Mae Ford

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. 

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.

ST. LOUIS WOMAN honors the enduring legacy of some amazing female artists who put St. Louis on the map with their timeless music, dance and poetry. LAKA will portray legendary artists Josephine Baker, Tina Turner and Katherine Dunham. In her roles she will also present the poetry of Maya Angelou, the song stylings of chart-toppers Fontella Bass and Ann Peebles, and the Gospel classics of the legendary Willie Mae Ford Smith. Most of these women were either born in St. Louis or came here when they were young, with the exception of Katherine Dunham’s who moved here during the height of their career to continue her momentous work. 

The Midnight Company announced its 25th Anniversary Season with their lineup of productions for their 2022 landmark silver anniversary year. The season will open with ANOMALOUS EXPERIENCE by the Company’s Artistic Director, Joe Hanrahan, running May 5-21 at the Kranzberg Black Box Theatre. Midnight’s second show of the season will be RODNEY’S WIFE by Richard Nelson and is directed by Joe Hanrahan. The show runs July 7-23 at The Chapel. The final show of the season will be ST. LOUIS WOMAN, written and directed by Joe Hanrahan, running October 6-22 at the .ZACK.

 The Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement is pleased to announce the next film in the "Movies That Matter with Hal Conklin" film series, Say Amen, Somebody, will screen on Monday, October 17, 2016 at 7:00pm, accompanied by a special performance from the Inner Light Gospel Choir. Say Amen, Somebody is a compelling look at the colorful history of Gospel music in the United States, featuring real-life accounts from some of the earliest founders of this form of praise.

 The Jurkowitz Center for Community Engagement is pleased to announce the next film in the "Movies That Matter with Hal Conklin" film series, Say Amen, Somebody, will screen on Monday, October 17, 2016 at 7:00pm, accompanied by a special performance from the Inner Light Gospel Choir. Say Amen, Somebody is a compelling look at the colorful history of Gospel music in the United States, featuring real-life accounts from some of the earliest founders of this form of praise.