2 for 1 tickets! Use the promo code SUPER50 (while supplies last)
Saturday, November 14, 2015 at 2 and 5 pm Sunday, November 15, 2015 at 1 and 4 pm COCA presents Superman 2050 A Theater Unspeakable production
Founders’ Theatre at COCA
524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis
Tickets $14 to $18 (use promo code SUPER50 for 2 for 1 tickets)
Call 314.561.4877 or purchase online.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
“A fastidiously executed, often hilarious work of physical theater.”
— Time Out Chicago
Epic story, pocket-sized proportions—seven actors share one tiny platform (just 3-by-7 feet of space!) and upon it an original Superman tale unfolds. Set in a fictional 2050 Metropolis with a remarkable resemblance to Chicago, this Theater Unspeakable production highlights imaginative, resourceful cast members who use only their bodies and voices to create every prop, scene, sound effect, and character in a battle between Superman and Lex Luthor.
There are so many exciting live performances geared towards kids this Fall and Winter in St. Louis. Here are a few shows not to miss!
Note: Performances at the Florissant Civic Center are nationally touring productions, feature excellent artists, and are top rate experiences! Don’t be misled by the inexpensive ticket prices.
October 2-11, 2015 (Limited ticket availability) COCA presents wUNDERland Founders’ Theatre at COCA
524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis
Tickets $16 to $20
Call 314.725.6555 or purchase online.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
Fall down the rabbit hole with this original dance production, created and choreographed by Anthony “Redd” Williams, that puts a hip-hop spin on Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland.” Experience the classic upside-down fantasy world through a whole new lens with dazzling costumes and cutting-edge choreography, led by the larger-than-life Mad Hatter and many more lovable, whimsical characters.
October 9-11, 2015
Florissant Civic Center presents Caps for Sale, the musical An Adventure Theatre MTC production James J. Eagan Center
1 James J Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7
Call 314.921.5678 or purchase online.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
“Caps! Caps for sale! Fifty cents a cap!” The cap peddler wears a huge stack of caps, balanced carefully on top of his head. Brown caps, blue caps, gray caps, and red caps. When no one buys a cap, he takes a nap under a shady tree. But, when he wakes up, the caps are gone! Was it bears, pirates, one thousand thieves, or a band of merry mischievous monkeys? Read more about the production.
October 21-November 1, 2015 The Fabulous Fox presents
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical
The Fox Theatre
527 North Grand Boulevard, St. Louis
Tickets $25 to $88
Call 314.534.1111 or purchase online.
Run time: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
“Welcome to the deliriously amusing, heartwarming, head-spinning world of MATILDA THE MUSICAL. You won’t want to leave” says Bloomberg News. It’s Time Magazine’s #1 show of the year! Winner of 50 international awards, including four Tony Awards®, MATILDA THE MUSICAL is the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, MATILDA continues to thrill sold-out audiences of all ages on Broadway and in London’s West End. The Wall Street Journal says, “The makers of MATILDA have done the impossible – triumphantly! It is smart, sweet, zany, and stupendous fun.”
Celebrate Halloween with a spooktacular concert along with help from special guest, Luna the Bat. Luna will take you on a musical tour of all the wickedly wonderful animals that relish the night. Featuring Night on Bald Mountain from Fantasia and John Williams’ Hedwig’s Theme from the popular Harry Potter films. Presented in partnership with the Saint Louis Zoo.
10:00 to 10:30 am
Kota project (Pulitzer Arts Foundation)
At the Pulitzer, discover the hidden histories of Kota reliquary guardian figures, produced in Central Africa between the 17th and 20th centuries, and play an interactive digital game in the Pulitzer’s exhibition Kota: Digital Excavations in African Art.
10:45 to 11:15 am STL Improv Anywhere performance (CAM)
At CAM, enjoy face painting and help create a “Haunted Garden” mural made out of cardboard with artist Daniel Raedeke. STL Improv Anywhere will lead a performance, and the New Art in the Neighborhood high school art students will guide special art activities.
11:30 am to noon Uncle Albert performance (Sheldon Art Galleries)
At the Sheldon Art Galleries, enjoy crafts from 10:00 am to noon and a performance by acoustic group Uncle Albert at 11:30 am.
