ST. LOUIS THEATER REVIEWS

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...

Albion Theatre consistently produces polished and well rehearsed plays. I Have Been There Before is no exception. It is extremely well directed, acted, designed, and stage managed. Priestly’s script has never connected with an audience to enjoy a lengthy theatrical run, but the Albion production i...

The atmosphere is scary, the drama is intense, and the unexplained abounds in this well-acted production that relies on atmospherics, lighting, and effects to thrill and chill its audiences. The Woman In Black is an unnerving delight....

There are no musical numbers in the Fox Theatre’s 2025-2026 season opener. But that’s okay. Instead of a full-blown musical spectacle the company has opted for a moving production of The Life of Pi....

It’s been a really, really good year in St. Louis for French songs.  In April the Blue Strawberry hosted a marvelous evening of Jacques Brel, the superstar chansonnier of the ‘50s and ‘60s.  Now, at the Sheldon, we have an evening of that even more dazzling icon, Édith Piaf, who blazed acro...

Professor House blends Jacob Juntunen’s psychologically charged script with visionary direction, spellbinding performances, and evocative lighting and sound design. Director Sam Hayes, the cast, and technical team create an otherworldly experience that is riveting, thrilling, and absorbing. The ma...

Elsinore is a bit of a coming-of-age tragedy peppered with romance, envy, and bloodlust, setting the stage for the beginning of Hamlet. It written with formal vernacular to enhance the story’s credibility. David Nonemaker and Eric Satterfield’s storytelling relies on many Shakespearean conventio...

Tense, terse, and at times testy, The Minutes is almost two plays in one. While the first half gives off the vibe of a comedic tale of small-town bureaucracy, the second half is a darker and more cynical examination of the erosion of power structures....

The Midnight Company’s production of St. Nicholas is built for fans of vampire stories. The story of obsession leads a man to walk down a dark path with irreversible consequence. The script and Hanrahan’s delivery never quite reach a level of creepy macabre, but it is a fascinating story that’...

The talented and likeable Taylor Louderman charmed, delighted, and amused in her Blue Strawberry debut. Ending her set with the Tim McGraw hit “Humble and Kind,” Louderman sang, “Hold the door, say please, and say thank you. I know you’ve got mountains to climb but always stay humble and kin...

Metro Theater Company continues its mission of introducing meaningful and entertaining theatrical productions to young audiences. Their current production, Carmela Full of Wishes, is Alvaro Saar Rios’ adaptation of Matt de la Peña’s graphic children’s book. Ageless actor Fabiola Cabrera stars...

STAGES St. Louis production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is not only wonderfully nostalgic musically, but it is a richly entertaining evening of musical comedy. Director Jennifer Werner’s attention to detail creates an immensely enjoyable piece of period storytelling. The expressive and w...

The world-renowned Opera Theatre of St. Louis (OTSL) was recognized with nominations in two categories for the 2025 International Opera Awards. The world premiere staging of This House by Ricky Ian Gordon, Lynn Nottage and Ruby Aiyo Gerber was nominated for Best World Premiere, and the 2025 OTSL Fes...

Classic Adventure Movie; or Never Say Die will be a side-splitting, nostalgic paroday for cult fans of The Goonies. Those who’ve seen the movie once or twice will be entertained, find a few laughs, enjoy the cast’s animated exuberance, and be impressed by the show’s technical elements....

The performances in The Wanderers are first rate, but it is Robert Quinlan’s expertly crafted, immersive, and precise storytelling that ensnares the audience. Anna Ziegler’s nonlinear bittersweet script is laced with humor and several unexpected turns. The conclusion may be a bit overwrought, bu...

Roaring laughter meets the roaring twenties in The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ The Cottage. A dramedy in the classic sense, the company’s 59th season starter offers an endless barrage of scandalous dalliances, clever double entendres, and mistaken identities....