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.
The eighth annual St. Louis Theater Circle Awards are taking place in cyberspace on Tuesday, April 7, rather than at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the campus of Webster University. That March 30 event was cancelled because of the current public health crisis. The COVID-19 global pandemic has affected the St. Louis region, with government quarantine orders in both St. Louis city and county through April 22.
The awards honoring excellence in professional regional theater for the 2019 season are being made available by the Higher Education Channel at 7 p.m. on their platforms. Their link is: Higher Education Channel TV (HEC-TV)
The streamcast will be able to be seen on HEC Media’s Facebook page, channel 989 on Spectrum (Charter) and channel 99 on AT&T U-verse.
HEC Announcer Rod Milam will state the winner after the Circle members voice-over the nominations in 33 categories. It is expected to take a half-hour.
The Muny, now in its second century of performances at its outdoor amphitheater in Forest Park, leads the way with a total of 25 nominations, followed by 24 for The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) and 21 for New Jewish Theatre. Stages St. Louis follows with 13 nominations, West End Players Guild with 10 and Stray Dog Theatre with a total of eight nominees.
In all, 25 local professional companies received nominations for 51 different shows. Lighting designer Sean M. Savoie leads all nominees with three different nominations out of a total of 125 nominated artists, including six who received two nominations apiece. The awards honor outstanding achievement in locally produced professional theater for the calendar year 2019.
More than 120 locally produced professional theatrical productions were presented in the St. Louis area last year.
Ken and Nancy Kranzberg will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of their long-standing commitment to the arts and theater in St. Louis, including Grand Center.
The official hashtag for the event, to be used on Twitter and Facebook, is: #TCA20
The St. Louis Theater Circle would like to thank the folks at HEC Media, including Dennis Riggs, Boyd Pickup, Rod Milam, Paul Langdon, Christina Chastain and their colleagues, for stepping up and making this streamcast production possible after the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of our eighth annual gala.
The St. Louis Theater Circle includes Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Tanya Seale, Broadway World; Judith Newmark, Judy’s Second Act: Mark Bretz, Ladue News; Tina Farmer, KDHX; Gerry Kowarsky, “Two on the Aisle” HEC; Bob Wilcox “Two on the Aisle” HEC: Ann Lemons Pollack, St Louis Eats; Steve Allen, Stage Door STL; Chuck Lavazzi, KDHX; Michelle Kenyon, Snoop’s Theatre Thoughts; Bob Cohn, St. Louis Jewish Light; and Lynn Venhaus, PopLifeSTL.com. Eleanor Mullin is the administrator.
For more information, visit the Circle’s Facebook page.
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.
September 2020 will mark the beginning of St. Louis Actors’ Studio’s fourteenth season theme “Dramedy.”
As we continue our exploration of human relationships, we present an offering of plays this season that tell stories of expectant families, existing relations and belief systems that we use to blame our choices and actions. Season 14 will make you think and laugh until you cry.
Our 2020-21 season: And Baby Makes Seven by Paula Vogel Directed by Associate Artistic Director, Annamaria Pileggi September 18 – October 4, 2020
Anna, Ruth and Peter await the arrival of their newborn child, but first they must rid the crowded apartment of their three imaginary children.
“AND BABY MAKES SEVEN is a profound and clever comedy.” —Drama-Logue.
“What’s remarkable about BABY—a really lovely play—is the sense of innocence and optimism that rises from potentially dark subject matter.” —Philadelphia City Paper.
“AND BABY MAKES SEVEN is a hilariously inventive play. Playwright Vogel’s writing is witty and precise.” —Daily Californian.
“Filled with outrageous touches, AND BABY MAKES SEVEN offers one of those rare theatergoing opportunities where everything comes together in a string of magical moments. Be prepared to be enchanted seven times over.” —Austin American Statesman.
STRAIGHT WHITE MEN By Young Jean Lee Directed by Joanna Battles December 4 – December 20, 2020
When Ed and his three adult sons come together to celebrate Christmas, they enjoy cheerful trash-talking, pranks, and takeout Chinese. Then they confront a problem that even being a happy family can’t solve: When identity matters, and privilege is problematic, what is the value of being a straight white man?
“The signal surprise of STRAIGHT WHITE MEN, written by the ever-audacious Young Jean Lee, is that the play is not a full-frontal assault on the beings of the title…Ms. Lee’s fascinating play goes far beyond cheap satire, ultimately becoming a compassionate and stimulating exploration of one man’s existential crisis. Believe it or not, Ms. Lee wants us to sympathize with the inexpressible anguish of her protagonist, a middle-aged, upper-middle-class straight white man…[A] mournful and inquisitive play…” —The New York Times.
“A prime example of dramaturgical normcore—that is, experimental plays dressing up like fourth-wall family dramas—[STRAIGHT WHITE MEN] tickles your soft aesthetic underbelly, before easing in the knife of reality…If Lee wants to dissect the conscience of our society’s most visible and powerful population, what better mode than living-room realism, sadly, our default theatrical setting? …However, if you expect deconstruction-prone Lee to break down this form through surreal flourishes or screwing with the frame, you may be surprised. Most shocking is the absence of shock. She’s too good a writer for the drama not to work on its own terms, and as such, the result is both emotionally satisfying…and unflinching in its critique of white-driven social justice.” —Time Out NY.
“To cut to the obvious, STRAIGHT WHITE MEN is a loaded title…But the play turns out to have a disarming gentleness to it. Lee has more sympathy for her subject than scorn…STRAIGHT WHITE MEN is a family drama that on the surface looks fairly standard, but the play transcends psychological realism. Lee is wrestling with the meaning of straight white male privilege through characters who are self-conscious beneficiaries of an identity increasingly out of favor in 21st century America yet still, like it or not, in control.” —Los Angeles Times.
Hand To God by Robert Askins Directed by Associate Artistic Director, John Pierson February 19- March 7, 2021
After the death of his father, meek Jason finds an outlet for his anxiety at the Christian Puppet Ministry, in the devoutly religious, relatively quiet small town of Cypress, Texas. Jason’s complicated relationships with the town pastor, the school bully, the girl next door, and—most especially—his mother are thrown into upheaval when Jason’s puppet, Tyrone, takes on a shocking and dangerously irreverent personality all its own. HAND TO GOD explores the startlingly fragile nature of faith, morality, and the ties that bind us.
