PopLifeSTL Picks Weekly

PopLifeSTL Picks Weekly

Dateline: Aug. 18By Lynn Venhaus, Alex McPherson, C.B. Adams and Carl “The Intern” Middleman We are busy popping up around our region, and suspect you... Details
Stray Dog Theatre Triumphs With Poised, Polished Copland Opera ‘The Second Hurricane’

Stray Dog Theatre Triumphs With Poised, Polished Copland Opera ‘The Second Hurricane’

By Lynn Venhaus A refreshing breeze is blowing through the cozy confines of the Tower Grove Abbey in Stray Dog Theatre’s ambitious youth opera, “The... Details
Williams’ Timeless Poetic Realism Is Reconstructed in A Bold, Different ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’

Williams’ Timeless Poetic Realism Is Reconstructed in A Bold, Different ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’

By Lynn Venhaus A bold, ambitious “A Streetcar Named Desire” is the centerpiece in this year’s 10th annual Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis. A contemporary... Details
The Muny’s Glitzy ‘La Cage Aux Folles’ is Musical Comedy a la Mode

The Muny’s Glitzy ‘La Cage Aux Folles’ is Musical Comedy a la Mode

By Lynn Venhaus Release the serotonin! The Muny goes big with the glitzy, grand feel-good musical “La Cage Aux Folles” that will make you laugh,... Details
Polished Performances Lift Stages’ ‘Austen’s Pride’ But Songs Lack Depth

Polished Performances Lift Stages’ ‘Austen’s Pride’ But Songs Lack Depth

By Lynn Venhaus With words of wit and strong female leads, “Austen’s Pride” has promise to fulfill its potential, coinciding with the literary world’s preparations... Details
Tesseract Theatre’s “Steel Magnolias” Blesses Hearts and Hugs Necks

Tesseract Theatre’s “Steel Magnolias” Blesses Hearts and Hugs Necks

By CB Adams Tesseract Theatre Company's "Steel Magnolias," written by Robert Harling, injects fresh energy into the beloved Southern story of humor, friendship, and resilience.... Details
Fly North’s Updated ‘Madam’ Charms with its Female-Forward Focus

Fly North’s Updated ‘Madam’ Charms with its Female-Forward Focus

By Lynn VenhausSpotlighting attitude and intrigue, a still-vivacious “Madam” has been nipped, tucked, and excised into a promising female-forward musical focused on womanhood’s advancement in... Details
Muny’s Heart-Melting ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Is Beacon of Light in Dark Times

Muny’s Heart-Melting ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Is Beacon of Light in Dark Times

By Lynn Venhaus Deeply personal and profoundly moving, “Dear Evan Hansen” grabs our hearts and doesn’t let go. Sensitively presented by director Rob Ruggiero and... Details
Two Fine Actors Rumble And Grumble in NJT’s Comical, Thoughtful ‘Two Jews Walk Into a War’

Two Fine Actors Rumble And Grumble in NJT’s Comical, Thoughtful ‘Two Jews Walk Into a War’

By Lynn Venhaus Live, laugh, learn – and love. All of it is there in “Two Jews Walk into a War,” in which two last-standing... Details
Vocals Soar, Tangos Tantalize in The Muny’s Sumptuous ‘Evita’

Vocals Soar, Tangos Tantalize in The Muny’s Sumptuous ‘Evita’

By Lynn Venhaus Virtuoso vocals and transfixing tangos propel the Muny’s grand-scale stylized and dramatic "Evita," the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice classic. Featuring... Details