St. Louis Woman

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is August 17, 2023 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours: 

Love + Science, a new play by scientist and writer David J. Glass, announced the cast and creative team for its premiere at New York City Center Stage II.

Performing classics from The Wiz, The Color Purple, Company, Porgy & Bess, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and more, the cast will feature Corbin Bleu, Nikki Renée Daniels, Tiffany Mann, Nova Payton, Stephanie Mills, Norm Lewis, John Manzari, Leah Flynn, Amber Iman, Peppermint, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Ephraim Sykes, E. Clayton Cornelious, and more.

The winners have been announced for the 2022 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Awards, honoring the best in regional productions, touring shows, and more which had their first performance between October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022.

The latest standings as of Monday, December 19th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

The Midnight Company will open its 2023 season with what is becoming the most highly anticipated event of the coming St. Louis theatre season.  The company’s first show is the world premiere of a theatrical cabaret show JUST ONE LOOK based on the life of pop superstar Linda Ronstadt written by Midnight’s artistic director Joe Hanrahan. In the 1970s Ronstadt was the queen of the pop charts and would sell out stadiums worldwide. Ronstadt’s hits included, “When Will I Be Loved,” “You’re No Good” “It’s so Easy,” “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” “Blue Bayou” and dozens more hits that topped the pop charts. She was featured on the cover of The Rolling Stone magazine six times. When Cameron Crowe wrote his 1976 article for The Rolling Stone, Ronstadt had three consecutive platinum albums and there was no bigger name in music on the planet. BroadwayWorld had the opportunity to sit down with Kelly Howe who will play Linda Ronstadt and playwright, director and actor Joe Hanrahan who will play an aging reporter who finally gets his long-coveted interview with Ronstadt.

This past year was filled with exceptional theatrical productions in the St. Louis Arts Community. Nearly every performance in 2022 at STAGES St. Louis, The Muny, The Black Rep and Midnight Company were entertaining with only a few misfires. As a long-time season ticket holder to The Fabulous Fox Theatre and a first-time attendee to New Line Theatre, I had the opportunity to see nearly every theatrical production that was staged in these venues. Instead of compiling a top ten list of best shows, I decided this would be the opportunity to recognize the best work, both performing and technical theater, that I observed in 2022. Without further ado, here are the ten best works on the stages of St. Louis throughout the past year. 

The latest standings as of Monday, December 12th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

The latest standings as of Monday, December 5th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

The first live standings have been announced for the 2022 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

Hanrahan’s script provides a nostalgic look at St. Louis through the 1900s and the compelling lives of incredibly talented woman. His script is more than just a historic look at some famous St. Louis Women. It is an important lesson in St. Louis Black history, examining the lives of strong African American women who helped shape and improve this world for all women, especially women of color. Laka’s effective portrayal of more than a half-dozen real live artists is due to her ability to disappear into these women, allowing their spirit to inhabit her body. Her versatility allows her to span a century of music performing gospel, jazz, blues, R&B, and rock-and-roll. When she rips into the Music of Tina Turner, Fontella Bass and Ann Peebles at the beginning of the second act, her vocals blow the roof off the theater.

ST. LOUIS WOMAN honors the enduring legacy of some amazing female artists who put St. Louis on the map with their timeless music, dance and poetry. LAKA will portray legendary artists Josephine Baker, Tina Turner and Katherine Dunham. In her roles she will also present the poetry of Maya Angelou, the song stylings of chart-toppers Fontella Bass and Ann Peebles, and the Gospel classics of the legendary Willie Mae Ford Smith. Most of these women were either born in St. Louis or came here when they were young, with the exception of Katherine Dunham’s who moved here during the height of their career to continue her momentous work. 

The Midnight Company announced its 25th Anniversary Season with their lineup of productions for their 2022 landmark silver anniversary year. The season will open with ANOMALOUS EXPERIENCE by the Company’s Artistic Director, Joe Hanrahan, running May 5-21 at the Kranzberg Black Box Theatre. Midnight’s second show of the season will be RODNEY’S WIFE by Richard Nelson and is directed by Joe Hanrahan. The show runs July 7-23 at The Chapel. The final show of the season will be ST. LOUIS WOMAN, written and directed by Joe Hanrahan, running October 6-22 at the .ZACK.

By accident, a St. Louis Woman and a Nashville Nightengale play the same New York City nightclub within hours of each other, and prove that Manhattan has no copyright on cabaret talent.

You voted, now here they are! In alphabetical order, meet our top 5 in the college category. After two successful seasons of our virtual singing competition, we're back again by popular demand with the third season of our online musical theatre singing competition for student performers sponsored by The International College of Musical Theatre.

There is much work to be done for the equity of Blacks in theater and when Broadway reopens, hopefully, it will be a new and truly inclusive Black Broadway. The book, Black Broadway: African Americans on the Great White Way, is a thorough examination of the history of the Black contribution to Broadway. The publishers of Black Broadway, Square One Publishing, have released a Kindle version and in honor of Black History Month, the ebook is available for $1.99 for the month of February. 