“The fearsome critter [Tyrone], who takes possession of a troubled teenager’s left arm in Robert Askins’ darkly delightful play really inspires goose bumps as he unleashes a reign of terror…But he’s also flat-out hilarious, spewing forth acid comedy that will turn those goose bumps into guffaws.” —The New York Times.
“Furiously funny…Askins’ most impressive talent is his ability to make us laugh while juggling those big themes that make life so terrifying: death, depression, alcoholism, sexual guilt, emotional repression, religious hypocrisy and the eternal battle between your good puppet and your bad puppet.” —Variety.
“A scabrously funny scenario that steadily darkens into suspense and Grand Guignol horror, this fiery clash of the id, ego and superego is also an audacious commentary on the uses of faith, both to comfort and control us.” —The Hollywood Reporter.
“I don’t know which I want to do more: Sing Hallelujah—or wash its dirty little mouth out with soap. …Clearly a singular vision is at work here, with playwright Robert Askins venturing successfully into territory—satire—rich with potholes.” —Deadline.
“HAND TO GOD is so ridiculously raunchy, irreverent and funny it’s bound to leave you sore from laughing. Ah, hurts so good.” —New York Daily News.
The Zoo Story/The Dumb Waiter by Edward Albee/Harold Pinter Directed by Associate Artistic Director, Wayne Salomon April 16 – May 2, 2021 Classic early one act plays by two giants of the theatre. Edward Albee and Harold Pinter.
THE ZOO STORY – A man sits peacefully reading in the sunlight in Central Park. There enters a second man. He is a young, unkempt and undisciplined vagrant where the first is neat, ordered, well-to-do and conventional. The vagrant is a soul in torture and rebellion. He longs to communicate so fiercely that he frightens and repels his listener. He is a man drained of all hope who, in his passion for company, seeks to drain his companion. With provocative humor and unrelenting suspense, the young savage slowly, but relentlessly, brings his victim down to his own atavistic level as he relates a story about his visit to the zoo.
“Edward Albee is a voice unparalleled in American theater.” —NY Times.
“The dialogue crackles and the tension runs high.” —Associated Press.
“Darkly comic and thrilling.” —Time Out NY.
THE DUMB WAITER: As the New York World-Telegram & Sun describes: “In the basement of a long-abandoned restaurant, two hired killers nervously await their next assignment. Barred from daylight and living public contact by the nature of their work, they expend their waiting time in bickering. So eerie is the situation that everything becomes comic, or grotesque, or both. Ben re-reading a newspaper and exclaiming in disbelief over the news items, Gus fussing with an offstage stove and offstage plumbing. Ben bludgeoning Gus into silence if he as much as mentions their work. Gus worrying that someone had slept in his bed. So then the ancient dumbwaiter comes to life, the suspense becomes almost unbearable—that expertly has Pinter put the nerves of his characters and audience on edge.”
“a distinguished gift for sheer, old-fashioned theatrical effectiveness, including the use of melodramatic suspense and the hint of sinister forces lying in ambush.” —NY Post
9th Annual LaBute New Theater Festival July 9 – August 1, 2021 A Celebrated month-long festival of world premiere one-act plays.
ABOUT ST. LOUIS ACTORS’ STUDIO St. Louis Actors’ Studio is one of the leading professional theatres in the St. Louis. area, producing a four-show season of plays at our 97-seat Gaslight Theatre. STLAS collaborates with renown director, screenwriter and playwright Neil LaBute to produce the LaBute New Theater Festival each July in St. Louis and each January in New York City. The festival is a one-act play competition for emerging professionals and high-school writers.
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.
Dateline: March 31, 2020. We’re in lockdown. Adjusting to a new world.
How we all doing? Today my to-do list kinda went out the window after my morning deadline. Of course checking on family, wishing my sister happy anniversary (She and Dean 15 years!), in touch with friends and watching news. Lot of people ask me about Charlie in NYC. He and Maria are fine, both working from home in Brooklyn. Still I fret.
Prepping for new articles. News never ends, particularly now. Grateful for busy work. Adding stuff to a nearly empty calendar. Just so weird. Then longer than usual nap — sometime life just makes other plans!, a really long shower, more work and walk. Fresh air is so vital during this time — so is light— but I was getting an article updated first so I didn’t get out the door for a walk until 7:15. Little chilly. But nice. I like to mix up the route.
Observation the past week: Us old people wave across the street and say HI. Young folk do not. Hardly anyone out though – I went entire blocks not seeing or hearing anyone. At 8 p.m, some Soulard residents have taken to opening their windows or stepping outside and howling. Like a wolf. At the moon.
Art Installation in Soulard. Lynn Venhaus photo.
I heard about it on Next Door but hadn’t actually heard anybody until tonight. Made me smile. Some blocks more robust than others. Photos here: I saw the outdoor yard art installation on 12th Street near Lami. I don’t know who or what but coming back home, it looked really cool. (And daffodils, but that’s Aboussie Park on April 3).
After turkey taco Tuesday, I must watch “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” for review. VOD Friday and streaming. They cancelled the in-person screening, of course. I will let you know how it is. Another deadline in the morning. Webster Kirkwood Times online.
Something about seeing the daffodils blooming gives me hope. And someone came up with howling. We have not lost our sense of humor! Stay safe, everyone!.
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.
“History Made: Director’s Cut” – a two-part limited series that documents two 24-hour periods after the St. Louis Blues claimed their first Stanley Cup Championship last June – will premiere Sunday, March 29 at 6 p.m. on the Blues’ official YouTube channel.
The first episode – titled “The First 24” – will provide exclusive, never-before-seen footage after the national TV broadcasts wrapped up their coverage of the on-ice celebrations at TD Garden in Boston. Cameras take you inside the team’s locker room, on the bus to the airport, the team’s flight home and to O.B. Clark’s and the Anheuser Busch brewery as the team’s celebrations continued into the next day.
The second episode – titled “March Down Market” – will provide an insider’s view of the team’s historic parade down Market Street. It is estimated that as many as one million fans attended the event, which saw players step outside of their floats to interact with fans in an epic, unprecedented celebration.
“March Down Market” will premiere Sunday, April 5 at 6 p.m.
