STAGES St. Louis is thrilled to announce the introduction of an official travel division. Since 2012, STAGES has led groups to New York City to experience a Theatre Weekend like no other. For one package price, travelers receive roundtrip airfare, deluxe hotel accommodations, tickets to Broadway productions, meals at popular Theatre District restaurants, sightseeing opportunities, as well as special tours and experiences designed and offered only by STAGES. A portion of the package price is also designated as a tax-deductible contribution to the organization.
Continuing STAGES St. Louis' commitment to making theatre accessible for all, STAGES held a Sensory-Friendly performance of its Theatre for Young Audiences production, Seussical, on Tuesday, June 27th at the Playhouse @ Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights. This special performance provided students on the autism spectrum or with other sensory conditions an opportunity to experience live musical theatre while taking a magical journey through the fantastical world of Dr. Seuss.
Variety Children's Theatre presents its 7th annual performance, MARY POPPINS, playing this weekend, October 23-25 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center.
Variety Children's Theatre just announced casting for its 7th annual performance, MARY POPPINS, playing October 23-25 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. Lara Teeter will direct, with original MARY POPPINS cast member Elizabeth DeRosa and Broadway's WHITE CHRISTMAS star Drew Humphrey appearing as Mary and Bert, respectively.
I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about The Butterfingers Angel, Mary and Joseph, Herod the Nut and the Slaughter of the 12 Hit Carols in a Pear Tree. I mean, for sheer title length it deserves some kind of acclaim. But, it's written by William Gibson. You know, the guy who wrote The Miracle Worker and Two for the Seasaw. So, I wasn't sure what to expect. And that's a good thing. Yes, it's kind of a mixed bag at best, but I have to applaud the efforts of Stray Dog Theatre for bringing it to my attention. It's definitely worth checking out.
You'd have to have been a hermit living in a cave the past few years not to be aware of the cultural impact of J. K. Rowling's seven best-selling Harry Potter books. Not to mention the eight blockbuster movies that they spawned. The last couple years may have seen the "Twilight" series overshadow them slightly, but Harry still has a huge following that's not going away any time soon. The Magic Smoking Monkey Theatre takes full advantage of this following by presenting the fun and funny STUPEFY! THE 90 MINUTE HARRY POTTER.
BUG is a play that gets under your skin, burrowing into your psyche and feasting on your anxieties. It may make you restless to watch it, and you may find yourself absentmindedly scratching at imaginary itches. It's a small tale filled with big ideas, and a must-see for conspiracy theory enthusiasts and fans of grindhouse films from the 1970's. Muddy Waters Theatre presents a strong and brave cast for their current production that combines with solid direction to make for an unusually compelling experience.
Muddy Water Theatre continues their season devoted to playwright Paula Vogel with her work THE MINEOLA TWINS, and it's an interesting piece that covers a period of around 40 years in the lives of two very different twins, Myra and Myrna. The play is, at times, very funny and wryly examines the changing roles of women during the time that's covered, focusing primarily on three different presidential terms, including those of Eisenhower, Nixon and George Bush, Sr. It's certainly no coincidence that those are all conservative eras, and it definitely skews the attitudes and humor that abound. This production is amusing and occasionally touching, and it's definitely worth a look.
Just as a quick refresher, the play is Vogel's funny and satiric take on American women over the space of 4 decades with specific stops in the Eisenhower, Nixon and Bush #1's administrations along the way. Everything we see is through the crazed eyes of identical -- almost -- twins, Myrna the 'good' and chestally developed one, and Myra the 'evil' and prairie-chested one. Said by Vogel to represent the extremes of American politics, the twins' loathing relationship is far more complicated than the play's politics and far funnier.
