Jason Grubbe

Continuing our streak of sold out performances and extended runs (Bright Star, A Gentleman's Guide To Love and Murder, A Swinging Christmas: The Holiday Music of Tony Bennett), Farmers Alley Theatre presents the very first production of The Great Leap to West Michigan audiences. 

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Few stories are as poignant and compelling as THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, and this adaptation by Wendy Kesselman (originally scripted by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett) is made even more so by enhancing the elements already present that deal with her Jewish faith and burgeoning womanhood. The current production by The New Jewish Theatre is simply heart wrenching in its exquisite and engaging execution. A wonderful cast and sensitive direction allow this true and tragic tale to blossom fully. You can't help but be moved by the events that transpire, and you'll find yourself thinking how important it is that we never forget what happened so that we make sure it is never repeated.

59E59 Theaters will welcome St. Louis Actors' Studio with the New York premiere of DAY OF THE DOG, written by Daniel Damiano and directed by Milton Zoth. DAY OF THE DOG begins performances on Thursday, March 13 for a limited engagement through Sunday, March 30. Press opening is Tuesday, March 18 at 7:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:30 PM; Friday - Saturday at 8:30 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $18 ($12.60 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org.

THE GOOD DOCTOR, Neil Simon's take on the short stories of Anton Chekhov, is a decidedly mixed bag. At the time he was writing this work he was dealing with his first wife's illness and busying himself with changes to the screenplay of The Prisoner of Second Avenue. Although it has become a much performed play now, it wasn't a huge success when it was first staged, however several members of the cast were nominated for awards. The New Jewish Theatre's current staging contains some fine performances and sharp direction, but it remains a hit and miss production that's only fitfully funny.

I have to confess that I'm not particularly fond of playwright/director Alan Ayckbourn's brand of British farce. I just don't think it translates very well to American audiences, and it requires the actors involved to sport solid accents, or it loses its credibility. That's why I was a bit surprised by the St. Louis Actors' Studio's choice of his work, SEASON'S GREETINGS, as their holiday offering. They're best known, to me at least, for their edgy premieres and inspired revivals, so this is something of a disappointment. Perhaps, they were drawn to it's sudden violence and black comic trappings, but it just doesn't suit them as well as it might.