MARCH 23 - 29, 2018
INSIDE SECTION B
springARTS PREVIEW
Experience The Magic Of Opera Theatre
Opera Theatre’s 2018
festival season runs
May 19-June 24
The 43rd season of Opera Theatre of
Saint Louis will kick off on May 19 with a
new production of Verdi’s “La traviata,”
one of the most often-performed operas
in the world.
The story has permeated our culture,
from references in “Pretty Woman” to
the movie musical, “Moulin Rouge.” Most
people don’t know that Violetta, Verdi’s
doomed heroine, is based on a real-life
historical figure, Marie Duplessis, one of
the most famous courtesans of the 19th
century.
The season will also feature its 27th
world premiere with Huang Ruo and Da-
vid Henry Hwang’s “An American Sol-
dier.” Celebrated mezzo-soprano Susan
Graham will star as the title character
in Marc Blitzstein’s “Regina,” also fea-
turing James Morris, Susanna Phillips
Unique Artwork • Gifts • Classes
21 N. Gore Ave. | Webster Groves | 314.402.1959
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and Ron Raines. Renowned soprano Pa-
tricia Racette will direct “La traviata.” A
new production of Gluck’s “Orfeo & Eu-
ridice” will feature a collaboration with
St. Louis-based The Big Muddy Dance
Company.
The season will also include the
fourth annual Center Stage concert,
conducted by Music Director Emeritus
Stephen Lord, showcasing the talents of
OTSL’s Gaddes Festival Artists and Ger-
dine Young Artists.
Showtimes are Wednesdays - Satur-
days at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. with
matinees at 1 p.m.
“La traviata”
Giuseppe Verdi (1853)
Eight Performances: May 19, 25, 30,
June 2 (m), 7, 10, 20 (m), 23
Violetta has one important rule: nev-
er fall in love. As a Parisian courtesan,
her life is full of parties, admirers and –
– freedom. Then she meets Alfredo. His
naive sincerity sweeps her off her feet.
Just when Violetta thinks she has es-
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caped her past, she is asked to make an “An American Soldier” World
unthinkable sacrifice. Premiere of New Two-Act Opera
Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang
“Regina” (2018)
Marc Blitzstein (1949)
Seven Performances: May 26, 31,
Six Performances: June 3, 6, 9 (m), 14,
16, 22
June 6 (m), 8, 16 (m), 20, 24 Danny Chen is the son of Chinese
Based on Lillian Hellman’s “The Lit- immigrants, and a proud American. He
tle Foxes,” and set against a Southern enlists in the US Army in 2011. In boot
backdrop of spirituals, jazz and ragtime, camp, Danny is welcomed by his band
this deliciously twisted opera pits sib- of brothers. But in Afghanistan, his
lings and spouses against each other in own base becomes enemy territory as
a battle for the family business. military hazing turns deadly. Based on
« cont. on page 2B
2-B Webster-Kirkwood Times
spring ARTS PREVIEW March 23 – 29, 2018

Take A Musical Journey With STAGES Opera Festival

“I DO! I DO!” opens summer season June 1 at the Reim Theatre
STAGES St. Louis will open its mu-
sical summer season on June 1 with “I
DO! I DO!” Other shows presented this
season include “Mamma Mia,” “Okla-
homa” and “Madagascar.”
STAGES performs in Kirkwood
Community Center’s Robert Reim
Theatre, 111 S. Geyer Road.
“I DO! I DO!”
June 1 - July 1
Music by Harvey Schmidt
Book and Lyrics by Tom Jones
Last seen at STAGES in its inaugural
season, “I DO! I DO!” tells the poignant
story of 50 years in the married lives of
Michael and Agnes. This two character
musical version of the comedy/drama,
“The Fourposter,” takes place entire-
ly in a bedroom and takes its audience
on a whirlwind journey that begins in
1895 and ends half a century later. “I
DO! I DO!” will steal your heart while
celebrating the many triumphs and
heartaches of marriage: past, present
and future!
“Madagascar”
June 19 - July 1
Original Music and Lyrics by George
Noriega & Joel Someillan
Book by Kevin Del Aguila
Take a journey out of the Central
Park Zoo and onto an enchanted desert
isle with crack-a-lackin’ friends from
the DreamWorks blockbuster film,
“Madagascar!” Join Alex the Lion, Mar-
ty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Glo-
ria the hip-hip Hippo, and, of course,
mad King Julien for a musical adven-
ture of a lifetime. Filled with gut-bust-
ing laughs galore, rockin’ dance moves,
and an upbeat up-to-the-minute score,
exploring a brave new world was never
so much ridiculous fun!
“Mamma Mia!”
July 20 - Aug 19
Music and Lyrics by Benny
Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Book by Catherine Johnson
The ultimate feel-good show,
“Mamma Mia!” uses the music of ABBA
to tell the hilarious and touching tale of
a teen’s search for her birth father on a
Greek Island paradise. See why 54 mil-
lion people all around the world have
fallen in love with this pop-music phe-
nomenon of a mother, a daughter, three
possible dads, and an unforgettable trip
down the aisle! Chock full of explosive
dance numbers, you’ll want to unleash
your inner “Dancing Queen” with such
ABBA hits as “Winner Takes It All,”
“Take A Chance On Me” and the smash
title tune, “Mamma Mia.”
“Oklahoma!”
Sept. 7 - Oct. 7
Music by Richard Rodgers
Book and Lyrics
by Oscar Hammerstein II
Oh, what a beautiful musical! Rod-
gers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!”
completely changed the face of Amer-
ican musical theatre over 70 years ago,
but it remains as fresh and vital today
as it was then with its loving celebra-
tion of the American spirit. A stunning
blend of drama, music and dance with
the exhilarating Rodgers and Hammer-
stein score set the bar for all great mu-
sicals that came after it.
***
Single tickets for the summer sea-
son go on sale April 2. Ticket prices
range from $25 for students to $63 for
preferred seating. Call the Box Office at
314-821-2407 for more information or
visit stagesstlouis.org.
from page 1B
a true story, this opera asks powerful
questions about what it means to be an
American.
Composer Huang Ruo has been laud-
ed by The New Yorker as “one of the
world’s leading young composers.” He
is joined by celebrated playwright and
librettist David Henry Hwang.
Orfeo & Euridice
Christoph Willibald Gluck (1866)
In Collaboration with
The Big Muddy Dance Company
Six Performances: June 9, 13, 15, 17,
21, 23 (m)
What would you do if you lost your
soulmate? For Orfeo, the answer is sim-
ple: get her back – even if it means trav-
eling to the underworld. He braves ev-
ery challenge, armed with nothing more
than his music and his devotion. Little
does he realize that his greatest obstacle
will ultimately be his own passion.
Center Stage
A Young Artist Showcase
One Performance: June 19
***
Main season productions are ac-
companied by members of the St. Louis
Symphony and performed in English,
with projected supertitles. Center
Stage concerts are sung in the original
language. Performances are presented
in the Browning Theatre of the Loret-
to-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Road on the
campus of Webster University in Web-
ster Groves.
Tickets start at $25. For tickets, vis-
it ExperienceOpera.org, visit or call the
Box Office at 314-961-0644.

