David Schmitt News

Riverside Theatre will present Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man" through March 18 at its Stark Mainstage theater. With direction and choreography by Vince Pesce, the production's cast includes Broadway stars Jennifer Hope Wills (Marian Paroo), Beth McVey (Eulalie Shinn), and J.B. Adams (Mayor Shinn). The musical also stars David Schmittou as Professor Harold Hill.

Riverside Theatre will present Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man" February 23 - March 18 at its Stark Mainstage theater. With direction and choreography by Vince Pesce, the production's cast includes Broadway stars Jennifer Hope Wills (Marian Paroo), Beth McVey (Eulalie Shinn), and J.B. Adams (Mayor Shinn). The musical also stars David Schmittou as Professor Harold Hill.

Riverside Theatre will present Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man" February 23 - March 18 at its Stark Mainstage theater. With direction and choreography by Vince Pesce, the production's cast includes Broadway stars Jennifer Hope Wills (Marian Paroo), Beth McVey (Eulalie Shinn), and J.B. Adams (Mayor Shinn). The musical also stars David Schmittou as Professor Harold Hill.

A woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman? The side-splitting musical comedy, Victor/Victoria closes October 10 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

What is it about movie adaptations and Broadway? They're constantly adapting motion pictures for the stage, and yet, the majority are expensive flops and failures. Is it the fickle nature of the 'Great White Way', or simply cynical critics and theatre patrons who are jaded by these repeat offenders? Well, their loss is our gain, and the funny, romantic, utterly charming and delightful production of VICTOR/VICTORIA by Stages St. Louis is certainly proof enough that something is amiss in their estimations. This closer for Stages season is well worth you time and attention, and proves once again that some productions just work better in other venues.

Victor/Victoria opens September 9 at STAGES ST. LOUIS and continues through October 9 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

A woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman? The side-splitting musical comedy, Victor/Victoria opens September 9 at STAGES ST. LOUIS and continues through October 9 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

A woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman? The side-splitting musical comedy, Victor/Victoria opens September 9 at STAGES ST. LOUIS and continues through October 9 at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

Cape May Stage, South Jersey's premier professional Equity theatre, is excited to announce a production of classic theatre presented as you've never seen it before! The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) presents all of the Bard's 37 plays and 154 sonnets in about two hours! Directed by Harland Meltzer and starring Mark Irish, Jake Paque, and David Schmittou, Complete Works will open October 27th and run Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse on the corner of Bank and Lafayette Streets in downtown Cape May.

Cape May Stage, South Jersey's premier professional Equity theatre, is excited to announce a production of classic theatre presented as you've never seen it before! The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) presents all of the Bard's 37 plays and 154 sonnets in about two hours! Directed by Harland Meltzer and starring Mark Irish, Jake Paque, and David Schmittou, Complete Works will open October 27th and run Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse on the corner of Bank and Lafayette Streets in downtown Cape May.

The Stages St. Louis production of PROMISES,PROMISES will be produced and presented from the original script and score that premiered on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre in 1968. Adapted from Billy Wilder's 1960 Oscar-winning film The Apartment, PROMISES,PROMISES focuses on a rising executive, Chuck Baxter, who tries to curry favor with his superiors by letting them borrow his apartment for romantic trysts. Set in the Mad Men era of Manhattan's Madison Avenue, Promises, Promises remains slick, hip and timeless. With its propulsive score, eye-catching dances, dazzling designs, and laugh-out-loud hilarity, PROMISES,PROMISES is a show you will long carry in your heart.

Since I first started taking my son along with me to see children's shows, it's become readily apparent to me that he especially enjoys seeing the ones put on by Stages St. Louis. That's because they're always entertaining and fun, and they don't wear out their welcome by running too long. Their current presentation of DISNEY'S THE ARISTOCATS is another fine example of the kind of engaging productions they present year in and year out. And, I'm happy to report that my son absolutely loved it (my wife and I did, too)!

I grew up listening to the music and lyrics of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and I've always had a warm spot in my heart for their tuneful pop confections. So, it was with a considerable amount of anticipation that I looked forward to getting a chance to see a production of their 1968 hit PROMISES, PROMISES, which combines their songs with a funny and touching script by master comedy scribe Neil Simon (a rare adaptation by the finicky writer of I.A.L. Diamond and famed film director Billy Wilder's original screenplay from their Oscar-winning film, The Apartment). Stages St. Louis has put together a stunning production that completely captures that swinging 60's vibe. An exceptional cast and sparkling direction combine to make this a must-see event.

The Stages St. Louis production of PROMISES,PROMISES will be produced and presented from the original script and score that premiered on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre in 1968. Adapted from Billy Wilder's 1960 Oscar-winning film The Apartment, PROMISES,PROMISES focuses on a rising executive, Chuck Baxter, who tries to curry favor with his superiors by letting them borrow his apartment for romantic trysts. Set in the Mad Men era of Manhattan's Madison Avenue, Promises, Promises remains slick, hip and timeless. With its propulsive score, eye-catching dances, dazzling designs, and laugh-out-loud hilarity, PROMISES,PROMISES is a show you will long carry in your heart.

The Stages St. Louis production of PROMISES,PROMISES will be produced and presented from the original script and score that premiered on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre in 1968. Adapted from Billy Wilder's 1960 Oscar-winning film The Apartment, PROMISES,PROMISES focuses on a rising executive, Chuck Baxter, who tries to curry favor with his superiors by letting them borrow his apartment for romantic trysts. Set in the Mad Men era of Manhattan's Madison Avenue, Promises, Promises remains slick, hip and timeless. With its propulsive score, eye-catching dances, dazzling designs, and laugh-out-loud hilarity, PROMISES,PROMISES is a show you will long carry in your heart.

The was my first time seeing BIG RIVER, and I must confess to some misgivings I harbored concerning William Hauptman's adaptation of Mark Twain's classic tale, 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' The original is a work of great American literature, filled with dialogue that's now considered controversial, but which was pitch perfect and true to its characters and its time. Happily, Hauptman and composer/lyricist Roger Miller have crafted a wonderful version that manages to capture the flavor and feel of the times, while remaining fairly faithful to its source material. Stage St. Louis has put together a production that's a feast for the eyes and ears, conjuring up the muddy Mississippi on stage with considerable technical wizardry, while a talented cast works its own magic under Michael Hamilton's expert direction.