Chris Gibson - Page 44

I was thirteen when Star Wars came out in May of 1977, and it made quite an impression on this particular teenage boy. I was a little older when The Empire Strikes Back came out, and even more so by the time Return of the Jedi premiered, but they were enjoyable romps as well, although I personally could have done without the Ewoks. Now, it's thirty-three years later, I get to witness the Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre's production of THE ONE-HOUR STAR WARS TRILOGY: LIVE!. I'm happy to report that it's a fond, fast and funny trip back in time for a fan like myself.

The Performing Arts Department (PAD) in Arts & Sciences will close its production of METAMORPHOSES, perhaps the most acclaimed theatrical work of the last decade, as its spring Mainstage production on May 2nd.

The plays of William Shakespeare have been reinterpreted many times over and set in a variety of places and times in order to use Shakespeare's words to tell other stories. Shakespeare has written such universal stories and characters that this can be done without changing the heart of the story. With ROMEO AND JULIET NJT does exactly this in order to shed light on history. In the NJT production, the setting is the British Mandate of Palestine in 1947-48 during the struggle to create the Jewish state of Israel. The show will end its run May 2nd.

THE COUNTRY GIRL will end its run at the Avalon Theatre Company on May 2nd. Georgie Elgin has suffered long years of devotion to actor husband, Frank. When Frank is offered what is needed to revive his career - a big role in an important new play, the play's brilliant director believes Georgie is the key to Frank's downfall...until a dynamic incident reveals the country girl's identity and exposes Frank's reality.

I was just a wee bit too old to have watched Sesame Street when it premiered on public television during the late 1960's, although I was certainly aware of its impact. But, it wasn't until my son was born a few years back that I was fully exposed to its sunny charms. Which is probably why AVENUE Q, the wickedly funny parody of this venerable children's classic, resonates so deeply with me. It's an incredibly amusing, adult-oriented satire filled with goofy puppets, catchy songs, and clever animated films, and it's currently playing the Fox Theatre for a brief run ending May 2, 2010.

Performing a one person show would seem to be a rather daunting task to me. After all, if you blank out or skip a part, there's no one around to guide you back to your place. That's what makes Teresa Doggett's work as SHIRLEY VALENTINE in Stray Dog Theatre's Studio Workshop Production so amazing. Willy Russell's clever and amusing script is given a terrific workout by this exceptionally talented actress, producing a very funny and touching show that's certainly deserving of your attention.

The Friends of The Sheldon present the 11th Annual Sunset at The Sheldon Wine Tasting, Wednesday, May 26, 2010 from 6:30 p.m. until sunset on The Sheldon Observation Deck. Proceeds benefit Sheldon Educational Programs. The event is co-chaired by Jane Matoesian and Ken Aston. Sample and buy wines from Major Brands, enjoy hors d'oeuvres courtesy of Bryan Young Catering Plus, and relax to live music while watching the sun set at this annual fundraiser.

Do you sometimes just feel like running away from it all? Then come join Shirley Valentine on a hysterical adventure of a lifetime! Stray Dog Theatre is presenting Willy Russell's comedy SHIRLEY VALENTINE at the Tower Grove Abbey (2336 Tennessee Avenue) April 29 - May 15. Teresa Doggett stars and Edward Coffield directs this Studio Workshop Production. Performances take place Thursday through Saturday at 8pm. with the final Saturday featuring shows at 2pm and 8pm.

Andrew Lippa's musical adaptation of Joseph Moncure March's epic poem, THE WILD PARTY, is a brilliant work, especially if you're anything like me, and you like your entertainment on the dark side. It's a decadent jewel gleaming with sinister possibilities, and thus, far removed from the current trend toward sunny shows with predictably happy endings. Though set in 1928, it manages to perfectly capture the current mood of cynicism that seems to have run rampant through our country over the course of the last fifteen years. New Line Theatre's current presentation of THE WILD PARTY is a deliriously engaging experience, easily making it one of the best productions of the year.

Some people cannot be convinced of something unless they see it with their own two eyes, and even then they can be skeptical. This is a problem that Orgon, a character from Moliere's classic comedy TARTUFFE faces. Everyone around him, except his Mother, seems to understand that the man that Orgon has taken in has a less than stellar past, and that he's up to no good. But Orgon's blindness, even in the face of being confronted with eyewitness accounts, works against him taking any action against a man he sees as being perfectly pious. Mustard Seed Theatre has produced a funny and extremely well cast version of this play, and it's required viewing for anyone looking for something a little light and easy to take.

