Entertainment

The Best Things to Do in St. Louis This Weekend: March 21 to 24

Published

2 months ago

March 20, 2024

click to enlarge VIA TICKETMASTER Popular YouTuber Ed Bassmaster will bring his character-based comedy to Red Flag this week.

Thursday 03/21

Glow Up The Saint Louis Zoo (1 Government Drive) is hosting its first-ever Animals Aglow lantern festival this spring, with more than 60 larger-than-life lanterns depicting animals, plants and traditional Chinese elements. Zoogoers will be able to stroll through the Chinese Dragon Corridor tunnel, pose with dozens of giant glowing animals, play with interactive displays like the Moonlight Swings or color-changing Star Stepping Pads, and catch nightly Chinese cultural performances. Animals Aglow has partnered with Tianyu Arts & Culture, Inc., an international event design and manufacturing company headquartered in Zigong, in the Sichuan province of China, for the special event. Artisans with Tianyu make the lanterns by hand by weaving thousands of LED lights over metal frames before covering the structures in colorful silks. The event will feature traditional handicrafts such as aluminum braiding and inner-bottle painting (hand-painted pictures created inside glass, crystal and other materials) for purchase at Tianyu’s tent, which will be located in the center of the zoo near Ice Cream Oasis. There will also be a specialty menu including steamed pork buns, firecracker chicken, dumplings in chili crisp broth and the beloved fish-shaped pastries called taiyaki. The nighttime event will take place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday through May 5. Ticket prices for Wednesdays through Thursdays are $16.95 for members and $19.95 for non-members, and for Fridays through Sundays tickets are $20.95 for members and $23.95 non-members. They can be purchased online at stlzoo.org.

Look At It Philadelphia’s Ed Bassmaster, popular YouTuber and star of the short-lived CMT prank show The Ed Bassmaster Show, brings his chameleonic brand of comedy off screen and onto the stage at Red Flag (3040 Locust Street) this Thursday, March 21. Bassmaster’s comedy M.O. is to disappear into a character, not unlike Sacha Baron Cohen becoming Ali G, Bruno or Borat. And then he stays there, committing fully to the bit and baffling any unsuspecting members of the public unfortunate enough to cross his bath. Practically speaking, this means that for just one price of admission you will almost surely be getting a whole roster of entertainment, and half of the excitement will be in finding out just who shows up. Doors are at 7 p.m., with the show starting an hour later. General admission is $25, and there are meet-and-greet packages for $75 or $150. More info at redflagstl.com.

Show Me a Soul The Crucible gets all the buzz thanks to the fact that witch hunts are never not in style, and it’s hard not to be deeply moved by Death of a Salesman, but for our money Arthur Miller’s greatest play is All My Sons. Premiering in 1947, at a time when World War II’s V-Day parties were still raging, the drama focuses on two Midwestern families being forced to grapple with guilt and truth and the consequences of greed. Unsurprisingly, the whole thing was ripped from the headlines, with a real-life Ohio manufacturing scandal not so different from today’s problems at Boeing cobbled onto a structure straight out of Henrik Ibsen. Miller, then a struggling playwright, vowed to give up his theatrical ambitions if this play wasn’t successful — and so even if you prefer The Crucible, you have this heartbreaker of a play to thank for it. All My Sons opens at the Jewish Community Center (2 Millstone Campus Drive, Maryland Heights) on Thursday, March 21 and runs through April 7. Showtimes and ticket prices vary. See showpass.com/all-my-sons/ for more information.

Saturday 03/23

Dog and Bunny Show Egg-cited for Easter? You know you are. But why should we humans have all the fun? This year, bring your fur babies on down to the Doggy Easter Bunny Photobooth at Lola & Penelope’s (two locations including 7742 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton) for a chance to meet the holiest of holiday leporids. At the Clayton pet boutique, the Easter Bunny himself will take a break from hopping down the bunny trail to meet and take photos with pets and their families. Photos are $5 for one and $10 for two or more, with proceeds to be donated to Second Chance Ranch. Photo sessions last five minutes, and pets are asked to be kept on a leash or in their carrier. Before hopping off, the Easter Bunny will hide eggs throughout both the Clayton and Town & Country locations for your doggo to sniff out. Each egg will reveal coupons, treats and more, with one golden egg holding the lucky ticket to a free Easter basket and the chance to spin the Lola Rewards Wheel to win more prizes. All the holiday fun runs from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. To reserve your photo shoot, visit lolaandpenelopes.com.

