Ann Ashby

With TRAIL OF TEARS celebrated playwright Kathryn Schultz Miller once again brings history to life in this gripping drama. View 1800s America through the eyes of youthful and determined Chosen One as his people are forced to abandon their homeland in the Smoky Mountains. With his wife, Snow Owl, and his father, Walking Bear, he fights valiantly to save his people, but is overcome time and again by the attractive empty promises of the new settlers. This dramatic tale of one man's heartbreaking struggle to hold on to his Cherokee heritage is a fresh look at a painful chapter in American history.

Imaginary Theatre Company (ITC), the young audiences touring ensemble of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, will present Trail of Tears by Kathryn Schultz Miller. This powerful play will be performed in the E. Desmond Lee Auditorium at the Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Boulevard in Forest Park, March 25-April 3, 2011.

The basic story of Chanticleer can supposedly be traced back to Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, and a particular story titled 'The Nun's Priest's Tale', but you'd be hard pressed to find any resemblance between that work and most adaptations which focus instead on the conflict between a sly fox and an vain rooster. Hollywood even took a stab at the material with the 1991 animated film Rock- A-Doodle, an adaptation of the comedic play Chantecler by Edmond Rostand, which featured Glen Campbell's voice in the lead role. Playwright and composer Brian Hohlfeld has come up with his own spin on the idea with CHANTICLEER!, a country flavored musical version that's perfectly suited for young people. The Imaginary Theatre Company has assembled a cute and funny production of this charming classic, and happily I was able to catch a performance this past weekend (March 19, 2011) with my wife and son in tow.

Imaginary Theatre Company (ITC), the young audiences touring ensemble of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, will present Chanticleer! by Brian Hohlfeld.

With TRAIL OF TEARS celebrated playwright Kathryn Schultz Miller once again brings history to life in this gripping drama. View 1800s America through the eyes of youthful and determined Chosen One as his people are forced to abandon their homeland in the Smoky Mountains. With his wife, Snow Owl, and his father, Walking Bear, he fights valiantly to save his people, but is overcome time and again by the attractive empty promises of the new settlers. This dramatic tale of one man's heartbreaking struggle to hold on to his Cherokee heritage is a fresh look at a painful chapter in American history.

Imaginary Theatre Company (ITC), the young audiences touring ensemble of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, will present Trail of Tears by Kathryn Schultz Miller. This powerful play will be performed in the E. Desmond Lee Auditorium at the Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Boulevard in Forest Park, March 25-April 3, 2011.

Imaginary Theatre Company (ITC), the young audiences touring ensemble of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, will present Chanticleer! by Brian Hohlfeld.

The Imaginary Theatre Company provided a very fitting offering for the holiday season with their delightful and amusing take on THE NUTCRACKER. This version is cleverly scripted by playwright Sarah Brandt, with original music and lyrics by Neal Richardson, and though it differs somewhat from E.T.A. Hoffman's original story, 'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King', it brings that Christmas classic to life in fine fashion, with Richardson's score utilizing tuneful original compositions as well as arrangements of Tchaikovsky's familiar music from the ballet version of the tale. This blending of traditional and new elements produces a pleasant and engaging show that children and their families can enjoy together.

The Imaginary Theatre Company, the young audiences touring ensemble of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, will present its own original version of The Nutcracker this holiday season.

The Imaginary Theatre Company, the young audiences touring ensemble of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, will present its own original version of The Nutcracker this holiday season.

The Imaginary Theatre Company, the young audiences touring ensemble of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, will present its own original version of The Nutcracker this holiday season.

History books, at least when I was growing up, devoted only a sidebar to pioneering aviatrix AMELIA EARHART, although today her life has become the subject of many books, movies and television specials that seek to shed light on her mysterious disappearance in 1937 during an attempt to fly around the globe. The Imaginary Theatre Company is presenting Kathryn Schultz Miller's play about this adventurous pilot at the Missouri History Museum (through March 28, 2010), and it's an intriguing show that will gives audiences young and old something to think about.

The Imaginary Theatre Company opens the spring season with a cute production of A PETER RABBIT TALE. This is a sassy and entertaining re-working of a childhood favorite that adds a pleasant and catchy score to the familiar story. I brought my wife and son along to attend one of two performances that were scheduled for a drizzly day (March 14, 2010) at Nerinx Hall High School, and judging by the packed house and smiling faces all around, it was definitely a worthwhile experience.

Controversial playwright/filmmaker Neil Labute has a unique talent for crafting works that deliver a solid sucker punch to the gut. I can appreciate that approach, and since I'm always on the lookout for something out of the ordinary, I made it a point to check out the St. Louis Actors' Studio production of THE SHAPE OF THINGS. Director Alec Wild's sharp direction combines with a well cast ensemble to bring this provocative and challenging piece to life at the Gaslight Theater.

St. Louis Actors' Studio, continuing with its third season, examines the art of seduction with Neil LaBute's THE SHAPE OF THINGS. When nerdy college student Adam meets cool graduate art student Evelyn, he is instantly infatuated. As the relationship continues on, however, Evelyn's influence upon Adam changes him drastically. LaBute's disquieting story of seduction, manipulation, and loss of identity analyzes the sacrifices one will make for love.

The Rep's Imaginary Theatre Company (ITC), a professional touring ensemble for young audiences, comes home for the holidays with five public performances of the bright and zany Kevin Kline Award-honored musical Bah! Humbug!.

For my last undertaking of 2009, my family and I attended the Imaginary Theatre Company's presentation of a modern re-telling of Charles Dickens' classic tale, A Christmas Carol, called BAH! HUMBUG!. A terrific cast really enlivens Jack Herrick's tuneful score and clever script, providing a wonderfully entertaining production that's perfect for children and adults, and acting as a fitting close to my own holiday theatrical odyssey.

The Rep's Imaginary Theatre Company (ITC), a professional touring ensemble for young audiences, comes home for the holidays with five public performances of the bright and zany Kevin Kline Award-honored musical Bah! Humbug!.

The Rep's Imaginary Theatre Company (ITC), a professional touring ensemble for young audiences, comes home for the holidays with five public performances of the bright and zany Kevin Kline Award-honored musical Bah! Humbug!.

Love and Honor take center stage in St. Louis Actor's Studio third season 2009-10 season includes something for everyone.