Juanita Hall was an American musical theatre and film actress. 1950, Hall became the first Black actor to win a Tony Award, for her portrayal of Bloody Mary in the original Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific.  

Today's episode features stage and screen star Stanley Wayne Mathis, who last appeared on Broadway in The Book of Mormon.

New York City Center is presenting the #EncoresArchives series! They will be posting daily highlights from their musical theater vault from Encores!, Encores! Off-Center, and Gala productions.

New York City Center is presenting the #EncoresArchives series! They will be posting daily highlights from their musical theater vault from Encores!, Encores! Off-Center, and Gala productions.

New York City Center is presenting the #EncoresArchives series! They will be posting daily highlights from their musical theater vault from Encores!, Encores! Off-Center, and Gala productions.

We've been compiling videos from college seniors all around the country for our new daily showcase series. Although their performances were cancelled, the show must go on-- virtually!

Vanessa Williams and Stanley Wayne Mathis perform the classic tunes, 'Come Rain or Come Shine' in the company's 1998 production of St. Louis Woman.

Multi-platinum recording artist, Vanessa Williams brings her music to the Fred Kavli Theatre, Friday, October 11 at 8:00pm.

Bay Street Theater is pleased to announce the World Premiere of SAFE SPACE begins tomorrow, June 25, and runs through July 21. This is a new play by Alan Fox; directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien (All My Sons, Henry IV, Hairspray, The Coast of Utopia).

Bay Street Theater is pleased to announce the cast of SAFE SPACE (June 25 - July 21) is now in rehearsal.The new play is by Alan Fox; directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien (All My Sons, Henry IV, Hairspray, The Coast of Utopia). The play will star Mercedes Ruehl (Torch Song, Hustlers, Bay Street's Viva la Vida!), Sasha Diamond (Blindspot, The Romanoffs, Murphy Brown) and Rodney Richardson (The Day Shall Come, CBS's FBI, Somebody's Daughter). Tickets are now on sale by calling the Box Office at 631-725-9500 or online at www.baystreet.org.  The Box Office is open daily from 11 am - show time.

According to Forbes, the son and estate of Broadway composer Harold Arlen has filed a lawsuit against Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Pandora, for selling over 6,000 unauthorized recordings of his music.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre is proud to present award-winning vocalist Josephine Sanges in a special return for one night only of Come Rain or Come Shine, the Music of Harold Arlen, on Thursday, February 27th at 7:00 pm. Sanges taps the Academy Award-winning songbook of Arlen ('I've Got The World on a String,' 'Stormy Weather,' 'Over the Rainbow, 'Blues in the Night') plus more songs from Hollywood ('The Wizard of Oz,' 'A Star is Born') as well as Broadway ('St. Louis Woman,' 'House of Flowers').

By popular demand, The Laurie Beechman Theatre is proud to present award-winning vocalist Josephine Sanges in a special return for one night only, Josephine Sanges - Come Rain or Come Shine, - Thursday, February 28, 2019...

Pacific Symphony won't save the best for last in the opening of the 2018-19 Pops season with the sensational entertainment star Vanessa Williams. Led by Pops conductor, Richard Kaufman, the Symphony joins Williams to celebrate her career for two nights at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, with a program of her icon hits such as "That's Entertainment," "Dreamin'," "Love Is Love," and "Save the Best for Last." The Symphony will also play the Hollywood themes from the film scores of "Splash," "The Producers," "Young Frankenstein," "Blazing Saddles," "Animal House and Airplane."

Pacific Symphony won't save the best for last in the opening of the 2018-19 Pops season with the sensational entertainment star Vanessa Williams. Led by Pops conductor, Richard Kaufman, the Symphony joins Williams to celebrate her career for two nights at the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, with a program of her icon hits such as "That's Entertainment," "Dreamin'," "Love Is Love," and "Save the Best for Last." The Symphony will also play the Hollywood themes from the film scores of "Splash," "The Producers," "Young Frankenstein," "Blazing Saddles," "Animal House and Airplane."

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the Super Showcase performance of OWEN & MZEE: THE TRUE STORY OF A REMARKABLE FRIENDSHIP the #1 New York Times best-selling children's book about the friendship between a tortoise and an orphaned hippopotamus written by father and daughter team Craig and Isabella Hatkoff and Dr. Paula Kahumbu . The musical features book and lyrics by Michelle Elliott and music and lyrics by Danny Larsen. Stanley Mathis is the Director/ Choreographer and Costume Designer.

Vanessa Williams, one of the most respected and multi-faceted performers in entertainment today, performs at Mayo Performing Arts Center on Friday, September 14 at 8 pm. Tickets for MPAC's Opening Night celebration are $49-$99.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the Super Showcase performance of OWEN & MZEE: THE TRUE STORY OF A REMARKABLE FRIENDSHIP the #1 New York Times best-selling children's book about the friendship between a tortoise and an orphaned hippopotamus written by father and daughter team Craig and Isabella Hatkoff and Dr. Paula Kahumbu . The musical features book and lyrics by Michelle Elliott and music and lyrics by Danny Larsen. Stanley Mathis is the Director/ Choreographer and Costume Designer.

