Lynn Venhaus

Total Post: 1312

Lynn (Zipfel) Venhaus has had a continuous byline in St. Louis metro region publications since 1978. She writes features and news for Belleville News-Democrat and contributes to St. Louis magazine and other publications.  She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic, currently reviews films for Webster-Kirkwood Times and KTRS Radio, covers entertainment for PopLifeSTL.com and co-hosts podcast PopLifeSTL.com…Presents.  She is a member of Critics Choice Association, where she serves on the women's and marketing committees; Alliance of Women Film Journalists; and on the board of the St. Louis Film Critics Association. She is a founding and board member of the St. Louis Theater Circle. She is retired from teaching journalism/media as an adjunct college instructor.

Sightlines: Reflecting on This Year’s St. Louis Filmmakers’ Showcase

Sightlines: Reflecting on This Year’s St. Louis Filmmakers’ Showcase

By Lynn Venhaus
Congratulations to the local filmmakers who put their time, energy, money and creativity into making a local movie — 91 films were accepted this year! And a record number of women — 22 females directed movies! All these reasons to cheer.

Sunday night (July 30) was the 23rd Annual St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase Awards closing party, and this year, it was at Cinema St. Louis’ forever home, the Hi-Pointe Theatre.

Artistic Director Chris Clark, now in his 23rd year, announced the 14 films that move on to the 32nd Annual St. Louis International Film Festival Nov. 9-19, which is quite an honor: They are:

Gorilla Tactics
  1. The Box, directed by Doveed Linder
  2. The Candy Crucible, directed by Micah Deeken
  3. Captcha, directed by Andy Compton
  4. clusterluck, directed by Cami Thomas
  5. Eliza, directed by Delisa Richardson and Dan Steadman
  6. Fortune Cookie, directed by Fu Yang
  7. Gorilla Tactics, directed by Michael Long
  8. The Highland Incident, directed by Zia Nizami
  9. Honorable, directed by Zachary Scott Clark and Mariah Richardson
  10. Nova, directed by Gabe Sheets
  11. Pretty Boy, directed by Kevin Coleman-Cohen
  12. The Queue, directed by Michael Rich
  13. These Flowers Were for You, directed by Taylor Yocom
  14. Up for Air, directed by Chase Norman

The SLIFF schedule will be released in early fall. The festival will showcase various films across multiple venues throughout the St. Louis area, including the Alamo Drafthouse and CSL’s new home, the Hi-Pointe Theatre. The festival will offer more than 250 films, including documentary and narrative features and short film programs from the widest possible range of storytellers, representing multiple countries featuring more than 25 native languages.  

For this year’s St. Louis Filmmakers’ Showcase, 20 juried awards were given out in narrative, and also 10 in documentary and experimental. (See article recap in News: https://poplifestl.com/captcha-and-somewhere-in-old-missouri-win-three-awards-each-at-st-louis-filmmakers-showcase/).

Want to give a shout-out to all, and those in attendance after being part of 17 programs over two weekends, truly inspiring.

Michael Rich

To see people thrilled about their achievements being recognized, to peg certain folks as artists to keep your eyes on, and to meet some of the filmmakers is always fun. (How such a nice person as Michael Rich can make such terrifying, dark films — his “The Queue” won horror this year, and he’s won in the past. (Side note, his film will be part of Franki Cambeletta’s Haunted Garage Horror Film Festival Oct. 5-7 at the Hi-Pointe, so will “The Candy Crucible.”).

And to follow success of people I met when I was an adjunct journalism/media instructor at STLCC-Forest Park in ’09 and see them produce passion projects — Kevin Coleman-Cohen and Mariah Richardson, is exciting.

CSL established the categories — a solid list, and last year, I lobbied for ensemble to be added (recognized more in recent years in film awards, and St. Louis Film Critics Association added it in ’22). This year, other jurors and I felt that with the increase in horror/thriller films, we needed that genre category.

Since 2009, I have served on the narrative jury a number of times,  not every year, and certainly not the four times my late son Tim Venhaus’ comedies made the cut, but a considerable amount. I am always eager to see what local folks are up to, and I can attest the quality has grown by leaps and bounds.

This year, the quality of original music was quite exceptional – a longer list of worthy nominees.

(In my opinion, the four biggest things, negatively, are: sound and lighting, quality of acting and the follow-through —  how to end a story. I, too, have seen Francois Truffaut’s “The 400 Blows” and freeze-framing the final shot isn’t always the way to go. My latest pet peeve is how fake the fake blood looks, some far better than others, but I digress.)

We are here to celebrate film and the joy involved in community.

Through the whole festival, you see a sense of community — of collaboration, of coming together to produce an original work, emphasis on original. Everybody’s got a story to tell, and how they choose to tell it is a journey unto itself.

Winners Delisa Richardson, Mia Bible, Zachary Scott Clark, Kazia Steele. Photo Provided.

Movie-making is very hard work, and if you’ve spent long hours on a movie shoot, you know it’s something to admire – stamina, resourcefulness, ability to be flexible, and the long hours trying to capture the right angle or light.

Plus it takes courage. And tapping the right people for the job.

In recent years, some actors I know through covering regional theater are in front of a camera, and that’s a fun component – seeing a new side to them. Don McClendon, you must be the champ of most films in a year. David Wassilak, living in your mom’s basement in “The Box”? Eric Dean White, I can’t unsee your image as a creep in “Finch”! Paul Cereghino, you didn’t really kill that baby chick, did you? And is that Alan Knoll as a prison warden in “Penitentia”?

This year I was introduced to Zachary Scott Clark as Boy Willie in Encore’s “The Piano Lesson,” and to see him become Muhammed Ali in “Honorable” was impressive (how intimidating to play a historical figure!), and likewise, improv comedic actor Ryan Myers in “Captcha” — is he or is he not a robot?

And to discover new talent — Kazia Steele in “Eliza,” Ramone Boyd in “Pretty Boy” and the musicians in “Somewhere in Old Missouri,” among others. And see how hard Tanner Richard Craft works making movies that say something.

Or seeing people you know as actors, Delisa Richardson, move behind the scenes as a writer and director, in “Eliza.”

Tanner Richard Craft in “Processing”

Through promoting the local arts scene, and Cinema St. Louis’ programs, I enjoy meeting these people who are letting their voices be heard, collaborating with others on a labor of love, and have a distinct point of view.

Sadly, some very good films become also-rans. Not everyone can get a trophy, and we always have a healthy discussion on why certain films receive recognition, and others don’t. We don’t name the runners-up. But we do admire many efforts that don’t make that cut — “Cheated!” was a clever original musical told in a few minutes! Attorney Ed Herman spoke the truth in the comically entertaining animated short “Ed V Bathrooms.”

