Sharisa Whatley News

New Line Theatre's production of BONNIE & CLYDE tied with Stages St. Louis' rendition of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING with nine nominations apiece for the St. Louis Theater Circle Awards to lead nominations for all shows produced by local professional theater companies in 2014.

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Sometimes I'm amazed at the synchronicity that can occur when you see as many plays as I do. For instance, I've had weekends of shows in the past that appeared to be theme related, even though theatre companies are often mapping out their production schedules up to at least a year in advance, and tend to go in their own directions regardless of what other groups are doing. Which brings us to the Black Rep's powerful production of playwright/activist Lorraine Hansberry's work, A RAISIN IN THE SUN. At a time when our community finds itself fractured and unable to come up with solutions that can bring us together and make us whole again, we have the opportunity to see a play that shines a light on just how far we've come, and how far we still have to go.

With this fourth foray into his Pittsburgh cycle, playwright August Wilson crafts another masterwork with THE PIANO LESSON. Wilson's play, once again, captures an era rich in detail in African American history, and ponders the meaning of the word legacy, and how it applies to different individuals. The Black Rep's current production is very nicely crafted and performed, and if you haven't seen it yet, there's still time. It's certainly a journey well worth taking.

Atlanta's nationally acclaimed Alliance Theatre, recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award®, and Susan V. Booth, the Jennings Hertz, Jr. Artistic Director, present THE WIZARD OF OZ.

Theatrical Outfit launchs its 2011-2012 season with the World Premiere The Green Book by Atlanta writer Calvin Alexander Ramsey's, August 17 - September 11, 2011 at the Balzer Theatre at Herren's.

Theatrical Outfit launchs its 2011-2012 season with the World Premiere The Green Book by Atlanta writer Calvin Alexander Ramsey's, August 17 - September 11, 2011 at the Balzer Theatre at Herren's.

Theatrical Outfit launchs its 2011-2012 season with the World Premiere The Green Book by Atlanta writer Calvin Alexander Ramsey's, August 17 - September 11, 2011 at the Balzer Theatre at Herren's.

always consider it a rewarding experience when you go to see a play and you actually learn something along the way. In the case of playwright Andrew Moodie's work, THE REAL MCCOY, we're treated to a biographical account of forgotten black inventor Elijah McCoy (1844-1929). It's an intriguing and engrossing story, and when you begin to realize the obstacles this highly intelligent individual faced, it's even more compelling. The Black Rep has constructed an artful production based on the playwright's original staging, and it's a brilliant presentation deserving of your attendance.

RUINED is one of those plays that lingers in your mind long after it's over. There's a reason that playwright Lynn Nottage won the Pulitzer Prize for drama with this powerful story, and once you've seen it yourself, it may well haunt you too. Because, even though this tale about the plight of civilians caught in a civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo may seem far removed from your own sense of reality, the kinds of atrocities that are being related here are still happening all around the world, and with far-reaching consequences. The Black Rep's current production of this disturbing and harrowing work is buoyed by fine performances and insightful direction.

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.

Though not as frequently performed or fondly remembered as some of the classics in the Shakespearean canon, PERICLES is an interesting tale nonetheless. While it's usually cataloged along with the romances and comedies, its circumstances are really quite tragic, until it reaches for a fairytale ending that neatly resolves matters in a satisfactory manner. The Black Rep's inspired re-imagining of this piece makes for a very captivating evening of theatre, as the characters travel back and forth in time, and locations are altered from the original text to include scenes in Haiti, Cuba, Sapelo Island, Georgia and New Orleans.

William Shakespeare's PERICLES, a sweeping tale of politics and intrigue, laughter and tears, loss and reunion, lies and treachery, exhilaration and sex, magic and mystery, and death and miracles will be presented by The Black Rep, January 5 through January 30, 2011, at the Grandel Theatre, with performances Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, with matinees Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm.

Original Sketch Comedy Musical Offers a Fun Formula for Tweenagers in Five Performances Saturdays, October 23 and 30 at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and Monday, October 25 at 7 p.m.

Through a generous donation from MasterCard The Black Rep will Celebrate the Next Generation. The Next Generation program was developed to encourage adults to bring youth to live theatre performances. Through the MasterCard Next Generation program, Black Rep Patrons may obtain a complimentary youth ticket when a regular priced adult ticket is purchased using a MasterCard. When patrons use their MasterCard, but do not utilize the free youth ticket, the ticket is 'banked' for future use.

THE ME NOBODY KNOWS is a musical plea for understanding by a group of underprivileged children that's set in one of the poorer neighborhoods of New York City. It's an indictment of our current social and economic conditions that this show, written in 1970, explores themes and issues that still resonate with audiences today. The current production by the Black Rep is a rousing and entertaining show that features a young and talented cast.

Through a generous donation from MasterCard The Black Rep will Celebrate the Next Generation. The Next Generation program was developed to encourage adults to bring youth to live theatre performances. Through the MasterCard Next Generation program, Black Rep Patrons may obtain a complimentary youth ticket when a regular priced adult ticket is purchased using a MasterCard. When patrons use their MasterCard, but do not utilize the free youth ticket, the ticket is 'banked' for future use.

In director Chris Anthony's notes in the program she discusses the question of relevance where Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET is concerned. She correctly points out that 'Shakespeare wrote a story about two families that are fighting and two teenagers that are in love. If you have ever fought or fallen in love, Shakespeare is for you.' This timeless and tragic classic continues to resonate with modern audiences, and under Anthony's guidance it gets a new coat of paint by setting the tale in the turbulent 1960's during the so-called 'summer of love'.