‘Grease,’ ‘Man of La Mancha’ and ‘101 Dalmatians’ at New Theatre Next Summer
Stages St. Louis is thrilled to announce its spectacular 33rd Season. The 2019 Season includes the dazzling and hilarious “The Boy from Oz,” the smash hit “Grease,” the romantic adventure “Man of La Mancha” and the Emerson Family Theatre Series production of Disney’s “101 Dalmatians.”
“With the 2019 Season, Stages turns its eyes to the staging of its final season at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in preparation for the move to a brand new state-of-the-art theatre in downtown Kirkwood. To honor this move, we wanted to celebrate the great artistic diversity inherent in any given Stages season” expressed Artistic Director Michael Hamilton.
“The Midwest premiere and rare North American production of the Australian hit ‘The Boy from Oz’ celebrates a life in the theatre, the very American ‘Grease’ us a oio-culture phenomenon celebrated and seen across the world by a cross-section of patrons both old and young; and ‘Man of La Mancha’ urges Stages audiences to continue to ‘dream the impossible dream’ which we believe will be fulfilled with the move to the new Performing Arts Center and the continuation of establishing Stages as a positive beacon of theatrical arts in our community” continued Hamilton.
“After the tremendous success of our 32nd Season, we are thrilled to offer an eclectic, exciting and energetic lineup of shows in 2019. These incredible titles offer something that will appear to every member of the Stages audience!” stated Executive Producer Jack Lane.
The fun kicks off May 31 and runs through Oct. 6, 2019.
Liza Minnelli and husband Peter Allen“The Boy from Oz”May 31 – June 30Music and Lyrics by Peter Allen, Book by Martin Sherman, Original Book by Nick Enright
Man of Dazzling and hilarious as the legendary Peter Allen himself, “The Boy from Oz” follows the Australian singer-songwriter from his humble beginnings performing in backcountry pubs to his international stardom beside such Hollywood icons as Judy Garland and her daughter, Liza Minnelli. Featuring such beloved Peter Allen hits as “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” “I Honestly Love You” and the show-stopping “I Go to Rio,” The Boy from Oz” is a showbiz celebration to life, love and to being fabulous.
“Grease”July 19 – Aug. 18Book, Music and Lyrics by Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs.Additional Music by Barry Gibb, John Farrar, Scott Simon and Louis St. Louis
Welcome to Rydell High where Danny Zuko and his gang of Burger Palace Boys and Pink Ladies rule the school! Bursting with explosive energy and 1950’s nostalgia, “Grease” blends an irresistible mix of adolescent angst and all-American teen spirit to create a high octane pop-culture phenomenon you won’t want to miss.
“Man of La Mancha”Sept. 6 – Oct. 6Music by Mitch Leigh, Lyrics by Joe Darion, Book by Dale Wasserman
A romantic and inspiring musical adventure, “Man of La Mancha” tells the epic story of 17th century author Miguel de Cervantes and his immortal literary creation Don Quixote. This poignant tale of ultimate heartbreak and unimaginable triumph features a lushly melodic score that includes the rapturous “Dulcinea,” the rousing title song, and the classic Broadway anthem which dares us all to dream “The Impossible Dream.”
“101 Dalmatians”
June 18 – June 30Music and Lyrics by Mel Leven, Randy Rogel, Richard Gibbs, Brian Smith, Dan Root, and Martin Lee Fuller; Book Adapted by Marcy Heisler.
Join the evil Cruella De Vil and her two klutzy henchmen as they try to steal a litter of the cutest puppies ever to hit jolly old London Town. But not to worry – this fur-raising adventure ends happily with plenty of puppy power to spare! A musical treat for the entire family. Disney’s “101 Dalmatians” is sure to have audiences barking for more.
Stages St. Louis is the region’s foremost not-for-profit company committed to preserving and advancing the art form of musical theatre through excellence in performance and education. In 2019, Stages celebrates its 33rd year of producing Broadway-quality theatre, presenting 140 performances from June through October to nearly 50,000 patrons.
Stages opened in 1987 with a budget of $50,000 and a part-time seasonal staff of eight. Today, the company employs a full-time staff of 26 overseeing a budge of $4.7 million. During the performance season, an additional 150 actors and crew members bring the productions to life. To date, Stages professionals have produced 116 musicals, with over 3,700 performances, playing to more than one million patrons.
Subscriptions to the 2019 Season begin at $120 and will go on sale Dec. 3. Single tickets will go on sale April 1, 2019. Single ticket prices range from $25 to $65. Stages’ Mainstage productions perform in the intimate, 377-seat Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Civic Center, 111 S. Geyer Road in St. Louis, MO 63122. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 314-821-2407 or visit www.StagesStLouis.org
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.