Glenn Dunn News

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) presents Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) presents Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) presents Over The Tavern by Tom Dudzick. This hilarious and poignant production will be performed on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, December 1-26, 2010.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) presents Over The Tavern by Tom Dudzick. This hilarious and poignant production will be performed on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, December 1-26, 2010.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) presents Over The Tavern by Tom Dudzick. This hilarious and poignant production will be performed on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, December 1-26, 2010.

Playwright Aaron Posner has done a wonderful job of adapting Chaim Potok's novel MY NAME IS ASHER LEV for the stage. With amazing economy, Poser whittles down the work to 90 minutes of stage time, and with two of the three actors playing multiple roles, condenses the complexities even further, and yet the play still maintains the flavor and intensity of Potok's writing. The New Jewish Theatre begin their 2010-11 season with a mesmerizing production of this engaging and compelling portrait of a young artist struggling with reconciling his family and religious beliefs with his own particular artistic aesthetic.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) opens its 2010-2011 Mainstage series with You Can't Take It With You by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. Performances of You Can't Take It With You will be given on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, September 8 through October 3, 2010.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) opens its 2010-2011 Mainstage series with You Can't Take It With You by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. Performances of You Can't Take It With You will be given on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, September 8 through October 3, 2010.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) opens its 2010-2011 Mainstage series with You Can't Take It With You by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. Performances of You Can't Take It With You will be given on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, September 8 through October 3, 2010.

I'm not sure how I would react if I found myself in the situation that Vito Pignoli finds himself in as the plot unfolds in Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna's play IT HAD TO BE YOU. I certainly wouldn't remain as calm and collected as he (mostly) does while being trapped inside the apartment of a kooky actress named Theda Blau, during a snowstorm on Christmas Eve. Actually, I kept thinking that, if this were a drama, events might suddenly take a very nasty turn at any given moment. Thankfully, they don't. If your interest is sufficiently piqued, then check out Max and Louie Productions' presentation of this quirky romantic comedy.

Sometimes when I'm seeing a show about a particular subject I'll look through my library and re-read (or newly purchase) books that pertain to it. When I noticed that the New Jewish Theatre's production of Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor was on the schedule, I decided to bone up. So, I picked up Sid Caesar's biography, 'Caesar's Hours', and I also watched a few DVDs of 'Your Show of Shows' and 'Caesar's Hour', as well as thumbing through my copy of Mel Brooks' biography ('It's Good to Be the King'). Attempts have been made before to put on display that elusive magic that took place in the writer's room of those shows, including the Brooksfilm production of My Favorite Year. But, I think LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR best captures the moment, focusing its attention on the actual work and play that went on in the room between the star and his genius stable of writers. The current presentation by the New Jewish Theatre is simply hilarious, and greatly aided by a wonderful cast and terrific direction.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) ends its 2009-2010 Mainstage series with The Fantasticks with book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt on April 11th.

Kevin Kline Award winner Ben Nordstrom and St. Louis veteran actor Steve Isom star in the St. Louis premiere of GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL!, the Off-Broadway hit that the New York Times called 'A Smashing Success!' The Temporary Theatre (The Temp), a new company headed by Isom, has chosen as its inaugural offering the exclamation point-littered two-man musical spoof by Scott Brown and Anthony King.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) ends its 2009-2010 Mainstage series with The Fantasticks with book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt. Performances of The Fantasticks will be given on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, March 17 through April 11, 2010.

At our current rate of consumption, is it conceivable that we could ever reach a point where every movie, book, historical figure, or current event available will have been used as the basis for a musical? Probably not. But, with that idea in mind, writers/composers Scott Brown and Anthony King have crafted a rather unlikely vehicle titled GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL!, which was originally developed during their work with the comedy troupe the Upright Citizens Brigade. A wonderfully energetic production of this piece, featuring a sharp cast and tight direction, marks the debut of the new Temporary Theatre company at the Ivory Theatre.

Kevin Kline Award winner Ben Nordstrom and St. Louis veteran actor Steve Isom star in the St. Louis premiere of GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL!, the Off-Broadway hit that the New York Times called 'A Smashing Success!' The Temporary Theatre (The Temp), a new company headed by Isom, has chosen as its inaugural offering the exclamation point-littered two-man musical spoof by Scott Brown and Anthony King.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) continues its 2009-2010 Mainstage series with Wendy Kesselman's adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) ends its 2009-2010 Mainstage series with The Fantasticks with book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt. Performances of The Fantasticks will be given on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, March 17 through April 11, 2010.

THE PEOPLE'S VIOLIN is an interesting search for identity, as an experimental filmmaker attempts to track down his father's true lineage, and hopes to find himself in the process. It's interesting to note that Charlie Varon's play was originally a one man show, especially since its lead protagonist, Sol Shankman, is so self-obsessed that it's sometimes too painful to watch. The New Jewish Theatre's current presentation (February 24 - March 14) is definitely thought-provoking and engaging, and though some of the characters might not be all that likable, there's still something compelling about watching this mystery unfold, as Sol begins to come to terms with his father's 'true' identity, as well as his own.

Kevin Kline Award winner Ben Nordstrom and St. Louis veteran actor Steve Isom star in the St. Louis premiere of GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL!, the Off-Broadway hit that the New York Times called 'A Smashing Success!' The Temporary Theatre (The Temp), a new company headed by Isom, has chosen as its inaugural offering the exclamation point-littered two-man musical spoof by Scott Brown and Anthony King.