Chorus of Fools swung for the fences taking on Romeo & Juliet. While they didn’t hit a home run, it was certainly a quality at bat. Director Eric Satterfield staged an emotionally satisfying production led by the outstanding performances of Zach Pierson, Tia René Williams, Celeste Genevieve Gardner, and Rowan Van Horn.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern may be dead, but the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival is very much alive. Those lucky enough to have secured a ticket to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead won’t be disappointed by this chaotically lively production of what Director Tom Ridgley calls “Tom Stoppard’s masterpiece.” The frenetically vibrant three act, two-and-one-half hour play, moves expediently courtesy of Ridley’s brisk direction and Jeff Cummings, Mitchell Henry-Eagles, and Ryan Omar Stack’s hyperbolic performances.
The St. Louis Theatre Circle has announced their nominations for their annual awards to be distributed on March 23, 2026, at the Loretto-Hilton Center. 172 theatre artists have been nominated in 34 categories honoring the best in St. Louis Theater in 2025. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis leads all companies with a record-breaking 38 nominations for their productions of Athena, Clyde’s, Emma, Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Brothers Size, and The Cottage. Emma is the most nominated comedy of the season with 11 nominations.
Romeo and Zooliet is an enchanting theatrical event. The ingenious Jennifer Joan Thompson’s clever script and Michael Curry’s fairy-tale like puppets are brought to fantastical life in the exuberant performances of a well-rehearsed, talented, and vivacious cast. Tom Ridgely’s leadership and collaboration with his design teams has inspired exceptionally amusing storytelling, and the collaboration to stage this on the historic hill in the St. Louis Zoo is genius.
Often a modern take on a classic will go awry, but Michael Sexton’s brilliant vision creates a phenomenal retelling of Hamlet. His collaboration with his actors and designers gives this production it very cool retro and jazzy vibe. The show’s running time clocks in at just under three hours. It is well paced, moves along expediently, and is masterful storytelling. This is an excellent production that is entertaining for the masses, not just for the Bardolators.
The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival has unveiled its landmark 25th anniversary season, featuring a groundbreaking collaboration with the Saint Louis Zoo and more. See full programming and learn more!
Red Theater revealed its 24/25 season at The Edge Off Broadway with two shows exploring the limits of our bodies and the forward march of time. The season opens with the world premiere of Hanna Kime’s DOGS, directed by Becca Holloway, running November 1-24, 2024. Learn more about the season!
There are two words that describe this outstanding production: stagecraft and storytelling. Ridgley, his talented troupe of six actors, and his designers have collaborated to create a fun and engaging production. Throughout the month of August, Ridgely and his troupe of actors are traveling the bi-state area to bring Shakespeare to the people. At each of the 24-stops The St. Louis Shakespeare festival team presents a streamlined 90-minute production of THE TEMPEST featuring elaborate costumes, inventive set and prop pieces, inspired puppetry, clever sound effects, and a bit of live music and singing.
The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival has revealed its line-up for their 24th season of free Shakespeare with As You Like It as the mainstage production. See the lineup and learn how to purchase tickets.
On Monday, Feb. 12, Waterwell, the theater company founded by Arian Moayed and Tom Ridgely celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a party at Greenpoint Loft featuring cocktails, dinner, a silent and live auction, and performances by past Waterwell artists as well as current students and alums of the Waterwell Drama Program. Check out photos here!
Waterwell, the community-organizing theatrical production and education company, will celebrate 20 years of telling engrossing stories that grapple with complex civic questions with a party on Monday, February 12, 2024, to commemorate the milestone.
The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival has announced the full cast, performance dates and ticket information for the much anticipated Q BROTHERS CHRISTMAS CAROL at the National Blues Museum this holiday season.
The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival has announced its line-up for their 23rd Season of free Shakespeare with Twelfth Night as the mainstage production in Forest Park
.Jessica Chastain stars as 'Nora Helmer' in Lloyd's radical new production of Henrik Ibsen's landmark drama A Doll's House in a new version by Amy Herzog. This strictly limited 16-week engagement will play Broadway's Hudson Theatre with preview performances beginning Monday, February 13, 2023. Meet the cast of A Doll's House here!
Complete casting has been announced as rehearsals commence for Academy Award winner Jessica Chastain as ‘Nora Helmer’ in Lloyd’s radical new production of Henrik Ibsen’s landmark drama A Doll’s House in a new version by Amy Herzog.
St. Louis Shakespeare Festival (Tom Ridgely, Producing Artistic Director) announced today that its 22nd Shakespeare in the Park production will be Much Ado About Nothing. Find out how to get tickets.
St. Louis Shakespeare Festival's King Lear André De Shields spent Juneteenth, Father's Day and the summer solstice with Mayor Tishaura O. Jones at St. Louis City Hall on June 21.
The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s production of William Shakespeare’s King Lear, directed by Carl Cofield, opened in Forest Park on June 4 in St. Louis, MO. In the title role is Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award winner André De Shields (Hadestown, The Wiz, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Play On!, The Full Monty).
The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival announced today that Tony, Emmy and Grammy award-winner André De Shields will star in King Lear as part of its 21st summer of free Shakespeare in Forest Park. The production marks the theater's return to live outdoor performance, one of the first scheduled in the country.
Tom Ridgely has led the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival since 2018. A Drama Desk-nominated director, he has developed or presented work at the Public Theater, The Old Globe, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Society, Red Bull and more.
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