Michelle Hand News

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) presents the charming play Sense and Sensibility, based on the novel by Jane Austen and adapted and directed by Jon Jory. This time-honored love story 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, February 6-March 3, 2013.

With IMAGINARY JESUS, author Matt Mikalatos has written an interesting look at the way that people of faith envision their savior, and playwright Deanna Jent has taken a stab at a stage adaptation that manages to capture it's whimsical approach. Though, it's not always as sharply focused as it probably should be, this is still an enjoyable ride, featuring a great cast and Jent's own direction.

With the divorce rate as startling high as it is, it's not uncommon to find plays that deal with this subject matter. However, playwright Donald Margulies examines not only the plight of the couple going through the breakup, but that of their friends as well. With DINNER WITH FRIENDS, Dramatic License Productions has put together a fine cast under sharp direction in their presentation of this timely and thought-provoking work.

The Ceremony for the Seventh Annual Kevin Kline Awards took place last night at the Loretto-Hilton Theater, honoring productions in St Louis from 2011. We've got the full list of nominees and winners below.

First Stage continues its 25th anniversary season with the world premiere of DON'T TELL ME I CAN'T FLY, an original play by Y York inspired by the life and art of Milwaukee collage artist Della Wells.

First Stage continues its 25th anniversary season with the world premiere of DON'T TELL ME I CAN'T FLY, an original play by Y York inspired by the life and art of Milwaukee collage artist Della Wells.

First Stage continues its 25th anniversary season with the world premiere of DON'T TELL ME I CAN'T FLY, an original play by Y York inspired by the life and art of Milwaukee collage artist Della Wells.

Playwright Deanna Jent's FALLING is an intriguing piece of theatre, drawing on her own real life experiences caring for a teenager with autism, but creating something wholly original in the process. As the parent of a five year old, there's a frightening aspect to watching this tale unfold, thinking all the while that this could have been something I'd have had to deal with had this specific condition occurred to my own darling little boy. It's a scary thought indeed, and one that constantly cropped up in my head as I watched the story unfold. Would I have had the inner strength necessary to cope with such a problematic situation? Would my marriage have been able to withstand the strain? Mustard Seed Theatre's production raises these questions and more while also managing to entertain and bring a certain degree of good humor to the proceedings as well.

They always tell aspiring writers to 'write what you know', and in the case of playwright/novelist Mark Harelik's THE IMMIGRANT, he's done just that, fully capturing the experience of his Russian grandparents as they fled from their oppressors and settled in the small town of Hamilton, Texas. It's a wonderful work, touching the heart and stirring the soul while allowing us to witness their progress over the course of time as they assimilate into American culture, without ever losing touch with their own Jewish heritage. The New Jewish Theatre closes their season with an absolutely lovely production of this warm and moving play that's not to be missed by any fan of theatre.

Actor Mark Harelik wanted to pay tribute to his Russian immigrant grandparents Haskell and Leah. So, based on his grandmother's photo album, he wrote a play, 'The Immigrant' subtitled, 'A Hamilton County Album. It is the true story about two Eastern European Jews who immigrated to a small Texas town in 1909.

Mustard Seed Theatre presents the final performance of Till We Have Faces May 1, 2011.

It's always exciting when a reviewer gets the opportunity to see a new work premiered, and Mustard Seed Theatre is currently presenting an adaptation of the C.S. Lewis novel TILL WE HAVE FACES by playwright/director Deanna Jent, and it's a well-done and literate play that captures the prose and style of the author quite nicely. While I was always more attracted to the science fiction of C.S. Lewis, the 'Space Trilogy' in particular, I think the show has appeal beyond the fan base of Lewis, and at the sold-out performance I attended it was clear that there's definitely an audience for this material. A terrific cast under Jent's thoughtful direction brings this novel, and the mythologies that it represents, to life in fine fashion.

Mustard Seed Theatre opens TILL WE HAVE FACES April 15 - May 1, 2011. A powerful Queen must surrender to invisible forces to rescue her sister and discover the secret of true beauty. From the novel by C.S. Lewis, this retelling of the Greek myth of Psyche has been adapted for the stage by Artistic Director Deanna Jent.

Mustard Seed Theatre opens TILL WE HAVE FACES April 15 - May 1, 2011. A powerful Queen must surrender to invisible forces to rescue her sister and discover the secret of true beauty. From the novel by C.S. Lewis, this retelling of the Greek myth of Psyche has been adapted for the stage by Artistic Director Deanna Jent.

As technology races ever forward, we find ourselves continually bombarded with requests for our time. Personal assistants are no longer actual people, but handheld devices that have become our lifeline to our work and families. So, it's not surprising that we've all become a little preoccupied. Then, when you factor in how ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) has been reclassified as ADHD, with a much broader and wider-reaching list of symptoms, it's easy to see why so many people, especially children, are falling under the umbrella of a positive diagnosis. That's the world examined by playwright Lisa Loomer's brilliant comedy/drama DISTRACTED, and Stray Dog Theatre has mounted a terrific production that's required viewing, not only for parents, but for anyone struggling to deal with the demands of modern life.

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.

Stray Dog Theatre presents DISTRACTED, Lisa Loomer's fast-paced and comic look at 'parenting in the age of the Internet and Ritalin.' This roller coaster comedy takes off as nine-year-old Jesse's parents attempt to find answers to his 'distractions'. A hilarious, provocative, and touching look at a modern family facing the epidemic dilemma of our 24/7 nonstop world: how to define what really matters.

The NonProphet Theater Company presents the final show of their 2010 season RECKLESS by Craig Lucas opening Friday, December 3, 8pm at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri 63112. The show will run until Sunday, December 12 with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 5pm. Tickets are $15 for general audiences and $12 for students (must provide a valid ID) and seniors (Ages 55+).

There are a number of unique holiday-themed shows currently playing in local theatres, and the NonProphet Theater Company has joined in the yuletide fray with their current production of RECKLESS. Playwright Craig Lucas has crafted a strangely affecting little tale that takes any number of twists and turns as it lurches forward through time, playfully confounding expectations along its path toward a surprisingly satisfying conclusion.

The NonProphet Theater Company presents the final show of their 2010 season RECKLESS by Craig Lucas opening Friday, December 3, 8pm at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri 63112. The show will run until Sunday, December 12 with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 5pm. Tickets are $15 for general audiences and $12 for students (must provide a valid ID) and seniors (Ages 55+).