Rob Levy

Filled with gamesmanship, deception, death, and creative differences, Stray Dog Theatre’s Deathtrap is sleuthing at its finest. Well-acted and draped in the unexpected, the production’s apprehensive atmosphere and inventive plot contortions cause audiences to gasp as the drama reaches a bloody crescendo.

An example of how grief shapes identity played out onstage, The Rep’s latest is a compelling, powerful example of how theater can confront uncomfortable topics with tenderness, compassion, and humor.

Filled with garlands and good times, the production’s loose adherence to traditional theater makes it refreshing. Whether a wallflower taking it all in or someone choosing to interact with the proceedings, everyone attending this party is treated to a fun romp filled with love, community, laughter, and exuberance.

More of a drama with sung interludes than a full-blown musical, The Outsiders is an outstanding production. Relying on a minimalist stage, dark lighting, and choreography, the ensemble is given a wide berth to perform.

Aided by a top-notch band, Justin Been’s potent drama uses moving songs and poignant drama to make Superhero is a thrill-packed adventure.

At a time when the weather is colder, and winter is tuning up, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ production of Emma keeps us warm. The latest show of the company's 59th season is a vibrant feast of laughter and love.

Now touring North America, this updated version of the beloved musical has been crafted by producer Cameron MacIntosh. For this production he replaced the rotating stage of the original production with background projections and implemented dialogue, orchestration and costumes changes. The results are stunning!

Visually beautiful and emotionally charged, The Notebook brings love and loss to the stage with poignant results.

Emotionally powerful and gripping, The Brothers Size is powerful, evocative, and passionate. Relying on a trio of talented performances, this riveting production is a relentless depiction of how life behind bars can make you a prisoner for life.

The atmosphere is scary, the drama is intense, and the unexplained abounds in this well-acted production that relies on atmospherics, lighting, and effects to thrill and chill its audiences. The Woman In Black is an unnerving delight.

There are no musical numbers in the Fox Theatre’s 2025-2026 season opener. But that’s okay. Instead of a full-blown musical spectacle the company has opted for a moving production of The Life of Pi.

Tense, terse, and at times testy, The Minutes is almost two plays in one. While the first half gives off the vibe of a comedic tale of small-town bureaucracy, the second half is a darker and more cynical examination of the erosion of power structures.

Roaring laughter meets the roaring twenties in The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ The Cottage. A dramedy in the classic sense, the company’s 59th season starter offers an endless barrage of scandalous dalliances, clever double entendres, and mistaken identities.

Emphasizing the themes of overcoming a harsh environment, ethics and the complexities of teen relationships, The Second Hurricane packs a lot of drama into a small amount of time.

Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune walks a tightrope of comedy and tenderness. Emotionally his show highlights the agility between trust and truth as the two characters open and then shut down their feelings.

A fun romp of gooey fun wrapped in a Shakespearean shell, & Juliet takes the earworm drivel of songs like Baby One More Time, I Want It That Way, Roar, and Since U Been Gone, and makes them musical theater bangers. But, behind the schmaltz and campy energetics, the production entertains thanks to the talents of an exceptional ensemble. Filled with singing, dancing, love, and loyalty, & Juliet is a glorious escapade.

Upstream Theater is having an existential crisis. Meet Me At Dawn, the finale of the company’s 20th season is an intense rumination on reality and grief that plays games with the concept of reality.

Driven by characters who use music to unite, uplift, and explore themselves, Rock of Ages is fun. This fast-paced and thrashing theatrical escapade honors the counterculture it portrays.