BWW News: STAGES St.Louis' CHEERS! Benefit for Education and Artistic Programs
I had the distinct privilege of being invited to attend Cheers! STAGES St. Louis' Annual Summer Cabaret last week, and it was a unique and fun experience that I was able to share with my young son. It's a yearly event that's designed to raise funds for STAGES' educational and artistic programs, and it featured a number of very interesting and entertaining performances, as well as some tasty appetizers and desserts prepared by Michael Brightman's With Love Catering. To say the event was a success is an understatement. What made this particular presentation especially memorable was the world premiere of a work-in-progress production of THE STORY GOES ON, which is a brand new revue of the songs of Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire.
BWW Reviews: Insight Theatre Company's Nicely Mounted 1776
It's only fitting that while we're celebrating Independence Day there's a production of the musical 1776 being staged by a local theatre group. After all, it's not has-been bands at local fairs and fireworks displays that we're supposed to be honoring on this particular occasion, but rather the principles which this country was founded upon. And, 1776 is an entertaining and informative show (book by Peter Stone, and music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards) that attempts to set this historical event to music. Although it's often uneven in tone, it's an engaging ride nonetheless, and Insight Theatre Company's current production is a solid interpretation driven by some fine performances.
BWW Reviews: St. Louis Shakespeare Mounts HIlarious and Thought-Provoking RESTORATION
Playwright Edward Bond parodies, skewers, and otherwise upends the restoration comedies so familiar to theatre-goers with his work RESTORATION. It's a wickedly funny piece that attempts to make some sense of how and why the division of wealth was so unbalanced (sound familiar, it should be since we're there again today), allowing the seemingly useless to rule their ivy covered roosts, replete with lush gardens and enough ornate clothing to allow for a costume change for some characters for every scene. St. Louis Shakespeare has mounted a wonderfully amusing production that also makes you think and that's a rarity these days.
Mustard Seed Theatre Presents SHADOWLANDS, 1/28-2/13
SHADOWLANDS is based on the real-life story of C.S. Lewis, who unexpectedly falls in love with young American poet Joy Gresham. A romance with a bittersweet ending, by William Nicholson, with direction by Deanna Jent. The cast includes B.Weller, Terry Meddows, Richard Lewis, Michael Brightman, Jackson Mabry and Resident Artists Carmen Larimore Russell, Kelley Ryan as Joy Gresham and Gary Barker as C.S. Lewis.
Mustard Seed Theatre Presents Moliere's TARTUFFE 4/23 - 5/9
Mustard Seed Theatre will present Moliere's TARTUFFE April 23-May 9, 2010. Translated from Moliere's French by Richard Wilbur, the witty rhyming couplets keep the action moving as the plots swirl and power is stolen. Join Mariane, Elmire and their maid Dorine as they try to convince Orgon that Tartuffe is an imposter and not a saint.
Mustard Seed Theatre Presents Moliere's TARTUFFE 4/23 - 5/9
Mustard Seed Theatre will present Moliere's TARTUFFE April 23-May 9, 2010. Translated from Moliere's French by Richard Wilbur, the witty rhyming couplets keep the action moving as the plots swirl and power is stolen. Join Mariane, Elmire and their maid Dorine as they try to convince Orgon that Tartuffe is an imposter and not a saint.
Mustard Seed Theatre Presents FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Oct 30 - Nov 22
Mustard Seed Theatre presents FIDDLER ON THE ROOF October 30 - November 22, 2009 at the Fontbonne University Black Box Theatre in the Fine Arts Building at 6800 Wydown Boulevard in Clayton. Celebrate the lives of Tevye and his family as they navigate tradition, progress, love and hate. You'll see this well-loved musical in a new light: staged in an intimate setting, focused on the characters and the melodies of their relationships.