Epic story, pocket-sized proportions—seven actors share one tiny platform (just 3-by-7 feet of space!) and upon it an original Superman tale unfolds. Set in a fictional 2050 Metropolis with a remarkable resemblance to Chicago, this Theater Unspeakable production highlights imaginative, resourceful cast members who use only their bodies and voices to create every prop, scene, sound effect, and character in a battle between Superman and Lex Luthor.
November 22, 27, and 28, 2015
Florissant Civic Center presents Fly Guy and Other Stories A Theatreworks USA production
James J. Eagan Center
1 James J Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $5.25
Call 314.921.5678.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
A new musical revue based on favorite children’s books. Book titles subject to change: Fly Guy Meets Fly Girl by Tedd Arnold, Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin, Fluffy the Classroom Guinea Pig by Kate McMullan, Horace & Morris But Mostly Dolores by James Howe, Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes, Lilly’s Big Day by Kevin Henkes and Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch. Read more about the production on Theatreworks USA’s site.
Photo by Rachel Brandt
December 19-23, 2015
Imaginary Theatre Company presents The Elves and the Shoemaker Heagney Theatre at Nerinx Hall High School 530 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves
Tickets $7
Call 314.968.4925.
Run time: Approximately 50 minutes.
When a kindly shoemaker gives his only remaining pair of shoes to a cold and hungry beggar woman, he finds his good deed rewarded in unexpected ways. The shoemaker is shocked by the appearance of magic elves who turn his simple shoe shop into a great success, thrilling customers with their special creations. Based on the tale by the Brothers Grimm, this beloved, warm-hearted story is perfect for the holiday season, reminding us that where we find kindness, generosity and hope, anything is possible.
January 2-3, 2016
St. Louis Symphony presents Ratatouille in Concert
Powell Hall
718 North Grand Boulevard
Tickets $35 to $65
Call 314.534.1700 or purchase online.
Savor the tale of a determined young rat with a cultivated palate who gets an unlikely chance to do what he dreams of most—cook in a French restaurant in Paris. In a hilarious chain of events that turns the City of Lights upside down, he achieves his dream with his good pal Linguini. Bring the whole family to experience the Academy Award-winning film Ratatouille on the big screen while the beloved score by composer Michael Giacchino is performed live by the St. Louis Symphony. Learn more about the production.
January 15-17, 2016
Florissant Civic Center presents Charlotte’s Web A Theatreworks USA production
James J. Eagan Center
1 James J Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7
Call 314.921.5678.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
Theatreworks’ production of Charlotte’s Web is based on E.B. White’s loving story of the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a little gray spider named Charlotte. Wilbur has a problem: how to avoid winding up as pork chops! Charlotte, a fine writer and true friend, hits on a plan to fool Farmer Zuckerman–she will create a “miracle.” Spinning the words “Some Pig” in her web, Charlotte weaves a solution which not only makes Wilbur a prize pig, but ensures his place on the farm forever. This treasured tale, featuring mad-cap and endearing farm animals, explores bravery, selfless love, and the true meaning of friendship. Read more about the production on Theatreworks USA’s site.
The irrepressible Moses Pendleton presents Alchemia, his new work for the dazzling dancer-illusionists of MOMIX. Just as he led audiences on a surreal journey through the four seasons in Botanica, Pendleton manipulates the four classic elements–earth, air, fire, and water–in Alchemia to produce a show about the art of alchemy, and the alchemy of art. A multimedia spectacle, Alchemia bursts with beauty, daredevil thrills and playful humor. It’s MOMIX at its most magical.
February 12-14, 2016
Florissant Civic Center presents Seussical the Musical A Theatreworks USA production
James J. Eagan Center
1 James J Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7
Call 314.921.5678.
Run time: Approximately one hour.
“Oh, the thinks you can think” when Dr. Seuss’s best-loved stories collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper! Adapted from the Broadway version, this adaptation especially for young audiences features thirteen actors and enhanced production values. Seussical is TheatreworksUSA’s biggest show ever.
The Cat in the Hat is the host and emcee (and all-around mischief-maker) in this romp through the Seuss classics. When the sweet, good-natured elephant Horton hears a small cry for help coming from a small speck of dust, he promises to rescue and guard it because “a person’s a person, no matter how small.”
