Critic James Lindhorst's Best of St. Louis Theatre in 2025
by James Lindhorst - Dec 15, 2025
This past season was the year of the comedy in St. Louis Theater. Companies across the city had audiences laughing all season long with slapstick, farce, and satire. There were some wonderful musical productions that really sang, a few hard hitting dramas, but comedies reigned in both quantity and quality. Instead of publishing a Top 10 list this year, I’m going to recognize the Best in St. Louis Theater for 2025. “The Best” is still a shortened list of just 13 shows out of the nearly 90 shows I saw this past year. It took weeks of thought and painstaking consideration to decide which productions would be included in my annual list. Here they are. The productions are listed in alphabetical order, not ranked by favorites:
Review: BRING IT ON at The Muny is a High Flying Sensation
by James Lindhorst - Jun 18, 2025
The Muny's Bring It On is electrifying musical theatre for people of all ages. The biggest surprise is Jeff Whitty’s clever book. His story is filled with laughs, unexpected surprises, and a lot of heart. The young exuberant cast’s lively performances are punctuated with high-intensity dancing and explosive gymnastics. The Muny’s vibrant production of Bring It On soars and is highly recommended.
Review: The Muny's SISTER ACT is Fabulous Baby!
by James Lindhorst - Aug 17, 2023
The Muny has delivered a big, bold, over-the-top production of delightful disco divinity that exceeds every expectation. Credit Director and Choreographer Dennis Jones for his directorial vision and collaboration with the entire production team. He, and The Muny’s casting partners at The Telsey Office, have assembled a phenomenal cast with loads of talent, who supply big laughs, and deliver exceptional vocal performances while executing on Jones’ spirited choreography. The acting is superb. Every member of this onstage company performs at their highest level. The orchestrations are first rate. The choreography is amusing and animated. The scenic design is grandiose. The interior of the gothic church on the large Muny turntable is cathedral-like. Huge accolades to the Muny’s costume shop and costume designer Leon Dobkowski. The vintage 1970s costumes are flashy, colorful eye candy. The flow of Dobkowski’s costumes enhanced every movement of the energetic choreography. Shelby Leonard’s dazzling lighting design rivaled the glittery costumes and created a lighthearted and carnivalesque mood. Everything about this Muny production is miraculous.
BWW Review: CHICAGO at The Muny
by James Lindhorst - Jun 15, 2022
What did our critic think? Denis Jones (Director/Choreographer) and Barry Busby (Associate Choreographer) have assembled a splendid cast plus an ensemble of highly skilled dance professionals to pack the expansive Muny stage. Their choreography pays tribute to Fosse’s sexy and subtle work but morph it into grand movements that play to the back of this massive 11,000-seat house. Their choreography on “We Both Reached for the Gun” is an electrifying delight.
Theater Resources Unlimited Announces July Panel via Zoom
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 15, 2020
Theater Resources Unlimited will present the July Panel Adapt and Survive: How the Arts Are Outwitting COVID on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 via Zoom. Networking begins at 7pm and the panel starts at 7:30pm.
Sierra Repertory Presents Announces 2020 Season
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 6, 2019
Sierra Repertory Theatre is celebrating 41 years of continued artistic and entertainment excellence in Tuolumne County. The recently announced 2020 Season of plays and musicals has already seen an influx of Season Subscribers rushing to reserve their tickets.
Sierra Rep Presents GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 13, 2019
52 years after the groundbreaking film, Sierra Rep is thrilled to present Todd Kreidler's stage adaptation of the iconic Academy Award-winning film Guess Who's Coming To Dinner. The production poignantly continues SRT's 40th Anniversary Season. Based on the original screenplay by William Rose and directed by Becky Saunders, this charming, clever romantic comedy opens April 26th and runs through May 19th in the East Sonora Theatre.
Long Beach Legends Lowrider Band, Grammy Nominee Janiva Magness, Highlight New Blues Festival V
by Tori Hartshorn - Aug 21, 2018
On Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, September 1 and Sunday, September 2, the New Blues Festival V returns to El Dorado Regional Park for its fifth big consecutive year, featuring two full days of the best in Blues, R&B and Soul music from some of today's biggest acts.7550 E. Spring St., Long Beach. Gates open 9am and music starts at 10am both days. Tickets: $45. (General Admission/Single Day Pass); $75. (Weekend Pass (Saturday/Sunday); Gold Ticket/Single Day Pass, $75; Gold Ticket, Weekend Pass (Saturday/Sunday), $150.; VIP Single Day Pass, $140. VIP/Weekend Pass (Saturday/Sunday), $250. Children 12 and under free with paid adult. Info: (707) 572-5837 orhttp://www.newbluesfestival.com. Direct link for purchasing tickets:http://www.newbluesfestival.com/tickets/.
Photo Flash: Sierra Rep Presents BASKERVILLE A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 16, 2018
Sierra Rep is proud to present Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, a fast-paced comedy that faithfully hews to Arthur Conan Doyle's novel about Holmes and Watson vs. evil. The game's afoot as male heirs of the Baskerville line are being murdered one by one. The renowned sleuth Sherlock Holmes, along with his trusted sidekick Doctor Watson, must work feverishly to crack the curse before it dooms the newest heir. Five talented actors, playing forty quirky characters, follow leads, unravel clues, hit dead-ends, and zigzag through the story until the shockingly funny conclusion. The gimmick here is that our pair of protagonists are surrounded by an ensemble of three delightful comic actors who play everyone else. Watching our troupe change among 40 different characters, both quickly off-stage (and even more quickly on-stage) is nothing short of amazing.
Sierra Rep presents A Season Of Celebrations, Transformations and Music!
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 16, 2018
Sierra Repertory Theatre audiences have been waiting on pins and needles to learn the title of the company's 2018 opening musical ! Sierra Rep , now in its 39 th year , opens their 2018 Season w ith Mamma Mia ! the smash - hit musical based on the songs of ABBA .