Spencer Davis Milford

And some actors are quite good in films that are in the conversation but just don’t get the top vote. (Brock Russell and Spencer Davis Milford, we enjoyed you guys in the offbeat black comedy “Food Poisoning” — who knew funny and cannibalism could be in the same sentence? Likewise, two outstanding females in “Broken Vessels” — Alicia Blasingame and Cathy Vu, the dynamic duo of Chrissie Watkins and Joe Hanrahan in “Patient #47,” Rusty Schwimmer in “Penetentia,” and the list is long.

I particularly enjoy seeing different shot selection — local parks, neighborhoods, cool historic homes, use of rivers, high schools, colleges. After all, this is “St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase.” Filmmakers from here who’ve moved can shoot where they are, like L.A., but it’s really fun to see different parts of the ‘Lou, or Illinois, with fresh eyes. Hmmm, that diner is in St. Charles? Is that bar in south city? In “Pretty Boy,” Kevin Coleman-Cohen used ‘underground’ downtown areas that were fascinating.

A film can be 3 minutes, like “Up for Air,” and make its point effectively, or it can be a half-hour, like “Honorable,” and deliver a sense of time and place eloquently. We know they didn’t fly to Ghana, but you understood the setting.

A nondescript apartment became a prison for someone in a mental health crisis in “Where Monsters Lurk.” And Gabe Sheets used a vintage Chevy Nova to tell a transgender teen’s story in “Nova.”

And for Fu Yang’s brilliant stop-motion animation “Fortune Cookie,” the amount of thought and effort is remarkable (won animation/experimental and best narrative under 20 minutes). The backstory told by many directors in their notes is key to understanding all that is involved.

So, the best of the best moves on, while excellent efforts may not get the SLIFF spotlight, but I hope can be seen in other ways. A film has to be seen, and felt. And sometimes, that filmmaker will come back stronger the next year.

Andy Compton, Ryan Myers, Larry Claudin and composer Austin McCutcheon. Photo provided.

I look forward to see what Andy Compton is up to next, and hope to see some shorts turned into features for ambitious filmmakers. (Scott Wisdom’s “No Rest for the Wicked” perhaps).

The narrative jury watched 59 films this year. Chris gave us a good lead time, and our panel would text each other about certain ones, sometimes we’d go back and watch one a second time to evaluate. The due diligence that I witnessed in fellow jurors Alex McPherson and Cate Marquis is a commitment we willingly take on, because it’s important.

I know the doc committee feels the same way — Carl “The Intern” Middleman, my podcast colleague, watched his slate before he left for a fishing trip to Canada. So did Aisha Sultan, whose family went on an overseas trip, back to discuss the winners. Gayle Gallagher was on hand Sunday night to talk about their decisions.

Now I need to watch the docs I missed, particularly Zia Nizami’s “The Highland Incident.” Zia is a former Belleville News-Democrat photographer that I have known for years, and I was covering metro-east news when the UFO incident was reported in 2001. It will be part of SLIFF.

Hope to see you film fans and dreamers at SLIFF in November.

And kudos to all the folks at Cinema St. Louis who work so very hard to make this annual event happen. Thanks, Bree Maniscalco, Brian Spath and of course, fearless AD Chris Clark.

The Candy Crucible. Not a Superhero or Disney Princess in sight.

Cover photo of winners Mia Bible and Zachary Scott Clark at the Hi-Pointe, July 30. Photo used with permission.

Feed Your Fire with Tesseract Theatre’s Celebratory ‘Kinky Boots’

Feed Your Fire with Tesseract Theatre’s Celebratory ‘Kinky Boots’

By Lynn Venhaus
With its big heart and lofty ambitions, Tesseract Theatre Company has performed its first big splashy musical in St. Louis, and “Kinky Boots” is a chef’s kiss of a show, a celebration of possibilities and a tour-de-force performance by Tielere Cheatem as Simon/Lola.

Cheatem, a standout local performer and St. Louis Theater Circle Award winner, as housekeeper Jacob in New Line Theatre’s “La Cage Aux Folles” in 2019, has always had a ‘je ne sais quoi’ quality on stage, but as Lola, they are magnificent.

Cheatem makes the role that won Billy Porter a Tony Award their own and seizes that stage in authentic diva mode, with a ferocity and a passion that is remarkable to behold. It’s a fully realized, multi-layered performance.

Overcoming obstacles is the ebullient show’s theme, along with acceptance and tolerance, so it is understandable that moving to a larger space than they are used to, The Grandel Theatre, would present its own challenges. Opening night Aug. 17 was marred by sound problems, but Gruenloh said they have worked to solve those issues.

Tesseract’s previous small-scale musicals, “Ordinary Days” in November 2022 and “The Last Five Years” in February 2023, were performed at the .Zack Theatre. Tesseract’s “Kinky Boots” is also the second regional production after the Muny’s premiere in 2019.

Cheatem has a sweet chemistry with co-lead Kelvin Urday as Charlie Price, who inherited a failing shoe factory from his dad. They are a palpable pairing, and when they duet to “Not My Father’s Son,” their harmony tugs at the heartstrings.

In fact, the ballads about parental expectations and other relationships are memorable – Lola’s tearful “Hold Me in Your Heart” and Charlie’s “Soul of a Man.”

Aaron Tucker Jr. as Harry in “Take What You Got.” Photo by Taylor Gruenloh.

Urday displays confidence in his characterization of Charlie, who reluctantly took over the fourth-generation family business, Price & Son, which is on the verge of bankruptcy, and the weight of his father’s legacy leads him to much soul-searching. His earnest delivery of his “Step One” solo is also noteworthy.

Inspired by the life force that is the eccentric Lola, whose drag attire includes unsteady stilettos, the factory begins a niche business model, and those glittery sturdy “kinky boots” are made well to meet the needs of flamboyant performers-in-drag.

The musical “Kinky Boots” is based on a 2005 British film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as Simon/Lola and Joel Edgerton as Charlie, which was based on a true story and a BBC documentary, and premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, catching the eye of some Broadway producers.

Thus began its journey to the stage. It premiered on Broadway in 2013, the adaptation by four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by first-timer Cyndi Lauper, the Grammy-winning pop icon, who won a Tony for the score, which is an infectious mix of club music and heartfelt ballads. The musical won six Tonys, including best musical, from a season-high 13 nominations.

It also won London’s Olivier Award for Best Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre album. It ran for six years and 1,400 performances until April 7, 2019.

The Tesseract ensemble includes some seasoned veterans, like versatile Marshall Jennings as the intimidating and homophobic foreman Don, dynamic Carrie Wenos as sassy line worker Trish, Loren Goudreau in her local debut as amiable worker Pat, who are all seamless. Kent Coffel, ‘an iron man’ in local theater this summer, is a good fit as Charlie’s proud hard-working dad and briefly seen as manager George.