On that small speck of dust lives JoJo, an imaginative young Who. JoJo has astounding “thinks,” in which anything’s possible, but his parents believe this creativity is inappropriate for the son of the Mayor of Who-Ville.
Meanwhile, the one-feathered bird, Miss Gertrude McFuzz, desperately wants Horton to notice her. Maybe, she thinks, she just needs a more impressive tail. At the same time, the amazingly lazy Maysie La Bird connives, cajoles and convinces Horton to sit on her egg while she goes off on a spree.
Will the planet of Who survive? Will Horton pay attention to Gertrude? Will Maysie ever return for her egg? Dr. Seuss’s beloved classic characters find themselves intertwined in an incredible crazy-quilt adventure, in which the power of imagination and the most miraculous “think” ever save the day! Read more about Seussical the Musical.
Photo at top: Joan Marcus for Theatreworks USA, Seussical
Laumeier Sculpture Park presents its 28th Annual Art Fair on Mother’s Day weekend, May 8–10, 2015. More than 15,000 patrons attend this annual three-day event featuring local food vendors, a wine garden, live music, the Creation Location for kids, and 150 juried artists exhibiting work in ten categories. Media categories include ceramics, fiber/textiles, glass, jewelry, mixed media 2D, painting, photography/digital, printmaking/drawing, sculpture, and wood.
Highlights of the weekend include Friday evening’s Art of the Vine, a special wine tasting event featuring unlimited samples from the following participating wineries: Blumenhof Winery, Bommarito Estate Almond Tree Winery, Noboleis Vineyards, Peaceful Bend Vineyard, Stone Hill Winery, and Sugar Creek Winery. Saturday afternoon’s Art of the Ale, presented by Schlafly, features a special beer tasting and Q&A, including unlimited samples of classic, seasonal and special-release Schlafly beers. The City of Sunset Hills Music Festival on Saturday afternoon features performances by Miss Jubilee & the Humdingers, The Dust Covers, and One More Round. Laumeier’s Creation Location for Kids, free with Art Fair admission, is open throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, offering family activities and entertainment. Finally, the popular Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday morning features a lively, family-friendly atmosphere.
Here’s a video of Miss Jubilee & the Humdingers. Be sure to hear them at the Art Fair!
General Information
28th Annual Art Fair
Laumeier Sculpture Park, 12580 Rott Road, St. Louis, MO 63127
Friday, May 8, 6 to 10 pm
Saturday, May 9, 10 am to 8 pm
Sunday, May 10, 10 am to 5 pm
Tickets: $10, Ages 12 and up; $5, Ages 6 to 11; FREE, Ages 5 and under Art Fair Program Booklet
Special Events during the Art Fair Art of the Vine
Friday, May 8, 6 to 9 pm
$12, Ages 21 and up
Art Fair admission required
Creation Location for Kids | Art Projects
* Wind-Powered Whirligigs: Children make their very own functional whirligig (or pinwheel) that spins in the wind. Kids can decorate them using fun colors and patterns or make them look like an animal with moving wings or fins.
* Funky Fresh Foam Sculptures: Participants create a variety of sculptural creations using polyethylene foam scraps (donated by Robot Monkey Lab, Inc.), including some that hang and spin.
* irRESISTible watercolors: Youth use wax crayons, stickers, or tape to block off shapes/areas of paper to be left white, called a “resist.” Then kids watercolor the paper and remove the stickers or tape to reveal white areas. The wax crayons will naturally repel the watercolor.
* A “Construction Zone” with free play building blocks are available for younger kids.
The Art Fair is generously sponsored by Emerson, the City of Sunset Hills, Ameren, Edward Jones, and Jamba Juice, with media support from KDHX, KTRS, Riverfront Times, Sauce Magazine, St. Louis Public Radio, and Y98.
Have you ever wanted to sing with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL)? The brilliant opera company presents “Spring Sing!” on Saturday, May 9 at 12:30 pm at the Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Boulevard. This fun and informal event brings together professional singers of OTSL and hundreds of community participants from diverse backgrounds for an annual “spontaneous” concert at an iconic St. Louis location.
