m. (galleries open until 8 p.m.). Gallery hours are Tuesdays, Noon - 8 p.m.; Wednesdays - Fridays, Noon - 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and one hour prior to Sheldon performances and during intermission. Admission is free.

St. Louis-area Starbucks stores will once again help to 'Keep the Music Playing' for disadvantaged students throughout the region with the annual Music for Lifelong Achievement (MFLA) Instrument Drive, September 10 - October 15, 2010. Throughout the drive, all St. Louis-area Starbucks stores will serve as drop-off locations for used and new musical instruments. The donated instruments will then be repaired and distributed to local schools and community music programs serving aspiring music students who otherwise would not be able to afford an instrument. Over the past six years, MFLA/Starbucks instrument drives have collected over 500 instruments which have been recycled to St. Louis City and County school districts and a variety of community music programs.

Sheldon Concert Hall announces two additional concerts on 10/22 and 10/29. Three folk-rock favorites come to town on 10/22, and include Denny Laine, Terry Sylvester and John Ford Coley. On 10/29 blues singer/guitarist Carolyn Wonderland takes the stage for a benefit for the St. Louis Blues Society.