Kaitlin Gant announces her presence as factory worker Lauren who fancies Charlie. Her standout number is the humorous “The History of Wrong Guys.”

Strong singer Chelsie Johnston, recently seen in “Nine” at New Line, has the thankless role as Charlie’s posh girlfriend Nicola, who is a status conscious social climber and meant to not be likable.

And there are some new-to-St. Louis performers, so to feel their joy is inspiring. They look like they are so happy to be on that stage, relatable in that ‘work family’ way, and emphasizing the message “You can change the world if you change your mind.”

Lindsey Grojean, Sarah Lueken, David Pisoni, Tori Ray, Corinna Redford, Michelle Sauer, Josie Schnelten and Aaron Tucker Jr. are a merry bunch as the factory ensemble. Tucker is stellar giving advice as Charlie’s childhood pal in a spirited “Take What You Got” and Redford is hilarious as the stage manager in Milan.

Lola and The Angels. Photo by Taylor Gruenloh

Splendid are The Angels – Lola’s six drag queen back-up singers at the seedy nightclub where they perform a cabaret act, notable with their in-your-face bravado. The always outstanding Mike Hodges and Jordan Woods, also local choreographers, as well as the ever-radiant Dylan Stanley, with their effervescent energy are matched by flashy newbies Todd Garten, Ronnie Wingbermuehle, and Nick Zobrist. They sparkle in “Land of Lola” and “Sex is in the Heel.”

Asher Woodward and Mark Ambrose Hill are impressive as the young Charlie and Lola respectively.

The cast brings the fun out in the cheery Act 1 finale “Everybody Say Yeah,” and is ecstatic in the up-on-your-feet anthem closer “Raise You Up/Just Be,” which is a marvelous way to spread hope in a universal message.

Taylor Gruenloh, who directed this musical first at the Missouri University Science & Technology in the spring, where he is an assistant professor in theatre, has honored the uplifting nature of the book, focusing on humanity – and made the humor zing. He knows how to get laughs, too, and deftly works in physical comedy.

He also ensured that the British accents were spot on – hurray!

“In This Corner.” Photo by Taylor Gruenloh

He shares the same affection for the material as celebrated music director Nicolas Valdez and experienced choreographer Maggie Nold, with Michelle Sauer the dance captain.

However, Valdez is not conducting a 12-piece orchestra but using recorded tracks from the publisher Music Theatre International that includes orchestrations and arrangements by Stephen Oremus for the performances. Charlie Heil was a music supervisor.

Zachary Phelps’ costume designs are stunning, and to learn that he’s a 19-year-old college student makes it even more astonishing. He also was the makeup assistant. The well-fitted wigs were designed by Sarah Gene Dowling and the wig supervisor was Analyse Thropic.

Technical director Kevin Salwasser and sound designer/supervisor Phillip Evans had to master the issues at the Grandel, as did lighting designer Max Demski.

Scenic designer Taylor Gruenloh created a believable and modest set, with a working conveyor belt, and was able to keep the action flowing. He also kept the focus on the performers.

On one level, it’s a feel-good dance party. Yet, Tesseract’s production is another exclamation point on the need for inclusion and individuality. And that is “The Most Beautiful Thing in the World.”

You may fall head-over-high-heels with this cast and crew, and you could be singing “Raise You Up” at the jubilant curtain call, which should empower everyone to “Feed your fire,” and perhaps like me, leave dancing in the aisles.

Tesseract Theatre Company presents “Kinky Boots” Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 17-27, at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m., at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square, St. Louis. Tickets are available at MetroTix.com. Questions can be sent to Tesseract Theatre at [email protected]

Dylan Stanley, one of the Angels. Photo by Taylor Gruenloh.

St Louis Symphony Free Community Concert in Forest Park Sept. 21

St Louis Symphony Free Community Concert in Forest Park Sept. 21

Music Director Stephane Denève leads the SLSO and members of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus in its annual concert for the community in works by Leonard Bernstein, Georges Bizet, George Gershwin, Pietro Mascagni, Florence Price, John Philip Sousa, Johann Strauss, Jr., Sergei Prokofiev, Samuel Ward, and John Williams

Celebratory opening of SLSO’s 144th season includes food trucks on Art Hill and concludes with fireworks display over Forest Park’s Grand Basin

Led by Music Director Stéphane Denève, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra marks the beginning of its 2023/2024 season with the return of its free concert in Forest Park at 7:00pm CDT, Thursday, September 21, on Art Hill. Since its inaugural Forest Park concert more than 50 years ago, the SLSO has performed for more than 15,000 people each year as a community celebration of music and the kick-off of the SLSO’s season.

The program serves as preview for the orchestra’s 144th season and Denève’s fifth as Music Director. Selections include favorites by Johann Strauss, Jr.’s, On the Beautiful Blue Danube and Radetzky March, along with selections from Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen. Music by Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, and Florence Price brings an American flavor to the program.

The orchestra will be joined by singers in the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus in performances of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “America the Beautiful.” A close collaborator of the inimitable film composer John Williams, Denève programmed selections of Williams’ scores from Raiders of the Lost Ark and Amistad. The festivities end with a show-stopping fireworks display following John Philip Sousa’s patriotic anthem The Stars and Stripes Forever.

Stephane Deneve

Performed in memory of longtime SLSO supporter Mary Ann Lee, this concert marks the 55th anniversary of the first Forest Park concert in 1968. Attendees are encouraged to come early, bring chairs and blankets, and enjoy food trucks at the top of Art Hill. New this year, the SLSO’s education and community teams will host a family fun zone at the top of Art Hill, encouraging families to engage with music through activities including music creation, conducting musicians of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, and a scavenger hunt.

Local vendors at the concert will include Angie Burger, ByJack, Cajun Seduction, Cha Cha Chow, Delicious Delights by Uniqly D’zynd, Doggie Mac’s Food Truck, Fire and Ice Cream Truck, Five Aces Bar-B-Que, Go Gyro Go, Grace Meat +3, Holy Crepe, NY Tom’s Food Truck, Picture Perfect Panini, Soul Burgers, STL BarKeep, Takozz Real Mexican Food, The Popcorn Bar, and Urban Chestnut Brewing Company. Food and drink vendors will be available starting at 5:00pm.