SEE YOUR STAR ON THE STAGE

AT OPERA THEATRE OF SAINT LOUIS’S
SUMMER CAMPS!

Experience the magic of opera firsthand at one of Opera Theatre of

Saint Louis’s summer camps! At Opera Camp for Kids, students entering
grades 4–7 explore the world of opera by composing, staging, directing,
and performing their own original works. At Spring Training Vocal Camp,
high schoolers experience the life of a professional singer through private
lessons, master classes, and a performance of a fully staged opera scene for
friends and family. All campers attend a live opera
performance and work with Opera Theatre’s
top flight artists and staff!
No auditions required!
Opera Camp for Kids:
June 4–8
Clark Elementary School,
Webster Groves
Spring Training Vocal Camp:
May 29 – June 1 & June 4–8
On the campus of
Webster University

To learn more and register for camps,

visit ExperienceOpera.org/Camps.
March 23 – 29, 2018
Kirkwood Theatre Guild Closes
Season With “Guys & Dolls”
Musical onstage in Kirkwood May 4-13
Kirkwood Theatre
Guild will close its 87th
season with the musical,
“Guys and Dolls, directed
by Adam Grun. The play
runs May 4-13. Showtimes
will be May 4, 5, 6, 10, 11
and 12 at 8 p.m. and May 6
and 13 at 2 p.m.
Considered by many
to be the perfect musical,
the tale chronicles gambler, Nathan
Detroit, as he tries to find the cash to
WG Theatre Guild
Comedy Closes
Season May 4-12
The Webster Groves Theatre Guild
closes its season with Ray Cooney’s
comedy, “Run For Your Wife,” directed
by Rob Corbett. The play will run May
4-6 and 10-12. Showtimes are 8 p.m.,
Thursday through Saturday; 2 p.m. on
Sunday.
In the play, a taxi driver, who has two
wives in different areas of London, tries
to keep his double life from exploding.
The guild is located at 517 Theater
Lane at Summit. The building is not
handicap accessible.
For more information, email tgwg.
info@gmail.com or call 314-962-0876.
spring ARTS PREVIEW Webster-Kirkwood Times 3-B
set up the biggest craps
game in town. The au-
thorities are breathing
down his neck; mean-
while, his girlfriend,
nightclub performer,
Adelaide, laments that
they’ve been engaged for
14 years. Nathan turns to
fellow gambler, Sky Mas-
terson, for the dough,
and as a result, Sky ends up chasing the
straight-laced missionary, Sarah Brown.
The story takes the audience from the
heart of Times Square to the cafes of Fire Hydrant Art On Display At
Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers
of New York City, with the memorable
music and lyrics from Frank Loesser.
Kirkwood Farmers’ Market May 6-12
The guild performs in the Robert G. Kirkwood Arts Commission and Kirkwood Water have partnered to sponsor a
Reim Theatre, located at the Kirkwood Fire Hydrant Painting competition for high school seniors. The finalists are all
Community Center, 111 S. Geyer Road.
Tickets for the musical are $22. For
Kirkwood High School seniors. Pictured from left: Hadley Lange, Erin Bugee,
Caroline Davis, Kristian Elbert. One of the four will be selected to receive a college
tickets or more information, visit www. scholarship. The finished hydrants will be on display at the Kirkwood Farmers’
ktg-onstage.org or call 314-821-9956, Market May 6 - 12 during National Drinking Water Week. The market is located at
ext. 1. 150 E. Argonne Drive.