2012 Summer Arts Guide
Published May 23, 2012
Ladies and Gentlemen — in this one issue only — the Jewish Light brings you the all-singing, all-dancing 2012 Summer Arts Guide! We have for you a plethora of performances, perhaps more cultural events than ever before seen in the pages of this newspaper.
Oh, about that singing and dancing. Because the Light is a print medium, we can’t actually show you musical numbers. On the other hand, you don’t have to do any actual singing or dancing yourself. You simply have to buy tickets and help support our town’s vibrant summer arts scene.
So without further ado . . .
You’ve just got time to catch “Rounding Third,” said to be “a comedic and scary look at raising kids in a world where winning is everything.” Presented by HOT CITY THEATRE, the show closes Saturday, May 26 at Kranzberg Art Center, 501 North Grand Blvd. Tickets range from $15-25. Call 314-289-4063 or see www.hotcitytheatre.org.
Dance do it for you? Check out the 5th annual Spring to Dance Festival presented May 24-26 by DANCE ST. LOUIS. Thirty dance companies – including Pilobolus, Chicago Dance Crash and St. Louis’ own MADCO will be on stage, and tickets cost only $10 a night. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. at the Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 University Blvd. on the campus of the University of Missouri at St. Louis. Call 314-534-6622 or see www.dancestlouis.org.
OPERA THEATRE ST. LOUIS provides a sweet prelude to summer once again with four operas performed in rotation, each accompanied by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. The season runs through June 24 on stage at the Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Road in Webster Groves. This year, see “Carmen,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Cosi Fan Tutte” and the American premiere of “Alice in Wonderland.” Tickets range from $25 to $128. For performance dates, call 314-961-0644 or see www.opera-stl.org.
Billed as “a torrid, dark comedy,” “Insidious” opens May 25 at THE BLACK REP and runs through June 24, with matinee and evening performances at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. Tickets range from $10 to $47. Call 314-534-3810 or see www.theblackrep.org.
Love, war, deception – it’s politics as usual in William Shakespeare’s “Othello,” presented May 25 through June 17 (every night but Tuesday) by SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL ST. LOUIS. The show begins at 8 p.m. in Shakespeare Glen near the Art Museum in Forest Park. The Green Show – pre-theater entertainment — begins at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, though donations are welcome. Call 314-531-9800 or see www.sfstl.com.
The 19th annual WHITAKER MUSIC FESTIVAL presents free music concerts under the stars at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday from May 30 through July 25. Held at the Missouri Botanical Garden, the concerts are sponsored by the Garden and KDHX Radio. Visitors may bring picnic suppers in baskets or coolers. Food is also available for purchase. For details, see www.mobot.org/events/Whitaker/default.asp
Enter the air-conditioned Big Top Tent in Grand Center and be prepared for magic on many levels (literally and figuratively) as CIRCUS FLORA presents “The Wizard,” an homage to Merlin himself. The show runs May 31- June 24, with performances every day but Monday. “Little Top Wednesday” starts at 10 a.m., a special one-hour show for younger children. Tickets range from $10 to $44. For show times, call 314-289-4040 or see www.circusflora.org.
Being good? Treat yourself to “Ain’t Misbehavin’” with the intoxicating music of Fats Waller at STAGES ST. LOUIS. The show runs June 1 through July 1, with matinee and evening performances at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in the Kirkwood Civic Center at 111 S. Geyer Road. Tickets range from $15 to $55, with a senior rate of $49 for folks over 65. See www.stagesstlouis.org or call 314-821-2407.
Vacation vicariously this summer with Graham Greene’s “Travels With My Aunt,” presented by ACT INC. June 1-3 and June 14-17 at the Fontbonne University Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Blvd. Every ticket is $20. Call 314-725-9108 or see www.actinc.biz.
The INNSBROOK INSTITUTE MUSIC FESTIVAL features 17 chamber music concerts presented June 8 through 16, all under the auspices of artistic director David Halen, who also is concertmaster for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. The Innsbrook Resort is on Highway F in Warren County, about 45 minutes from St. Louis. Tickets cost $20-$30. Concert themes vary – for details see www.innsbrookinstitute.org or call 636-928-3366.
The 17th annual JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL opens June 10 and closes five days later, with all films screened at the Landmark Plaza Frontenac Cinema, 210 Frontenac Plaza. Three to five movies are shown per day, ranging from films about family, the Holocaust and Jewish people living around the globe. For details, see www.stljewishfilmfestival.org or call 314-442-3169 or 314-442-3179.
They gave us “Cabaret” and “Chicago” and other great shows, and now you can see “And the World Goes Round,” a musical revue of Kander and Ebb’s greatest hits, presented by INSIGHT THEATRE. Performances are June 14-17 and 21-24 at the Heagney Theatre at Nerinx Hall, 530 East Lockwood Ave. in Webster Groves. Tickets range from $25 to $30. Call 314-556-1293.
When “Thoroughly Modern Millie” opens the season at THE MUNY, Leslie Uggams will reprise her role from the Broadway production, which won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Meet Millie at the Muny June 18-24. The show starts at 8:15 p.m. at the theater in Forest Park. Tickets range from $10 to $70, with a limited number of free seats available. Call 314-361-1900 or see www.muny.org.