Following the concert in Forest Park, Denève leads the orchestra in its first classical concerts of the season, September 23-24, featuring renowned violinist Hilary Hahn—notable for her emphasis on accessibility to music, social media presence, and performances on film scores—in her first SLSO concerts in more than 20 years. Concerts take place at the Stifel Theatre in downtown St. Louis and include Richard Strauss’ Don Juan and Till Eulenspigel’s Merry Pranks, Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with Hahn, W.A. Mozart’s The Magic Flute Overture, and Paul Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

Tickets for all 23/24 season concerts are on sale now and can be purchased at slso.org or by calling the SLSO Box Office at 314-534-1700.

Calendar listing:

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Stéphane Denève open its 2023/2024 season with a free community concert on Forest Park’s Art Hill at 7:00pm Thursday, September 21. The annual concert—featuring classical music, film music, and patriotic tunes—concludes with a festive fireworks display.

Thursday, September 21, 2022, 7:00pm CDT
Art Hill at Forest Park, 1 Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis, Missouri, 63110

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Members of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus
Members of the St. Louis Symphony 
IN UNISON Chorus | Kevin McBeth, director

John Stafford Smith (arr. Sousa/Damrosch) The Star-Spangled Banner

J. Rosamund Johnson                           “Lift Every Voice and Sing”

Johann Strauss, Jr.                                 On the Beautiful Blue Danube

Johann Strauss, Jr.                                 Radetzky March

Sergei Prokofiev                                     March and Scherzo from The Love for Three Oranges

Leonard Bernstein                                 Candide Overture

Georges Bizet                                         Selections from Carmen Suite No. 1 & 2

Pietro Mascagni                                     Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana

Florence Price                                         “Juba” from Symphony No. 3

George Gershwin                                  Girl Crazy Overture

John Williams                                         “The Raiders March” from Raiders of the Lost Ark

John Williams                                         Dry Your Tears, Afrika from Amistad

Samuel Ward                                          “America the Beautiful”

John Philip Sousa                                  The Stars and Stripes Forever

This concert is performed in memory of Mary Ann Lee.

2022 concert photo by Virginia Harold

About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Celebrated as one of today’s most exciting and enduring orchestras, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 144th year with the 2023/2024 season and its fifth with Music Director Stéphane Denève. Widely considered one of the leading American orchestras, the Grammy® Award-winning SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community collaborations—all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music. 

The transformational expansion and renovation of its historic home, Powell Hall, slated to be completed in 2025, builds on the institution’s momentum as a civic leader in convening individuals, creators, and ideas, while fostering a culture welcoming to all. Committed to building community through compelling and inclusive musical experiences, the SLSO continues its longstanding focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and access, embracing its strengths as a responsive, nimble organization, while investing in partnerships locally and elevating its presence globally. For more information, visit slso.org. 

Photo by Caitlin Custer.

Voyageur Rendezvous to Celebrate 350th Anniversary of Marquette & Jolliet’s Mississippi River Expedition

Voyageur Rendezvous to Celebrate 350th Anniversary of Marquette & Jolliet’s Mississippi River Expedition

Feast, Fete & Fun in Ste. Genevieve on Saturday, Sept. 9

In celebration of the 350th anniversary of explorers Marquette & Jolliet’s historic Mississippi River voyage, French Colonial America presents the Voyageur Rendezvous, a special event on Saturday, September 9.

This culturally significant evening takes place on the grounds of the historic Bolduc House in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. The event features historic food of the French Colonial period, live period music, historic interpreters and a one-act play by Jim Healy, “Louis Jolliet: A Solid Path Through Water.” Baroque guitarist Patrick Rafferty will play period music.

Tickets are available at this link: https://www.fca-events.net/

The event takes place on Saturday, September 9, 2023, from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m, The theater performance begins at 5 p.m., followed by a buffet at 6 p.m. on the grounds of the Historic Bolduc House,125 Main Street, Ste. Genevieve, Missouri 63670. Tickets are $125 each and include all event activities, music, theatrical performance, dinner and parking. French Colonial attire is welcome. Comfortable footwear is recommended.

French Colonial attire is welcome. Historic interpreters will be on site.

VOYAGEUR RENDEZVOUS DINNER

Amuse Bouches: pâté, charcuterie, French Sorrel Soup, Herb Gougères

Buffet: Cochon de Lait, Poulet Fricassée, Missouri Rice Ragoût (with local pecans and mushrooms), Ratatouille, Late Summer Salad, Pain et Dessert

The Evening’s Culinarians: Chef Craig Basler, Dalie’s Smokehouse; Suzanne Corbett, food historian & Foodways Interpreter; René Waterhouse-Sackett, locavore & culinary professional

ABOUT MARQUETTE & JOLLIET

In 1673, Father Jacques Marquette, a Jesuit missionary, and fur trader Louis Jolliet led an expedition to explore the French-claimed territory in North America from the Great Lakes region to the Gulf of Mexico. They ended the expedition in present-day Arkansas when warned by native tribes that Spanish colonial powers controlled territory from the mouth of the Arkansas River to the Gulf. The expedition was the first time non-native people explored the central portions of the Mississippi River and was the first to determine the courses of the rivers that ran through the interior of the continent.

Marquette and Jolliet’s Voyage.

ABOUT FRENCH COLONIAL AMERICA

French Colonial America preserves and promotes French and Creole culture and the history of the Mississippi Valley during the Colonial period. French Colonial America also owns and operates the Centre for French Colonial Life Museum Campus. This unique, historical museum site consists of four historic houses as well as an education and exhibits facility.  For more information, visit http://www.FrenchColonialAmerica.org

French Colonial America
198 Market Street
Sainte Geneviève, MO 63670
583-883-3105

http://www.FrenchColonialAmerica.org

Shrewd Helen Mirren Is Transformed into ‘Golda’ for Ordinary Drama

Shrewd Helen Mirren Is Transformed into ‘Golda’ for Ordinary Drama

By Lynn Venhaus
Known as “The Iron Lady of Israel,” Golda Meir was a shrewd, smart, intuitive and empathetic leader during a tumultuous time. The film “Golda” focuses on three horrific weeks when her country was in serious jeopardy, and the decisions she made then.

During her term as prime minister from 1969 to 1974, Meir not only had to deal with the surprise attack by Egypt and Syria in 1973, but also the tragic deaths of 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Summer Olympics in 1972.

Set during the tense 19 days of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, Meir (Helen Mirren) must navigate overwhelming odds, a skeptical cabinet, and a complex relationship with the U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (Liev Schreiber). Millions of lives are in the balance.

In a cloud of cigarette smoke, Mirren is transformed into the Ukrainian-born head of state, who lived in the U.S. in her younger days, and became a prominent activist and politician after moving to Palestine with her husband in 1917. She was one of two women who signed Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948.

Meir is a fascinating historical figure, but you won’t find out her backstory or much information about her life other than the period the movie focuses on, which is detrimental to its appeal. But Mirren depicts her revered toughness without being showy.

