Museum exhibits, theater (musicals galore and dramas, too), rock concerts, lectures, flower shows, a blues festival, art shows (indoors and out), dance concerts, live jazz, kids’ programs (Disney on Ice is back!), cabaret shows, operas, a sake tasting, symphony performances (at numerous venues) and more all are scheduled between now and Memorial Day across the metropolitan area.
And that’s not all! Here are just a few highlights:
• Check out works by five prominent Jewish artists at “The Work of Art: The Federal Art Project 1935-1943” through April 13 at the St. Louis Art Museum
• Let local glass artists show you how they make magic at the Foundry Art Centre first-ever Fire Art Fest on Jan. 24
• Hear Adam Wainwright play songs from his new country album on Feb. 22 at the Stifel Theatre
• Spend March 7 at The Factory with Dread Pirate Roberts/Westley — aka Cary Elwes — as he tells behind-the-scenes tales from “The Princess Bride”
• Be there on April 9 when esteemed author Colson Whitehead will accept the 2025 St. Louis Literary Award at The Sheldon
• Humor Juliet when she ponders what may have happened if she’d chosen not to end it all over Romeo — see “& Juliet,” which opens May 20 at the Fox Theatre
These are just a few of the events guaranteed to banish any winter doldrums — so get a fistful of tickets, bundle up and take part in the many cultural offerings. Our listings begin with some holdover events from 2024 and we also provide a heads-up for a few events over Memorial Day Weekend, so you can get your tickets in advance.
Up and running
Special events continue in conjunction with the Missouri History Museum’s long-running exhibit “The 1904 World’s Fair,” which celebrates the 120th anniversary of that storied event. History buffs will want to check the schedule for related programs at mohistory.org
The Black Rep’s production of “Chicken and Biscuits” by Douglas Lyons is on stage through Jan. 26 at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus. “Get ready to gasp and clutch your pearls” over this play, “a laugh-out-loud comedy” about rival sisters at their father’s funeral. For performance times and ticket prices, see theblackrep.org or call 314-534-3810.
Through Feb. 9, see “The Great Rivers Biennial” exhibit, on display at the Contemporary Art Museum. Expect ceramics, paintings, video, textiles and “sculptural assemblage” by local talent. For hours, see camstl.org/exhibitions/great-rivers-biennial-saj-issa-basil-kincaid-ronald-young/
Henry VIII’s wives tell their stories in “Six: The Musical,” on stage at the Fox Theatre through Feb. 12. The women “remix 500 years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st– century girl power!” Tickets cost $37-$119. See fabulousfox.com/events/detail/six
Through April 13, works by five prominent Jewish artists are featured in “The Work of Art: The Federal Art Project 1935-1943,” on display at the St. Louis Art Museum. The exhibit showcases creative efforts of artists “working under difficult circumstances.” For details, see slam.org
“The Artist Who Captured Eichmann” runs through June 1 at the Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. The exhibit “tells the exciting exploits of Peter Malkin…who played a pivotal role in apprehending Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1960.” Admission is $8 for the general public, $6 for seniors/students/veterans and kids 10-17 and $5 for museum members. For tickets, see stlholocaustmuseum.org/malkin/
“Mary Wallace and Athena are brave, and 17, and fencers, and training for the Junior Olympics. They practice together, they compete against each other, they spend their lives together. They wish they were friends.” Intrigued? All will be revealed at performances through Feb. 9 at “Athena” in the Studio Theatre at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the Webster University campus. Tickets start at $55. See repstl.org
January
Fifteen-time GRAMMY® Award-winner Ricky Skaggs and his Kentucky Thunder will fill The Sheldon’s concert hall with country, folk and blue grass tunes starting at 8 p.m. Jan. 24. Tickets range from $43-$56. (A pre-concert dinner from Salt & Smoke also is available.) For more information and tickets, see thesheldon.org
Upstream Theater presents the U.S. premiere of Tino Caspanello’s “Pictures from a Revolution” — billed as a “deep and darkly comic piece” — Jan. 24-Feb. 9 at the Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Dr. Tickets cost $25-$45. For showtimes and tickets, see metrotix.com/events/detail/pictures-from-a-revolution
Warm up at the Foundry Art Centre’s first-ever Fire Art Fest from 4-9 p.m. Jan
24 at the Centre, 520 North Main Center in St. Charles. At this “indoor/outdoor extravaganza,” expect glass artists from the Centre, Third Degree Glass and the Lindenwood University Art & Design Department, all celebrating” the raw power and beauty of fire as an artistic medium.” For details, see foundryartcentre.org/fire-arts-fest
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra performs “Beethoven and Mahler” at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 and at 3 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Stifel Theatre. Described as “two life-affirming musical tales narrated by two passionate storytellers,” the Beethoven Violin Concerto and Mahler’s First Symphony are on the program. Ticket prices vary by performance. See stifeltheatre.com
An “eclectic combination of works progresses from inner serenity and calm to outer joy and exuberance” in “Outside In,” part of an annual series by the St. Louis Symphony held at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. Scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28, expect three soloists making beautiful music among exquisite art. Tickets cost $25. See shop.slso.org/8378
“Live at The Sheldon: No Borders” — a chamber music series curated and performed by St. Louis Symphony Orchestra members — invites audience members to “experience new and treasured repertoire masterfully brought to life on The Sheldon stage at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30. Tickets cost $10-$46. See thesheldon.org
