Lee Anne Mathews News

There's no doubt in my mind that people who are familiar with the despicable actions of Bernie Madoff will never find it in their hearts to forgive the way he bilked so many trusting and innocent victims out of their life savings with his nefarious Ponzi schemes. And yet, with playwright Deborah Margolin's work, IMAGINING MADOFF, we're given an opportunity to examine in detail the man who concocted this plan. It's not that you feel any empathy or understanding for his motives, but that you see him as a real person, and not just another criminal elevated by the media due to his notorious actions. It's a really engaging and thought-provoking piece of theatre that exemplifies the kind of material that the New Jewish Theatre has become so well known for, and it's one that should not be missed at all costs.

This beautifully surreal production of INTO THE WOODS is the finest production of a Sondheim musical I have had the pleasure of seeing on the stage.

freeFall Theatre's 2014/15 season, AN ESCAPE FROM REALITY, opens with Stephen Sondheim's classic musical take on what happens after happily ever after. INTO THE WOODS is one of freeFall's top-requested shows and is the second Sondheim musical produced at the theatre since the inaugural production of THE FROGS in 2010. Artistic Director Eric Davis has created a new and exciting staging that will delight and intrigue audiences of all ages with its imaginative storytelling.

freeFall Theatre's 2014/15 season, AN ESCAPE FROM REALITY, opens with Stephen Sondheim's classic musical take on what happens after happily ever after. INTO THE WOODS is one of freeFall's top-requested shows and is the second Sondheim musical produced at the theatre since the inaugural production of THE FROGS in 2010. Artistic Director Eric Davis has created a new and exciting staging that will delight and intrigue audiences of all ages with its imaginative storytelling.

Lee Anne Mathews, Director of Theater at Crossroads College Preparatory School has been selected as the Maryville University Shakespeare Teacher of the Year, it was announced today by Rick Dildine, artistic and executive director of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis and Catherine Bear, Dean of the School of Education at Maryville University. This is the first year Maryville University has sponsored the award which has recognized an outstanding teacher of Shakespeare since 2011.

COCA St. Louis has announced its upcoming events, programs and performances. Details below!

It was theatre magic at its best: rain lightly came down on closing night as the entire cast of LES MISERABLES at The Muny belted out 'The Epilogue' one more time. The audience lept to their feet as the final notes hung in the air. All week long, The Muny experienced a complete standing ovation before the curtain call began, something that Muny goers said hasn't happened in at least 35 years. The cast of LES MISERABLES experienced the audience's appreciation all week long and their final performance was no exception.

In honor of the Muny's sold out run of LES MISERABLES, which plays its final performance tonight in St. Louis, Enjolras (Bobby Conte Thorton) and always-game Valjean (Hugh Panaro) recorded their own version of the viral video mashup of Colm Wilkinson, and a goat. Yes a goat. Check both out below!

The audience erupted in applause Monday night at the end of the opening of the Muny's production of LES MISERABLES, resulting in the venue's first, complete standing ovation before the curtain call in recent memory. BroadwayWorld brings you even more highlights from the show below!

The audience erupted in applause on Monday night at the end of the opening of the Muny's production of LES MISERABLES, resulting in the venue's first, complete standing ovation before the curtain call in recent memory. Check out photos from the opening night after party below!

The audience erupted in applause last night at the end of the opening of the Muny's production of LES MISERABLES, resulting in the venue's first, complete standing ovation before the curtain call in recent memory. We've got the first photos from the production below and if you haven't gotten your tickets yet, do so, as we're told it's selling briskly! BroadwayWorld brings you highlights below!

The Muny's Les Miserables opened last night, July 15. The fifth show of The Muny's fantastic 95th Season is directed by Richard Jay-Alexander. Last seen at The Muny in 2007, LES MISERABLES has been one of the most popular musicals since it opened in London in 1985. With its glorious scenery, grand theatrics and epic Victor Hugo story, LES MISERABLES is sure to thrill the Muny audience. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the cast in action below!

In the video below, get a sneak peek at LES MISERABLES rehearsal with the cast singing 'One Day More.'

Do You Hear the People Sing? Lucky audiences will tonight at The Muny in St. Louis as their highly anticipated production of LES MISERABLES opens this evening!

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.

After having previewed the new Marvin & Harlene Wool Studio Theatre in June with the final production of our two seasons of wandering, the New Jewish Theatre embarks on a new era as we open our first full season in this wonderful new space. The season opens October 6 with an adaptation of Chaim Potok's poignant novel, MY NAME IS ASHER LEV. Aaron Posner who adapted the novel into dramatic form, also adapted NJT's highly successful production of THE CHOSEN several years ago. Potok's widow, Adena Potok consulted on the production. Potok will be in St. Louis for the final weekend of performances to offer her insights in audience talk backs.

Seventeen different stage productions were honored at the third annual Kevin Kline Awards ceremony. Ten St. Louis area theater companies - double the number of last year's recipients - were recognized with awards. Four of those ten theaters were multiple award winners.

Twenty-four theater companies in the St. Louis area received 118 nominations in 22 different categories. Forty-five different productions received nominations; twenty-five productions receive multiple nominations the Awards Ceremony will be held on March 31 at the Loretto-Hilton Center