The 78-year-old actress is practically unrecognizable, with an expert job done by Karen Hartley on hair and make-up design and Suzi Battersby on prosthetic design. Hunched over, defiantly chain-smoking (up to and after her cancer treatments), and walking in comfortable orthopedic shoes, Mirren assumes the persona as a courageous, maternal grandmother.

She’s not the only Oscar winner to tackle playing Golda. In her final role, Ingrid Bergman won an Emmy for the 1982 TV-movie “A Woman Called Golda,” and Anne Bancroft played the role in William Gibson’s play on Broadway.

With its focus on the maneuverings in The War Room, we only hear the terrified cries of soldiers in combat, and don’t see that action up close and personal. That’s director Guy Nattiv’s choice, but the film feels remote and stodgy without war scenes.

He specifically uses cigarettes and the act of smoking as part of the storytelling, and overflowing ashtrays are meant to signify passage of time. But the billowing smoke becomes distracting, and its heavy use debatable.

Nattiv may have intended his film to be more like a thriller, but its serious-mindedness turns it dull at times. He and his wife, Jaime Ray Newman, won an Academy Award in 2019 for their short film “Skin,” which looks at a reformed neo-Nazi and racism.

Screenwriter Nicholas Martin, who wrote the 2016 movie starring Meryl Streep as socialite singer “Florence Foster Jenkins,” concentrates on the complex Meir’s total commitment to her country. He chronicles Israel’s course of action during the crushing losses, makes it personal, and touches upon the career-ending controversy by showing the Agranat Commission investigating Meir regarding the high number of casualties: 2,656 dead soldiers and 7,251 injured; 294 prisoners of war had been captured by the enemy

Nattiv uses archival footage sparingly to give us the bare minimum of facts.

In a brief but pivotal role, Liev Schreiber portrays U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger as an ally helping to negotiate peace, but with steely resolve, Meir gets the support and assistance she wants in a face-to-face meeting at her modest home.

Camille Cotton is memorable as compassionate longtime personal assistant Lou Kaddar.

Rami Heuberer is Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, who was blamed for the unpreparedness of the Israeli Army, decimated by invading Syrians and Egyptians, and this ended his career as well.

The supporting cast includes other advisors – Lior Ashkenazi as Chief of Staff David “Dado” Elazar and Ohad Knoller as Field General Ariel Sharon (a future prime minister), as they hash out strategies.

The string-heavy score by Dascha Dauenhauer underscores the high stakes and the human toll. And this story takes place in the early ‘70s, so the sound design by Niv Adiri to make it sound authentic is noteworthy.

Meir died in 1978, at age 80, from lymphoma. She lived long enough to witness the infamous Camp David Accords that led to a peace treaty signed by Israel’s Prime Minister Menachim Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat with President Jimmy Carter.

While Mirren’s performance as a major historical figure is praise-worthy, the film is a missed-opportunity drama. In theory, it should have been more captivating, and in execution, much more dramatic and gripping.

“Golda” is a 2023 biographical historical drama directed by Guy Nattiv and starring Helen Mirren, Liev Schreiber, Camille Cotton, Zed Josef, Lior Ashkenazi, Ohad Knoller, and Rami Heuberer. It is rated PG-13 for thematic material and pervasive smoking and the runtime is 1 hour, 40 minutes. It opens in theatres Aug. 25. Lynn’s Grade: C+.

Note: this review was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Helen Mirren as Golda

Haunted Garage Horror Film Festival Oct. 5-7 At Hi-Pointe Theatre

Haunted Garage Horror Film Festival Oct. 5-7 At Hi-Pointe Theatre

Special Guests Include Dr. Athena Aktipis, Dr. Coltan Scrivner and Emmy Award-Winning Horror Director Patrick Rea

Shift Films and the Haunted Garage Podcast are back with their 3rd Annual Haunted Garage Horror Festival taking place October 5-7 at the historic Hi-Pointe Theatre, located at 1005 McCausland Avenue in St. Louis. Tickets range from $10 Pit Stop Passes for specific events to an all-access weekend pass for $100.

Find ticket details and prices at FilmFreeway or at the Hi-Pointe box office. The event kicks off Thursday, October 5 with a horror-themed cocktail meet-and-greet with festival guests and a Trunk-or-Treat event for families benefitting Stray Rescue of St. Louis.

Producers and festival creators Franki Cambeletta, Jeremy King, Travis Brown and Lily Schenck are excited to bring both local and national filmmakers together in the third year of the acclaimed Haunted Garage Horror Festival. “We are excited to work with the Hi-Pointe Theatre this year on bringing a world-class horror fest to St. Louis,” says Cambeletta.

Golden Piston Award

“We will be awarding Golden Piston Awards for categories such as Best Short, Best Feature Film, Best of Fest, Best Student Film, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay and the Film with Most Grit.”

In addition to the horror micro-shorts, shorts, and feature, horror experts in the field will participate in “Dead Talks” over the three-day festival such as Professor Athena Aktipis, Founder of Zombie Media, last year’s “Best of Fest” winners Aaron Irons and Josh Croft, and Director Patrick Rea will talk about how to get your film distributed.

Dr. Coltan Scrivner, a leading expert on the psychology of horror and morbid curiosity, will also present over the weekend with more guests to be announced. For more information and a full itinerary and film schedule, visit www.hauntedgaragehorrorfest.com.   

From a previous Haunted Garage Horror Fest. Photo Provided

Metro Theater Company Announces 51st Season and Programs

Metro Theater Company Announces 51st Season and Programs

Metro Theater Company (MTC), St. Louis’s premiere professional theater for youth and families and St. Louis’ third-oldest professional theater company, announces its 51st season. 

Metro Theater Company’s 2023-24 season celebrates the strength and power we find within ourselves through our connections with others, and the joy that friendship brings, especially in those moments where it is tested. “Season 51 productions are filled with joy. They celebrate acceptance of difference, the importance of friendship, and the strength and wisdom we find in ourselves and our community,” stated Artistic Director Julia Flood. Managing Director Joe Gfaller adds, “As we continue our commitment to reach every child in the St. Louis region over the next decade, this season of live theater and in-school residencies deepens young people’s relationships to one another, our community, and their own imagination,” 

The season kicks off with a tour of Maddi’s Fridge (September 11 – October 22), followed by two productions at The Grandel Theater: Eddie & Vinnie (October 18 – November 5) and the Tony-nominated A Year with Frog and Toad (February 7 – March 3). Through a new partnership with St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund, MTC’s  programming in Season 51 will include in-school residencies of anchor programs Building Community Through Drama and Say Something, Do Something with fourth graders across the University City, Ferguson-Florissant, and Hazelwood school districts. In addition, a special two-day family festival to celebrate 50 years of MTC will be held October 21 and 22. Tickets go on sale to the general public on August 29.  