Belle, Moana, Miguel, Anna, Elsa, Rapunzel and Flynn all will delight your kids or grandkids at “Disney on Ice: Into the Magic” Jan. 31- Feb. 2 at Enterprise Center. For show times and ticket prices, see enterprisecenter.com
February
The annual Orchid Show, which showcases hundreds of blooming plants, will be on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 1 through March 9 in the Taylor Visitor Center’s Emerson Conservatory at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The show is included with general admission, which you can learn more about at missouribotanicalgarden.org/tickets
In Melda Beaty’s “Coconut Cake,” a mysterious woman comes to town and offers residents “a tantalizing coconut cake and another big secret.” The Black Rep presents the show Feb. 5-March 2 at the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre on the Washington University campus. For performance times and ticket prices, see theblackrep.org
Taking place in “a small run-down sandwich joint,” Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage’s play “Clyde’s” is profound — and profoundly funny, as well. See it on the mainstage Feb. 5 through March 2 at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Tickets start at $40. See repstl.org
St. Louis Actors’ Studio presents Eugene O’Neill’s “Long Day’s Journey into Night” Feb. 7-23 at the Gaslight Theatre. The Pulitzer Prize-winning play is an “unflinchingly honest portrayal of addiction in a dysfunctional family.” For showtimes and tickets, see stlas.org/whats-on-stage
In partnership with the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, Rachel Holtzman leads “Uncomfortable Conversations,” a three-part program that explores Noa Tishby and Emmanuel Acho’s book “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew.” Sessions are Feb. 9, March 30 and May 4, all at Congregation Temple Israel. Open to adults and teens 14 and older. Registration is free for Temple Israel members and Holocaust Museum members; $54 for non-members for all three sessions. See ti-stl.org/event/uncomfortable-conversations-with-rachel-holtzman.html
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra delivers a little love at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 and 15 with “Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet: The Romantics,” on stage at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. Also on the bill: A world premiere by Anna Clyne and Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, played by Nikolai Lugansky. Tickets cost $20-$100. See shop.slso.org/8095/8120
As part of the Sheldon Rhythm + Jazz Series and just before Mardi Gras, “New Orleans Songbook” — a production of Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents — is set for 8 p.m. Feb. 15 at The Sheldon in celebration of “the composers and inspired songs of the Crescent City.” Tickets cost $15-$51. See thesheldon.org
“Dancing with the Stars: Live! The 2025 Tour” heats up the stage at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Stifel Theatre. Expect Olympic champion Stephen Nedoroscik, Chandler Kinney and other favorites. Tickets range from $59.50-$125. See stifeltheatre.com
Hear “The Music of Charles Mingus” at Kwanae Johnson’s concert at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at the Harold and Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz, 3536 Washington Ave. “With soulful melodies and intricate arrangements, Johnson will honor Mingus’ impact on social justice and inspire the audience to reflect on the ongoing struggle for equality.” Tickets cost $40-$45. See my.jazzstl.org/3315
Spend “An Evening with Tony Award Winner Norbert Leo Butz” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 and again Feb. 21 when the St. Louis native performs “Broadway, My Way.” (Maybe you’ve seen him on Broadway or long before that, at The Rep?) He’s won Tony Awards and originated seven big roles in New York — and now you can hear why at the Blue Strawberry, 364 North Boyle Ave. Tickets cost $75-$125. (Livestream also available.) See bluestrawberrystl.com/show/detail/1589
Waino steps off the mound and plays songs from his new country album at “Double Play Featuring Adam Wainwright,” a concert with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Stifel Theatre. That’s a winner! Tickets cost $45-$110. See stifeltheatre.com
Winner of 4 Tony Awards®, including Best Choreography and Best Costumes, “Some Like It Hot” dances into the Fox Theatre Feb. 26-March 9. The musical tells the story of “two musicians forced to flee the Windy City after witnessing a mob hit.” Tickets cost $32-$105. See fabulousfox.com
See New Line Theatre’s production of the original stage musical of “The Rocky Horror Show” — with book, music and lyrics all by the wickedly gifted Richard O’Brien — Feb. 27-March 22 at the Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Dr. Tickets cost $20-$30. For show times and tickets, see newlinetheatre.com/rockypage.html
Winter Opera St. Louis’ production of Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” (“The Magic Flute”) is set for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 and at 2 p.m. March 2, on stage at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. If you aren’t in the know, the opera is about a prince pursued by a monster and the women who saves the guy’s life. Tickets range from $45-$65. See winteroperastl.org/die-zauberflote-by-w-a-mozart/
“Art in Bloom,” the St. Louis Art Museum’s annual celebration of flowers and fine art, opens Feb. 28 and runs through March 2. Regional florists will interpret dozens of works from the museum’s collection through creative botanical designs. The free festival includes special ticketed events, family activities, dining and shopping. See slam.org/event/art-in-bloom-2025
Dance St. Louis presents Ballet Folklórico de México — the premier folkloric dance ensemble in Mexico — at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. The company has reached more than 45 million spectators worldwide and has received countless awards. Tickets cost $50-$89. See metrotix.com or dancestlouis.org.
