Joe Hanrahan

Review: JUST ONE LOOK at Midnight Company At The Blue Strawberry Showroom And Lounge

JUST ONE LOOK is just one night of exceptional music. It’s a rock ‘n roll cabaret performance that is uniquely driven by a theatrical narrative and it works on every level.

The Midnight Company to Present JUST ONE LOOK at The Blue Strawberry in March

As part of their 2023 season, The Midnight Company will present the world premiere production of JUST ONE LOOK, a cabaret show based on the life and music of pop icon Linda Ronstadt. Ruling the pop charts in the 1970’s, Ronstadt was often called the ‘First Lady of Rock’ and recently began climbing the charts again this month with her song “Long Long Time” which was featured in the emotional third episode of the HBO hit show “The Last of Us.”

12 Days Left To Vote For The 2022 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Awards; The Muny Leads Favorite Local Theatre!

The latest standings as of Monday, December 19th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

Previews: JUST ONE LOOK at Midnight Company At The Blue Strawberry Showroom And Lounge

The Midnight Company will open its 2023 season with what is becoming the most highly anticipated event of the coming St. Louis theatre season.  The company’s first show is the world premiere of a theatrical cabaret show JUST ONE LOOK based on the life of pop superstar Linda Ronstadt written by Midnight’s artistic director Joe Hanrahan. In the 1970s Ronstadt was the queen of the pop charts and would sell out stadiums worldwide. Ronstadt’s hits included, “When Will I Be Loved,” “You’re No Good” “It’s so Easy,” “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” “Blue Bayou” and dozens more hits that topped the pop charts. She was featured on the cover of The Rolling Stone magazine six times. When Cameron Crowe wrote his 1976 article for The Rolling Stone, Ronstadt had three consecutive platinum albums and there was no bigger name in music on the planet. BroadwayWorld had the opportunity to sit down with Kelly Howe who will play Linda Ronstadt and playwright, director and actor Joe Hanrahan who will play an aging reporter who finally gets his long-coveted interview with Ronstadt.

Feature: St. Louis' Top 10 Theatrical Events of 2022

This past year was filled with exceptional theatrical productions in the St. Louis Arts Community. Nearly every performance in 2022 at STAGES St. Louis, The Muny, The Black Rep and Midnight Company were entertaining with only a few misfires. As a long-time season ticket holder to The Fabulous Fox Theatre and a first-time attendee to New Line Theatre, I had the opportunity to see nearly every theatrical production that was staged in these venues. Instead of compiling a top ten list of best shows, I decided this would be the opportunity to recognize the best work, both performing and technical theater, that I observed in 2022. Without further ado, here are the ten best works on the stages of St. Louis throughout the past year. 

Latest Stats Released For The 2022 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Awards; at Stages St. Louis Leads Best Ensemble Performance!

The latest standings as of Monday, December 12th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

Previews: MIDNIGHT COMPANY 2023 SEASON at Midnight Company

The Midnight Company announces it 2023 five-show season that includes two world premiere productions. The Season opens on March 1, 2023 with the world premiere production of JUST ONE LOOK based on the life and career of Linda Ronstadt at The Blue Strawberry. Midnight Company continues its season with THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD KELLY at The Kranzberg Black Box  May 4th -20th,  THE YEARS at The Chapel July 13th-29th, and YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU at The Blue Strawberry July 26th – August 9th.  Midnight Company closes its season with a production of THE LION IN WINTER at the .ZACK October 5th-21st.

Latest Standings Released For The 2022 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Awards; The Muny Leads Favorite Local Theatre!

The latest standings as of Monday, December 5th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

First Stats Released For The BroadwayWorld St. Louis Awards; Stage St. Louis IN THE HEIGHTS Leads Best Musical

The first live standings have been announced for the 2022 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

Review: ST. LOUIS WOMAN at The Midnight Company At .Zack Theatre

Hanrahan’s script provides a nostalgic look at St. Louis through the 1900s and the compelling lives of incredibly talented woman. His script is more than just a historic look at some famous St. Louis Women. It is an important lesson in St. Louis Black history, examining the lives of strong African American women who helped shape and improve this world for all women, especially women of color. Laka’s effective portrayal of more than a half-dozen real live artists is due to her ability to disappear into these women, allowing their spirit to inhabit her body. Her versatility allows her to span a century of music performing gospel, jazz, blues, R&B, and rock-and-roll. When she rips into the Music of Tina Turner, Fontella Bass and Ann Peebles at the beginning of the second act, her vocals blow the roof off the theater.