With an urgency as a downward spiral sets in, the musical “Cascade’s Fire” focuses on a group of alienated, angry youth whose story relates to the Greek tragedy “Antigone.”
This original musical, with book and lyrics by St. Louis playwright Taylor Gruenloh and music by Kyle Wernke, is premiering locally as part of Tesseract Theatre Company’s New Musical Summer Fest.
Meant to be a mirror of our world with its current struggles, “Cascade’s Fire” unfolds like a doom scroll. Think a police drama procedural episode meets “Hadestown,” with a nod to disaffected, decadent “Less Than Zero” youth culture.
An earnest cast of eight play a group of college students in various degrees of conflict, with two performers acting as the narrators – Brittney Roberson as the female chorus and Chris Melton as the male chorus.
Melton capably sets the scene, and considering that he was a last-minute replacement, it’s a notable achievement. He grounds the show like an older, wiser brother. He delivers a soulful “Pressure.”
Roberson’s dialogue borders on sanctimoniousness, is delivered like a screed, increasing in volume and an accusatory tone that comes across as in-your-face finger-wagging. Sometimes, she’s lecturing us, other times, she is telling off characters. This is a female chorus that is a bit too strident as a cautionary tale.
With the issues facing the characters – destructive romantic entanglements, emotional dishonesty, fear, rejection, intimidation, suicidal and murderous thoughts, greed, coercion, sex abuse, and human rights violations – the level of distress starts at 11 and escalates from there.
There is little time to connect with the characters because, like they are, we are plunged into the deep end, and the lack of effective communication prevents anyone from resolving serious problems. (Which of course is the tragedy, but the audience needs to build empathy).
I can understand the female distress presented here, because it touches on serious themes that are present in the world today, and need addressing.
So, the tone starts dark, then grows more dramatic with its torrent of heated confrontations and lots of yelling. There is much handwringing, self-righteous defiance, and selfish, petulant and cruel behaviors.
Tender moments are brief, but a few songs offer another facet of the characters, and those numbers have something deeply personal to say.
Because ultimately the message is that we are not alone, and unified, we can turn things around – and that is something to grab onto, bracketed by the opening and closing number “Live or Die.”
Kampbell Hemeyer as Trinity, Jordan Ray Duncan as Robbie, Chris Melton, Male Chorus. Photo by Florence Flick.
Kampbell Hemeyer plays lost soul Trinity, whose crippling despair should evoke more heartbreak. Demonstrating vulnerability, she is an important thread to the time and space continuity. Her solo number is a bittersweet “A Girl Like Me” and sings the sensitive “Just Someone” with Robbie.
Ella Penico shows some gumption as confused and scared Olivia, who must realize doing the right thing is always the best choice. Her solo number “With Nobody” is a heart-tugger.
In the title role, Josie Schnelten is the determined and bitter Cascade, who is seeking revenge for several grievances. Her passion needs to ignite the others into action.
Schnelten has a strong stage presence, and it’s up to her to unite the characters fighting for humanity, or we are a lost cause.
Cascade has returned to her old university to investigate the mysterious death of Trinity, who is her ex-girlfriend. She is unsure of who to trust and now is uncovering a conspiracy that could burn the whole town down.
The smug morally bankrupt male characters Robbie (Jordan Ray Duncan) and Luke (Luke Goeckner) are up to their eyeballs in no-good horrible oppression, running a criminal enterprise. Their friend Dylan, played by David Pesoni, seems caught in the middle.
A love triangle, Cascade joins Robbie and Trinity on a tender “Looking at You,” and then Luke on “Time” and Dylan on “Hurt.”
Robbie and Luke are tough roles, and the actors look too much alike, need to be better delineated so we can understand motivations, shifting sentiments, and how they affect mindsets.
The play is presented on a largely empty stage, and sound designer Sasha Bateman ensures everyone can be heard.
Ella Penico as Olivia, Luke Goeckner as Luke. Photo by Florence Flick.
Gruenloh directed his own play, and he employed a stylized structure that involves the other actors being on stage while action focuses on mostly couples’ scenes. Actors walk to their marks, and that presents a loose format. Occasionally, they will stand, like a chorus, reciting lines reminiscent of Greek mythology.
Gruenloh was inspired by Sophocles’ 441 B.C. work because, as he explains in the program, culture uses it time and again during eras of democratic uncertainty. He wrote it at a time of national fervor, attaching the concepts of tragedy and folly to the subject of tyranny.
