Ann Lemons Pollack
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The Gradient
Yet another premiere comes to St. Louis with the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’s production of The Gradient. It’s a slightly futuristic idea about a company that uses algorithms to treat men who’ve exhibited sexual misconduct. Steph Del Rosso’s play gives us a strong, very controlled Natalia (Christina Acosta Robinson), who’s one of the directors
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The Story of My Life
It was a daring move for New Line Theatre to open this season, of all years, with a play about someone writing a eulogy. Too many of us have had to do that, too many of us have thought we might have to do that, too many of us have thought, Oh, God, please don’t
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Jersey Boys
I wasn’t able to see the new venue, the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, until the opening of Jersey Boys from Stages St. Louis. The theater is an absolute winner. Sight lines are good, acoustics are good, and to my immense delight, there’s room for live musicians. It’s quite a lovely building, with parking in several
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Elsinore
Another premiere of a new play in town? Yes, Elsinore comes to us via Prison Performing Arts. Their alumni group, aided by some professional actors, shows off The Chapel’s improved acoustics with this play from David Nonemaker and Eric Satterfield. It’s the prequel to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, taking us from Hamlet’s adolescence forward. Shakespeare scholars argue
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Craving Cookies
Hooray! Helen Fletcher, pastry goddess, has a new cookbook about to be available. It's Called Craving Cookies. I loved it, and you can read more here/
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The Zoo Story/The Dumb Waiter
When it comes to timelessness in playwrights, the gold standard is Shakespeare. So flexible, goodness knows – but then there’s that language, beautiful but clearly dated. Ibsen? The misogyny, so painful to watch, but thankfully from another time. (At least we hope so.) So it was interesting to realize that St. Louis Actors’ Studio’s opening
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Dreaming Zenzile
The Rep reopens – and with a world premiere. Dreaming Zenzile is based on the life story of Miriam Makeba, the singer-songwriter-activist. Probably a couple of generations are saying Who’s she? A Black woman born in the townships of South Africa, she began singing with groups and was participated in Come Back, Africa, a film
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Sweat
The Black Rep starts the ‘21-’22 season off with a bang. Lynn Nottage’s Sweat is definitely a play that talks about lots of things we struggle with. Nottage takes on racism, classism, the perfidiousness of corporate management, all in one sweeping evening. Substance abuse is just a sort of garnish to everything else. Alas, she
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The Ville: Avengeance!
Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it. Much argument about this quote, its exact wording and original source, to be sure, but the message is the same: We need to learn history. St. Louis Shakespeare Festival annual event Shakespeare in the Streets is back after a year’s hiatus, giving us the
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Chicago
The Muny wraps up this short-but-most-welcome season with Chicago. And what a treat it is. Anyone familiar with the show knows about the delightful Kander and Ebb score – think “All That Jazz” – but the Muny brings us more. Lots more, in fact, starting out with the choreography that pretty much opens the show.