The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis News

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) concludes its 2009-2010 Studio Theatre series with Crime and Punishment playing March 10 - 28, 2010.

Playwright Wendy Kesselman has referred to her current adaptation of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK as the definitive version, and considering the fact that newly available passages of Anne's diary were incorporated into the text, it's certainly more eye opening in a lot of respects. Kesselman gives us a more thorough understanding of Anne, while also enhancing some of the darker aspects of her story, packing this episode in history with considerable emotional weight. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is presenting a superb staging of this fresh adaptation (February 10 - March 7), featuring a stellar ensemble that breathes new life into this tragic tale.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) continues its 2009-2010 Mainstage series with Wendy Kesselman's adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' production of [title of show] will close on Sunday, February 7.

The Eighth Annual St. Louis Food & Wine Experience, the region's largest international wine tasting and a delicious journey through the sensual pleasures of wine and fine foods, transforms the elegant Chase Park Plaza Hotel, 212 N. Kingshighway, St. Louis, into a spectacular culinary crossroads January 30 - 31, 2010.

Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' production of [title of show] will close January 31, 2010.

The Eighth Annual St. Louis Food & Wine Experience, the region's largest international wine tasting and a delicious journey through the sensual pleasures of wine and fine foods, transforms the elegant Chase Park Plaza Hotel, 212 N. Kingshighway, St. Louis, into a spectacular culinary crossroads January 30 - 31, 2010.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) continues its 2009-2010 Mainstage series with Wendy Kesselman's adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 35th Season with Awake and Sing!, Clifford Odets' Tony Award-winning play, directed by Amy Morton. The production runs January 21- February 28, 2010, at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

La Jolla Playhouse announced today five of six productions in its 2010/11 subscription season, including the world premiere of Annie Weisman's Surf Report, running June/July in the Mandell Weiss Forum; William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley and featuring an on-stage orchestra playing the music of Mendelssohn, running July/Aug in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre; the world-premiere musical comedy A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, book by Robert L. Freedman, music by Steven Lutvak, lyrics by Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak, starring Tony Award-winner Jefferson Mays, running Sept/Oct in the Mandell Weiss Theatre; a new adaptation of Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, adapted by Robert Woodruff and Bill Camp, directed by Robert Woodruff, running late Sept/Oct in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre; and Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Ruined, running Nov/Dec in the Mandell Weiss Theatre. The final production of the 2010/11 season - a musical - will be announced shortly.

Due to overwhelming popularity, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is happy to announce that [title of show] has been extended through Sunday, February 7, 2010.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, a new musical, is pleased to announce casting for the upcoming Broadway production opening at the Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street) on Sunday, April 11 with previews beginning Saturday, March 13.

[title of show] is an interesting new musical that chronicles the very creation of the show itself, and then documents the rocky road it takes on its journey to Broadway. The musical was initially conceived as a writer's exercise by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell, who used a 3 ½ week deadline for a festival contest as motivation. But, somewhere along the line the play began to take on a life of its own. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is presenting a wonderfully clever production of this work that's greatly aided by a superb cast and sharp direction.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis opens 2010 with a brilliant adaptation of director Alfred Hitchcock's classic of the silver screen, THE 39 STEPS. Patrick Barlow's script based on Simon Corble and Nobby Dimon's original conception (as well as John Buchan's novel and Hitchcock's amazing film) utilizes the services of a mere four actors to carry the action of this purposely convoluted plot, which not only requires a great deal of talent, but also a certain degree of speed in order pull off all of the tricky transitions that occur. This witty 'tour de farce' is a non-stop laugh riot, performed by a game and terrific cast that keeps the hilarity flowing from start to finish.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) continues its 2009-2010 Studio Theatre series with an unabashedly self-aware and totally unique creation with music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and book by Hunter Bell. And yes, for the last time, [title of show] really is the title.

The Eighth Annual St. Louis Food & Wine Experience, the region's largest international wine tasting and a delicious journey through the sensual pleasures of wine and fine foods, transforms the elegant Chase Park Plaza Hotel, 212 N. Kingshighway, St. Louis, into a spectacular culinary crossroads January 30 - 31, 2010.

Tony nominee Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Benjamin Howes, Ben Nordstrom and Amy Justman are set to star in the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' production of [title of show] that runs Jan. 13-31, 2010. Opening night is Jan. 15, 2010.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) continues its 2009'Äì2010 Studio Theatre series with an unabashedly self-aware and totally unique creation with music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and book by Hunter Bell. And yes, for the last time, [title of show] really is the title.

Roundabout Theatre Company in association with Long Wharf Theatre is pleased to announce the full company for Tennessee Williams' play The Glass Menagerie, directed by Gordon Edelstein with Patch Darragh (Tom Wingfield), two-time Tony® Award winner Judith Ivey (Amanda Wingfield), Keira Keeley (Laura Wingfield), Michael Mosley (Jim O'Connor).

2009 provided me with the opportunity to review 126 of the more than 200 shows that were available in the St. Louis region, and it began in terrific fashion with New Line Theatre's NIGHT OF THE LIVING SHOW TUNES. This was a wonderful sampling of contemporary show tunes performed by a cast of talented locals, and featuring artistic director Scott Miller's fine accompaniment on piano. In the acoustically perfect confines of the Sheldon Concert Hall, these unique melodies made a glorious noise. And, as I continued on my quest to expose my young son to the world of musical theatre, I ended the year with the Imaginary Theatre Company's splendid presentation of BAH! HUMBUG!. I was lucky enough to catch quite a few gems in between, and I've decided to compile a list of the ten most intriguing and engaging productions I saw in 2009.