In the 2400 years since, there have been hundreds of translations and adaptations commenting on the extreme political divide. This is certainly perfect timing for people to revolt against oppression and intolerance, and using youth as a conduit is an intriguing direction.
Gruenloh, who founded Tesseract Theatre Company in 2010 with friend Brittanie Gunn, is an accomplished playwright whose works have been produced across the country. He was the artistic director until 2022, and now Gunn and Kevin Corpuz are in charge.
Gruenloh’s drama “Adverse Effects” was a 2020 finalist in the ScreenCraft Drama competition, and he won the 2017 St. Louis Fringe Festival for his play “Hot for T. Rex.” His “Purple Heart City” was published by NextStage Press in 2021. He also acts and directs.
Gruenloh, who is an assistant professor of theatre at Missouri Science and Technology in Rolla, works well with Gen Z, and inspires the cast who convey a passion for the material and project. Building on that sincerity could really be a turning point, for how he tackles social justice issues is admirable.
Chris Melton as the Male Chorus (Narrator). Photo by Florence Flick.
What this cast lacks in life experience and theatrical training techniques, they compensate for with their enthusiasm and commitment. They appear to be open to the challenge of shaping this original material, which should be workshopped further to develop deeper connections and broader multi-generational appeal.
From the start, there is little reason presented to engage with characters – no immediate gateway to connect. We should feel their anguish and pain.
On July 19, opening night, several vocals were problematic at times. More coaching by music director Randon Lane would have been helpful.
However, the finale reprising “Live or Die” is strong with pleasant harmonies. I’d like to become more familiar with Wernke’s and Gruenloh’s songs, for they had interesting melodies and lyrics from the heart.
The score is played solely on a piano, and the modern motifs reminiscent of rock operas and “Spring Awakening.” Wernke is also a professor at Missouri S&T.
The program does not include a list of the 11 musical numbers, but there are some standouts worth hearing again.
While ambitious and well-intentioned, “Cascade’s Fire” needs to be tighter, trimmer, and toned down with less shouting. It is not quite professionally polished for its close-up yet but has the potential to succeed with its drive and ideas.
Narrators Brittany Roberson, Melton.Photo by Florence Flick.
Tesseract Theatre Company presents “Cascade’s Fire” July 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 at 8 p.m. and July 28 at 4 p.m. at The Marcelle, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, in the Grand Center. It’s currently a one-hour and 50 minute one-act without intermission. For more information, visit https://www.tesseracttheatre.com/2024-summer-new-musical-festival
Josie Schnelten as Cascade, David Pesoni as Dylan, and Melton as Male Chorus Photo by Florence Flick.
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, MO (March 4, 2024) – A new musical written for students at the Missouri University of Science & Technology will have a brief run in New York City this month before having its World Premiere at the Tesseract Theatre Company in St. Louis this July.
Cascade’s Fire, a modern adaptation of Sophocles’ Antigone story, was written by Taylor Gruenloh and Kyle Wernke, professors at Missouri S&T.
“The students at this university,” Gruenloh says, “are super bright and drawn to creative adventures. Like other theatre programs at schools across the country, we came out of the pandemic swinging and haven’t slowed back down yet.”
Gruenloh and Wernke’s Cascade’s Fire had a workshop production on the campus of Missouri S&T in October 2023. Since the university doesn’t have a theatre major, the acting ensemble featured students studying in majors like engineering management, physics, education, and biological science.
“It was a staggeringly new experience,” said David Pisoni, a chemical engineering major. “Not only do you get to go through the rehearsal process with the writer and composer of the piece, but you’re approaching it with completely fresh eyes.”
Cascade’s Fire sees the character of Cascade return to her old college campus looking for answers after the death of her ex-girlfriend.
Taylor Gruenloh
The same cast from the October production will travel with the show to New York this month.
“It has always been a dream of mine to perform in New York,” said Madison Kastner, an education major. “I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to do the thing I love.”
While the student actors perform Cascade’s Fire during the evenings at Under St. Marks Theatre in the East Village, Gruenloh will be escorting them to career related activities during the day.
“Not only do these few students get to perform a new musical in New York, the university is helping send a larger student group with us to visit an entertainment engineering firm, talk with technical theatre professionals, and seeing a new Broadway show.”
