Laurie McConnell News

There are a number of reasons that Rodgers and Hammerstein's THE SOUND OF MUSIC is still so popular today. The songs are definitely catchy and familiar, and the story is compelling. But, it takes a good cast and solid direction to make it work properly, and the troupe that Stages St. Louis has corralled are excellent in their roles. This venerable warhorse of a show is their current production, and its charm still holds up remarkably well after all these years.

The Rep's Imaginary Theatre Company presented a version of PUSS IN BOOTS that more in line with Charles Perrault's original fairy tale, than with the Dreamworks, sword-wielding brand we've become accustomed to. Playwright/composer Brian Hohlfeld's take is decidedly more true to its source, although it does add some cute little catchy songs, and pop-culture references in telling its tale. ITC's production was very well done, as always, and featured a fine cast and clever direction.

The Imaginary Theatre Company, the young audiences touring ensemble of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, supported by a $25,000 grant from Brown Shoe Company and a $25,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund, will present Puss in Boots on Saturday, March 17, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Heagney Theatre on the campus of Nerinx Hall High School, 530 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves. Tickets are $6.

The Imaginary Theatre Company, the young audiences touring ensemble of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, supported by a $25,000 grant from Brown Shoe Company and a $25,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund, will present Puss in Boots on Saturday, March 17, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Heagney Theatre on the campus of Nerinx Hall High School, 530 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves. Tickets are $6. Check out the production photos below!

The Imaginary Theatre Company, the young audiences touring ensemble of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, supported by a $25,000 grant from Brown Shoe Company and a $25,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund, will present Puss in Boots on Saturday, March 17, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Heagney Theatre on the campus of Nerinx Hall High School, 530 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves. Tickets are $6.

I lost count with how many "good" messages were being poured into Sarah Brandt (playwright) and Neal Richardson's (music, lyrics, arrangements, and musical direction production of THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER, which is the current holiday offering on the Heagney stage at Nerinx Hall as part of the Imaginary Theatre Company's season in conjunction with the St. Louis Rep. This, like most of their presentations for kids isn't written "down", and operates well at communicating the various morals, or things that should always be remembered like a snippet of dialogue that went something akin to: "Having each other is the best Christmas gift". But, the best morals are a bit more subtle, like the need to help people and be rewarded for your good deed, or cooperate in order to achieve your best work.

The New Jewish Theatre continue their 15th season with Alfred Ury's (of Driving Miss Daisy fame) engaging and informative LAST NIGHT AT BALLYHOO. It's a delightful slice-of-life comedy with an examination of an extended family and its peculiarities providing the stage for a look at whether Jews who moved South did or did not maintain, more or less of, their orthodox heritage, and how a kind of bigotry existed within their own community, in regards to this key distinction in behavior (keying on "club life" and their differing observations of Christmas and Hanukah). This is an intelligent, amusing work with plenty to offer.

Muddy Waters Theatre end their season dedicated to playwright Paula Vogel with her award-winning work, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, and it's easily the most accomplished and straightforward of her plays. It lacks the humor of the others that were presented this season, but it replaces the laughs with something deeper that disturbs and stays with the viewer long after the play has ended. This is a very successful staging of this haunting work powered by sharp direction and stellar performances.

As we approach the 10th anniversary of 911, Blue Rose Stage Collective and River City Theatre are presenting playwright Anne Nelson's THE GUYS, which looks back at that fateful day in a most unique and diverting manner. If there's one thing this tragic day has taught us, it's to be aware and ever-vigilant, but also to remember, not just the event itself, but the brave people who gave their lives trying to rescue those poor souls trapped in the twin towers as the planes guided by terrorists struck them. It's a powerful and surprisingly, at times, light-hearted look at a particular time in our history that must never be forgotten, and this production is outstanding.

Upstream Theater presents OEDIPUS KING (Oedipus Tyrannos) by Sophocles, in an English version by David Slavitt, directed by Philip Boehm. Our production of this iconic work about a man fated to kill his father and marry his mother features J. Samuel Davis* as Oedipus and Amy Loui* as Jocasta, along with John Bratkowski*, Christopher Harris*, Dennis Lebby*, Laurie McConnell*, Peter Mayer*, & Emily Piro (*indicates member, Actors' Equity Association).

The story of Oedipus is a tragic one, and perhaps one of the most pitiable and pathetic in all of the Greek canon. The tale is familiar and famous enough to have inspired a complex named after the protagonist, although Sigmund Freud's description of it relates more to the unconscious guilt that centers around an individual who exhibits obsessive behavior toward their parent of the opposite sex, than it does the actual circumstances surrounding Oedipus. That definition really doesn't fit the actual figure of Oedipus, because he's completely unaware of the missing fork in his family tree when he takes his own mother as his wife, after being abandoned as a child. Upstream Theater is presenting a powerful and memorable production of this play, OEDIPUS KING, from an adaptation by David Slavitt, which actually manages, even amidst all the heartbreak and pain, to find some small moments of humor to lighten the overall darkness of the piece.

Upstream Theater presents OEDIPUS KING (Oedipus Tyrannos) by Sophocles, in an English version by David Slavitt, directed by Philip Boehm. Our production of this iconic work about a man fated to kill his father and marry his mother features J. Samuel Davis* as Oedipus and Amy Loui* as Jocasta, along with John Bratkowski*, Christopher Harris*, Dennis Lebby*, Laurie McConnell*, Peter Mayer*, & Emily Piro (*indicates member, Actors' Equity Association).

Upstream Theater presents OEDIPUS KING (Oedipus Tyrannos) by Sophocles, in an English version by David Slavitt, directed by Philip Boehm. Our production of this iconic work about a man fated to kill his father and marry his mother features J. Samuel Davis* as Oedipus and Amy Loui* as Jocasta, along with John Bratkowski*, Christopher Harris*, Dennis Lebby*, Laurie McConnell*, Peter Mayer*, & Emily Piro (*indicates member, Actors' Equity Association).

I'm encouraged by the recent trend of malls offering up empty retail space to the artistic community. If there's one thing that theatre groups often lack it's a decent performance space, and these type of ventures, like the ArtSpace at Crestwood Court, provide them with an opportunity to bring their talents to the masses. Dramatic License Productions makes their debut in the 'Artopolis' at Chesterfield Mall with a pleasant and emotionally affecting staging of Robert Harling's Southern-fried comedy-drama STEEL MAGNOLIAS (February 4 - 20).