Metro Theater Company 23-24 Season   

Maddi’s Fridge
By Anne Negri 

Adapted from the book by Lois Brandt 

Directed by Jess Shoemaker 

September 11 – October 18  

Touring to schools across the St. Louis metropolitan region. Limited public performances in September and October 2023. 

What if the only way to help a friend was to break a promise? Sofia and Maddi are best friends. They live in the same neighborhood, go to the same school, and play at the same rock-climbing gym. But when Sofia learns a secret about Maddi’s family, she’s faced with a difficult decision: to keep her promise or tell her parents about Maddi’s empty fridge to help her friend. With humor and heart, this play is sure to inspire conversations with your young people about honesty, sensitivity, empathy and helping others. The cast includes Sarah Lantsberger, Gabrielle Watson Torres, and DeAnté Bryant. Maddi’s Fridge is recommended for ages 5 to 11.  

Free Public Performances 

September 16, 10 am
Buder Library

September 16, 2:30 pm
Central Library

October 1, 2 pm
Stone Barn
Hermann Farm

Fall Family Festival Performances*

October 21 & 22, 10:30 am** & 1:30 pm
Grand Center Arts District
On Oct 22, the 10:30 am performance of Maddi’s Fridge will be Audio Described and ASL-Interpreted. Audio Description by MindsEye. 

Eddie & Vinnie 

A New Play by Jenny Millinger 

Directed by Alicia Revé Like  

October 18 – November 5, 2023 

Grandel Theatre   

Eddie is an unstoppable artist with a uniquely beautiful mind – and his best friend is a gecko. Together, the pair spends hours making intricate and beautiful puzzles. But he’ll be stuck in summer school if he can’t get his grades up. In a last-ditch effort, Eddie teams up with the overly helpful new girl for the dreaded end-of-year report. Will their presentation on MC Escher save his grades? Eddie & Vinnie reminds us that there is more than one way to learn – and more than one way to shine. The cast of Eddie & Vinnie includes Caleb Long, Hailey Medrano and Rae Davis. Eddie & Vinnie is best enjoyed by ages 6-12. 

Public Performance Schedule 

Ticketed Public Performances
October 27 – November 5
Fridays at 7 pm
Saturdays at 10:30 am & 2 pm
Sundays at 2 pm 

Free Fall Family Festival Performances*
October 21 & 22, 12** & 3 pm
**The October 22 12 pm performance of Eddie & Vinnie will be Audio Described and ASL-Interpreted. Audio Description by MindsEye. 

A Year with Frog and Toad
Music by Robert Reale  
Book and Lyrics by Willie Reale
Based on the books by Arnold Lobel
Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI)
Directed by Julia Flood
Music Direction by Jeremy Jacobs
Choreography by Tyler White
February 7 – March 3, 2024
Grandel Theatre                                       

Hibernation is over, and it’s time to celebrate! Even though Frog and Toad find joy and wonder in very different things, their year together is filled with adventure. Dive into the delight of Arnold Lobel’s award-winning books in this three-time Tony-nominated musical. Across a jazzy, upbeat score, this nostalgic duo reminds us that individuality makes a friendship stronger – delighting longtime fans and the youngest tadpoles alike! The cast of A Year with Frog and Toad will be announced at a later date. Recommended for all audiences. Best enjoyed by ages 3 – 8. 

Public Performance Schedule 

Fridays at 7 pm
Saturdays at 10:30 am & 2 pm
Sundays at 2 pm 

Tickets to the mainstage 2023-2024 Season productions are $20- $38. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 am CST on August 29 and are available through metroplays.org. For school bookings, email [email protected] of fill out a bookings interest form online at metroplays.org/education.   

*Fall Family Festival
October 21-22, 2023
Grand Center Arts District
This fall Metro Theater Company partners with some of our region’s most loved arts and education organizations to create two days filled with artmaking, learning, food, and fun. Anchored by MTC’s productions of Maddi’s Fridge and Eddie & Vinnie, this festival will 

help the young people in your life sample all the best of the visual, creative, and 

performing arts. Food trucks on site. General admission is free for all. Advance registration is strongly recommended.  

Institutional and 2023-2024 Season support for Metro Theater Company is provided by 

Regional Arts Commission, Emerson, Crawford Taylor Foundation, Shubert Foundation, Whitaker Foundation, Fred M. Saigh Foundation, Missouri Arts Council, and National Endowment for the Arts.   

About Metro Theater Company: Since 1973, Metro Theater Company has been creating productions that respect young people’s intelligence, tell compelling stories, stimulate curiosity and provoke thoughtful reflection. The Company has reached a total audience of more than two million and has a national reputation for excellence in the field of professional theater for young audiences. Metro Theater Company has received major honors and awards, both locally and nationally. The company is led by Artistic Director Julia Flood and Managing Director Joe Gfaller. For more information, visit metroplays.org.  

Beethoven Piano Concerto Cycle Part of St Louis Symphony’s 144th Season

Beethoven Piano Concerto Cycle Part of St Louis Symphony’s 144th Season

HILARY HAHN RETURNS TO OPEN THE ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESRTA’S 144TH SEASON WITH MUSIC DIRECTOR STÉPHANE DENÈVE; SEASON-LONG BEETHOVEN PIANO CONCERTO CYCLE BEGINS, SEPTEMBER 23-30

Season-opening classical concerts at Stifel Theatre September 23-24, led by Denève, feature violinist Hilary Hahn in Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto; concerts also include Richard Strauss’ Don Juan and Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks, W.A. Mozart’s The Magic Flute Overture, and Paul Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

In September 29-30 concerts at the UMSL Touhill Performing Arts Center, Denève conducts Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 4, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, and first SLSO performances of Unsuk Chin’s subito con forza; pianist Jonathan Biss performs Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto to begin the season’s complete cycle of Beethoven Piano Concertos

(August 24, 2023, St. Louis, MO) – Today, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra announced details of its September classical concerts to open its 144th season, led by Stéphane Denève in his fifth season as Music Director. Concerts feature superstar violinist Hilary Hahn and pianist Jonathan Biss, both of whom return to the SLSO for the first time in more than a decade to perform monumental concertos by Felix Mendelssohn and Ludwig van Beethoven. These opening concerts follow the SLSO’s ceremonial opening of the season, the free community concert in Forest Park on Thursday, September 21.

Tickets start at $15 and are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased at slso.org or by calling the Box Office at 314-534-1700. A full concert calendar is available at slso.org or on the SLSO’s mobile app available for iOS or Android.  The Saturday, September 30, concert will be broadcast live on 90.7 FM KWMU St. Louis Public Radio, Classic 107.3, and online. Audiences can attend a Pre-Concert Conversation, an engaging discussion about the music and artists on the program, one hour prior to each concert. 