In addition to main season artists, Spring Sing! features special guest appearances from internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves and world renowned soprano Christine Brewer, who receives her star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame this month. Both performed as part of the #WithNormandy: A Concert for Peace and Unity event, which raised nearly $5,000 for the “Friends of Normandy” scholarship fund in September 2014. Members of the Normandy High School Choir, under the direction of Duane Foster, perform as part of the community choir, along with members of the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School Choir under the direction of Addie Akin. OTSL chorus master and head of music staff Robert Ainsley conducts the 30-minute concert, which features classic opera choruses from Verdi and Mozart, as well as traditional choral selections from the American songbook.
More an avid listener and not a singer? Spring Sing! is open to the public for anyone to listen and enjoy so feel free to bring your little ones to experience this great 30 minute concert. Make a day of it with a visit to the Saint Louis Art Museum or the Saint Louis Zoo before or after Spring Sing!
Rehearsal: Members of Spring Sing! need to attend either one morning (10 am to 1 pm) or one afternoon (2 pm to 5 pm) rehearsal on Saturday, May 2 held at Opera Theatre’s Sally S. Levy Opera Center (210 Hazel Ave, 63119 in Webster Groves). To ease the logistics of learning music and rehearsing, OTSL will send you a recording that teaches your part in advance.
Performance: The performance will take place at the Missouri History Museum on Saturday, May 9 at 12:30 pm.
“Fantastic visual and aural display of percussive precision full of energetic gymnastics and vibrant vitality. Original music expertly played and choreographed into a remarkable show.” — The Belfast Telegraph
Don’t miss Scrap Arts Music, an exciting and unique celebration of percussive music and movement at the Edison Theatre on March 20 and 21. Entertaining for families of all ages!
Scrap Arts Music
Friday, March 20, 2015 at 8 pm ($20 to $36 ticket)
Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 11 am ($12 ticket)
Edison Theatre, 6445 Forsyth Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63105
Call 314.935.6543 or purchase tickets online. Parking Map
About Scrap Arts Music
Gregory Kozak and Justine Murdy, the artistic directors of Scrap Arts Music, invented and created all the musical instruments used in the show. These are not found objects “played” like instruments, but completely new tune-able inventions made from a variety of “scraps” welded, bent, and transformed into entirely new sculptures. Mr. Kozak wrote and choreographed the original music and performs alongside the other world-class musicians.
Scrap Arts Music is rooted in a green message: “Before you throw away something — whether an idea, a relationship, or an object, think about its usefulness from a bunch of different angles. You will likely discover a whole new world of possibilities.”
The performances bridge music with athleticism. All of the highly trained, professional musicians have strong athletic backgrounds. Percussion is the most physical of all the instrument families, after all.
Scrap Arts Music includes humorous moments within its nuanced and sophisticated percussion ensemble music. Listen for their sometimes humorous instrument sounds, instrument names, and composition titles.
All Scrap Arts Music instrument designs are based in a knowledge of the physics of sound and leader Gregory Kozak’s compositional style draws upon world music traditions.
History of Scrap Arts Music
Musician/composer Gregory Kozak and architecture-trained Justine Murdy began their collaboration under the name “Scrap Arts Music” in 1998. Their multi-disciplinary approach is a synthesis of Justine’s architectural work in and fascination with vernacular design and material culture studies; and Gregory’s musical training in Afro-Cuban jazz, piano composition, world percussion, contemporary classical music, North Indian raga, modern dance, and West African drum and dance. The artistic objective of Gregory and Justine’s collaboration is to create an orchestra of invented instruments created from materials collected in and around their home base of Vancouver Canada, and to use these in original performance-based works. Gregory and Justine wanted to reflect their own time and place while demonstrating that contemporary ‘throw-aways’ could be up-cycled to make culturally valuable artifacts, in their case sculptural musical instruments.
Since the 1990s, in addition to the beautiful condo towers lining the downtown core, Vancouver’s massive building boom has generated mountains of high-quality construction salvage. Building and marine activities generate lots of high-quality cast offs-that frequently are just taken to landfills or to sites where energy is expended to recycle. Justine and Gregory decided to interrupt this movement by upcycling choice scrap —including shaped metal ‘seconds,’ Douglas Fir wood offcuts, and PVC tubing.
Over three years of research and development (1998-2001) they created 145+ large-scale, mobile, sculptural instruments designed to be tune-able and suitable for repeat performances around the world. Many of the larger instruments are mobile. Gregory and Justine developed an “action-choreography” style of movement and sculptural instruments reflective of Vancouver and the energy of percussion.
