Zoe Vonder Haar News

While I was watching FOLLIES, I was reminded of our own beloved Fox Theatre, and how it had tread a similar path during the 1970's. Like the fictional Weismann Theatre where this story's action takes place, it had been fallen on hard times, reduced to screening Kung-Fu and exploitation film fare before being renovated and reopened. But there is no restoration in the cards for the Weismann, and the people that come to it for one final celebrated glimpse may be nearing the point of being past reclamation themselves. This is superior Sondheim, and though it's not revived as often as some of his other works, it's full of the kind of interweaving melodies and motifs that this master composer is so adept at creating. Find out for yourself just how compelling and engaging this musical is by seeing The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' stunning production that opens their 50th season.

One of the most daring and innovative musicals of all time launches The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' 50th anniversary season. Follies, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Goldman and directed by Rob Ruggiero, opened September 7 and runs through October 2 on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at highlights of the show below!

One of the most daring and innovative musicals of all time launches The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' 50th anniversary season. Follies, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Goldman and directed by Rob Ruggiero, runs tonight, September 7, through October 2 on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

One of the most daring and innovative musicals of all time will launch The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' 50th anniversary season. Follies, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Goldman and directed by Rob Ruggiero, runs tonight, September 7, through October 2 on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts.

One of the most daring and innovative musicals of all time will launch The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' 50th anniversary season. Follies, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Goldman and directed by Rob Ruggiero, runs September 7 - October 2 on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts.

Set during a period of great turmoil just prior to the Russian revolution (1905), FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is a joyous celebration of life in times of uncertainty. Most versions I've seen have been scaled down considerably, focusing on the more intimate scenes. That's certainly not the case here. The MUNY's spectacular production gives us the full breadth and scope of Joseph Stein, Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock's thoughtful and heart warming take on themes of family and tradition. Anchored by a particularly strong cast and top notch staging this, is quite simply, perfection!

Footage of opening night of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's, Fiddler on the Roof, at The Muny in St. Louis, MO, featuring a previously unheard song by the show's composers!

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) will kick off its 50th anniversary season with an all-star cast performing in Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece Follies. Directed by Rob Ruggiero, this brilliant and innovative musical runs September 7 - October 2 on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts.

STAGES St. Louis celebrates their 30th year with a very funny musical that deserved a much better fate that the short run it had on Broadway, IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU. A play of sorts on the old song 'It Had to be You', this work is difficult to describe simply because there are so many farcical twists and turns that revealing any would spoil the experience. What I can tell you is how terrific this production is. It features a top notch cast that all seem to be having a great time, and why not? It's filled with clever lines and a fine score (music by Barbara Anselmi, book by Brian Hargrove and lyrics by Hargrove, Jill Abramovitz, Michael Cooper, Carla Rose Fisher, Ernie Lijoi, and Will Randall) that's catchy and really fits the show well. I will provide a brief synopsis, but suffice to say, this might be considered the Murphy's Law of shows that feature a wedding. But, you can't go wrong by taking in this superbly rendered presentation, and I heartily recommend that you see it!

The Muny announced today the complete cast for its production of Fiddler on the Roof directed by Gary Griffin, choreographed by Alex Sanchez and music directed by Brad Haak.

Direct from Broadway and in its Mid-Western premiere, the refreshingly modern romantic comedy, It Shoulda Been You launches STAGES St. Louis' celebratory 30th Anniversary Season. This hilarious and heartwarming new musical about a madcap wedding celebration will run June 3rd - July 3rd at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

Following its recent 2016 Arts Organization Award from the Missouri Arts Council and five St. Louis Theater Circle Awards, STAGES St. Louis has announced casting for its celebratory 30th Anniversary Season: It Shoulda Been You, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Sister Act.

STAGES St. Louis has received five awards from the St. Louis Theater Circle during its fourth-annual awards ceremony this past Monday. The Theater Circle Awards - presented by an organization of local critics - honor the outstanding work by actors, directors, designers and playwrights of St. Louis professional theatre in the preceding year.

Voting has opened for the 2015 BroadwayWorld St. Louis Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 27th. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31.

Variety Children's Theatre presents its 7th annual performance, MARY POPPINS, playing this weekend, October 23-25 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center.

If you've seen the movie version of the THE FULL MONTY, and even if you haven't, you should make it a point to see STAGES St. Louis' current production of the musical version, because it's a fabulous show. Sometimes it's silly, sometimes it's serious, but one thing is certain, it's a show that tugs at the heart and has you rooting hard for these unemployed steel workers to pull off the scheme one of them hatches in order to earn some real cash. The show is wonderfully cast, and smartly directed, and more importantly, features a splendid, catchy score (music and lyrics by David Yazbek), and a top notch script by Terrence McNally that retains a lot of the more significant issues that made the movie so special to begin with. At its core it's a story of hope and following your dreams in the face of adversity, something we could all use more of, and that alone makes it an absolute must-see event.

Variety Children's Theatre just announced casting for its 7th annual performance, MARY POPPINS, playing October 23-25 at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. Lara Teeter will direct, with original MARY POPPINS cast member Elizabeth DeRosa and Broadway's WHITE CHRISTMAS star Drew Humphrey appearing as Mary and Bert, respectively.

STAGES St. Louis welcomes back its red-hot award-winning smash hit The Full Monty! Featuring a powerful story with enduring characters, this hilarious, yet heartwarming musical comedy will run tonight, September 4, through October 4 at the Robert G. Reim theatre in Kirkwood. 

The Muny presents OKLAHOMA!, which began performances on August 10 and runs through August 16, 2015, directed by Rob Ruggiero, choreographed by Susan Stroman and music directed by Kevin Stites. Ginger Thatcherrestages Stroman's choreography. Meet Jenni Barber (who plays Ado Annie) in the video below!

STAGES St. Louis welcomes back its red-hot award-winning smash hit The Full Monty! Featuring a powerful story with enduring characters, this hilarious, yet heartwarming musical comedy will run September 4 - October 4 at the Robert G. Reim theatre in Kirkwood.