Fans should subscribe to the Blues’ YouTube channel to be reminded of each episode’s premiere date. In addition to being available on computers, phones and tablets, YouTube is also available on most smart TV platforms and Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire devices.
After each episode’s premiere, fans will be able to replay the episodes by visiting stlouisblues.com or selecting the Blues as their favorite team in the NHL App.
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.
St. Louis Theater Circle Awards Ceremony Cancelled, AFL’s Theatre Mask Awards Moved to July
By Lynn Venhaus
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, productions scheduled in March, April and May at New Jewish Theatre, St. Louis Actors’ Studio, Tennessee Williams Festival, Upstream Theater, West End Players Guild and the Playhouse at Westport have announced postponements, some with new dates and others to be determined.
The Kranzberg Arts Foundation has closed all its venues.
St. Louis Theater Circle has cancelled the March 30 Awards Ceremony and Arts For Life has pushed back its annual Theatre Mask Awards. Metro Theatre Company has announced some changes in scheduling.
Here is the most up-to-date information available, and updates will be happening as we get word.
The companies are following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidelines for social distancing, which has recommended limiting gatherings of no more than 50 for the next eight weeks. St. Louis City and St. Louis County have banned such public gatherings.
On Monday, the White House advised the public to avoid groups of more than 10 and urged older people to stay at home for the next 15 days in a set of new guidelines designated to fight a spreading coronavirus outbreak.
Kranzberg Arts Foundation They announced Tuesday that they have followed the recommendations and guidelines put in place by our government and health officials and have moved to shut down all Kranzberg Arts Foundation venue operations. This includes theatres, galleries, clubs, restaurants, cafes, and libraries. For the time being, our tenant and resident organization offices remain open. These closures will remain in place until at least May 11:
The Grandel Theatre
The Marcelle
The Kranzberg Studio, Black Box, and Gallery
.ZACK Theatre
High Low
Sophie’s Artist Lounge
The Dark Room
To ticket holders, MetroTix will be reaching out and instructing guests to respond with “refund” or “donate”. “While this is a difficult time for everyone, arts organizations and artists will be particularly impacted by COVID-19 and the disruption to their jobs. We’re asking for guests, as they are able to, to consider donating to the organizations instead of asking for a refund,” Executive Director Chris Hansen said.
“We will continue to work with our funding partners and local government agencies to find ways to help support artists and arts organizations through these unprecedented times and to make sure the arts are still felt and present in people’s daily lives,” he said.
“We will stay connected through social media and other digital platforms and will share resources, updates, and next steps as frequently as possible,: Hansen said.
West End Players Guild West End Players Guild said Monday that Steven Dietz’s “Bloomsday,” originally scheduled for April 17 – 26, has been cancelled as the season’s final show but will be rescheduled in September as the first show of the 2020-2021 season.
WEPG said online ticket purchasers will receive an automatic full refund through Brown Paper Tickets. “Please allow two weeks for the refund to be posted to your credit card. Season ticket holders will be advised of refund options this week by email,” the statement said.
Photo by Greg Lazerwitz
New Jewish Theatre New Jewish Theatre has moved “We Are the Levinsons” to May 6 0 17. The St. Louis premiere had been scheduled to open this Thursday and run from March 19 to April 5.
A comedy that tugs on your heart, it centers on Rosie, a divorced fiftyish TV writer with an insufferable 21 year-old daughter, who suddenly finds herself responsible for her father’s care. This thoughtful and earnest play delves into some difficult but universal passages of life. We all must give up the insolence of youth and take on the mantle of adulthood. Along the way are opportunities to love and to pursue our dreams. We are the Levinsons teaches us how we should cherish these moments with tenderness and with laughter.
Fox Theatre
At the Fox Theatre, the touring production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” which had been set to open Tuesday, March 17 and run through, has been postponed but a new date has not been announced.
“We are working with the producers of the show to reschedule for dates in the near future and I will be sure to keep you updated!” Publicity Manager Megan Ketcherside said.
“We appreciate your support and please know that the health and safety of our guests is always our top priority. We will continue to look to our government and health professionals for guidance as we work through this unprecedented time in our history.,” she said.
As of March 17 announcement, “Cats” scheduled for April 7-19 and Chaka Khan scheduled for April 24 are postpone until a future date can be determined.
The Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation’s 10th annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition Finals are being moved from Saturday, April 4, to a later date, to be determined.
In the spirit of fostering the emerging talent in the St. Louis performing arts community, the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation is proud to underwrite and produce an adjudicated competition showcasing the talented teens of the St. Louis region. Students are competing for college scholarships, cash awards, prizes, and public appearance opportunities
The Playhouse @ Westport
All March events are presently cancelled, including Flanagan’s Wake due to the updated information and recommendations implemented to regarding Covid-19. “Flanagan’s Wake” had been extended through April 11, with a special St. Patrick’s Day performance March 17.
John Denver Tribute May 7-10 and Rockin’ Chair June 5 and 6 are still scheduled.
Refunds are available at point of purchase.
St. Louis Actors’ Studio
The St. Louis Actors’ Studio has postponed its world premiere of Neil LaBute’s “Comfort,” that was to run from April 17 to May 3 at the Gaslight Theatre, but is providing an offer for online content.
“STLAS to offer Neil LaBute’s 10 x 10 series as exclusive streaming content for its current subscribers (new subscribers to the 20/21 season) and ticket holders and will postpone the world premiere of LaBute’s play “Comfort,” said William Roth, founder and artistic director.
“While we wait at home for the virus to settle, Neil and I quickly put our heads together to see how we could entertain our best patrons as we figure out how to navigate these ever-changing waters. Neil has been so very generous to us and he truly appreciates, as I do, our ongoing collaboration as well as the patrons and artists of St. Louis.” Roth said.
Each of the 10-minute films features one actor telling their story directly to the viewer. The first five feature Frederick Weller (In Plain Sight, The Good Wife), St. Louisan Jenna Fischer (The Office), Louisa Krause (Martha Marcy May Marlene, Young Adult), Richard Kind (Luck, Burn Notice, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Judith Light (Other Desert Cities, Assembled Parties).
