Joneal Joplin News

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company concludes its fantastic and popular eighteenth season with William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" opening tonight, May 11. This production features CSC Producing Artistic Director Brian Isaac Phillips as Shylock, CSC Ensemble Member Kelly Mengelkoch as Portia and introducing to Cincinnati audiences, Jared Joplin as Antonio, the Merchant of Venice. "The Merchant of Venice" opens tonight and runs through June 3 2012. The production design is generously sponsored by Taft, Stettinius and Hollister.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company concludes its fantastic and popular eighteenth season with William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" opening May 11. This production features CSC Producing Artistic Director Brian Isaac Phillips as Shylock, CSC Ensemble Member Kelly Mengelkoch as Portia and introducing to Cincinnati audiences, Jared Joplin as Antonio, the Merchant of Venice. "The Merchant of Venice" opens on May 11 and runs through June 3 2012. The production design is generously sponsored by Taft, Stettinius and Hollister.

Following closely on the heels of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis' sparkling 1950's update of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, audiences at the Muny get the unique opportunity to compare and contrast the original with the musical remake as KISS ME KATE takes the stage in wondrous fashion. The chance to hear a swinging ensemble play Cole Porter's terrific score is reason enough to take in this production of Kiss Me Kate, but when you add in the eye-catching costumes, enthusiastic performances and lively dance numbers, you have the complete package.

The 2011 Muny Season kicked off this week with the Muny premiere of LEGALLY BLONDE (June 20 - 26). Next, the Cole Porter favorite KISS ME, KATE (June 27 - July 3) will grace the stage. Following will be the Muny and St. Louis premiere of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID (July 6 - 14), opening Wednesday, and featuring 2 extra performances! Tapping its way across the Muny stage next will be SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (July 18 - 24). Complete casting for KISS ME, KATE has been announced!

The 2011 Muny Season kicked off this week with the Muny premiere of LEGALLY BLONDE (June 20 - 26). Next, the Cole Porter favorite KISS ME, KATE (June 27 - July 3) will grace the stage. Following will be the Muny and St. Louis premiere of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID (July 6 - 14), opening Wednesday, and featuring 2 extra performances! Tapping its way across the Muny stage next will be SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (July 18 - 24). Complete casting for KISS ME, KATE has been announced!

The 2011 season opens with the St. Louis premiere of BECKY'S NEW CAR by Steven Dietz. This comedy starring Susie Wall is about a middle-aged woman who has the chance to trade in her average life for an alternate adventure with an uber-rich elderly gentleman. Since its debut in 2008, the play has been received enthusiastically at regional theatres across the country from Sacramento to Cincinnati. BECKY'S NEW CAR will be directed by Tlaloc Rivas and runs June 9-19.

Twenty-two St. Louis theater companies are represented in the nominations for the Sixth Annual Kevin Kline Awards. Thirty plays and musicals produced in the St. Louis area during 2010 now share 112 nominations in 22 different categories for the coveted award.

St. Louis Actors' Studio's Fourth Season Continues With Neil Simon's Timeless Comedy THE SUNSHINE BOYS starring Joneal Joplin and Whit Reichert, December 3rd and continues thru December 19th for 11 performances.

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will continue its Marx Theatre season with the classic Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman comedy, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU begins previews in the Playhouse's Robert S. Marx Theatre October 16 and continues through November 13.

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will continue its Marx Theatre season with the classic Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman comedy, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU begins previews in the Playhouse's Robert S. Marx Theatre October 16 and continues through November 13.

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.

George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's classic play, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU, has been given a wonderfully performed and staged presentation by the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. This venerable favorite is brought to life in splendid fashion, with a superb cast proving that Kaufman and Hart's punchlines still hold up over 70 after the fact, and that some of the them, especially those regarding the ways in which our government spends our tax dollars, still ring resoundingly true and clear today.

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.

Insight Theatre Company is proud to announce the upcoming production of the Tony Award winning musical, Man of La Mancha by Mitch Leigh, Joe Darion, and Dale Wasserman. Starring the legendary Joneal Joplin under the direction of Edward Coffield, MAN OF LA MANCHA opens Wednesday, August 11 at The Heagney Theater on the campus of Nerinx Hall, 530 East Lockwood in Webster Groves. The show runs through August 22 with performances Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm and matinees each Sunday at 2pm.

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.

October 2010 will mark the beginning of St. Louis Actors' Studio's fourth season, themed Angels and Demons. This theme will be examined from the minds of some of our favorite plays and playwrights; from lame duck presidents to aging comedy partners - human wants, needs and political relationships bring out the best and worst in us.

MAN OF LA MANCHA has become a community theatre staple, and as such, gets staged with some degree of regularity. While some of these are uneven affairs at best, the Insight Theatre Company's current production is an exception, combining the talents of a splendid cast with sharp direction and choreography to produce an engaging and compelling evening of entertainment.

Insight Theatre Company is proud to announce the upcoming production of the Tony Award winning musical, Man of La Mancha by Mitch Leigh, Joe Darion, and Dale Wasserman. Starring the legendary Joneal Joplin under the direction of Edward Coffield, MAN OF LA MANCHA opens Wednesday, August 11 at The Heagney Theater on the campus of Nerinx Hall, 530 East Lockwood in Webster Groves. The show runs through August 22 with performances Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm and matinees each Sunday at 2pm.