In the spirit of “art music” they give consideration to the visual dimension of musical performance. Gregory and Justine take SCRAP, transform it through the ARTS of sculpture and choreography, and create original MUSIC performances for global audiences. Since 2001, they have taken their interdisciplinary project around the world, performed in front of hundreds of thousands of people, and offered numerous workshops, educational performances, and concerts featuring original choreographed sculptural music made from the materials around them.
“Every year right at the end of summer just before the leaves turn brown and fall from the trees, Esme comes to stay with her Nanna and Granddad…” But this year something is different; Nanna Queenie is gone. Though Grandad and Esme do the fun activities they usually do, things aren’t the same without Nanna Queenie. Grandad can’t bring himself to say that Nanna has died, so he explains that Nanna has joined the circus. “She looked like an ordinary woman, but inside beat the heart of a tightrope walker.”
COCA presents “Walking the Tightrope” in the Founders’ Theatre February 21 and 22, 2015. Winner of three LA Drama Critics Circle Awards and honored with more than a dozen nominations for acting, music, video design, and more, this production is an experience adults and children can enjoy together. Written by Mike Kenny, one of England’s leading writers for young audiences, and produced by 24th STreet Theatre in Los Angeles, “Walking the Tightrope” is a sweet, funny, and moving story of a grandfather who tries to tell his 5 year-old granddaughter that Grandma is gone, and in the process builds a beautiful new relationship with her. With the help of a single clown, they discover the meaning of family. 24th STreet Theatre’s acclaimed production uses world-class acting, sophisticated video, sound design, and original music to transport audiences from Grandad’s quaint 1959 English seaside cottage to the spectacular big top of circus. Look below for a special half off ticket promotion!
PARENTAL GUIDANCE: “Walking the Tightrope” gently and creatively addresses the theme of loss and is recommended for ages 7 and up.
DETAILS
COCA Presents 2014-2015: “Walking the Tightrope”
Founders’ Theatre at COCA
524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130
Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 2 and 5 pm
Sunday, February 22, 2015 at 1 and 4 pm
Run time is approximately one hour.
General seating tickets are $14-$18 online or by phone at 314.561.4877, or in person at COCA.
SPECIAL PROMOTION for Culture Mama readers! Take 50% off any ticket with the promo code: tightrope50. Be sure to enter this code in the promo code box at the top right hand side of the screen when ordering online or tell a COCA staff person when calling or buying tickets in person.
Ready Readers presents “Winter Story Fest” with The Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company and Whole Foods Market in Brentwood on Sunday, February 8, 2015, Clayton High School, 1 Mark Twain Circle. The fun begins at 2 pm with children’s activities led by top area family friendly organizations including The Magic House and Mad Science, face painters, magicians, clowns, a silent auction, and much more. At 3:30 pm, guests are entertained by The Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company’s production of The Emperor’s New Clothes in Clayton High School’s beautiful auditorium. Approximate run time of The Emperor’s New Clothes is 45 minutes.
The event is recommended for ages 3 to 10. Tickets are $15 per person in advance or $18 per person at the door. You can reserve your tickets online or by calling 314.564.8070. For group reservations, contact Lisa Greening at lisa@readyreaders.org.
Proceeds from Winter Story Fest benefit Ready Readers and its mission of inspiring preschool-age children from low-income communities to become readers by reading aloud to them, increasing their exposure to quality books, and providing literacy-related experiences.
The entire Ready Readers event is 2 to 4:30 pm, including announcements and acknowledgments prior to the theater performance. Depending on how old your children are (and how they are feeling on that particular day!), you may want to adjust your arrival time so that your experience is a relaxing and fun one. Be sure to allow yourself a few moments to bid high on the great silent auction items.
About The Emperor’s New Clothes One of Hans Christian Andersen’s tales gets a quirky new look in this silly satire about a vain man and his clever wife. Determined to teach her husband a lesson in humility, the queen and her loyal handmaiden pose as two weavers who make the most beautiful garments in the world. There’s just one catch—only the most intelligent people can see these clothes. Will the Emperor admit he’s had the wool pulled over his eyes or embarrass himself in front of the entire kingdom?