Gruenloh says it’s his mission at Missouri S&T to showcase pathways for engineering students to achieve careers in the arts. “A lot of students came in around the start of the pandemic, thinking they weren’t going to have many opportunities in theatre, thinking this school only championed STEM activities, and now they’re taking a show to the busiest theatre city in the world.”
Cascade’s Fire won’t stop after the brief run in New York. St. Louis’ Tesseract Theatre Company will produce the musical’s official World Premiere as part of their 2024 New Musical Summer Fest in July.
Gruenloh has a strong history with Tesseract Theatre, co-founding the company in 2012 with current Creative Director Brittanie Gunn. Gruenloh stepped away from the company in August last year to focus on building the theatre program at Missouri S&T. “We’re excited to bring Taylor back,” said Kevin Corpuz, a Creative Director at Tesseract. “To share his new musical with St. Louis audiences is very special and we can’t wait to get started.”
While the St. Louis production of Cascade’s Fire will have a new cast at Tesseract for the World Premiere, the titular role of Cascade will be played by Josie Schnelten, who originated the role in October and will lead the show in New York this month.
“I never thought that I’d get the opportunity to bring a brand-new character to life,” said Schnelten, an engineering management major at Missouri S&T. “It’s been special to work on Cascade from her very beginnings and I cannot wait to be a part of her professional debut in St. Louis.”
The Tesseract Theatre Company will run Cascade’s Fire July 19 – 24 at the Marcelle Theatre in Midtown St. Louis. The 2024 New Musical Summer Fest will also feature My Heart Says Go, a show about a first-generation college student, Indigo, who defies his father and drops out of medical school to become a singer-songwriter.
Gruenloh, who is directing Cascade’s Fire in St. Louis, said, “This is the best possible outcome for this little experiment. I wanted to give the theatre students at Missouri S&T a taste of new play development, the bragging rights of originating roles in a musical, but the support from the university and the excitement at Tesseract Theatre has made this project a years long journey that is leaving a lot of people with some great memories.”
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.
After a brief hiatus, we’re back with our round-up of people, places, and events in the St. Louis region, a tad behind in posting our September/summer swan song.
IN COMES COMPANY: Stephen Sondheim’s groundbreaking musical “Company” – the female-led revival that won the Tony in 2022, kicks off its 25-city national tour on Oct. 8 in Schenectady, N.Y., with the St. Louis stop Feb. 27-March 10 at the Fox Theatre.
Belleville native Ann Beyersdorfer, associate set designer for the Broadway revival, worked with production designer Bunny Christie, who won her fourth Olivier Award for the London production design. And she’s on the team that has been preparing the hilarious and sophisticated show for the road.
(Three-time Tony Award winner Jack Lane, co-founder and executive producer emeritus of Stages St. Louis, was one of the Broadway show’s co-producers.)
Ann was back in town this summer, as scenic designer for “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” and “West Side Story” at The Muny, and I was fortunate to interview her then for the Belleville News-Democrat.
For a deeper dive into the mechanics of getting a Broadway show transferred to the road, read about her journey here on PopLifeSTL.com:
A winner of best set design of a play for “Afterglow” at the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, she’ll be part of the team taking the production to London Oct. 17–Nov. 24, with an official opening Oct. 22.
And as an art director on the visual shorts for “Saturday Night Live,” hopefully you will be able to see more of her work when the show resumes on Oct. 14. You may have seen the elaborate “HBO Mario Kart Trailer” she worked on when Emmy-nominated Pedro Pascal hosted.
Cheers to Ann and the tour launch! (We’ll drink to that!). For more information, visit: https://companymusical.com/
Nichelle Lewis, Wayne Brady
BRAND NEW DAY: “The Wiz,” the 1974 super-soul musical adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s beloved children’s novel “The Wizard of Oz,” which was given a reworking for The Muny’s 2018 season, is Broadway-bound in 2024, with St. Louis-connected producers, but this new revival is touring first. Opening night was Sept. 23 at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, and the reviews were raves.
“The audience and the whole evening was full of joy and energy, extended applause, and standing ovations,” stated the Maryland Theatre Guide on Sept. 29. “Powerhouse performances and stunning choreography,” enthused the Baltimore Sun.
The first-ever revival will be easing down the road to 12 other cities, including Chicago (Nov. 28 – Dec. 10). For more information, visit: https://wizmusical.com/
The producing team of Kristin Caskey and Mike Isaacson (Muny artistic director and executive producer) and a long list of others, including Terry Schnuck, is behind this show. Caskey, now of the Ambassador Theatre Group, spent 20 years with Fox Theatricals. She and Isaacson produced the Tony-winning “Fun Home” in 2015 and this year’s Best Revival winner “Parade.”
