Classics and Award Winners are part of The Rep’s 2024-2025 Season

Classics and Award Winners are part of The Rep’s 2024-2025 Season

 The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) announced its 2024-2025 season on March 21, which includes four world-class productions all taking place at the Loretto-Hilton Center, in the Virginia Jackson Browning Theatre on the campus of Webster University.

Curated to provide unique experiences for the full spectrum of the St. Louis community, the 2024-25 season includes mystery, comedy, thrilling storytelling and a holiday musical for all to enjoy.

The Rep’s 2024-25 Season kicks off with Frederick Knott’s suspense thriller Dial “M” for Murder September 18 – October 13, 2024.Featuring an exclusively local St. Louis cast,  audiences will be at the edge of their seats as they delve into the deception and betrayal of this timeless classic.

Next up to celebrate the holiday season, Million Dollar Quartet Christmas brings together  Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins in a holiday jam session that will have audiences toasting the season December 4 – 22, 2024. A collaboration with STAGES St. Louis, this production combines two powerhouse performing arts organizations on one stage and is the first production of the musical to be performed in St. Louis.

At the top of 2025 comes the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage’s Tony-nominated comedy, Clyde’s, February 5 – March 2, 2025.  Named the most produced play of 2023, a truck stop sandwich shop becomes the unexpected stage for redemption, second chances and the quest for the perfect sandwich.

To close out the Mainstage season from the adaptor of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express comes Ken Ludwig’s up-roaring retelling of Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, March 19 – April 13, 2025.

Akin to The Rep’s recent productions of Moby Dick, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Pride and Prejudice, Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood’s expansive storytelling will have audiences swept away as the charismatic outlaw battles a power-hungry prince for the soul of England.

“Following a banner year filled with critically acclaimed productions and a tremendous outpouring of support from the community, we look forward to continuing the momentum of artistic excellence that creates memorable theatrical experiences for all of our patrons in our upcoming 58th Anniversary season,” said Danny Williams, Managing Director. “

We received valuable feedback this past season and have diligently devised innovative and sustainable action steps to meet the needs of the theatre and our cherished community. This exciting season is a reflection of those needs, which presents an opportunity to produce a wide array of offerings to delight and challenge our valued patrons as well as welcome new and old audiences to the theatre to position it as an enduring institution for the St. Louis community.”

Looking ahead, The Rep is excited to introduce its new Augustin Family Artistic Director later this spring and the much anticipated Steve Woolf Studio Series taking place in the Emerson Studio Theatre will be announced later this summer.

The Rep will also continue to offer its Learning and Community Engagement (LACE) programs that provide people of all ages opportunities to deeply engage with the art they see on stage through immersive in-classroom and extracurricular learning opportunities, public forums for civic discourse, and opportunities to participate in the artmaking process.

Programs include the Story 2 Stage Festival which features student written and produced plays, the Imaginary Theatre Company (ITC) public performance in Spring 2025 and Camp Rep, where students over the summer receive a two week immersion in all things theatre culminating with a family showcase.

Find a full schedule of the 2024-25 season programs below. Subscriber renewals begin today with new subscription purchases available April 15, 2024. The Rep offers the Classic Mainstage subscription for all four productions, a Red Carpet Exclusive subscription to attend Opening Night, and a Flex Pass subscription which allows patrons to pick and choose what shows to see.

Single tickets will go on sale later this summer. For more information and to purchase a subscription, visit www.repstl.org or call the Box Office, Monday – Friday from 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at (314) 968-4925. The Rep Box Office will also be available for in-person support at the Loretto-Hilton Center, Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis 2024-25 Season

For tickets, accessibility, and visitor information, visit repstl.org.

Dial “M” for Murder

Sept 18 – Oct 13, 2024
By Frederick Knott

Step into the shadows of a meticulously planned murder. In the elegant home of Tony and Margot Wendice, a sinister game of cat and mouse unfolds. Tony, a calculating mastermind, plots to kill his wife for her inheritance, fueled by revenge and greed. When his perfect plan spirals into chaos, a web of lies and deceit is spun, threatening to ensnare the innocent. Join the relentless Inspector Hubbard as he unravels the twisted truth. Will Tony’s trap hold, or will justice be served? Experience the suspense and intrigue of Dial “M” for Murder, a play that will leave you breathless until the final curtain falls. 

Major Production Sponsor – Ann Cady Scott

Million Dollar Quartet Christmas
Presented in partnership with STAGES St. Louis
Dec 4 – Dec 22, 2024
Book by Colin Ascott

ARE YOU READY TO ROCK? Around the Christmas tree, that is! Million Dollar Quartet Christmas brings Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins back together for a festive jam session that will have you jingling ALL the way! In the decked-out Sun Records studio, filled to the brim with Christmas cheer and enough musical talent to power a city grid, these legendary musicians blend their chart-topping hits with seasonal cheer. Get ready for a holly jolly journey through this iconic rock n’ roll musical! 