Book by Kim Esop Wylie
Music by Joe Dreyer
Lyrics by Sheila Schultz
Directed by Kat Singleton
About Ready Readers Ready Readers is a St. Louis-based nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring preschool age children from low-income communities to love books and to have the emergent literacy skills necessary to become readers when they enter kindergarten. Trained, passionate volunteers read high-quality books aloud to the same classroom of children for 30 minutes every week, and then provide stimulating reading-related activities. Six times during each school year and once during the summer, the volunteer readers also distribute new books for each child to take home and keep.
Photo above: Scrap Arts Music, by Anneke Janissen.
Experience the magic of live theater with your family this Fall and Winter! Musicals, favorite books brought to the stage, acrobats, circus performers, a world famous symphony, truly unique percussionists, and more are ready to inspire and entertain you. Also be on the lookout for a vivid demonstration of what a whole lot of practice, perseverance, and passion can create.
Stanley Lambchop is your ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill ten-year-old: normal Mom and Dad, normal little brother, normal life. That’s just the problem… for Stanley, life is too normal. He wants to travel the world, do something amazing, something no one’s ever seen before. Careful what you wish for, Stanley! One night, the bulletin board on the wall above Stanley’s bed comes loose and falls right on top of Stanley. The next morning, Stanley Lambchop wakes up flat. Not just a little flat… really, REALLY flat! In a whirlwind musical travelogue, Stanley, the ultimate exchange student, scours the globe for a solution to his unusual problem. He’s stamped, posted, and canceled from Hollywood to France to Honolulu and beyond. And whether he’s thwarting a robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris, or “hanging ten” off the coast of Hawaii, Stanley is closing in on his goal of being a three-dimensional boy once more. Approximate run time is one hour.
NOVEMBER 2014
Stella, Queen of the Snow
A Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia Production November 22-23, 2014 COCA, 524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis Tickets $14 to $18
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, creator of Guess How Much I Love You… (COCA, 2013) and Treasured Stories by Eric Carle (COCA, 2012), has joined forces with popular Stella and Sam author Marie-Louise Gay in a new stage adaption of the beloved storybook, designed especially for young children integrating imaginative puppetry and striking scenic effects. Stella, Queen of the Snow is a delightful romp in the snow with Stella and Sam as they discover the world of winter together. Approximate run time is one hour.
“Cows that type? Hens on strike! Whoever heard of such a thing!” Farmer Brown cries. When his granddaughter Jenny comes for a visit, Farmer Brown declared the farm a “tech-free zone.” He confiscates her laptop in the cold barn along with the shivering cows who use her computer to type messages requesting blankets. “No way,” replies Farmer Brown. “No blankets!” So the cows go on strike and the chickens join them in solidarity. No blankets: no milk, no eggs! Will Farmer Brown give in to the animals’ demands? Will Jenny get her computer back? Find out in a hilariously “mooooo-ving” new musical about negotiation and compromise. Based on the Caldecott Honor book by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin. Approximate run time is one hour.
DECEMBER 2014
Annie National Touring Production
December 2-7, 2014
The Fabulous Fox Theatre
527 North Grand Boulevard, St. Louis
Tickets $25 to $75
Leapin’ Lizards! The world’s best-loved musical returns in time-honored form. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin and choreographed by Liza Gennaro, this production of Annie will be a brand new incarnation of the iconic original. Featuring book and score by Tony Award®-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse, and Martin Charnin, Annie includes such unforgettable songs as “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You,” plus the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.” Approximate run time is 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The entire family is sure to enjoy this colorful and acrobatic adventure. Direct from Beijing, The National Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1951 and has been one of the most acclaimed acrobatic troupes in China. Over several generations, the company has developed many unique acrobatic acts like “Global Motorcycling,” “Kicking Bowls to Heads on High Unicycles,” “Russian Bars in Chinese Traditional Style,” “Chinese Poles in Shaolin Style,” “Diving through Moving Hoops,” “Aerial Bungee Tumblings,” and “Aerial Tissue Flowers.” These acts have been praised by Chinese and foreign audiences for decades. Approximate run time is two hours.
