Photography by Phillip Hamer
When it came to COVID-19 safety, plotting a way to keep theater live—and alive—was a Herculean task. But now, with a vaccination program in progress and fine weather for outdoor performances, St. Louis theater groups are tentatively planning a return. Here are the shows topping our must-see list.
1. When The Muny postponed its 2020 season due to the pandemic—a first in its history—it felt downright unnatural. Now the Forest Park institution is planning on running with its original lineup this summer. Included is Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (July 5–11), Mary Poppins (July 14–22), Smokey Joe’s Cafe (July 25–31), The Sound of Music (August 3–9), Sweeney Todd (August 12–18), On Your Feet (August 21–27), and Chicago (August 30–September 5). The Muny is monitoring the pandemic and planning for a delayed start to the season, in July. Single tickets will go on sale June 1.
2. With the help of COVID-19 safety protocols and socially distanced seating at COCA’s brand-new Catherine B. Berges Theatre, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is planning to stage Mlima’s Tale (May 28, July 11). In this Lynn Nottage play, an African elephant, Mlima, is killed for his ivory tusks. The audience and Mlima’s spirit are then witness to the journey of the ivory through the international trade. In 2018, The New York Times praised Nottage’s play, calling it a “beautiful, endlessly echoing portrait of a murder and its afterlife.”
Photography by Phillip Hamer
3. Our fingers are crossed for the triumphant return of Shakespeare in the Park because the current plan for the performance in Forest Park’s Shakespeare Glen this summer is—drumroll—André De Shields in the titular role of King Lear (June 2–27). De Shields is an Emmy, Grammy, and Tony winner known for turns on Broadway (Hadestown, The Wiz, and Ain’t Misbehavin’). King Lear is, of course, William Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy, about a ruler who divides his kingdom among his daughters to everyone’s regret.
4. For the first time ever, The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ 2021 festival (May 22–June 20) moves outdoors with an array of bold performances. A few to note: Harvey Milk is the world premiere of a revised edition of the Stewart Wallace and Michael Korie opera, which tells the story of the “Mayor of Castro Street,” the first openly gay man elected to office in California. Highway 1, U.S.A. is a revival of the opera by the late William Grant Still. It tells the story of Bob, Mary, and Bob’s brother, Nate, whom the couple is putting through school. But when Nate fails to launch, will their sacrifice have been worth it? It’s double-billed with another tale of family, this one Gianni Schicchi, a comedy by Giacomo Puccini.
5. STAGES St. Louis kicks off its season with a new home—the Ross Family Theatre at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center—and the return of the popular Always... Patsy Cline (August 6–September 5). The play is based on the true story of an unlikely friendship between the country star and an ordinary woman from Texas.
6. Last year, the Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis brilliantly pivoted to radio plays, and this year, it returns with “Something Spoken: Tennessee Williams on the Air” (dates pending) on 107.3 FM. Later in the summer, the festival will stage The Glass Menagerie (August 19–2) at a location to be determined. It’s a perfect intro to the great American dramatist: The memory play that launched Williams’ career is set in St. Louis.
