Michael Baxter

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:

Photos: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Extends at His Majesty's Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Sep 22, 2025

New production photos have been released for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at His Majesty’s Theatre. Check out the photos and learn more here!

Review: The Muny's LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is The Best of Times
by James Lindhorst - Aug 10, 2025

The Muny’s La Cage Aux Folles is enormity in storytelling. Contrasted with the intimacy of last week’s Dear Evan Hansen, Marsha Milgrom Dodge’s La Cage captures the grandeur of what The Muny does best. It is a grand venue that supports epic productions.

Review: The Muny's Emotionally Charged DEAR EVAN HANSEN Packs an Emotional Wallop
by James Lindhorst - Jul 30, 2025

The Muny production of Dear Evan Hansen is a departure from the huge overblown musical extravaganzas that normally populate The Muny stage. It's a much smaller show but it is profoundly emotional. It creates intimacy that was once thought impossible in this large venue and opens other opportunities for the stories that the Muny can tell.  Like his emotionally charged direction of Fiddler on the Roof last season, Rob Ruggerio’s Muny version of Dear Evan Hansen packs an emotional wallop. Michael Fabisch, Jackie Burns, Maggie Lakis, Rob McClure, Afra Sophia Tully, and the rest of this cast grabs the audience, holds them close, and leaves them with a deeply touching and poignantly warm theatrical experience. 

Review: DISNEY’S FROZEN at The Muny is Moving and Heartfelt Storytelling
by James Lindhorst - Jul 8, 2025

The Muny’s Frozen is filled with endearing performances, gasp-inducing stagecraft, beautiful musical direction by Darryl Archibald, and loveable puppets created by Puppet Kitchen’s Eric Wright. But it's not the many wow moments that make Frozen special. Frozen is touching because of John Tartaglia’s moving storytelling that takes the audience on a journey beyond Arendelle to explore a sister’s love and the basic need for human connection.

Review: COME FROM AWAY at The Muny is a Soul-Stirring Piece of Musical Storytelling
by James Lindhorst - Jun 28, 2025

The Muny’s emotionally impactful Come From Away captures the humanity, heart, and soul of Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s poignant book and beautifully soaring score. This elite cast of actors transports the audience back to Gander, Newfoundland with lived-in and emotionally truthful performances. Director Seth Skylar-Heyn did the near impossible shrinking the colossal Muny’s stage into an intimate storytelling space. Scenic designer Edward E. Haynes’ revolving stage is genius.

New Cast Will Join THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at His Majesty's Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Jun 23, 2025

New casting has been announced for Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at His Majesty's Theatre, Joining the company on Monday 28 July will be Adam Rhys-Charles as Raoul and Bradyn Debysingh as Ubaldo Piangi.

Jonalyn Saxer, Kennedy Holmes, and More Will Lead BRING IT ON at The Muny
by Stephi Wild - May 2, 2025

Jonalyn Saxer, Kennedy Holmes, Bryce Williams, Taylor Sage Evans, Katy Geraghty, and more will star in the Muny premiere of Bring It On. Learn more about the show here!

Feature: The Muny and Broadway Honor the Life of the Legendary Ken Page
by James Lindhorst - Apr 12, 2025

Celebrities, family, friends, and members of the community gathered in St. Louis on Friday evening to celebrate the life of the late Ken Page. The celebration, hosted and produced by The Muny, was held in the packed-to-capacity Sheldon Concert Hall. 

BRING IT ON at the Muny Will Include 16 University of Kentucky Cheerleaders
by Stephi Wild - Mar 20, 2025

Sixteen athletes — current squad members and alumni — from the nationally renowned University of Kentucky cheerleading program will be part of the ensemble in this summer's Muny premiere of Bring It On: The Musical. 

Photos: LES MISERABLES Extends in London; New Photos
by Stephi Wild - Feb 27, 2025

Boublil and Schönberg’s LES MISÉRABLES has extended booking at the Sondheim Theatre in London until March 2026. Check out all new production photos here!

The Top 10 Theater Productions in St. Louis for 2024
by James Lindhorst - Dec 12, 2024

This past season was the year of the drama in St. Louis Theater. Patrons returned to the theatre in droves and many of the regional companies experienced strong box office with sold-out or extended runs. Tesseract Theater Company had a breakout year, placing two productions on this top 10 list. The Black Rep, ERA, They Muny, New Jewish Theater, The Repertory Theater of St. Louis, and STAGES St. Louis all benefited from positive word of mouth and strong single ticket box office sales thanks to their marvelous seasons and well-reviewed productions.  

Lucie Jones to Join LES MISERABLES as 'Fantine' in the West End; Katie Hall to Star on Tour
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 30, 2024

Lucie Jones will join Les Miserables as 'Fantine' in the West End, while Katie Hall will star on tour. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.

Video: LES MISERABLES in the West End to Welcome New Cast Members in October
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 17, 2024

New cast members will join the London production of Boublil and Schönberg’s LES MISÉRABLES at the Sondheim Theatre. LES MISÉRABLES will enter its 40th record-breaking year in London this October. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.