Mr. Scrooge throws his TV remote at ghosts while Bob Cratchit works inside the ATM in this hilarious modern update of a beloved holiday classic. Travel with the three spirits on a journey through past, present, and future as old Ebenezer learns the joys of kindness and giving. Can Christmas be saved for the Cratchits? You’ll find out in this musical romp that is sure to put a smile on the “Scroogiest” of faces. Adapted from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Approximate run time is 45 minutes.
Circus Flora: A Winter Fable St. Louis Symphony
December 13-14, 2014
Powell Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard
Tickets $25 to $65
Circus Flora joins the St. Louis Symphony in high-wire holiday fun for the family. A Winter Fable is a classic fairy tale with an edge of romance and deceit. Circus Flora imagines a strange and wonderful world, in which the pairing of symphony and the circus arts is only the beginning of the magic you will experience. See your favorites including the gravity-defying Flying Wallendas and much, much, more. It’s Christmas, with a circus twist! Approximate run time is one hour and 50 minutes.
Pixar in Concert
St. Louis Symphony
December 27-28, 2014
Powell Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard
Tickets $30 to $65
Watch as all your favorite characters come to life on the big screen as the St. Louis Symphony performs music from 14 Pixar films including Toy Story, Brave, Cars, Monsters, Inc., and more. Fun for both the young, and the young at heart! Steven Jarvi, conductor. Approximate run time is two hours.
JANUARY 2015 Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse
An Omaha Theatre Company Production
January 16-18, 2015
Florissant Civic Center Theatre, 1 James J. Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7
Lilly loves everything about school, especially her cool teacher, Mr. Slinger. When he confiscates her prized possession, a purple plastic purse that plays music, joy turns to misery. Lilly, who is used to being the brightest and loudest mouse around, will also have to get used to sharing the spotlight with her new baby brother in this charming adaptation of Kevin Henkes’s award-winning children’s book. Gripped with anger after losing her purse, Lilly draws a mean portrait of Mr. Slinger and hides it in his book bag. When she gets her purse back and opens it outside of school, she finds a surprising note: “Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better.” Suddenly wracked with guilt, Lilly sets out to make up with her teacher, but villainous bicycle-riding bullies, a spotlight-stealing baby brother, and the dreaded “uncooperative chair” will test our heroine’s resolve. Approximate run time is one hour.
Maestro Steven Jarvi and a special guest will lead demonstrations of sound waves and sound creation in the various instruments of the orchestra. Featured works include Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, Beethoven’s The Creatures of Prometheus Overture, selections from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and more! Approximate run time is 45 minutes.
BARTÓK, Romanian Folk Dances
BEETHOVEN, The Creatures of Prometheus Overture
COPLAND, Fanfare for the Common Man
MENDELSSOHN, Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
BRITTEN, Playful Pizzicato from Simple Symphony
BEETHOVEN, Fourth Movement from Symphony No. 7 in A major
Photo: Conductor Steven Jarvi, by David Bickley.
The Muny Kids: Broadway Here I Come Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 11 am
Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Boulevard, St. Louis
Tickets $5 to $12
The talented Muny kids and teens take you on a musical journey to the “Great White Way” with favorite Broadway songs, old and new. The Muny is a St. Louis institution, bringing musical theater to life every summer for over 90 years. Approximate run time is one hour.
Take some old bike parts, shiny construction salvage, PVC pipes, and other recycled odds and ends. Add five hyperactive hipsters and a dozen drumsticks, and the result is a dizzying barrage of beats. Vancouver-based ensemble Scrap Arts Music bounces around on stage with a combination of gymnastic agility and percussive drive. They alternate between hitting, moving, and bowing their instruments. The choreography is intricate and eye-catching! Approximate run time is one hour.
Cinema St. Louis presents SLIFF/Kids, the Second Annual St. Louis International Children’s Film Festival, August 1-10, 2014. The films include international and American-independent narrative features (both animated and live action) and film shorts programs. Although the programs are geared to children and young teens ages 6-16, older teens and adults will find the films equally appealing. All film programs are free and open to the public. No tickets are required to see any show, but seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, so early arrival is suggested, particularly for groups of three or more. SLIFF/Kids presents film programs on the festival’s two weekends (August 1-3 and August 8-10). Venues include Webster University, Saint Louis Art Museum, COCA, St. Louis Public Library’s Central Library, Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville, and Lindenwood University in St. Charles.
