ST. LOUIS THEATER REVIEWS

You will be entertained by Kathryn Bentley and Colin McLaughlin’s new play, but that is only one small part of why their work needs to be seen. This historical drama is an important part of St. Louis’ Black History. A Brick and a Bible is an empowerment story about women raising their voices for...

Filled with gamesmanship, deception, death, and creative differences, Stray Dog Theatre’s Deathtrap is sleuthing at its finest. Well-acted and draped in the unexpected, the production’s apprehensive atmosphere and inventive plot contortions cause audiences to gasp as the drama reaches a bloody c...

Lucy Kirkwood’s play The Children is fascinating and compelling. Her script prompts discussion about corporate responsibility, what accountability an organization’s employees should own, and how tragic circumstances force people to face personal transgressions and the fallout from their poor dec...

When Lucas Hnath’s play premiered on Broadway the New York Times and Time Out New York called it “the best play of the season.” It’s an engaging and modern script tackling themes of feminist autonomy and self-determination. Weber’s staging is well-conceived and highly entertaining. Layton,...

An example of how grief shapes identity played out onstage, The Rep’s latest is a compelling, powerful example of how theater can confront uncomfortable topics with tenderness, compassion, and humor....

The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body, while staged as a play, is more of an artistic poetic reading. Lisa B. Thompson’s brief 80-minute work, currently on stage at The Black Rep, examines the life experiences of one woman told by three voices...

Myth of the Ostrich is brazen comedy. It’s among the most accessibly entertaining productions staged at Upstream Theater in recent years. It is full of artfully crafted irreverent portrayals, expert direction, and a bevy of belly laughs....

The Dance on Widow’s Row at The Black Rep features a charismatic ensemble with infectious energy stemming from playful performances. It’s a fun evening in the theater that provides a lot of laughter....

Filled with garlands and good times, the production’s loose adherence to traditional theater makes it refreshing. Whether a wallflower taking it all in or someone choosing to interact with the proceedings, everyone attending this party is treated to a fun romp filled with love, community, laughter...

The evening is surely funny (and a little bit sad). And it is simply, beautifully true....

More of a drama with sung interludes than a full-blown musical, The Outsiders is an outstanding production. Relying on a minimalist stage, dark lighting, and choreography, the ensemble is given a wide berth to perform....

Aided by a top-notch band, Justin Been’s potent drama uses moving songs and poignant drama to make Superhero is a thrill-packed adventure....

Watching Broadway’s Sara Sheperd perform her holiday themed cabaret, Please Come Home for Christmas, is akin to sitting in front of a cozy fire with a mug of hot cocoa. Sheperd, and her piano playing father Scott, shared more than a dozen of her favorite holiday songs peppered with a few seasonall...

John Hughes Your Own Adventure - LIVE is a whole lot of fun for anyone familiar with Hughes work. Hughes enthusiasts and aficionados will be laughing through their tears. The sold-out runaway hit was the headliner at STL Fringe and one of last summer’s hottest theater tickets. St. Louis Fringe and...

Director Will Bonfiglio, Music Director Larry D. Pry, Choreogrpaher Jo Palisoc, and the entire company deserve a lot of credit for their all in committed, peppy, and high-spirited production of a marginal show that is staged as a pet project far too often. There are thousands of musical theater asse...

At a time when the weather is colder, and winter is tuning up, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ production of Emma keeps us warm. The latest show of the company's 59th season is a vibrant feast of laughter and love....

Brício’s play, An Orchard for Chekhov, is written with sophisticated humor. It is entertaining and moves quickly yet feels empty in its ambiguity, not dissimilar to Alma’s and her daughter’s lack of fulfillment. But Brício’s characters linger in your gray space long after the curtain has f...

Nisi Sturgis’ Baskerville is a wacky whodunit. The madcap mystery is filled with riotous performances from a talented cast breaking boundaries with bold artistry. Alicia Revé and Sean C. Seifert are revelations. Their presence is more than scene stealing because their every moment on the stage is...

Now touring North America, this updated version of the beloved musical has been crafted by producer Cameron MacIntosh. For this production he replaced the rotating stage of the original production with background projections and implemented dialogue, orchestration and costumes changes. The results a...

Deposition is an entertaining 90-minute story with, like many divorces, no clear resolution. Hanson’s script presents the evidence without assign fault. First Run Theatre’s staging is mostly effective, but at times felt a bit under rehearsed. Leading players Bill Burke, Ami Bossi, and Deb Denner...

The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe is a one actor play examining life, relationships, and art on Earth. The play opens with an introduction to Trudy, a kooky bag lady who serves as a medium for extra-terrestrials attempting to understand life on earth. Trudy attempts to explain...

Visually beautiful and emotionally charged, The Notebook brings love and loss to the stage with poignant results....

Emotionally powerful and gripping, The Brothers Size is powerful, evocative, and passionate. Relying on a trio of talented performances, this riveting production is a relentless depiction of how life behind bars can make you a prisoner for life....

Like last year's 'Twelfth Night' this production shows a sweet understanding of the play and how it works, a great love and respect for the text, and a delicious, economical theatricality to the whole thing....

Revolution(s) is a well-designed, fast-paced, and adrenaline-fueled production with outstanding music. Fans of Tom Morello will love his frenetic and hard-hitting score. Director Steve Broadnax fills his production with believable performances and riveting vocals from an immensely talented cast. Zay...