Willena Vaughn

Conceived, written and directed by renowned actor/writer/director Ken Page, CAFE CHANSON is a memorable production that's affecting and intriguing. It acts as both a tribute to the soldiers who have served our country with valor and conviction, as well as positing the idea of an afterlife that allows the dead to relive an experience from the past life before they pass over to the other side. This is a haunting and beautifully imagined work that cannot be recommended highly enough by me. Upstream Theater has, once again, provided an unusual and fascinating theatrical event that goes above and beyond the norm.

On Friday, June 29, 2012 Tony Award winner and Ain't Misbehavin' creator, Richard Maltby Jr. visited STAGES ST. LOUIS to experience their critically acclaimed production first hand. Following the 8:00 pm performance Maltby Jr., met with the cast and crew to congratulate them on a successful run. Check out photos of Maltby with the cast below!

One of the first shows I remember reviewing when I became a theatre critic was AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', and it's become a favorite of mine ever since. Although, I've had to wait quite a few years for a group to do a revival of this fascinating revue based on the songs and recordings of the fabulous Fats Waller. To kick off their season, Stages St. Louis is presenting a very fine production of this show, and it features, not only five terrifically talented singers, but also a live band to accompany them. This is the first time I've seen Stages actually utilize a live band, and I must say it works out wonderfully well. There's a palpable intensity in the performers as they feed off the positive energy of these exceptional musicians that makes this a must-see event.

This month, The Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood feels less like a theatre, and more like a Harlem jazz club in the 1930s, as Stages St. Louis presents the Tony Award-winning musical revue, Ain't Misbehavin'. Check out photos from the production below, featuring Raena White, Willena Vaughn, Eric Lajuan Summers, and more!

During the month of June, The Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood will feel less like a theatre, and more like a Harlem jazz club in the 1930s, when STAGES ST. LOUIS presents the Tony Award-winning musical revue, Ain't Misbehavin'.

BLUES IN THE NIGHT is a delightful compilation of material that celebrates the many styles associated with the music known as the blues. As conceived by Sheldon Epps, this musical follows three women and a saloon singer as they recall memories from their past in song form. The Black Rep's current production showcases four superb vocalists who bring their own unique talents to the work, creating a marvelous and uplifting experience, filled with enough genuine warmth and good humor, that it may well redefine how you feel about the blues.

Thirteen different stage productions were honored at the fourth annual Kevin Kline Awards ceremony. Nine St. Louis area theater companies were recognized with awards. Five of those nine theaters were multiple award winners.

Twenty-one St. Louis theater companies are represented in the nominations for the fourth annual Kevin Kline Awards. Forty-two plays and musicals produced in the St. Louis area during 2008 now share 113 nominations in 22 different categories for the coveted award. The nominations were announced on KWMU-FM's 'Cityscape' today, January 16th, 2009. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis received the most nominations, 32, divided among seven different productions that were presented on its mainstage, and in both the Studio and Off-Ramp series. The Muny was the second-highest recipient, with 15 nominations. Stages St. Louis was the third theater to receive double-digit nominations, with 13. The satirical comedy The Little Dog Laughed, which was produced by the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis as part of its Off-Ramp series, received the most nominations (8), followed by seven nominations for My Fair Lady at the Muny. Eighty-two actors, directors, choreographers, playwrights and designers received nominations. Six artists received multiple nominations.