Weller’s character is a man who relays the story of an encounter he had with a woman sitting next to him on a flight. Fisher portrays a woman telling about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband and about her new life partner. Krause’s character is a young woman who discusses the way in which she takes control of her sexual destiny. Kind portrays a man discussing his feelings about his long-time marriage and his views on same-sex marriage as well. Light becomes a woman remembering the ‘man who got away’ while discussing her former marriage and her new boyfriend.
The second five feature Adam Brody (Some Girls), Maggie Grace (Taken; Taken 2), Jason Patric (Your Friends and Neighbors), Amy Madigan (Gone Baby Gone) and Bill Pullman (While You Were Sleeping). Each film explores the nature of human relationships, specifically themes of love and lust, told by characters at different stages in their lives.
Brody portrays a young man bemoaning his impending hair loss and talking about his ‘ideal’ woman. Grace’s character is a woman talking about a friend who was killed in a car accident while texting her boyfriend. Patric embodies a man recounting the tale of a fight between parents that he was involved in at a little league game. Madigan plays a woman confessing to slowly having lost her will to live and asks a visitor for some spiritual help. Pullman becomes a man considering the ever-changing culture around him and his evolving views on love and life
LaBute explains, “The series was initially written as exclusive content for DIRECTV’s ‘AUDIENCE CHANNEL’ and has been rarely seen since its initial airing on television. 10 X 10 is a collection of original monologues— five men, five women—that are performed directly to the camera and in real time, meaning there is no editing or camera trickery. It is all about the material and the actor, bringing each piece to the audience at home as purely and directly as possible.”
The 10 x 10 videos will be released weekly to STLAS patrons via email with password a protected link. They will also be providing in-home entertainment from the Gaslight courtesy of St. Louis Actors’ Studio as it can be generated and as regulations permit.
Details for the new dates for “Comfort” will be announced soon. The new LaBute play is about a mother and son meeting after some time apart to see if their relationship can survive the past and two new book deals.
Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis Executive Artistic Director Carrie Houk said the multiple activities of the fifth annual Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis would be moved to summer. It had been scheduled for May 7 – 17 in the Grand Center.
“After careful deliberation, we find it necessary to push the 5th Annual Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis to summer due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Our first commitment is to keeping the company and community safe.The show WILL go on. We will be announcing new dates shortly,” she said. . The multi-award-winning Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis headliner is The Rose Tattoo. There will be more than a dozen separate elements, scheduled so that attendees may attend every one during the eleven-day run, all held in the Grand Center Arts District and on The Hill. Events include:
3 productions: The Rose Tattoo, The St. Louis Rooming House Plays, Amor Perdido
Academic series, “Tennessee Williams and his Midwest Experiences”
“Williams Playwriting Initiative”
A staged reading of Glass
screenings of Italian-themed The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone and Boom
Public Discussion Panels
La Dolce Vita Pool Party at the Last Hotel
Bus Tour of important Williams’ sites
“Tennessee Williams Tribute”
“TW Jam”
“In the meantime, love deeply, be kind, eat, drink, be merry and smell the roses. Lots and lots of roses!: Houk said.
Upstream Theater
Upstream Theater is postponing “Iphigenia in Splott,” set from April 17 to May 3, until the fall, Oct. 9 – 25.The regional premiere by Welsh playwright Gary Owen stars Jennifer Theby-Quinn and is directed by Patrick Siler. If you have purchased single tickets or a season passport they will honor your ticket at that time.
Stumbling around Cardiff’s gritty Splott neighborhood at 11:30 AM drunk, Effie is the kind of person you’d avoid eye contact with. You think you know her, but you really don’t—because here is someone whose life spirals through a mess of drink, drugs and drama every night, and a hangover worse than death the next day … until one night gives her a chance to be something more. Inspired by the Greek myth about a young woman offered as a human sacrifice, Gary Owen’s Iphigenia in Splott is a blisteringly poetic monologue that drives home the high price people pay for society’s shortcomings …
.Metro Theatre Company As of March 18, MTC’s artistic and administrative staff will go to a remote work model. Their physical office in Grand Center will be closed.
Their spring gala, After Dark, originally scheduled for May 7 will now be held Sept. 24. Tickets will automatically transfer to the new date. The Golden Ticket raffle will still happen digitally on May 7.
In light of school closures, for the time being MTC’s in-school arts-integrated curriculum work is paused. While we cannot be present in person in schools, our talented education team is developing digital resources to help parents supporting their children’s learning needs while they are home. Look for some of these digital resources via email and on our Facebook page in the weeks ahead, said executive director Joe Gfaller.
At this time we anticipate that our summer camps will proceed as planned, starting in June. Middle SchoolGrand Theater Camp is June 1-12; Advanced Middle School Grand Theater Camp is June 15-26; High School Grand Theater Camp is July 6-10; and Creative Arts Camp for Pre-K through 5th Grade is offered July 27-August 1 and August 3-7.
“Even as you engage in social distancing in the weeks and months ahead, we encourage you to find ways to continue to support those businesses and artists who make St. Louis such a rewarding community in which to live and raise a family. COVID-19 impacts our friends in travel and tourism, restaurants, entertainment, and small business – not to mention scores of working artsts across St. Louis,” Gfaller said.
St. Louis Theater Circle Awards
President Mark Bretz issued this statement on March 13: “In consideration of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as decisions in the last few days by the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, the State of Missouri, Major League Baseball and many others, the upcoming St. Louis Theater Circle Awards presentation has been canceled, effective immediately.
Brown Paper Tickets said that those who already had purchased tickets to the gala, which was scheduled for Monday, March 30, will receive full refunds after contacting Brown Paper Tickets.
“We hope soon to reveal our alternative plan for announcing this year’s award recipients in each of our 34 categories. Thank you for your patience and understanding,” Bretz said.
12th Natya Indian Dance Festival – April 24- 26 – POSTPONED, Date TBD
Wydown Auditorium
Dedicated to Indian Classical dance, music and theatre, this year’s festival will include a special presentation of SAMARPAN-2, the 3.5 hour long story of India’s struggle for freedom from 16th-20th century through dance, music and drama with artists from India.
Arts For Life
AFL President Mary McCreight has suspended all public activities of the Arts For Life organization effective March 16 until at least May 1, 2020. This includes all judging activities of the Theatre Recognition Guild (TRG). The Theatre Mask Awards Ceremony has been rescheduled for July 18. The Best Performance Awards are not yet affected by this suspension as they are scheduled to take place in mid-June.