Clyde’s
Feb 5 – Mar 2, 2025
By Lynn Nottage 

From two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage comes the Tony-nominated-play, Clyde’s. In a small run-down sandwich joint, ex-cons endure Clyde’s fiery critiques and a scorching kitchen. Yet, when a mystic chef throws down the gauntlet—craft the ultimate sandwich—the team ignites with newfound zeal. Fueled by this savory challenge, they transform their past into a recipe for triumphant fresh starts. Join this spirited culinary quest where second chances are as vibrant as the flavors sizzling in the pan! 

Major Production Sponsor – Whitaker Foundation

Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood
Mar 19 – April 13, 2025
By Ken Ludwig

Join the Merry Rebellion! Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood is a riotous romp through the enchanted forest, where Robin and his lively band of outlaws plot to outwit a greedy prince. Filled with daring escapades, mischievous humor, and a dash of romance, this timeless tale of justice and camaraderie is a swashbuckling adventure the whole family will cheer for! 

Major Production Sponsor – The Leading Ladies of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis 

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ABOUT THE REPERTORY THEATRE OF ST. LOUIS

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) is the region’s premiere theatre for compelling, award-winning theatrical experiences that entertain, engage, and illuminate audiences’ shared humanity. Founded in 1966, for more than five decades The Rep has sustained and built upon its commitment to artistic excellence by creating, developing, and curating adventurous new works and beloved classics from the most exciting emerging and established American voices. The Rep builds bridges within the St. Louis community and beyond by offering productions that allow audiences to see themselves and the stories that matter to them represented on stage, through the organization’s robust community engagement programs, and across its educational initiatives.

The Rep welcomes audiences with inspiring and expansive productions at several inviting stages across St. Louis including the Virginia Jackson Browning Theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts and other venues around the St. Louis area. A thought leader in the national theatre landscape, The Rep is a dedicated partner with arts organizations in St. Louis and across the country, expanding audiences’ appreciation and understanding of the world through theatre. In December 2023, The Rep was named a Missouri Historical Theatre, which is awarded to theaters that contribute to tourism in Missouri, promote arts in its community and throughout Missouri, and has been operational for a minimum of 50 years. For more information, please visit repstl.org and follow @repstl.

‘Dear Jack, Dear Louise’ Taps Into the Beauty and Power of Connection

‘Dear Jack, Dear Louise’ Taps Into the Beauty and Power of Connection

By Lynn Venhaus

Playwright Ken Ludwig uses the written word like music in a symphony as his love letter to his parents, and actors Ryan Lawson-Maeske and Molly Burris make the heart-tugging “Dear Jack, Dear Louise” sing.

Now playing from June 9 to June 26 at the New Jewish Theatre, this dramatic comedy is an unexpected pleasure from its look back at an era of “The Greatest Generation” to its intimate love story that reinforces the power of human connection, no matter how many miles between.

With the help of the expressive performers who make the written words leap off the stationery, director Sharon Hunter has moved the pair around just enough in the confined space to keep focus on the two lonely souls forging a deep, long-lasting bond through war-time correspondence.

The challenge for Lawson-Maeske and Burris is to engage without making reading letters static, and they showcase their substantial skills for creating sincere portraits of two different personalities reaching out.

Lawson-Maeske, a two-time St. Louis Theater Circle awards nominee, for “Tribes” in 2018 and “Photograph 51” in 2020, is endearing as reserved U.S. Army Captain Jack Ludwig, stationed at a military hospital in Oregon, who writes a formal letter to Louise Rabiner, an aspiring dancer and actress in New York City, because his father suggested it. The dads know each other.

Ryan Lawson-Maeske. Photo by Jon Gitchoff

From her first response, it’s clear that Louise is a live wire, with a flair for the dramatic, and is without a filter in her missives. Webster Conservatory graduate Molly Burris seamlessly projects the Brooklyn-born chorus girl’s curiosity, grit, and sunny nature.

The outgoing Louise coaxes the more introverted doctor to share more about himself, and gradually he opens up. Thus begins a long-distance friendship that eventually turns into love over the course of several years, — 1942-1945, to be exact.

As the war escalates, so do Jack’s duties and thus, his presence in increasingly dangerous situations, as he is sent to the European front before they’ve had a chance to meet. His optimism has dissipated as he treats injured soldiers, and while Louise’s spunkiness keeps his spirits up through her caring, cheerful words, this is a love story set against the front lines of war.

As young people in their 20s, the two find common ground as pen pals, sharing their innermost thoughts and feelings. One of the warmest, most humorous exchanges is Louise’s adventures meeting Jack’s parents, his sister Betty, and his mother’s many sisters in his hometown of Coatesville, Pa.

Louise’s accounts of her audition successes and disappointments are vivid, and Jack’s frustration at not being granted a leave so they can finally meet to fulfill their plans for dinner and a show – and dancing – is palpable. Those plans keep being delayed, even by virtue of the story that we know has a happy ending, building suspense and tension as time passes (or runs out).