Sunday 03/24

Buzz Off Old Bakery Beer Co.’s ninth annual Buzz’d Beer Festival returns this month — and if you like beer, this one’s for you. On Sunday, March 24, from 1 to 5 p.m., stop by Old Bakery Beer Co. (400 Landmarks Boulevard, Alton, Illinois) to enjoy an expansive lineup of more than 50 craft beers from renowned local breweries, including this year’s special dessert-themed beer: The Tiramisu ale, with a 7.5 percent ABV, is brewed with rum, barrel-aged coffee, vanilla and chocolate. To go along with the beer’s unveiling, Sugarwitch will be selling Tiramisu ice cream sandwiches, and Old Bakery Beer’s menu will be available at an additional cost as well. After Old Bakery added to last year’s already extensive list, beer enthusiasts can expect to see beverages from a slew of area breweries including 2nd Shift Brewing, 4 Hands Brewing Company, Brick River Cider Co., Narrow Gauge, Schlafly and more. Each brewery has been asked to showcase a beer during the festival that includes a pollinated ingredient to help increase the awareness and importance of native pollinators. They will also be handing out free wildflower seeds and donating 10 percent of ticket sales to the Piasa Palisades Sierra Club. Each general admission ticket ($35), includes a commemorative glass, four-ounce pours from more than 50 different beers and the chance to see the Granite City band Lofty’s Comet. Discounted designated driver tickets ($10) will also include a commemorative glass and two non-alcoholic beverages from the bar. Purchase your tickets for the Buzz’d Beer Festival at oldbakerybeer.com.

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Entertainment

Moulin Rouge! Brings the Spectacle of Bohemian Paris to St. Louis

Published

2 days ago

May 10, 2024

Natural Bridge

In theater, the term jukebox musical is most often used to refer to a musical that features a singular songbook, usually popular tunes from an era, performer or group. Moulin Rouge! The Musical, at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, pushes the envelope on this idea with fantastically entertaining results. Based on the 2001 movie of the same name, the high-energy show features integrated musical mash-ups showcasing chart-topping pop songs as well as snippets of familiar blues and opera numbers.

Set around 1900, the show introduces audiences to Paris in its Bohemian heyday as Christian, an American poet and composer fresh off the boat, arrives eager to immerse himself in the artist’s life. He soon meets the painter Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and Santiago, an Argentinian dancer and choreographer, who welcome him and his songwriting prowess and invite him to the famed Moulin Rouge. Christian is immediately smitten with the club’s star, the beautiful and tragic Satine, who mistakes him for the Duke of Monroth and tries to seduce him in hopes he will invest in the financially strapped club. The Duke and the club’s proprietor walk in on the two but, with help from Toulouse-Lautrec and Santiago, Christian and Satine quickly improvise a musical pitch and secure the investment. A love triangle forms between Christian, Satine and the Duke, threatening the production and forcing Satine to make a heartbreaking choice.

Christian Douglas is immensely likeable and engaging as Christian, with a rich, pleasing voice and impressive range that harmonizes well with the other characters. He’s genuine and easy to root for with a touch of naivety that keeps hopes high. Gabrielle McClinton gracefully conveys Satine’s hidden fragility and longing while balancing her affection for Christian against her need to win over Andrew Brewer’s Duke of Monroth. Brewer is one of the most captivating villains I’ve seen in a while and uses charm and complimentary vocals to make a convincing case to win Satine before revealing a cruel, manipulative and transactional nature. Nick Rashad Burroughs and Danny Bergos are the embodiment of “truth, beauty, freedom and love,” the Bohemian creed, and a delightful addition to any scene, while Sarah Bowden is surprisingly sympathetic as Nini, and Robert Petkoff is fabulously over the top as the proprietor and emcee Harold Zidler.

As with the film, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is more about the songs, love and spectacle than the story, which borrows heavily from familiar period tales. Movie fans may miss the Bollywood influence, but that gap is filled with several new and highly entertaining numbers mixing in songs released in the last 20 years. Intricately interwoven songs, energetic choreography and a lavish set that seamlessly fits into the Fox keep audiences enraptured and do a better than expected job of making the large theater feel like an intimate club. Moulin Rouge! The Musical is an exceptionally well produced and enjoyable take on the jukebox musical genre.Written by John Logan, based on the 2001 movie written by Baz Luhrmann. Directed by Alex Timbers. Now playing at the Fox Theatre (527 North Grand Boulevard, fabulousfox.com) through Sunday, May 12. Tickets are $45 to $150. Showtimes vary.

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The Midnight Company’s Spirits to Enforce Offers Otherworldly Fun

Published

3 days ago

May 10, 2024

Natural Bridge

After producing several successful theatrical cabarets this spring, the Midnight Company turns its attention to the stage with an impressive production of Mickle Maher’s Spirits to Enforce. The clever script deftly re-imagines the otherworldly spirits released at the end of The Tempest as modern day superheroes on an unusual mission. Smart casting, and a clear vision with choreographic staging by Lucy Cashion, keeps the audience laughing throughout the quick moving mixed worlds comedy.