“We will continue to base our decisions on the best information available in this rapid evolving situation, recognizing the need for timely notifications. All of this uncertainty poses challenges, and we will endeavor to communicate about our plans and share decisions promptly and transparently,” she said.
“It is apparent most shows scheduled before May 1 would likely not be allowed to be open anyway given the restrictions on event/gathering sizes put in place by local authorities this weekend. We ask that all participating groups keep us apprised as to their individual decisions regarding cancellations and/or postponements as soon as possible. We know that the various licensing houses (MTI, Concord and others) are are offering generous low- and no-penalty options for groups to either postpone and/or cancel productions. Please check with your respective licensors,” she said.
Other Companies
As previously reported, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis has postponed “Dreaming Zenzile” and hopes to reschedule this summer. “The Cake” in the Studio ran over the weekend, but beginning March 16, the production was suspended.
New Line Theatre closed “Head Over Heels” early because of the St. Louis City and County mandates about crowd size.
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.
The Fabulous Fox Theatre is excited to
announce a fetch 2020-2021 U.S. Bank Broadway Series. You can sit with us! When
MEAN
GIRLS opens the seven-show season ticket package this September. You’ll
dance all night when the Lincoln Center Theater Production of Lerner &
Loewe’s MY FAIR LADY graces the Fox stage in October. Hear the evolution
of an icon when THE CHER SHOW turns back time and experience the Broadway magic
only Disney can deliver at their newest hit musical FROZEN. Get ready for
those Grammy winning songs and Tony winning moves when AIN’T
TOO PROUD – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS makes
its St. Louis debut. Throw on a corsage because it’s time to dance at
Broadway’s hit musical comedy THE PROM. Fall in love all over
again when PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical dazzles audiences as the final show
in the Broadway series.
MEAN GIRLS | September
22 – October 4, 2020
Direct from Broadway, MEAN
GIRLS is the hilarious hit musical from book writer Tina Fey (“30
Rock”), composer Jeff Richmond (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), lyricist Nell
Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and director Casey Nicholaw (The Book of
Mormon). Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing
prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois.
Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the
charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end
Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee
without getting stung. New York Magazine cheers, “MEAN GIRLS delivers with
immense energy, a wicked sense of humor and joyful inside-jokery.” USA Today
says, “We’ll let you in on a little secret, because we’re such good friends:
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!”
MY FAIR LADY | October
14-25, 2020
From Lincoln Center Theater and director Bartlett Sher comes “a sumptuous new
production of the most perfect musical of all time” (Entertainment Weekly),
Lerner & Loewe’s MY FAIR LADY. Boasting such classic
songs as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “The Rain in Spain,” and “Wouldn’t It
Be Loverly,” MY FAIR LADY tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a
young Cockney flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a linguistics professor who is
determined to transform her into his idea of a “proper lady.” But who is
really being transformed?
THE CHER SHOW | November
17-29, 2020
The Tony Award®-winning musical! Her life. Her story. Her legend. Superstars come and go. Cher is forever. For six straight decades, only one unstoppable force has flat-out dominated popular culture — breaking down barriers, pushing boundaries, and letting nothing and no one stand in her way. THE CHER SHOW is the Tony Award-winning musical of her story, and it’s packed with so much Cher that it takes three women to play her: the kid starting out, the glam pop star, and the icon. THE CHER SHOW is 35 smash hits, six decades of stardom, two rock-star husbands, a Grammy®, an Oscar®, an Emmy®, and enough Tony Award-winning Bob Mackie gowns to cause a sequin shortage in New York City, all in one unabashedly fabulous new musical that will have you dancing in the aisles!
Disney’s FROZEN | February
10-21, 2021
From the producer of The Lion King
and Aladdin, FROZEN, the Tony®-nominated Best Musical,
is now on tour across North America, and the critics rave, “It’s simply
magical!” (LA Daily News). FROZEN features the songs you
love from the original Oscar®-winning film, plus an expanded score
with a dozen new numbers. An unforgettable theatrical experience filled with
sensational special effects, stunning sets and costumes, and powerhouse
performances, FROZEN is everything you want in a musical: It’s
moving. It’s spectacular. And above all, it’s pure Broadway joy.
AIN’T TOO PROUD – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS | March
2-14, 2021
AIN’T TOO PROUD – THE
LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS is the electrifying
new smash-hit Broadway musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary
journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The
winner of the 2019 Tony Award for Best Choreography, it’s a thrilling story of
brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal during a decade of civil unrest in
America. Set to the beat of the group’s treasured hits, including “My Girl,”
“Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” AIN’T
TOO PROUD tells the unforgettable story of the legendary quintet that
Billboard Magazine named the greatest R&B group of all time.
The Prom
THE PROM | April 6-18, 2021
Everyone’s invited to
the joyous Broadway hit that New York Magazine calls “smart and big-hearted”
and The New York Times declares it “makes you believe in musical comedy again!”
THE
PROM is a new musical comedy about big Broadway stars on a mission to
change the world and the love they discover that unites them all. Variety raves, “It’s so full of happiness
that you think your heart is about to burst.” And The Hollywood Reporter
cheers, “It’s comic gold!” You belong at THE PROM!
PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical | April 27 – May 9, 2021
After
an incredible run on Broadway, Audience Choice Award winner PRETTY
WOMAN: The Musical is now on tour! PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical is brought
to life by a powerhouse creative team representing the best of music,
Hollywood, and Broadway. Featuring direction and choreography by two-time Tony
Award® winner Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde), an
original score by Grammy® winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (“Summer of ’69”,
“Heaven”), and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and
screenwriter J.F. Lawton, Pretty Woman: The Musical will lift your spirits and
light up your heart. “If you love the movie, you’ll love the musical!”
(BuzzFeed News).
Series Specials
Six Broadway
specials will be offered to 2020–2021 season ticket holders for priority
seating before their public on-sale dates.
A
holiday classic, Nebraska Theatre Caravan’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL will
return December 3-6 and the “most famous reindeer
of all” will soar into the Fox December 18-19 in RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED
REINDEER. A new
mesmerizing production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR will kick off
the New Year January 26-31. Experience the smash hit phenomenon that is BLUE
MAN GROUP March 19-21.
Discover the mystery of a
brave young woman’s past in the romantic and adventure-filled musical ANASTASIA
May 14-16. You can’t stop the beat when HAIRSPRAY takes you back
to the 1960s May 21-23.
New seven-show season ticket packages will go on sale June 8 at 10 a.m. Current U.S. Bank Broadway season ticket holders will receive their renewal information the week of March 23. On-sale dates for individual shows will be announced later. For more information, please call the Fox Subscription office at 314-535-1700. Groups of 10 or more should call 314-535-2900 for special rates and reservations. The Broadway Series at the Fabulous Fox Theatre is presented by U.S. Bank.
2020 – 2021 U.S. Bank Broadway Series
Shows and Specials:
(The Seven Season Ticket shows are in bold)
MEAN
GIRLS * September 22 – October 4, 2020
MY
FAIR LADY * October 14-25, 2020
THE
CHER SHOW * November 17-29, 2020
A CHRISTMAS CAROL * December 3-6,
2020
RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER
* December 18-19, 2020
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR *
January 26-31, 2021
Disney’s
FROZEN * February 10-21, 2021
AIN’T
TOO PROUD – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS *
March 2-14, 2021
BLUE MAN GROUP * March 19-21,
2021
THE
PROM * April 6-18, 2021
PRETTY
WOMAN: The Musical * April 27 – May 9, 2021
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.
The New Jewish Theatre is pleased to announce its 2020-21 season, opening on October 15, 2020. From Neil Simon to Gloria Steinem, the upcoming season examines the idea of self and asks, “Where do I belong and to whom do, I belong?”
“I am thrilled to continue the great tradition of theatre at the J,” said Edward Coffield, Artistic Director. “I believe what we’ve selected will engage and excite the community.”
The highly acclaimed company will build on its current hit season (and 21 St. Louis Theatre Circle Award nominations) with four amazing plays and one incredible musical. The season opens with the funny and delightful Crossing Delancey. In December, the theatre presents Talley’s Folly by Missouri native and Pulitzer Prize winner, Lanford Wilson. Next, audiences will examine the work of women and the legacy of Gloria Steinem in Gloria: A Life by Emily Mann. In the spring, NJT delves into the passionate and engaging play by Anna Deavere Smith, Fires in the Mirror: Crown Heights, Brooklyn and Other Identities. The season concludes with Neil Simon and Marvin Hamlisch’s They’re Playing Our Song, a charming and romantic musical comedy featuring some of the greatest music written by the great Broadway legend.
“For the first time in our 24-year history, all five of our productions will be directed by women,” said Coffield. “I am pleased to welcome these engaging and creative artists to create work on our stage next season.”
Season subscriptions are $205.00 – $210. Subscription packages are available as either a classic five-show package or the very popular Flex Pass, which allocates six passes to be used at the patron’s discretion. Subscriptions go on sale starting May 13 with single tickets available in mid-August. Tickets may be purchased at the New Jewish Theatre Box Office, by phone at 314.442.3283 or online at newjewishtheatre.org
New Jewish Theatre
2020-21 New Jewish Theatre Season Information
Crossing Delanceyby Susan Sadler October 15 – November 1 Directed by Nancy Bell
Isabel is a modern young woman who lives alone and works in a book shop. When she is not pining after a handsome author, she is visiting her grandmother (Bubbe) in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. This irascible granny and her friend the matchmaker have found a “good catch” for Isabel. Her initial reluctance gives way to a blossoming romance when she finally meets Sam the pickle vendor, as the end of the play offers a new beginning.
Talley’s Follyby Lanford Wilson December 3 – 20, 2020 Directed by Sarah Whitney
Talley’s Folly deals with the courtship of the young Sally Talley and her Jewish suitor, Matt Friedman. Lanford Wilson is one of our most gifted playwrights, a dramatist who deals perceptively with definably American themes. He introduces us to two wonderful people, humanizing and warming them with the radiance of his abundant talent. It is perhaps the simplest, the most lyrical play Wilson has written – a funny, sweet, touching and marvelously written love poem for an apple and an orange.
Gloria: A Lifeby Emily Mann January 21 – February 7, 2021 Directed by Ellie Schwetye
Gloria: A Life isn’t just a straightforward bioplay about Gloria Steinem. It’s a unique, deeply moving performance created in the hopeful, conversational spirit of its extraordinary subject – an act of looking back in order to look forward. In a way, Gloria isn’t just a life: It’s an acknowledgement and celebration of many lives: dozens of brilliant, tireless women whose years and years of work hold us all up. This remarkable play shares the journey and places it squarely into our world today. A stage experience that’s one part theater, one part consciousness-raising group therapy session. This theatre event is an intimate recollection of Steinem’s journey.
Fires in the Mirror: Crown Heights, Brooklyn and Other Identities by Anna Deavere Smith April 8 – 25, 2021 Directed by Amelia Acosta Powell
Revolving around the Crown Heights riots that occurred after two killings in 1991, this play takes a searing look at the misunderstandings of, and sympathies between, two cultures living in the community of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York. Fires in the Mirror is, quite simply, the most compelling and sophisticated view of urban racial and class conflict that one could hope to encounter. A solo theatre piece of epic proportion.
They’re Playing our Song by Neil Simon May 27 – June 13, 2021 Lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and music by Marvin Hamlisch Directed by Grace Austin
America’s premier funny man and the Tony Award-winning composer of A Chorus Line collaborated on this hit musical. They’re Playing Our Song is a funny, romantic show about an established composer and his relationship with a zany, aspiring young female lyricist. At work and at play, this is a winning couple whose professional and personal successes and difficulties lead to one hilarious scene after another. A great score and, of course, a happy ending.
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.
As concerns for public health grows as the Coronavirus spreads in the U.S.,
many arts and entertainment events have been cancelled in the metropolitan St.
Louis area. Some will be rescheduled. While others, in smaller venues,
continue.
St. Louis City banned events with crowds bigger than 1,000
Thursday and St. Louis County announced Friday it is preventing crowds bigger
than 250, effective immediately, until further notice.
Slowing the spread of COVID-19 is the utmost importance in
making these decisions. Governors of Missouri and Illinois have declared states
of emergency, as had the U.S. President on Friday.
Nationally, Broadway went dark and its 31 theatres
announced they would be closed through Easter, which is April 12.