 Pat Smith-Thurman and Solomon Thurman, owners of 10th Street Gallery, will co-chair the Arts and Education Council's 2019 St. Louis Arts Awards in January. Adrienne Davis, Washington University in St. Louis professor and vice provost, will emcee the event. Celebrating its 28th year, the St. Louis Arts Awards is the region's preeminent event honoring artists, educators, individuals and organizations that achieve a legacy of artistic excellence and enrich St. Louis's arts and cultural community.

The Wallis production of BLUES IN THE NIGHT, conceived and directed by Sheldon Epps, starts performances next week in the intimate Lovelace Theater! Artistic Director Paul Crewes snuck into rehearsal to chat with cast members Yvette Cason, Bryce Charles, Chester Gregory, and Paulette Ivory about this exciting new production.

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts announces the cast for its upcoming production of Blues in the Night.  Conceived and directed by Sheldon Epps, the production will feature Yvette Cason (Shout Sister Shout, Broadway and film versions of Dreamgirls), Bryce Charles (The Book of Mormon, ABC's "Black-ish"), Paulette Ivory (Disney's Aida and the West End premieres of The Lion King and Blues in the Night) and Chester Gregory (Broadway's Motown: The Musical, Hairspray and  Sister Act).  Blues in the Night will begin performances April 27 through May 20 in the Lovelace Studio Theater.

 2017 Margaret Whiting Award winner JOSEPHINE SANGES taps into the Academy Award- winning songbook of HAROLD ARLEN ("I've Got The World on a String," "Stormy Weather," "Over the Rainbow, "Blues in the Night") with songs from Hollywood ("The Wizard of Oz," "A Star is Born") and Broadway ("St. Louis Woman," "House of Flowers") in her new show COME RAIN OR COME SHINE.

Quality Hill Playhouse will pay tribute to Harold Arlen, the man who brought the blues to the Great American Songbook, in THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC, an original cabaret revue which opened on January 19.

Vital Theatre Company is pleased to announce its upcoming musical adaptation of OWEN & MZEE: THE TRUE STORY OF A REMARKABLE FRIENDSHIP the #1 New York Times best-selling children's book about the friendship between a tortoise and an orphaned hippopotamus written by father and daughter team Craig and Isabella Hatkoff and Dr. Paula Kahumbu . The musical features book and lyrics by Michelle Elliott and music and lyrics by Danny Larsen. Stanley Mathis is the Director/ Choreographer and Costume Designer.

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theatre of California, has announced complete casting for their production of the original 1947 radio play of Miracle on 34th Street, which is being presented in honor of its 70th anniversary for a limited engagement of 14 performances from December 14 to 23 (press opening is December 15).

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce full casting for its upcoming musical adaptation of OWEN & MZEE: THE TRUE STORY OF A REMARKABLE FRIENDSHIP the #1 New York Times best-selling children's book about the friendship between a tortoise and an orphaned hippopotamus written by father and daughter team Craig and Isabella Hatkoff and Dr. Paula Kahumbu . The musical features book and lyrics by Michelle Elliott and music and lyrics by Danny Larsen. Stanley Mathis is the Director/ Choreographer and Costume Designer.

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theatre of California, has announced complete casting for their production of the original 1947 radio play of Miracle on 34th Street, which is being presented in honor of its 70th anniversary for a limited engagement of 14 performances from December 14 to 23 (press opening is December 15).

Opera Exposures,, Inc, a local 501(C3) created in 2004 by Edna Greenwich as a nonprofit arts organization supporting young and emerging musical artists that is dedicated to developing a diverse audience by performing in affordable venues, has announced its first recital of the Fall season.

Raimundo Santos takes pride in being included in the Philadelphia Jazz Project's 'Voices of the People: Celebration of Singers' a three-day vocal festival that takes place in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia on July 6, 7, and 8, 2017.

Raimundo Santos takes pride in being included in the Philadelphia Jazz Project's 'Voices of the People: Celebration of Singers' a three-day vocal festival that takes place in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia on July 6, 7, and 8, 2017.

The Hollywood Bowl has announced the cast and creative team for a benefit performance of SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, conceived and directed on Broadway by James Lapine.

???????Joan Copeland and Diane J. Findlay headline The Ziegfeld Society of New York City's Thou Swell! Thou Witty!: The Songs of Rodgers & Hart, written and hosted by Aaron Gandy with musical direction and special arrangements by Mark York, at Lang Concert Hall at Hunter College (69th between Park and Lexington) on Saturday afternoon, March 25th, at 2pm. 

One of the great things about live theatre is its lack of permanence. In film, the words, directorial choices, performances and other artistic contributions all exist as an unchangeably whole work of art. But with theatre, each production of a play, no matter how many times it has been done before, begins with only the author's text, leaving a new collection of creative souls to decide what to do with it.

Vanessa Williams, the Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award nominated superstar, will make her Broadway Up Close concert series debut at The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia today, January 21 at 8:00 PM, co-starring SiriusXM radio star Seth Rudetsky as pianist and host.