Before personal ads, email, texts and dating apps, people often met through acquaintances. Letters were the most common way to communicate across the miles – and have been explored eloquently in many pop culture hallmarks, like Ken Burns’ Civil War documentary, the James Stewart-Margaret Sullavan romantic comedy “The Shop Around the Corner” (remade into “You’ve Got Mail” with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in 1998) and the true-story based “84 Charing Cross Road” starring Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft in 1987.

Quaint by today’s standards, “Dear Jack, Dear Louise” is a sentimental journey that evokes warm memories of family members who developed similar relationships. My parents first met at a local teen hangout, then wrote letters when my dad was on a naval ship in the Pacific Ocean during the Korean War and married upon his return.

Jack and Louise are relatable, therefore we maintain interest – but that’s largely in part because sparks fly between Lawson-Maeske and Burris as they are in their rooms, no small feat. You can feel the anticipation of receiving a letter, the exhilaration after the mail arrives, and how worried Louise is when she doesn’t hear from Jack while he’s treating the wounded at other locations.

Dunsi Dai’s scenic design creates a character-driven tableau through their living quarters – conveying that he’s fastidious and she’s flamboyant. He effectively contrasts Jack’s austere military barracks with Louise’s colorful, cramped boarding house room. Vintage posters of plays and movies further enhance the old-timey ‘40s feel. To move our eyes upward, Dai has hung some of their outfits.

Molly Burris. Photo by Jon Gitchoff

The technical elements are topnotch, with Amanda Were’ sound design setting the mood with retro Big Band music and creating harrowing war action through battlefield action. Daniel LaRose’s lighting design is warm and welcoming, and Michele Friedman Siler’s period costume design successfully captures the character’s personal style.

The play’s lyrical qualities are no coincidence. Ludwig, who studied music at Harvard with Leonard Bernstein, has written the smash-hit farce “Lend Me a Tenor,” nine-time Tony Award winner in 1989 and its revival in 2010, as well as the book for the Gershwin musical “Crazy for You” in 1992 and the hilarious comedy “Moon Over Buffalo” in 1995. All are set in showbiz in another decade, so he is comfortable in the World War II setting. Ludwig is a two-time Olivier Award winner, by the way.

By drawing from hundreds of letters between his mother and father, Ludwig has found the poetry in basic connection, which is timeless and also couldn’t be timelier. The well-constructed play premiered in December 2019 – you know, the Before Times – right before the world turned upside-down. If ever a contemporary work of art tapped into ordinary people having simple yet profound daily experiences to remind us of what connects us all, it is this show.

“Dear Jack, Dear Louise” delivers a joyous show, with just two people reading letters to create an honest, heartfelt moment. Expect that tears will come – get that tissue ready.

New Jewish Theatre presents Ken Ludwig’s “Dear Jack, Dear Louise,” from June 9 through June 26, with performances on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m., at the Wool Studio Theatre at the JCCA’s Performing Arts Center, 2 Millstone Campus Drive. For more information, call the box office at 314-442-3283 or visit newjewishtheatre.org

Romantic Comedy ‘Dear Jack, Dear Louise’ at New Jewish Theatre

Romantic Comedy ‘Dear Jack, Dear Louise’ at New Jewish Theatre

The J’s New Jewish Theatre will continue its 24th season in June with the romantic comedy, Dear Jack, Dear Louise from June 9 – 26, 2022. The show follows the tremendous success of the season’s last show, Laughter on the 23rd floor.

“I am so pleased to present the regional premier of Ken Ludwig’s sweet and earnest love story,” said artistic director Eddie Coffield.

Molly Burris

The production will be directed by Sharon Hunter, artistic director of Moonstone Theatre Company and is making her NJT directorial debut.

The show will feature a talented two-person cast, NJT veteran Ryan Lawson Maeske as Jack and Molly Burris, who will be making her NJT debut, as Louise.

The creative team is comprised of Dunsi Dai on scenery, David LaRose on lighting, Amanda Were on sound and Michele Siler on costumes.

Ryan Lawson-Maeske

“I am thrilled to be making my NJT directing debut, “said Sharon Hunter. “I am honored to help tell the real-life story of two people who fall in love while corresponding during WWII. My family worked for the USO for over 15 years and both my mother and grandmother corresponded with loved ones serving in the military during WWII and Vietnam. This play is very close to my heart,” she said.

Dear Jack, Dear Louise is inspired by the playwright’s parents romance as pen pals during World War II.

The play chronicles the romance that spans the duration of World War II between a young military doctor, stationed in Medford, Oregon, and other places, and a budding young actress whose career hopes have taken her all the way from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Given the distance between them, the only way they can conduct, let alone evolve, their relationship is through letters, exchanged at times at breakneck pace and at other times with frustrating, worrisome slowness.

The show will premiere at The J’s Wool Studio Theatre at 2 Millstone Campus Drive in St. Louis. Individual tickets for the show are $47-$54. Season tickets and flex passes, which feature a five-ticket package customized to the ticket holder’s preference are available through the Box Office, by phone 314-442-3283 or online at newjewishtheatre.org. Masks must always be worn properly covering the nose and mouth during all New Jewish Theatre productions.