One of the “bare necessities” for children is theater – take the kids to the STAGES ST. LOUIS production of “The Jungle Book,” based on the Walt Disney film, which was inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s stories. The show runs June 20 through July 1, with matinee and evening performances at the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Prepatory School, 425 South Lindbergh Blvd. Tickets range from $15 to $55. See www.stagesstlouis.org or call 314-821-2407.
Kander and Ebb’s “merry murderesses” take the stage in “Chicago” at THE MUNY June 25-July 1. You’ll see singing, dancing – and all that jazz. The show starts at 8:15 p.m. at the theater in Forest Park. Tickets range from $10 to $70, with a limited number of free seats available. Call 314-361-1900 or see www.muny.org.
UNION AVENUE OPERA presents Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera” (“A Masked Ball”) at 8 p.m. June 29-30 and July 6-7 at 733 North Union Blvd. Tickets range from $30 to $52. Call 314-361-2881 or see http://unionavenueopera.org.
Wish on a magic lamp for summer fun for the kids, and up pops Disney’s “Aladdin” at THE MUNY, running July 5-11 for subscribers and additional performances July 12 and 13 . The show starts at 8:15 p.m. at the theater in Forest Park. Tickets range from $10 to $70, with a limited number of free seats available. Call 314-361-1900 or see www.muny.org.
Jennifer Holliday will reprise her Broadway performance as Effie White in “Dreamgirls” July 16-22 at THE MUNY. The show won six Tony Awards and the movie claimed two Oscars. I am telling you – don’t miss it. The show starts at 8:15 p.m. at the theater in Forest Park. Tickets range from $10 to $70, with a limited number of free seats available. Call 314-361-1900 or see www.muny.org.
“Coriolanus” comes to ST. LOUIS SHAKESPEARE July 20-29 at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 students. See www.brownpapertickets.com or call 800-838-3006. For more information, see www.stlshakespeare.org.
The hills (of Kirkwood) are alive with “The Sound of Music,” presented by STAGES ST. LOUIS, which runs July 20 through Aug. 19 with matinee and evening performances at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in the Kirkwood Civic Center at 111 S. Geyer Road. Tickets range from $15 to $55. See www.stagesstlouis.org or call 314-821-2407.
The youngest of Jacob’s sons dons his coat of many colors in this musical of many song styles when “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” takes the stage July 23-29 at THE MUNY. The show starts at 8:15 p.m. at the theater in Forest Park. Tickets range from $10 to $70, with a limited number of free seats available. Call 314-361-1900 or see www.muny.org.
Interns from INSIGHT THEATRE will present “Seussical,” a musical based on the works of Dr. Seuss, in a production for young audiences July 27-29 at the Heagney Theatre at Nerinx Hall, 530 East Lockwood Ave. in Webster Groves. Tickets cost $10. Call 314-556-1293.
Talk like a pirate (arrrr) and you’re set for “Pirates! (or, Gilbert & Sullivan Plunder’d),” a new version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance” that runs July 30 through Aug. 5 at THE MUNY. The show starts at 8:15 p.m. at the theater in Forest Park. Tickets range from $10 to $70, with a limited number of free seats available. Call 314-361-1900 or see www.muny.org.
Shall we dance? No – -let’s just watch Anna and the King of Siam whirl across the stage in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I,” running Aug. 6-12 at THE MUNY. The show starts at 8:15 p.m. at the theater in Forest Park. Tickets range from $10 to $70, with a limited number of free seats available. Call 314-361-1900 or see www.muny.org.
The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s “The Compleat Wks of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)” is Shakespeare writ small (and hilarious), presented by ST. LOUIS SHAKESPEARE Aug. 10-19 at the Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 students. See www.brownpapertickets.com or call 800-838-3006. For more information, see www.stlshakespeare.org
Celebrate the circle of life with the whole family at Disney’s Tony-Award winning “The Lion King,” playing Aug. 15-Sept. 2 at the FOX THEATRE. Tickets range from $28 to $80 for matinee and evening performances at 527 North Grand Blvd. Call 314-534-1111 or see www.fabulousfox.com. Note: The 8 p.m. performance on Aug. 21 is “Kids’ Night on Broadway.” When you buy an adult ticket at the box office, you get a child’s ticket free while supplies last. (Limit four full-price and four free tickets. Pre-show activities begin at 6:30 p.m.)
Reduced and adapted by Jonathan Dove, Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” concludes the 18th Festival Season of UNION AVENUE OPERA, with performances at 8 p.m. on Aug. 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 733 North Union Blvd. Tickets range from $30 to $52. Call 314-361-2881 or see http://unionavenueopera.org.
The 13th annual FESTIVAL OF NATIONS will feature live entertainment, 50 food booths, 40 gift booths and fun for the whole family from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 25 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 26 near Grand Blvd. and Arsenal in Tower Grove Park, 4256 Magnolia Ave. Sponsored by the International Institute, the festival is free. See www.festivalofnationsstl.org.
And closing out the season over Labor Day weekend is the annual Japanese Festival at the MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN, which celebrates the history, culture, and people of Japan, and is one of the largest and oldest festivals of its kind in the United States. It goes from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 1-2 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 3. Admission is $15, $10 for seniors, $5 for children 3-12 and Garden members. The Garden is located at 4344 Shaw Boulevard. Call 314-577-5100 for more information.