Isaacson said they have been working on a revival for eight years, and plans are to mount another national tour after the Broadway limited engagement. In preparation for The Muny, he received permission from the original creators to make some changes. Amber Ruffin, recent Tony nominee for “Some Like It Hot,” wrote additional material – and had worked on the Muny script – from William F. Brown’s original book. You may know her as a writer on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” as she frequently appears.
Isaacson revealed that in a terrific Broadway World interview with James Lindhorst, who also talked with producers Jack Lane, Mike Bosner and Terry Schnuck – heavy-hitters at this year’s Tonys (“& Juliet,” “Shucked” and “Parade”).
Schele Williams is helming this show, with Wayne Brady as The Wiz from Jan. 16 to Broadway engagement, and Alan Mingo Jr. in the title role Sept. 23 – Jan. 14, 2024, and newcomer Nichelle Lewis as Dorothy.
The original 1974 production, directed by Geoffrey Holder and choreographed by George Faison, won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, and was adapted into a movie in 1978 starring Diana Ross, Richard Pryor, and Michael Jackson. NBC broadcast a live version in 2015, but a planned revival then did not materialize.
Colin, Jeanine
BRUSH WITH GREATNESS: Speaking of the musical “Fun Home,” composer Jeanine Tesori — the most honored and most prolific female theatrical composer in history, was in St. Louis this summer, and stopped in to visit with the local cast rehearing “Caroline, or Change,” produced by Fly North Theatricals.
To get the opportunity to talk with Tesori, who has written five Broadway musicals and received six Tony Award nominations, winning for “Fun Home” and the recent “Kimberly Akimbo,” was one of the best moments ever, according to music director Colin Healy.
Healy summed it up this way on Facebook: “She and Mike Isaacson (producer) offered such wonderful insight into the process of writing, building, and producing ‘Caroline, Or Change,’ validating what is already apparent when hearing the score: how much a labor of love and Herculean creative endeavor ‘Caroline’ was and continues to be… She spoke to us for over an hour and took questions from everyone.”
(Photo: Colin Healy and Jeanine Tesori)
NEW HORIZONS: All good wishes for theater and media folks moving on, changing directions and making the most of opportunities.
Bravo to Taylor Gruenloh, whose new musical “Cascade’s Fire,” a modern Antigone story co-written by Kyle Wernkel, will premiere Oct. 12 and run 13-15 and 19-21 in the Black Box Theatre at Missouri Science and Technology in Rolla, where he is on the Arts, Languages and Philosophy faculty. Taylor wrote the book and lyrics while Wernkel wrote the music.
Taylor recently stepped down as Creative Director at The Tesseract Theatre Company at the end of August, after their successful run of “Kinky Boots.” One of the most prolific and creative folks in town, I can’t wait to see what else he will accomplish.
Congratulations to Joe Gfaller, who has been managing director of Metro Theater Company since 2019, on becoming managing director of Clear Space Theatre Company, a 20-year-old regional theater in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. He’ll be leaving in mid-October. Jessie Youngblood, the current development director, will serve as interim managing director beginning Oct. 9. Always enjoyed working with Joe, starting with the Opera Theater of St. Louis in 2014. Joe has served Metro, St. Louis’s premiere professional theater for youth and families, well.
Best wishes to Julia Flood, Metro artistic director for the past 10 years, who has announced her retirement after the 51st season. Of Joe’s departure, she said: “Joe has had boundless energy and enthusiasm for the mission and work of Metro Theater Company. I feel lucky to have had the benefit of his partnership through the complexities of the pandemic times and wish him much success and happiness in his new venture.” (They both can be very proud of their endeavors). A free Fall Family Festival to celebrate MTC’s 50 years of service to the community will be held on Oct. 21 and 22. A toast in Gfaller’s honor will be held at that event on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m.
Carol Daniel
Carol Daniel may have retired from one prominent longtime gig, but she is embarking on a fantastic journey. The award-winning St. Louis journalist, reporter, host, columnist, and author has joined Nine PBS as a Senior Producer and Host.
Daniel said she looks forward to telling the stories of her community in a new way — with a podcast about people making an impact here, and also produce interviews and stories that celebrate and showcase underrepresented voices for Nine PBS’s content flagship, Living St. Louis. Yes to this! I look forward to seeing her next chapter.