COUNTRY® Financial presents acclaimed multi-platinum recording artist and songwriter Jewel, Sunday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the perfect acoustics of the Sheldon Concert Hall. Opening for Jewel will be singer/songwriter Kip Moore.

It's been a long time since Mark Knopfler graced St. Louis with his presence and the wait was certainly worth it for those lucky enough to capture his performance at the Fox Theatre (April 22, 2010) this past Thursday. Flanked by a large band consistenting of any number of multi-instrumentalists, Knopfler delivered a crisp two hour set that mostly covered material from his solo career, but also included a few choice Dire Straits songs for those diehard fans who haven't kept up with this hugely talented guitarist and songwriter.

The Sheldon Art Galleries presents a gallery talk with Robert Koester, founder of Delmark Records and owner of the Jazz Record Mart in Chicago, Saturday, May 1 at 11 a.m. in the History of Jazz Gallery. Koester will speak on the history of Delmark Records in St. Louis in conjunction with the exhibition Legends of St. Louis Blues Music, ongoing through August 28, 2010. Admission Free.

With late morning sunshine streaming through the gorgeously colorful plate glass windows of the Sheldon Concert hall, accomplished singers/actors Ben Nordstrom and Katy Tibbets, along with pianist extraordinaire Neal Richardson, took to the stage to present a wonderful hour of 'Broadway Romance' for an attentive and appreciative audience. From start to finish they charmed a packed house, providing splendid and tuneful selections from the vast Broadway canon.

Though elements of its plot has been pilfered by countless writers and filmmakers over the years, Henrik Ibsen's classic, A DOLL'S HOUSE, still manages to pack a punch today. The tale of a woman in a seemingly idyllic marriage who suddenly finds herself being extorted because of a risky decision she made in order to save her husband's life has been reworked into countless thrillers and Lifetime originals. It may well be the prototype of feminists plays, empowering its heroine with a sense of true purpose as she comes to grips with the reality that her 'perfect' marriage isn't all it's cracked up to be. The St. Louis Actors' Studio is presenting a tautly acted production of Ibsen's most famous, and controversial work, and it's must-see viewing.

If you've read my reviews for the last few years then you know that I really enjoy a good re-imagining of a classic. I like experimentation in theatre, and it's always a thrill to see new life pumped into a time-worn favorite. There are certainly a lot of interesting ideas at work in writer/director Robin Weatherall's revision of Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET, and it's certainly deserving of being labeled as provocative.

HotCity Theatre, a professional theatre company with a focus on contemporary programming and new play development announces the Mainstage world premiere presentation of THE SINKER, written by Jami Brandli, with dramaturgical help from Erica Nagel. THE SINKER was the chosen script from the 2009 Annual GreenHouse new play festival.

Black Rep to present ART by Yasmina Reza May 5 - 23, 2010, a play which takes a profound look at the nature of friendship. When well-to-do Serge purchases an expensive painting it causes his best friend to question not only his taste, but his moral fiber as well. What do we really know about our friends and can friendship survive when we discover an unexpected, hard to believe truth about someone we think we know?

Upstream Theater's production of Scottish playwright David Greig's OUTLYING ISLANDS is an intriguing evening of theater, thoroughly confounding expectations, and providing plenty of food for thought. As a person who seeks out the unusual and unexpected, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself haunted by moments from it that linger in the memory long after viewing. Maybe it was all the references one character makes to Laurel and Hardy's classic 1937 film comedy Way Out West, or the fact that they actually break into a song from that film, warbling a drunken rendition of 'The Trail of the Lonesome Pine'. Whatever the cause, Philip Boehm's fine direction, and the wonderful work of an exceptional cast, help to make this a compelling and entertaining journey.

It can be difficult and stressful to try and start up a new theatre company. There are just so many things that have to be taken into consideration, and there are always last minute items that pop up at the most inconvenient time. This being said, Bear Stage made their debut at the Jelkyl Theatre in St. Charles this past weekend and, all things considered, presented a pretty solid production of PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES.