Powerful ‘The Color Purple’ Soars As Soulful, Spirited Movie Musical

Powerful ‘The Color Purple’ Soars As Soulful, Spirited Movie Musical

By Lynn Venhaus A strong sense of community, sisterhood and triumph over adversity runs through the big, splashy movie musical adaptation of “The Color Purple.”... Details
Remarkable True Story ‘The Boys in the Boat’ Lacks Punch with Generic, Predictable Storytelling

Remarkable True Story ‘The Boys in the Boat’ Lacks Punch with Generic, Predictable Storytelling

By Lynn Venhaus While it has all the makings of an old-fashioned feel-good sports drama, perhaps we’ve seen too many rousing underdog team stories so... Details
The Rep’s ‘It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play’ Is Big-Hearted Celebration

The Rep’s ‘It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play’ Is Big-Hearted Celebration

By Lynn Venhaus Overflowing with cheer and kindness, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” is as comforting as a mug of hot cocoa... Details
Take Ten with Actor Gregory Williams Welsch

Take Ten with Actor Gregory Williams Welsch

By Lynn Venhaus “Christmas with C.S. Lewis” starring St. Louis native Gregory Williams Welsch has been selling out the Westport Playhouse, such is its popularity.... Details
Vitriolic ‘Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You’ Still Pushes Buttons

Vitriolic ‘Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You’ Still Pushes Buttons

By Lynn Venhaus A social satire is not fulfilling its goal if it doesn’t outrage somebody, and “Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You”... Details
Take Ten with Rebekah Scallet, Artistic Director of New Jewish Theatre

Take Ten with Rebekah Scallet, Artistic Director of New Jewish Theatre

By Lynn VenhausRebekah Scallet was eager for new horizons when she moved to St. Louis in 2020. However, a public health emergency upended her plans,... Details
Vocal-Rich Ensemble Delivers Extraordinary, Immersive ‘Into the Woods’ at New Jewish Theatre

Vocal-Rich Ensemble Delivers Extraordinary, Immersive ‘Into the Woods’ at New Jewish Theatre

By Lynn Venhaus In an extraordinary, reimagined interpretation of Stephen Sondheim’s classic “Into the Woods,” New Jewish Theatre immerses us into a vibrant in-the-round setting,... Details
New Line’s Irreverent ‘Jesus and Johnny Appleweed’s Holy Rollin’ Family Christmas’ Offers Vintage Vibes, Brazen Bits

New Line’s Irreverent ‘Jesus and Johnny Appleweed’s Holy Rollin’ Family Christmas’ Offers Vintage Vibes, Brazen Bits

By Lynn VenhausAt first glance, the daffy “Jesus & Johnny Appleweed’s Holy Rollin’ Family Christmas” takes us back to the fuddy duddy ‘50s, with the... Details
St Louis Film Critics Assn Announces Nominations for 2023 Awards

St Louis Film Critics Assn Announces Nominations for 2023 Awards

“Oppenheimer” leads with nominations 14, followed by “Killers of the Flower Moon” with 12, “Barbie” 11 and “The Holdovers” with 9 The year’s top film... Details
Cooper, Mulligan Soar in Sumptuous Leonard Bernstein Opus ‘Maestro’

Cooper, Mulligan Soar in Sumptuous Leonard Bernstein Opus ‘Maestro’

By Lynn Venhaus Geniuses are complicated; therefore, the life of America’s first superstar conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein is explored in an uncommon yet charismatic... Details