Having defeating the notorious villain Dr. Cannibal, the superheroes of Fathom Town turn their attention to a new challenge — a production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Naturally, the production requires money to succeed, and the play opens on the superheroes’ assumed everyday personas conducting a fundraising phone bank from their submarine headquarters deep in the bay. They aren’t bringing much in and decide that they will reveal their superhero identities to the donors for a contribution of $50 or more, all while continuing to rehearse and prepare for the big show. Despite not raising much money, opening night arrives and the house is full but their audience is the escaped Dr. Cannibal and his villainous cronies! Can the superheroes win over this critical audience and once again save the town?

The majority of the play is delivered over phone lines as the characters keep the citizens updated on the production’s progress while soliciting donations. This device is played for comic and sympathetic impact, and it’s surprisingly effective; anyone who’s participated in a fundraising drive will relate to the desperation and humor. With all characters often speaking at the same time about similar matters, the room is filled with a cacophony of rising and falling voices and movement, resulting in moments of discord and harmony. Cashion’s sharp direction, the expert cast’s perfectly synchronized performances and Merkle’s malleable script come together to create a modern theatrical symphony that’s chaos perfected.

The show is a true ensemble piece where each performer plays three characters: their everyday persona, their superhero and their character in The Tempest. With the exception of Will Bonfiglio’s maestro-like Ariel, the superheroes feature unique and quirky powers, from the easy to grasp abilities of Rachel Tibbetts’ Memory Lass, Alicen Moser’s The Page, Ash Arora’s The Ocean and Cassidy Flynn’s The Tune; to the logical but odd Spencer Lawton’s The Intoxicator, Joe Hanrahan’s The Untangler and Miranda Jagels Felix’s The Silhouette; to the more offbeat abilities of Celeste Gardner’s Fragrance Fellow, Kayla Bush’s The Bad Map, Ross Rubright’s The Pleaser and Joey Taylor’s leitmotif of The Snow Heavy Branch. Every performer has at least one standout moment, but the real joy is the way they work together to create a masterful and wholly satisfying comedy.

Spirits to Enforce is a captivating dive into a Shakespearean multiverse filled with inventive and unusual yet thoroughly compelling superheroes. Shakespeare purists may be a bit puzzled by the plays quirky, whimsical approach, but the mashup of literary and comic sensibilities really entertains. Written by Mickle Maher. Directed by Lucy Cashion. Presented by the Midnight Company at the Kranzberg Black Box (501 North Grand Boulevard) through May 18.

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Soulard, Bevo Mill Both Unveil Pride Celebration Plans

Published

5 days ago

May 8, 2024

Natural Bridge

St. Louis is full of pride. We’re not talking hometown pride, though that’s cool, too. We’re speaking Pride, capital P. St. Louis is unique in that it has a ton of different Pride celebrations that take place throughout the year across the city, not just the big corporate-sponsored one downtown. Two of those neighborhoods announced their Pride details today: Soulard and Bevo Mill.The third annual Soulard Pride Street Festival and Soulard Pride Golf Cart Parade will step off on June 1 at the corner of Russell Boulevard and Geyer Street, while the golf cart parade will go forth from Big Daddy’s (1000 Sidney Street). Presented by the Krewe of Vices and Virtues, the event also includes a street festival with stages full of entertainment, food and drink and vendor booths, a kids area and more. It is free to attend.“This event has grown immensely over the years, and we are so happy to announce that we have extended our footprint a full block this year, in addition to adding another stage and so many more vendors and performers,” said Levi Cullifer, the Soulard Pride committee co-chair, in a statement. “This event means so much for the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s a time for us all to come together and celebrate Pride month.To get involved, visit kreweofvicesvirtues.com/soulard-pride.Meanwhile, Bevo Mill has announced its first-ever Pride Unified: A Ball for All, which will take place on June 21 at the Little Bevo (4751 Morgan Ford Road). The event features our very own RFT columnist, Chris Andoe, our sister publication’s Out in STL Influential Awards, Jade Sinclair and the Belles of Bevo and entertainment aplenty, which means dancing, a costume contest and more.Tickets are a very reasonable $10 and are on sale now on Little Bevo’s website.“I’ve been dreaming of hosting an event like Pride Unified for years, and I’m so excited to see it come to fruition. Pride is the time to celebrate unconditional love and being free to be thee. What better way to spotlight some of the most influential members of the LGBTQIA+ community than with a gathering of celebration and togetherness,” said organizer Luann Denten in a statement. “I hope this event brings unity to the community and brings all of the Metro area Pride groups together as one.”
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