Dramatists Play Service, which holds the rights to many shows, has announced
refunds to companies who have to cancel and also information regarding possibly
live-streaming shows. For further information, visit https://www.dramatists.com/text/covid19cancellationpolicy.asp
Here is a list of what’s the latest news from local
companies and venues, with the most up-to-date information as possible. It is
best to check with a group before heading out as news can change fast.
Most companies released statements about how they have
stepped up cleaning efforts and encouraging those feeling sick to stay home.
They have also offered refund information. Check their social media and
websites for current information.
On Thursday, the Fox Theatre announced postponement of all
performances and tours through March 31.
“The Bachelor Live on Stage, scheduled for Friday, March 13
and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory scheduled for March 17-29 will both be
postponed. Plans to reschedule are
currently underway. Ticket holders should hold on to their tickets – they will
be honored on the new dates,” statement said.
Decisions about other future shows will be made as they
follow the evolving situation with the COVID-19 Virus and the City of St.
Louis’ determination of the length of this prohibition, a spokesman said.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, on the campus of
Webster University, is opening “The Cake” in the Studio Theatre March 13, and Friday
evening announced that they would suspend all performances beginning Monday,
March 16. They are postponing the opening of “Dreaming Zenzile,” set to open
March 20, with hopes of rescheduling this summer.
This is a reversal of their announcement Wednesday that all
their performances would continue. Here is the new statement:
“Following the declaration of a state of emergency in St. Louis County
surrounding the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), The Repertory Theatre of St.
Louis must place the safety of its patrons, staff and artists above all other
considerations.
Based on the Centers for Disease Control and World Health
Organization’s recommendations against large group gatherings, The Rep has
decided to cancel all performances and events beginning Monday, March 16
through the end of the season. We plan to postpone our Mainstage world premiere
of Dreaming Zenzile, with the goal of mounting it this summer.
“We do not take this decision lightly, knowing that the
communal connections made at public arts events are some of the strongest tools
against the fears and anxieties of this moment. As we ride out this turbulent
time together, we remain resolutely committed to the power of storytelling to
change lives and uplift our shared humanity. Thank you for your understanding
and for being a part of our Rep family. We look forward to welcoming you home
again this summer.
We will be reaching out to ticketholders shortly via email,
phone and/or text with more details regarding ticket options. For additional
updates, stay tuned to repstl.org and our Facebook and Twitter feeds,” the
statement said.
The Playhouse at Westport continues “Flanagan’s Wake”
performances as planned. However, the company that owns the venue released a
statement explaining their efforts.
“Our efforts in cleaning the venue have been stepped up and
we will be disinfecting each seat, handrail and surface within the theatre
prior to opening doors for each performance. Our bartenders will be wearing
gloves, which will be changed frequently through the evening.
“In addition, Cushman & Wakefield, the property
management for Westport Plaza has increased their efforts to assist in
providing a safe environment for those that visit the Plaza. All public
surfaces, from elevator buttons to escalator rails, to door handles and
bathrooms are all being heavily sanitized multiple times throughout each day.
We, along with, many of you, are closely following and
monitoring all reports issued from the CDC as well as our local and state
governmental agencies and will adjust any and all protocol accordingly. At this
time, all shows are playing as scheduled,” explained Sue Silverstein, vice president
/ general manager, Playhouse @ Westport Plaza
The Moolah Shrine have announced plans to reschedule the
annual circus March 19-22 at Family Arena. Here is their statement:
For more than 78 years, the Moolah® Shriners have provided family entertainment
to St Charles and St Louis region. As always, our focus has been the safety and
well-being of families. After consulting with government health professionals
and the Family Arena, We have decided to take strong but necessary actions to
protect the health and well-being of all who plan on attending our circus.
As Shriners, we are about compassion and love; we help heal
the sick, care for those in need. Our plans, for now, are to reschedule our
78th Moolah Shrine Circus for later this year. Thank you for your support, and
we look forward to seeing you all later this year.
For further information, please refer to Moolah.org on
Monday, March 16,” they noted.
William Roth, founder and artistic director of St. Louis
Actors’ Studio, said they would offer their black box theater, The Gaslight
Theatre, to performers in need of space during this pandemic.
“Many performers and band members have lost their incomes.
The 100- seat Gaslight Theatre, based on availability, is offering itself up to
bands whose gigs have been canceled. This offer is, of course, based on
availability and the daily health regulations posted by the CDC and the local
governments. As long as it’s legal we are an available venue,”
Roth said. He can be reached by email at william@stlas.org
THE SHOW MUST GO ON “Clybourne Park” at Alpha Players at the Florissant Civic Center Theatre this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The audience is limited to 200.
Note: “We are constantly disinfecting common surfaces as
much as we can. We ask that high risk individuals (as defined by the CDC) or
those that are exhibiting symptoms to refrain from entering the premises.”
“It’s Only a Play” at Looking Glass Playhouse in Lebanon,
Ill. this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Note: “As of 12 March 2020 we have no intention to cancel
any performances for It’s Only a Play. If we do, every effort will be made to
give a minimum notice of 24 hours.”
Also, cleaning efforts stepped up and ticket refunds
available.
“Flanagan’s Wake” at The Playhouse at Westport continue
performances as planned, extended through April 11, with a special St.
Patrick’s Day performance Tuesday.
Note: “Please be aware of your own health. If you are sick,
or even questioning you are sick, please stay home. We will be happy to
exchange your tickets for another performance. The top priority at the
Playhouse @ Westport is the safety and the well-being of our guests, casts and
employees.”
“Love Sex and the IRS” at Theatre Guild of Webster Groves
this Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at their theatre,
Newport and Summit.
“On Golden Pond” at Kirkwood Theatre Guild this Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.
and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Robert G. Reim Theatre, 111 S. Geyer Road.
“The Philadelphia Story” at Clayton Community Center
cancelled their opening night, March 12, but continue performances March 13 and
14 and at 2 p.m. March 15 in the Washington University South Campus Theatre.
“Return to Forbidden Planet” at KTK Productions in the St. John the Baptist
gymnasium, 4200 Delor, this weekend and next (Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
and Sunday at 2 p.m.)
“Head Over Heels” at New Line Productions at The Marcelle Theatre this Friday
and Saturday at 8 p.m., sold out, and continuing Thursday through Saturday
until March 28.
