AS SUMMER DRAWS TO A CLOSE, I look forward to the fall theater season, though I must say that there was a lot of good theater available over the summer months. Opening Sept. 11 at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis will be the sensational musical, “Cabaret,” with its story centered on the German-Jewish-Nazi conflict. The person who invites the audience into the story, the one who portends to know the outcome, is the Emcee, played by African- American actor Nathan Lee Graham, adding another layer to the story.  Wildly entertaining and sultry, “Cabaret” plays on the Rep’s Mainstage through Oct. 6. For a schedule and tickets call 314-968-4925 or visit www.repstl.org.

THE TONY AWARD WINNING MUSICAL “PARADE” will open Friday, Sept. 6 at the Ivory Theatre, 7620 Michigan Avenue. Presented by R-S Theatrics, the musical dramatizes the 1913 trial of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory manager who was falsely accused of the rape and murder of 13-year-old employee, Mary Phagan, in a small town in Georgia. A janitor’s false testimony and sensational newspaper headlines seem to seal Frank’s fate of guilt while his only defenders are a governor with a conscience, and, eventually, his assimilated Southern wife who becomes his greatest champion.

The large, talented cast includes my friend Ken Haller, Doc Haller to you. For tickets call 314-456-0700, email [email protected] or visit http://brownpapertickets.com/event/433622.

ST. LOUIS SHOW STOPPERS are back this fall for their 17th season. Under the direction of the indefatigable Babe Rosenberg, their musical performance includes works from “A Chorus Line,” “Chicago,” “Hello Dolly” and “South Pacific” and though I have not asked Babe’s permission, I am certain that you may sing along – quietly, that is. There will be four performances at the Clayton High School Auditorium, 1 Mark Twain Circle, which is a fully handicapped accessible theater with lots of free parking.  The dates of the Show Stopper performances are Saturday, Oct. 5 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees, Oct. 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. Ticket price is $17 each or $13 for organized groups of 10 or more. Net proceeds go to BJC Hospital for cancer research.

At age 91, Rosenberg is a top-notch director-producer. She admits that it is a lot of work but her purpose is to raise funds for Barnes-Jewish for cancer research. Her large cast consists of 40 singers and dancers ages 16 to 88. They rehearse for 16 weeks prior to the show, many taking time from their professions as lawyers, accountants, teachers and students. For tickets send your check payable to St. Louis Show Stoppers with show date desired to Mike Sander, 12130 Mirror Lake Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63146. Need more information? Call Mike at 314-432-5581.

THE ART FAIR AT QUEENY PARK is just around the corner, taking place Aug. 30-Sept. 1. Particularly impressive are the watercolor and colored pencil  cityscapes by Susie Tenzer (see image above), one of the 160 artists featured. The fair is held in the park’s Greensfelder Recreation Complex, 550 Weidman Road in Ballwin ($5 admission; free for those 18 and under). For more information, visit www.artfairatqueenypark.com.

ST.LOUIS OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS (SLOCA) will be partnering with area yoga instructors to host the fifth annual “Rise and Shine for a Cure” yoga fundraiser to benefit SLOCA. This unique fund and awareness-raising event will be held at the World’s Fair Pavilion in Forest Park on Sunday, Aug. 25 from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost to pre-register is $35 per person, or $40 the day of the event. I have always thought of yoga as turning myself into a pretzel (impossible) but my daughter Leslie assures me that yoga is wonderful. At “Rise and Shine for a Cure,” 20 area yoga instructors will lead participants through 108 sun salutations. Chair yoga will be available for those who want to participate on a more gentle level. To register online, visit www.sloca.org/yoga.