Take The Road to Broadway with two of St. Louis’ most creative theater people, Mary Strauss, of Fox Theatre fame, and her partner in Fox Theatricals, Mike Isaacson. This is the New Jewish Theatre’s second annual Signature Event, and I am suggesting that you save the date and make your reservations early as it is sure to be sold out. On Sunday, Sept. 9 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. you can join them for an early evening of intimate conversation and learn what is involved in getting a show to Broadway.

Mary and Mike, the award-winning producers, have to their credit Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jekyll & Hyde, Legally Blonde, Death of a Salesman, Three Tall Women and Having Our Say.

This intriguing event, complete with wine, hors d’oeuvres and valet parking, will be held at a charming historic home at 15 Lennox Place in the Central West End. The cost will be $75 per person.

Watch the mail for your invitation.

JOE DREYER, fresh from a long stint with Menopause the Musical as director, is doing it again as music director/pianist of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at The Playhouse at West Port Plaza.

The wildly successful off-Broadway play has 4,000 performances in New York alone surpassing the Broadway runs of such musicals as My Fair Lady, Annie, South Pacific, Fiddler on the Roof and other big hits.

According to Emmy Award-winning director, Bobby Miller, “The show is a hilarious roller-coaster ride through every twist and turn of romance since the Garden of Eden. It’s Seinfeld meets Annie Hall…If you’ve been dating for three weeks or married thirty years, you’re going to see yourself in it.”

Tickets are available at The Playhouse, 635 Westport Plaza, all Metrotix outlets, online at metrotix.com or by phone at 314-534-1111.

MARLITA WEISS, piano teacher extraordinaire, has a remarkable record of producing outstanding piano students, but this year may be the most successful of her thirty year teaching career.

Eleven of her students recently returned from the World Piano Competition in Cincinnati where they competed with 200 students from the United States and other countries. All 11 received regional awards, two were medalists and three received honorable mention. The winners are invited to perform in the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall on Sept. 29.

In the past 26 years, approximately 30 of Marlita’s students have performed in the New York recital s know first hand how to get to Carnegie Hall — practice, practice, practice and pick the right teacher. In addition, this year her students have won major awards from the Missouri Music Teachers Association, the Missouri Federation of Musicians and the Piano Competition of the Italian American Organizations of St. Louis. Congratulations, Marlita!

ST. LOUIS SHOW STOPPERS, under the direction of the multi-talented Babe Rosenberg, will sing up a storm and kick up their heels for their 2007 musical review on Saturday, Aug. 18 and 25 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 19 and 26. This year’s show at Clayton High School, #1 Mark Twain Circle, will feature music from A Chorus Line, Sound of Music, South Pacific and Yankee Doodle Dandy. Tickets at $15 are available by sending your check with a self- addressed stamped envelope to Nancy Seidel, 14065 Baywood Villages Drive, Chesterfield, MO 63017.

Proceeds from the performances benefit Cancer Research at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. For more information call 314-434-6611.

FORMER ST. LOUISAN GAIL FUDEMBERG ZUGERMAN, now a Chicago resident, asked me to bring to your attention her city’s Walk for Pancreatic Cancer Research on Sept. 9. Starting at Montrose Beach at 9 a.m. there will be a two-mile and a six- mile walk along Lake Michigan’s scenic beaches, all to benefit pancreatic cancer research. Gail told me “This walk is my way of remembering and honoring my mom, Marilyn Fudemberg, who I miss and think about every day. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in our country. Thirty-two thousand people are diagnosed yearly and 32,000 die within 6 to 12 months of their diagnosis. Currently there is no detection, treatment or cure for this insidious disease.” The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, founded about seven years ago by the family of New York media giant Marc Lustgarten, is conducting the walk and will be the recipient of the proceeds to be used for research, scientific conferences and to provide in-depth information to patients and families. For information on how you can support the cause (you do not have to go to Chicago but can support a walker like Gail) log on to www.lustgarten.org.