Zoe Vonder Haar News

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.

Following closely on the heels of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis' sparkling 1950's update of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, audiences at the Muny get the unique opportunity to compare and contrast the original with the musical remake as KISS ME KATE takes the stage in wondrous fashion. The chance to hear a swinging ensemble play Cole Porter's terrific score is reason enough to take in this production of Kiss Me Kate, but when you add in the eye-catching costumes, enthusiastic performances and lively dance numbers, you have the complete package.

The 2011 Muny Season kicked off this week with the Muny premiere of LEGALLY BLONDE (June 20 - 26). Next, the Cole Porter favorite KISS ME, KATE (June 27 - July 3) will grace the stage. Following will be the Muny and St. Louis premiere of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID (July 6 - 14), opening Wednesday, and featuring 2 extra performances! Tapping its way across the Muny stage next will be SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (July 18 - 24). Complete casting for KISS ME, KATE has been announced!

The 2011 Muny Season kicked off this week with the Muny premiere of LEGALLY BLONDE (June 20 - 26). Next, the Cole Porter favorite KISS ME, KATE (June 27 - July 3) will grace the stage. Following will be the Muny and St. Louis premiere of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID (July 6 - 14), opening Wednesday, and featuring 2 extra performances! Tapping its way across the Muny stage next will be SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (July 18 - 24). Complete casting for KISS ME, KATE has been announced!

As State Fairs take place around the country, Stages St. Louis concludes its 24th season with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Tony Award-winning Broadway musical STATE FAIR at The Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood from September 3 - October 3, 2010.

STATE FAIR was the only musical that Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote specifically for Hollywood and two versions were filmed, one in 1945 and the other in 1962. The one that's probably most familiar to audiences today is the rather forgettable 1962 version which features Pat Boone serenading a pig. Hammerstein's son, James, revived the musical in 1995, plucking tunes from ME AND JULIET, PIPE DREAM and ALLEGRO! to round out the score. While the results are certainly a mixed bag musically, the latest presentation by Stages St. Louis is splendidly mounted, and provides a lively and engaging look back at a simpler time in our history.

As State Fairs take place around the country, Stages St. Louis concludes its 24th season with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Tony Award-winning Broadway musical STATE FAIR at The Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood from September 3 - October 3, 2010.

As State Fairs take place around the country, Stages St. Louis concludes its 24th season with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Tony Award-winning Broadway musical STATE FAIR at The Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood from September 3 - October 3, 2010.

When I started writing this review I had Turner Classics on, and it just so happened they were playing SHOW BOAT. Funny how that works sometimes, when you've just seen a splendid live performance of a show the night before, and the next evening you stumble across Hollywood's take on the material. Seeing it live is always better, I think, and SHOW BOAT has a definite history with the Muny, a fact clearly reflected by the numerous stagings it's had since its initial appearance in 1930. But, that's to be expected, since this is the perfect venue for Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's memorable adaptation of Edna Ferber's sprawling novel. And as such, it provides us with a particularly grand finale for the Muny's 2010 season.

St. Louis is a baseball town, of that there can be no doubt. We live and die with our beloved Cardinals, ever optimistic that if we don't win this year, we'll give it our best shot the next. So, with our national pastime taking it's annual hiatus for the All-Star game, this is the perfect opportunity for fans to check out the best musical ever written about the subject; DAMN YANKEES. And, don't fret about the weather, even an impressive light show by Mother Nature wasn't enough to stop the show or dampen the audience's spirit on opening night at the Muny.

The was my first time seeing BIG RIVER, and I must confess to some misgivings I harbored concerning William Hauptman's adaptation of Mark Twain's classic tale, 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' The original is a work of great American literature, filled with dialogue that's now considered controversial, but which was pitch perfect and true to its characters and its time. Happily, Hauptman and composer/lyricist Roger Miller have crafted a wonderful version that manages to capture the flavor and feel of the times, while remaining fairly faithful to its source material. Stage St. Louis has put together a production that's a feast for the eyes and ears, conjuring up the muddy Mississippi on stage with considerable technical wizardry, while a talented cast works its own magic under Michael Hamilton's expert direction.

Stages St. Louis will present the final show of its 2009 season, Guys and Dolls, at the Robert G. Reim Theater in Kirkwood from September 4 - October 4.

Stages St. Louis closes their 2009 season on an upbeat note with an engaging and fun-filled production of the vintage and venerable musical GUYS AND DOLLS.

Stages St. Louis will present the final show of its 2009 season, Guys and Dolls, at the Robert G. Reim Theater in Kirkwood from September 4 - October 4.

Stages St. Louis will present the final show of its 2009 season, Guys and Dolls, at the Robert G. Reim Theater in Kirkwood from September 4 - October 4.

Stages St. Louis will present the final show of its 2009 season, Guys and Dolls, at the Robert G. Reim Theater in Kirkwood from September 4 - October 4.

If you're feeling a little blue, or maybe just experiencing some 'non-specific' sadness, a sure cure for that condition can be found by attending Stages St. Louis's sparkling presentation of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE. This is an uproariously funny show that pokes gentle fun at the very core of musical theatre conventions. Everything is fair game in Bob Martin and Don McKellar's witty script, which even manages to lampoon opening blackouts and intermissions.

The Muny's current production of MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS offers the opportunity to relive the nostalgia of those golden days at the turn of the 20th century.

The Muny's current production of MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS offers the opportunity to relive the nostalgia of those golden days at the turn of the 20th century.

Thirteen different stage productions were honored at the fourth annual Kevin Kline Awards ceremony. Nine St. Louis area theater companies were recognized with awards. Five of those nine theaters were multiple award winners.