Daniel has more than 40 years of experience as a host on KMOX Radio, as well as work on Great Day St. Louis on KMOV/Channel 4, and a columnist for the St. Louis American. She’s been honored as a Living Legend by the National Association of Black Journalists–St. Louis, was recently inducted into the Lincoln University Alumni Hall of Fame, and was a 2022 inductee into the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame.
Longtime public relations and marketing maestros Eric Pugh and Dylan Stanley have departed our fair river city for beachier pastures. Last at the Muny, Eric is now promoting The Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Fla., the largest Equity theatre in Florida, and the largest Repertory theatre in Southeastern U.S. Just wonderful to work with both, and I’m glad we had time together.
Dylan, who has moved to Los Angeles with his fiancé, Nicolas Valdez, who is embarking on a fellowship at USC, will keep us posted on his next challenge after giving us his all at Stifel Theatre and Enterprise Center (and performing in Tesseract Theatre Company’s triumphant “Kinky Boots.”
Best wishes to Lee Anne Mathews in her new role as Education and Artistic Director for the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation! Before May, she was making things happen at Westport Playhouse.
Congratulations to Brian McKinley on his new role as Director of Education and Community Program at the Black Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.
HOMETOWNERS: Comedian-actor Cedric the Entertainer’s new book, crime caper “Flipping Boxcars,” fictionalizes his grandfather, Floyd “Babe” Boyce.
Jon Hamm is in two, not one, television series this fall. He joined the cast of “The Morning Show” for season 3, now streaming on Apple TV+, and will be in “Fargo,” season 5, which starts Nov. 21 on FX and Hulu.
Nicholas “Sifu” Alsup. Photo: Robert Voets/CBS
Best wishes to Nicholas “Sifu” Alsup of O’Fallon, Ill., who was chosen as one of 18 contestants on the 45th season of CBS’ “Survivor” that started Sept. 27.He is a larger-than-life personality, and I was able to interview him through permission with CBS. https://news.yahoo.com/o-fallon-gym-owner-one-120000863.html
CHEERS: Congratulations to New Jewish Theatre on their 25th anniversary as a regional professional theatre in St. Louis; and Gateway Center for Performing Arts school, and youth theater company, on their 10th anniversary in Webster Groves. A feature article by me will be in the Webster-Kirkwood Times soon.
OUT AND ABOUT: Two Colins in the ‘Lou news! Co-owners Colin Healy and Bradley Rohlf of Fly North Theatricals, have opened their new home and social hangout, The Greenfinch Theater and Dive, at 2525 South Jefferson Avenue (the old Way Out Club).. The bar is open every night from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. You won’t want to miss Stool Pigeon Open Mic Comedy Night on Mondays and Drunk Voice Lessons karaoke with live piano accompaniment (and critiques) by Colin Healy on Wednesdays, plus Burlesque Bingo’s in the rotation too. They are also accepting reservations for their black box theater.
Colin Jost
SNL Head Writer Colin Jost was the Celebrity Guest Host at the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s Illumination Gala on June 3 at The Ritz-Carlton, a major fundraising event for the Siteman Cancer Center. Not sure what he said about “The Square Beyond Compare” but Imo’s posted his photo. Since 2007, the event has raised more than $42 million to support research funds
MEMORY LANE: Last month in pop culture history.
Sept. 26, 1975: “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” opened in Westwood, Calif., and tanked at the box office, but later would become the definition of a cult classic, inspiring interactive screenings with toast, toilet paper and more.
If you attended midnight screenings in the late ‘70s at the Varsity Theatre in St. Louis (where Vintage Vinyl is now), you might have run in to a teenage Michael Stipe, future alt-rock band REM frontman, who is dressed as Frank-n-Furter here in this vintage newsclip on KSDK’s “Newsbeat.” He told the reporter: “We’re all normal, really.”
Why on earth was Stipe, now 63, in St. Louis then? His dad was in the Army, and they moved to several states during his childhood. In the late ‘70s, he lived in Collinsville, Ill., and attended high school there and went on to Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.. Later, he would move to Athens, Ga., for college, and met record store clerk Peter Buck, which led to forming a band with Mike Mills and Bill Berry…and the rest is history..
Rocky Horror played midnights at the Varsity Theatre from April 1976 until Jan. 3, 1988 when it closed for good. It was one of the first 30 theatres in the U.S. to do so.
