THERE’S HOPE for uninsured and underinsured breast cancer patients in Missouri and Illinois, thanks to Gateway to Hope and its remarkable founder, Dr. David Caplin. You can be part of this life-saving effort by attending Gateway to Hope’s annual KaleidoHope Gala. The fundraising event is scheduled from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel and includes a seated dinner, silent and live auctions, interactive entertainment and more. 

Three very special people, all avid supporters of Gateway to Hope, and individuals who have empowered change in the lives of women with breast cancer will be honored. The Ronnie Chod Humanitarian Award will be presented to Tom Voss, retired head of Ameren Corporation and his successor, Warner Baxter. Ladue Pharmacy’s Rick Williams will receive the Gateway to Hope Visionary Award for providing critical medications at cost to Gateway of Hope patients. In addition I am told that he has given significant profits from his pharmacy to benefit the organization. For reservations to the KaleidoHope Gala, visit kaleidohopestl.org or call 314-569-1113.

THE ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY’S first live broadcast of the season can be heard at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, on St. Louis Public Radio, 90.7, KWMU. If you can’t make it to Powell Hall, just turn on your radio, sit back and relax and listen to the great violinist Joshua Bell. For a list of live performances planned through May, go to stlpublicradio.org/programs/symphony.php.

COCA PRESENTS A WORLD PREMIERE of “Wunderland,” an original dance production. It puts a hip-hop spin on Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland,” which celebrates its 150^th anniversary this year. In typical COCA style, “Wunderland” will be presented with dazzling costumes, visual effects, contemporary music and cutting- edge hip-hop choreography.  Kelly Pollock, COCA’s executive director, assures me that this is a perfect production for the entire family to attend together. “Wunderland” opens at 7 p.m Friday, Oct. 5 and continues for seven more matinee and evening performances.  Tickets at $16 and $20 may be purchased online at cocastl.org. 

ARTIST ANDREW MILLNER’S “Rose Parade” opens at the William Shearburn Gallery on Friday, Sept. 25. The exhibit was inspired by Millner’s trip to Pasadena, Calif. to attend the Tournament of Roses parade and to photograph the flowers up close. He draws each flower or pattern of flowers by hand, then traces the pattern with layers of thick, viscous acrylic paint extruded through a tool similar to a what’s used in cake decoration. But don’t take my word for it.  You can see Rose Parade for yourself at the Shearburn Gallery, 665 S. Skinker Boulevard, through Nov. 6.

TWO THEATRE OPENINGS LAST WEEK wound me up for more good theater. I saw “The Full Monty” at Stages St. Louis, which did a fabulous job with a fun and funny show — don’t miss it. At The Rep I saw “All the Way,” a bird’s-eye view of Lyndon Johnson and his administration after he became president following President John F. Kennedy’s death. It’s a Steven Woolf tour de force. 

All this puts me in the mood for the New Jewish Theatre’s 2015-2016 season, which opens in October with Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys,” followed by the comedy “Bad Jews,” “Underneath the Lintel,” and “Old Wicked Songs.” The musical play “Yentl” rounds out this delightful season.  For tickets, either season or single, call 314-442-3283 or visit newjewishtheatre.org.