While the expansion and renovation of Powell Hall continues, the SLSO will perform classical concerts at two landmark performance venues: Stifel Theatre in downtown St. Louis (September 23-24) and the Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis (September 29-30). Shuttle service will be available for all classical concerts starting at $15/seat. There will be two shuttle pick-up locations for performances at Stifel Theatre: Plaza Frontenac and St. Louis Community College–Forest Park. Shuttles for performances at the Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL will depart from Plaza Frontenac and free parking is available on UMSL campus.

Conductor Stephane Deneve, now in his fifth year

Opening Weekend with Hilary Hahn

Saturday, September 23, 2022, 7:30pm CDT
Sunday, September 24, 2022, 3:00pm CDT
Stifel Theatre
1400 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Hilary Hahn, violin

Richard Strauss                                      Don Juan
Felix Mendelssohn                                Violin Concerto
W.A. Mozart                                           The Magic Flute Overture
Paul Dukas                                               The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Richard Strass                                         Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks

Presented by the Thomas A. Kooyumjian Family Foundation.

The SLSO’s season-opening concerts led by Denève meld grandeur, enchantment, and jollity. The program begins with Richard Strauss’ symphonic poem Don Juan, which tells the adventures of the legendary character Don Juan. Violinist Hilary Hahn delivers the heart of the concert with performances of Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. The concerto is famous for its lyrical melodies and is one of the most beloved concertos in the violin repertoire. Hahn’s most recent performance with the SLSO was 21 years ago. She is a three-time Grammy winner and one of the foremost violinists of our time, known for her exceptional musicianship and her commitment to expanding the accessibility of classical music through her educational partnerships and through her social media engagement.

The program continues with a trio of playful works including W.A. Mozart’s The Magic Flute Overture, Paul Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and Richard Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks. The Magic Flute, considered one of Mozart’s most famous works, overflows with dynamic and captivating melodies. Dukas’ piecetells the story of an enchanted broomstick, a piece made famous for its inclusion is Disney’s Fantasia. The excitement continues through to the final work, Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks which is based on a trickster from German folklore.

Beethoven’s Piano Cycle: Jonathan Biss Plays the First
Friday, September 29, 10:30am CDT*
Saturday, September 30, 7:30pm CDT
Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis 
1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, Missouri, 63121 

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Jonathan Biss, piano

Ludwig van Beethoven                        Coriolan Overture
Unsuk Chin                                              subito con forza (First SLSO performances)
Ludwig van Beethoven                        Piano Concerto No. 1
Robert Schumann                                 Symphony No. 4

*Refreshments courtesy of Kaldi’s Coffee and Eddie’s Southtown Donuts.

September 29-30 concerts honor the composer Ludwig van Beethoven. The program opens with Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, inspired by Heinrich Joseph von Collin’s play “Coriolan,” which tells the story of the Roman general Gaius Marcius Coriolanus who seeks revenge against Rome. Korean composer Unsuk Chin’s subito con forza was composed in 2020, the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. Inspired by the Coriolan Overture, the piece references some of Beethoven’s most well-known music, his Symphony No. 5 and Piano Concerto No. 5, which the SLSO will perform later this season.

Pianist Jonathan Biss collaborates with the SLSO for the first time in 15 years in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1, the first of all five Beethoven piano concertos performed by the SLSO this season. One of today’s foremost Beethoven experts, Biss recorded an audio book, Unquiet: My Life with Beethoven, in 2020 where he details his complex relationship with the composer. Like Biss and Chin, the composer Robert Schumann took inspiration from Beethoven. In his Fourth Symphony, Schumann develops a motif throughout the four movements in a similar cyclic form to Beethoven’s works, and dramatic shifts in mood and dark orchestral textures reveal Beethoven’s influence.

SLSO at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
Sunday, October 1, 3:00pm CDT
Krannert Center for Performing Arts at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
500 S Goodwin Ave, Urbana, Illinois, 61801 

Denève, Biss, and the SLSO take the September 29-30 program to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Krannert Center for Performing Arts—the SLSO’s third visit to the university since Denève became Music Director.

The SLSO’s 144th season runs through May 2024. For more information, visit slso.org.

About the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

Celebrated as one of today’s most exciting and enduring orchestras, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest orchestra in the country, marking its 144th year with the 2023/2024 season and its fifth with Music Director Stéphane Denève. Widely considered one of the leading American orchestras, the Grammy® Award-winning SLSO maintains its commitment to artistic excellence, educational impact, and community collaborations—all in service to its mission of enriching lives through the power of music. 

The transformational expansion and renovation of its historic home, Powell Hall, slated to be completed in 2025, builds on the institution’s momentum as a civic leader in convening individuals, creators, and ideas, while fostering a culture welcoming to all. Committed to building community through compelling and inclusive musical experiences, the SLSO continues its longstanding focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and access, embracing its strengths as a responsive, nimble organization, while investing in partnerships locally and elevating its presence globally. For more information, visit slso.org. 

About the University of Missouri–St. Louis Touhill Performing Arts Center

Designed by the renowned architectural firm I.M. Pei, Cobb, Freed and Partners, the Touhill Performing Arts Center is a landmark performance facility on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). The Touhill at UMSL hosts an average of 120 events, 200 performances, and 90,000 visitors per year.

The Touhill at UMSL staff manages several collaborative relationships and programs that, along with campus and community partners, to bring together a diverse season of dance, theatre, music, festivals, and special events.

Stifel Theatre interior

About Stifel Theatre

Stifel Theatre is a historic, 3,100 seat theatre in the heart of downtown St. Louis. Originally opened in 1934, Stifel Theatre’s stage has welcomed some of entertainment’s greatest performers and was the primary venue for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra from 1934-1968. Following a $78.7 million restoration, this historical gem has been restored to its original splendor and undergone state-of-the-art upgrades.

Stifel Theatre plays host to a wide variety of events, including concerts, comedies, theatricals, family shows, holiday productions and more.

Food City Hires Keisha Mabry Haymore as Community Manager

Food City Hires Keisha Mabry Haymore as Community Manager

Will host first public info session at Heydays HQ in Midtown on August 27 

Food City kicks off community outreach events and microgrant series, announces new team member.

With a bold vision for a grassroots community engagement campaign to reimagine the future of food in the St. Louis region, Food City has hired Keisha Mabry Haymore as Community Manager.

Jan Marson, Founder of Serving Our Communities Foundation selected Mabry Haymore for her brilliance and shine, saying: “Keisha is an inspiring speaker, connector, organizer and mentor. Most importantly she is a friend to all and deeply trusted by the community. We couldn’t be more excited to have such a shining star acting as our liaison to the St. Louis region.”