I was fortunate to interview Barry Bostwick (Brad in the movie) when he had been scheduled to appear at Wizard World in St. Louis, but had to cancel, and he graciously talked about making the movie by phone. True delight to talk with and write about — here’s my BND feature from 2017.
IN MEMORIAM: Frequent visitor to Gaslight Square with the infamous Compass players, RIP Alan Arkin (March 26, 1934 – June 29, 2023). Archival photo is at Crystal Palace with Anne Meara.
From William Roth, the founder and artistic director of St. Louis Actors’ Studio, who renovated The Gaslight Theatre in the Central West End, on Arkin:
“He made his off-Broadway debut in the late 1950s and joined the St Louis improvisational group the Compass Players in 1959. This led to a stint with the Chicago improv troupe Second City and his Broadway debut, in 1961, in the company’s show ‘From the Second City, which he co-wrote.’
Tony-winning actor Michael McGrath, whose last show was at the Muny this summer – he did a fine job as Mr. Mushnik in “Little Shop of Horrors,” passed away in his sleep Sept. 14 at his home in Bloomfield, N.J. He was 65. That wasn’t his first show in St. Louis – in 1990, he played John Adams in Theater Factory’s “1776.” He was first nominated for a Tony in “Spamalot,” and won for “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” playing a bootlegger, in 2012. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/15/theater/michael-mcgrath-dead.html
Maggie Ryan, founder of Insight Theatre and inspiration to many, who spent 36 years as an English teacher and director of theater at Nerinx Hall, died Sept. 10, at age 80, after a short battle with leukemia. She was a lovely woman to interact with and cared passionately about theater. Insight operated for 12 years, won several St. Louis Theater Circle Awards including a legendary “Death of a Salesman” directed by Wayne Loui and starring father-son duo John and Jason Contini. Unfortunately, Insight closed in 2020. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/stltoday/name/margaret-ryan-obituary?id=53065958
Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch movie and theater critic, died Aug. 29, from an undisclosed illness. He was 70. I worked with Calvin, both in the St. Louis Film Critics Association, and with the St. Louis Theater Circle, and much admired his writing skill. His insight and passion for the arts will be missed.
CALENDAR NOTES: John Cusack’s screening of “Say Anything,” originally scheduled for October 28 at Stifel Theatre, has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 30. All tickets for the Oct. 28 performance will be honored at the rescheduled date. The popular actor will follow the screening with a conversation regarding his career and the making of the film. Fans will get the opportunity to experience a moderated discussion, with John answering audience questions as well.
Me and Greta, Oct 1, 2022
SHAMELESSNAME-DROPPING: Before she had the biggest movie of the summer (“Barbie”!) and her second son in February, Greta Gerwig was pleasantly accommodating us press troops at the New York Film Festival 2022 (for “White Noise”). The accomplished actress-writer-director is exactly as she seems, a lovely person in person. I had to compliment her on the 2019 “Little Women,” and she said she had a great time working with the cast of that movie. Hopefully, we will be seeing her during the upcoming awards season. On Aug. 6, the film crossed the $1 billion mark worldwide, making her the first woman with sole director credit to have a movie make more than $1 billion.
(My film review: https://poplifestl.com/unexpected-unpredictable-barbie-is-an-irresistible-pop-o-culture/)
Our coda has been added for this issue:
RANDOM THOUGHTS: As you can probably tell, I enjoy waltzing down memory lane, and yes, I was one of the early attendees of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” midnight showings at the Varsity Theatre in 1977, which was so much fun. If you are a lover of cosplay, I have spied folks in Barbie and Ken outfits at “Barbie” — my prediction for hottest Halloween costumes — and I hear from Abe Goldfarb, hilarious as Otho in the touring company of “Beetlejuice,” who was on the weekly PopLifeSTL.com podcast co-hosted by Carl “The Intern” Middleman and myself on Oct. 4, that there’s many folks dressing up at the shows. He’s excited that they’re here Oct. 13.
The St. Louis Blues open at home Oct. 12. Just once I’d like to buy a team T-shirt where the player I selected isn’t traded. (I bought an Alexander Pietrangelo one — with a C — before the playoffs in ’19 and a Ryan O’Reilly in 2022.)
Are we having the Daylight Savings Time ‘fall back’ happen this year or is it over? Anyone? I’m so confused.
Where in the world is Lynn this weekend? Judging the costume contest at the sensational annual Witches and Wizards Festival in O’Fallon, Ill., a really fun event
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.