• COCA, 524 Trinity Avenue
• Saint Louis Art Museum: Forest Park, 1 Fine Arts Drive
• St. Louis Public Library’s Central Library Auditorium (screenings) and Creative Experience (camps): 1301 Olive St. downtown. Parking is available in a free lot at Olive and 15th streets. Tokens, which are required to exit the lot, are available at the Olive Street and Locust Street desks within Central Library. Parking at meters is free on Sundays.
• Webster University’s Winifred Moore Auditorium: Webster Hall, 470 East Lockwood Avenue. Parking is available both in front of and behind Webster Hall, no permits are required.
• Wildey Theatre: 252 North Main Street, Edwardsville, IL.
• Lindenwood University’s Young Hall Auditorium, Watson and Houston streets (one block west of South Kingshighway and Watson Street), 209 South Kingshighway Street, St. Charles, MO 63301. Parking is available next to Young Hall, no permits required.
The Festival has also organized many excellent filmmaking camps. With the participation of both Lindenwood and Webster universities, free Filmmaking Camps on live action and animation are held at the St. Louis Public Library’s Creative Experience on the fest’s weekdays (August 4-8). Also, free Advanced Filmmaking Camps (for teens with previous experience) will be held the week after SLIFF/Kids (August 11-15) at both the St. Louis Public Library’s Creative Experience (documentary camp) and Lindenwood University (live-action camp). Before SLIFF/Kids officially begins, from July 28-August 1, COCA will offer a filmmaking camp in which participants will create a 3 to 5 minute digital short that could serve as a pilot for a longer digital series; cost is $250. On August 9, a full-day Teen Workshop on the Art of Animation will be held at the Saint Louis Art Museum; there will be a $75 charge for this workshop ($50 for Saint Louis Art Museum members).
The Boxcar Children: Saturday, August 2, 2014 at 12:30 pm, Central Library (81 minutes). Animated and in English. Based on the first book of Gertrude Chandler Warner’s extraordinarily popular series – with more than 50 million books sold worldwide – “The Boxcar Children” is a tale of family togetherness that relates the touching story of the four Alden siblings, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny.
Nocturna: Saturday, August 2, 2014 at 10:30 am, Central Library (88 minutes). Animated and in English. Visually stunning and wildly inventive, this film explores the mystery of the night in a sweeping nocturnal adventure full of “Alice in Wonderland” like characters and moody, dream-inspired landscapes.
Mary Poppins: Saturday, August 2, 2014 at 2:30 pm, Central Library (139 minutes). Live action, animated, and in English. Released from the Disney Vault in celebration of its 50th Anniversary, this beloved classic shines like never before with an all-new digital restoration. Winner of five Academy Awards®, including Best Actress (Julie Andrews), Best Song (“Chim Chim Cher-ee”), and Best Visual Effects, “Mary Poppins” is a family-film classic as fresh and funny today as when it was made.
Boy and the World: Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 2:30 pm, Central Library (80 minutes). Animated and wordless. Cuca lives a life of quiet wonder, exploring all that the countryside has to offer. But his cozy life is shattered when his father leaves for the city, prompting Cuca to embark on a quest to reunite his family. Accompanying the stunning visuals is a rich soundscape of pan-flute, samba, and Brazilian hip-hop.
My Dog the Champion: Saturday, August 2, 2014 at 1 pm, Lindenwood University; Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 12:30 pm, Central Library; Sunday, August 10, 2014 at 1 pm, Wildey (87 minutes). Live action and in English. Dora Madison Burge (“Friday Night Lights”) stars as Madison, a spoiled big-city 16-year-old with a full teenage social life. But when her mom is deployed overseas for three months, Maddy is sent to live with her hard-nosed grandfather (Lance Henriksen of “Aliens”) at his rural cattle ranch. In this strange place with no wi-fi, Maddy will meet cute 17-year-old dog trainer Eli (Cody Linley of “Hannah Montana”), grow to love and respect her stubborn grandpa, and bond with an old cattle dog who just may have the potential to be a blue-ribbon champion.
October 25, 2015 at 3 pm
October 31, 2015, 10 am to noon
Laumeier Sculpture Park presents its 28th Annual Art Fair on Mother’s Day weekend, May 8–10, 2015
