Lisa Campbell News

A woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman? The side-splitting musical comedy, Victor/Victoria closes October 10 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

What is it about movie adaptations and Broadway? They're constantly adapting motion pictures for the stage, and yet, the majority are expensive flops and failures. Is it the fickle nature of the 'Great White Way', or simply cynical critics and theatre patrons who are jaded by these repeat offenders? Well, their loss is our gain, and the funny, romantic, utterly charming and delightful production of VICTOR/VICTORIA by Stages St. Louis is certainly proof enough that something is amiss in their estimations. This closer for Stages season is well worth you time and attention, and proves once again that some productions just work better in other venues.

Victor/Victoria opens September 9 at STAGES ST. LOUIS and continues through October 9 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

A woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman? The side-splitting musical comedy, Victor/Victoria opens September 9 at STAGES ST. LOUIS and continues through October 9 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

A woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman? The side-splitting musical comedy, Victor/Victoria opens September 9 at STAGES ST. LOUIS and continues through October 9 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

On August 15, 2011, STAGES ST. LOUIS hosted its third annual Cabaret fundraiser at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood, a benefit for the organization's Education and Outreach Programs.

Frances Hodgson Burnett's work, THE SECRET GARDEN, was initially serialized before being published in 1911 and becoming a children's classic. Several attempts by Hollywood have tried to capitalize on it's dramatic and hope-filled story, with the 1949 MGM adaptation, starring Margaret O'Brien, wonderfully changing from black and white into full-blown technicolor as the garden is revealed in all it's splendor. However. most folks today will probably be more familiar with the the rather staid, but thoughtful motion picture made in 1993, which was fairly well mounted. This current stage adaptation is far more appealing in any number of ways, with stronger acting and a memorably performed score being among the many highlights that are attractive to an audience interested in the material.

Unlock the magic behind The Secret Garden,opening July 22 at STAGES ST. LOUIS.The Secret Garden continues through August 21 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

Unlock the magic behind The Secret Garden,opening July 22 at STAGES ST. LOUIS.The Secret Garden continues through August 21 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

STAGES ST. LOUIS continues its tradition of presenting Broadway-quality family theatre in its seventh year of the STAGES Theatre for Young Audiences Program with Disney's 101 Dalmatians. The musical adapted from the hit Disney film will run from June 22 through July 3 at The Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

The stage version of 101 DALMATIANS differs greatly from the original 1961 Disney film classic, but the changes are smart ones that focus our attention more on the evil villain of the piece, Cruella De Vil, rather than on a lengthy, suspense filled chase through snowy woods and icy ponds, which really wouldn't translate well to the stage anyway. Instead we're left with a brisk piece of family-friendly entertainment that's not only delightful, but never dull in the least. Stages St. Louis is presenting a wonderfully realized production of this material that features a terrific cast singing and barking their hearts out.

The 11th Adelaide Cabaret Festival draws to a close this weekend after a rocketing two weeks of ticket sales, making the 2011 Festival the most successful Cabaret Festival ever

STAGES ST. LOUIS continues its tradition of presenting Broadway-quality family theatre in its seventh year of the STAGES Theatre for Young Audiences Program with Disney's 101 Dalmatians. The musical adapted from the hit Disney film will run from June 22 through July 3 at The Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

STAGES ST. LOUIS continues its tradition of presenting Broadway-quality family theatre in its seventh year of the STAGES Theatre for Young Audiences Program with Disney's 101 Dalmatians. The musical adapted from the hit Disney film will run from June 22 through July 3 at The Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

The original production of A CHORUS LINE grew out of workshops organized by director/choreographer Michael Bennett where dancers and performers discussed the various joys and hardships of a life spent pursuing the stage as an occupation. James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante pieced together these elements to form a compelling story focusing on the anxieties facing a group of dancers auditioning to be in the chorus of a Broadway show, while Marvin Hamlisch (music) and Edward Kleban put their tales to a catchy score that's still decidedly hummable. Stages St. Louis opens their 25th season with this timeless masterpiece, and it's a dazzling production filled with wonderful performances, nurtured by the excellent work of director Michael Hamilton and choreographer Kim Shriver, who neatly recreate the original magic.

The one singular sensation that exhilarated Broadway for over fifteen years, A Chorus Line opens on June 3 at STAGES ST. LOUIS. A Chorus Line continues through July 3 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

One of Australia's best-loved stars Simon Burke returns to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival with the Australian premiere of his brand new show Something About Always.

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.

The theatre scene in St. Louis in 2010 turned out to be another year filled with fine productions and superb performances. Despite the economic barriers faced by all the local theatre companies many continued to take risks, presenting material that challenged audience expectations, but entertained them as well. And so, I'm presenting my own top ten of 2010, to honor the shows that beguiled and entranced me this past year.