Haymore

Darren Jackson, Chief Operations Officer of Serving Our Communities, says they couldn’t have found a better person for the role: “Keisha is on the ground in St. Louis advocating for entrepreneurs and community every single day. She has a gift for inspiring people to believe in themselves, and that’s exactly what Food City is about. We want people to know: your idea is good, your product is good, you deserve accessible food options in your own neighborhood, and you have the power to make whatever change you know is needed. With Keisha’s help and the community’s involvement, Food City will become a force for good throughout the entire St. Louis Metro Area.”

Mabry Haymore’s first order of business is to bring people together through a series of community gatherings and microgrants for people looking to improve the food system. She describes the series as having three goals: “We’re organizing these gatherings to do three things: Listen, Learn and Louden! ‘Food For All’ means everyone has access to fresh, healthy food. It means lifting up food entrepreneurs as a vehicle for economic and community development so that all this momentum behind our beautiful food scene creates an abundance of opportunity for diverse entrepreneurs and industry professionals.”

Attendees can expect complimentary food and drinks, guest speakers, and opportunities to share their ambitions and make new connections. Each gathering is free and open to the public, but attendance is limited.

Upcoming Gatherings include:

Food City Community Info Session

August 27 from 1-4PM at Heydays HQ in partnership with Frizzy By Nature

Designed for major grant applicants to learn more, ask questions and gain advice.

Food City Info Booth

August 27 from 10AM-6PM at Festival of Nations

Microgrant Recipient: Festival of Nations

Brunch at the Trap with Sunday’s Best

September 9 from 9:30AM-Noon at Trap Run

Microgrant Recipient: Trap Run STL

Art Meets Food Happy Hour

October 4 from 6-8PM @ 21C x Idol Wolf

Microgrant Recipient: Urban League Food Pantries

Friendsgiving on Cherokee Street

November 10 from 6-8PM at Profield Reserve

Microgrant Recipient: To Be Determined 

To connect with Keisha or nominate a grantee, email [email protected]. Visit FoodCitySTL.org to learn more.

### 

:Food City is currently running three programs:

Community Survey – Public input gathered through this survey will inform Food City’s strategic plan aimed at fostering a more inclusive, sustainable food ecosystem in the St. Louis Metro Area.

Grants for Packed Food Brands & Social Impact Initiatives 

  • Growth Grant: $75,000 – For existing food brands currently selling packaged food directly to consumers; this grant also includes $25,000 in production
  • Innovation Grant: $50,000 – For new food brands looking to create packaged food products to be sold directly to consumers
  • Food For All Grant: $20,000 – For nonprofit and social impact projects helping to get food to people who need it the most in the St. Louis Metro Area
  • Environmental Justice: $5,000 – For nonprofit and social impact projects that improve the environment through farming, soil treatment, cleanup, community gardens, or sustainability

Microgrant Program & Community Gatherings

  • Monthly Community Gatherings – Networking and $500 Micro-Grants awarded to support food entrepreneurs and local projects with growth and innovation

About Food City:

Food City by Serving Our Communities aims to create a more inclusive, sustainable food ecosystem in the St. Louis Metro Area with a shared value system of equality, empowerment, and social responsibility. 

Food City supports a diverse range of stakeholders through funding, resources, relationships, education, workforce development, and mentorship. The project serves budding food entrepreneurs, industrious farmers, conscientious food policy and direct service organizers, educational institutions, social enterprises, and nonprofit initiatives with one thing in common: a relentless commitment to Food For All. 

Recognizing the transformative power of accessible opportunities, the project strives to create an enabling environment that inspires everyone to thrive. 

About Serving Our Communities:

Serving our Communities is a foundation and social enterprise launched by the Marson Family, former owners of Nature’s Bakery. After selling their company to KIND (a Mars company) in 2020, the family committed to investing heavily in Nevada and the St. Louis, MO region, injecting nearly $5 million in social impact investments. 

Their standout venture is the Marson Foods facility, backed by an investment of close to $21 million. This facility not only generates jobs in the food industry, but it also acts as a vital hub for the Serving our Communities mission. It supports local entrepreneurs by providing essential resources such as machinery and workforce assistance. Additionally, it serves as an educational hub for food science, facilitating learning for both children and adults. 

The Marson Family has shown a firm commitment to the St. Louis region’s food ecosystem, fostering a sustainable food chain that champions equality, empowerment, and social responsibility. Serving our Communities has been instrumental in backing underrepresented leaders and founders, from aiding the initiation of a farm in North St. Louis city to funding scholarships for local youth. This is all part of a grand vision: to utilize the universal need for food as a catalyst to bring communities together, nurturing both consumers and creators in this vibrant ecosystem.

About Keisha Mabry Haymore:

Keisha Mabry Haymore is a connector, convener and social entrepreneur on a mission to change the world one connection at a time. She is the owner of Heydays, a business incubator and coworking space for women and founders of color to connect, create and curate anything. Keisha has been featured on National Public Radio, The Daily Show, Fast Company, Success Magazine, Huffington Post, Essence, Black Enterprise, Fox 2 News, Nine Network, The Business Journal and more.

In addition, Keisha is the Grow With Google Digital Coach for Missouri—a program that provides free digital skills training to Black and Latinx entrepreneurs to close the digital divide gap. Keisha is also an adjunct lecturer at the University of Missouri, an Aspen Ideas Scholar, a Hatch Fellow, a TEDx speaker and her book Hey Friend: 100 Ways to Connect with 100 People in 100 Days is a movement to make the world friendly again, or at the very least, friendlier than it’s ever been.

She’s delivered more than 150 keynote speeches for Fortune 500 companies and top brands like Spotify, Mastercard, Edward Jones, Square, Bayer, Facebook, YUM!, Ikea, SHRM, US Bank and Brit + Co. Learn more at keishamabry.com and heydayshq.com.

St Louis Shakespeare Company Cancels Remaining Park Dates

St Louis Shakespeare Company Cancels Remaining Park Dates

We regret to announce that the remaining performances of MERRY WIVES have been canceled due to a knee injury in the company.

We so would have loved to share this wonderful show with all of you in Columbia (IL), Fairground, Ferguson, Maplewood, Hermann and Manchester, but we need to support our artist in their immediate treatment and full recovery.

Thanks to the many of you who shared your well wishes, and to the thousands of you who joined us for the first 15 nights of the show, and a special thank you to each of the 24 partner locations and our generous sponsors.

We hope to see many of you in just three weeks for the 10th anniversary Shakespeare in the Streets production, “The Game’s Afoot” – free in Downtown St. Louis at the intersection of 22nd and Olive on September 14, 15 and 16.