Chris Gibson - Page 55

Dee Dee Bridgewater returns to The Sheldon stage to perform 'Lady Day: A Tribute to Billie Holiday.' This broad-ranging, theatrical portrayal of the legendary singer, one of music's most talented yet tragic figures, helped earned Bridgewater a prestigious Laurence Olivier nomination.

This exhibition, organized by the Sheldon Art Galleries , St. Louis , presents an overview of photographs and selected sculpture by William Christenberry from the 1960s onwards which illustrate the artist's interest in and reaction to the sculptural forms of vernacular structures and cultural artifacts of Hale County, Alabama, where the artist spent his childhood and early adult years.

The Orange Girls Theatre company wraps up its 2009 season with the journey of a seemingly stereotypical housewife as she attempts to rewrite the story of her life in David Lindsay-Abaire's screwball comedy WONDER OF THE WORLD, presented September 25 through October 11 at COCA's Anheuser-Busch Black Box Theater.

The Sheldon Art Galleries presents Jessika Miekeley: American Framing, September 25, 2009 - January 9, 2010 in the Nancy Spirtas Kranzberg Gallery. Please join us for an all-gallery opening reception on Friday, September 25, 2009 from 5 - 7 p.m.

This exhibition uncovers and celebrates important St. Louis blues musicians and songs, and shows how blues music has influenced our musical heritage, including jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll.

Dale Benz, Music For Lifelong Achievement Coordinator, and Paul Reuter , Sheldon Executive Director, presented Kelle with a flute and clarinet on August 13 - just in time for school to start.

Echo Theatre Company presents the regional premiere of THE SECRETARIES by The Five Lesbian Brothers from September 25-October 11. Directed by Echo's Artistic Director Eric Little, the comedy will feature the talents of two-time Kevin Kline Award winners Colleen Backer and Lavonne Byers and Julie Layton, Sara Renschen and Amanda Williford*.

The Union Avenue Opera provided me with the chance to see the Missouri premiere of Lakmé by composer Léo Delibes (with a libretto by Edmond Gondinet and Philippe Gille). In sharp contrast to the romantic frivolity of Die Lustige Witwe, Lakmé is a tragic tale of star-crossed love set in the late 19th century during the British occupation of India. This work is filled with colorful and exotic characters, and those qualities are reflected in the music as well.

LAKMÉ makes its Missouri debut at Union Avenue Opera August 21, with additional performances August 22, 28 and 29 at 8PM. The final and most popular opera of famed French composer Léo Delibes, Lakmé, will have its first professional performance in Missouri.

On the heels of a successful production of their all-female MACBETH, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble presents TOP GIRLS, written by revolutionary author Caryl Churchill (A NUMBER, CLOUD NINE).

HotCity Theatre announces their 2010 Mainstage season with a poignant comedy, world premiere, modern-classic drama, and a thriller to complete a diverse, entertaining season of programming.

HotCity Theatre presents a provocative thriller, NEIGHBORHOOD 3: REQUISITION OF DOOM, written by Jennifer Haley and directed by Chuck Harper, opening September 11, 2009.

The touring production of MARY POPPINS that's currently gracing the stage of the Fox Theatre is 'practically perfect', featuring eye-popping special effects, a glorious set, and terrific performances that manage to capture the spirit of the 1964 Disney film, as well as the P.L. Travers books that inspired it. While some of the more beloved elements from the movie are noticeably absent, they've been replaced with sequences that are every bit as magical and engaging. This is a spectacular show that appeals to both children and adults.

Ben Nordstrom does a wonderful job directing and staging ALICE IN WONDERLAND. It's thoughtfully conceived, and the cast appears to be having a great deal of fun. He's aided in his efforts by Ellen Isom's playful choreography, and Lisa Campbell Albert's strong musical direction.

Live performance has always been a multidisciplinary event, its three great streams - theater, music and dance - forever shifting and combining in new and unpredictable ways. For its 2009-10 season, the Performing Arts Department (PAD) in Arts & Sciences will present a handful of works that together highlight both the boundless possibility and the transformational power of the stage.

The musical version of L.Frank Baum's timeless classic, THE WIZARD OF OZ comes to life on stage at the Olivette Community Center as part of their Summer Theatre Camp 2009. Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg's tuneful score is given a nice workout by the Over Due Theatre Company, augmented by a vast ensemble of kids who portray the various munchkins, poppies, Winkies, monkeys and citizens of the Emerald City.

The combination of superb voices accompanied by the tasteful, and exceptional playing of an very talented orchestra, allowed me the chance to savor the Union Avenue Opera's production of DIE LUSTIGE WITWE in the stunning confines of the Union Avenue Church.

Though Shakespeare's comedies are generally a mixed bag, and often filled with rather bleak and tragic outcomes for some of the participants, TWELFTH NIGHT is, for the most part, one of his better comic plays. It's a funny little tale built around some familiar Shakespearean elements like: twins, shipwrecks, cases of mistaken identity, cross-dressing, etc. And, this amusing trifle receives a well performed and delightful staging in the latest production by St. Louis Shakespeare.

Over Due Theatre Company is presenting the classic musical THE WIZARD OF OZ as their Summer Musical Theatre Camp production for 2009.

LAKMÉ makes its Missouri debut at Union Avenue Opera August 21, with additional performances August 22, 28 and 29 at 8PM. The final and most popular opera of famed French composer Léo Delibes, Lakmé, will have its first professional performance in Missouri.