Note: “We hope to run as scheduled through March 28, but
we’ll continue to monitor the news and re-assess as the situation evolves. If
anyone has purchased tickets but is not feeling well, please stay home, rest
up, and contact MetroTix for a refund. The usual “no refund” rule
will not apply.”
POSTPONED “The Bachelor Live on Stage” tour at The Fox Theatre March 13. Plans to be rescheduled.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” tour at The Fox Theatre March 17 – 29. To be rescheduled.
10th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition
April 4 at The Fox Theatre. To be rescheduled.
CANCELLED The Black Rep “Spell #7” at the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre. They had extended the run through this weekend, but cancelled it in light of the COVID-19 developments.
The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts at McKendree University All events and performances (internal, hosted or rented) scheduled through June 1. This includes: Shakespeare Festival St. Louis “Cymbeline” (March 16), Young People’s Concert (March 19), TAO DRUM (March 24), The ReMINDers (April 6), and speaker, Ishmael Beah (April 15).
Patrons are offered the possibility of applying their
tickets to a future event at the Hett, donating the ticket value to the
University or contacting them for a full refund, less any original mailing
fees.
Please contact the box office, during operating hours, to
discuss your ticket disposition. The box office is open Monday – Friday from noon
to 4 p.m.
College Performances Cancelled
“Cabaret” at Lindenwood University – St. Charles.
Representatives will contact ticket holders on refunds.
“A Doll’s House” at Missouri Baptist University. Will transition to streaming.
More information to follow.
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.
She quotes poetry and he combs through books for his classes in their well lived-in cottage by the sea. Their grown son, Jamie (Josh O’Connor), rarely visits, and they all interact with such restraint that you know some things are simmering underneath the polite and genteel façade.
Grace (Annette Bening) is needy and Edward (Bill Nighy) is distant. They are a longtime married couple slogging through a dull, lifeless marriage. When Edward decides he can’t give Grace what she wants as they approach their 29th anniversary and he will leave for another woman, their divorce drama plays out, pulling in their single adult son.
This is a British movie sorely in need of some “oomph.” And that doesn’t mean more sweeping shots of the coastal cliffs.
Well-intentioned, though, this look at a disintegration of a marriage and its ripple effects isn’t as finessed as the superior “Marriage Story” or even “Shoot the Moon” starring Albert Finney and Diane Keaton 30-some years ago.
Director-writer William Nicholson, who was Oscar-nominated for his screenplays of “Gladiator” and Shadowlands,” has adapted his 1989 play, The Retreat from Moscow,” into a very stiff movie.
While the performers are good delving into their characters, a pall of melancholy hangs over what is a nice-looking film. Bening’s accent wavers, and both characters are annoying as their selfishness is exposed.
And the subplot with the son’s inability to sustain a close relationship needed more development. O’Connor, who played Prince Charles in “The Crown,” is strong and deserved a better-written character.
In fact, the movie just goes through the motions, and fails to sustain any momentum. “Hope Gap” is a drama rated PG-13 for some thematics elements and brief strong language. Directed by William Nicholson, its stars Annette Bening, Bill Nighy and Josh O’Connor. Run time is: 1 hr. 40 min. Lynn’s Grade: C
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.
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.” – The Serenity Prayer
This is really a movie with the Serenity Prayer theme front and center. A grieving alcoholic father’s road to redemption is wrapped around an inspiring high school sports story – think “Hoosiers” meets “A Star is Born” (2018), “The Verdict,” and/or “Flight.”
Once a high school hotshot, Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) threw away his full ride to Kansas. His adult life – construction job, failed marriage, personal tragedy – has not turned out that well either. Using alcohol to mask his pain and self-hatred, he’s mired in a bad place. Then, his alma mater, Bishop Hays High School, calls to offer the head coach job. Going back to the school where he had his glory days proves to be redeeming as he turns around the team. But it’s not an overall fix, as he needs to deal with his demons and addiction, and his family ultimately helps put him on the path to recovery.
“The Way Back” is not your typical rah-rah sports underdog tale, to director Gavin O’Connor’s credit. O’Connor worked with star Ben Affleck in one of his best performances, “The Accountant,” and gave us “Miracle” about the U.S. 1980 Olympic hockey team and his acclaimed estranged family drama with a mixed martial arts focus, “Warrior.”
O’Connor knows how to stage sports action and captures well the re-energized youths of the Hays Tigers, with stand-out performances from Melvin Gregg as showboat Marcus and Brandon Wilson as loner Brandon, the team’s best player. Al Madrigal is memorable as assistant coach Dan.
But make no mistake, this is Ben Affleck’s comeback, and the parallels between his real-life battles with alcoholism, relapse and recovery come into play. You can’t help but think of his demons that he has wrestled with his entire life, for it is a genetic family disease.
Many families can relate to this struggle, which is why the film succeeds. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s realistic.
Beefy, with slumped shoulders signaling life defeat, Jack makes it through the day by drinking. He’s a construction worker with a cooler in his truck and vodka in his water bottle. After work, he’s either stopping at a liquor store or is a barfly, helped up the steps of his drab L.A. apartment at closing time.
His family watches his self-destruction. Sister Beth (Michaela Watkins) sees their father in Jack’s downward spiral. His ex-wife Angela (Janina Gvankar) tries to be supportive.
While he can’t get a handle on adulting, he sure finds his purpose in coaching his alma mater’s basketball team. He turns the team into a unified group who believes in their ability to win.
Yet, until Jack deals with his alcoholism, his life can’t get back on track. So, we see all the steps – the hitting bottom, the facing his troubles in rehab, the making amends. It’s a one day at a time process, no simple solutions.
It’s a sobering film, unconventional in a way because nothing is neatly tied up.
Understated, using natural light and dark shadows, its view is clear, despite some clunky transitions in the script by Brad Ingelsby.
And Affleck, with a strong body of work – and two Oscars – doesn’t have to prove his talent, but shows he is ready to move on to a better second act.
And his character sees more clearly now because of this hard-fought journey, which is reason to cheer, no matter how the team did in the playoffs.
“The Way Back” is directed by Gavin O’Connor and starring Ben Affleck. It is rated R for language throughout including some sexual references. Running time is: 1 hr. 48 min. Lynn’s Grade: B+.
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.
