When Oprah Says Goodbye

Another production from the St. Louis Theatre Crawl. The company is called A Call To Conscience. The program says that

The play is focused on our aging LGBTQ population.It touches on the realities of aging, oppressive elder care facilities and the consequences of friendship betrayed and rediscovered, as well as the importance of forgiveness.

The woman in the top picture appears to be a long-time resident of a home for the elderly. She is assigned a new roommate, someone who appears to be of a higher economic station. They discover that they were close friends many years ago but the new arrival literally took away the first resident's lover, another woman. That person has died and now they are cast together. There is conflict and resolution between the two but not, as the first woman has a rigid routine, until Oprah says goodbye.

  

The Truth Is I Never Left You

We 💗 Argentina. We've been there three times, although unfortunately not just lately. That's why I was glad to hear our major stage company, the St. Louis Repertory Theatre, is starting its season with Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita. We've been to her tomb and the museum dedicated to her memory in Buenos Aires. Heard the original Patti Lupone production on Broadway, touring companies here and the movie with Madonna.

The Rep gave us a preview during the Theatre Crawl. The performer here, Esmer Garza, is a member of the production's ensemble. Locals, this looks like a don't miss.          

Sounds of America

More from the St. Louis Theatre Crawl. This company is called TLT Productions and they were hot, bursting with energy and vocal style. Their show, Sounds of America, was based on conversations with St. Louis youth. Each of the companies performed six 20 minute shows in the course of the evening. For these artists, it was like six hard aerobic workouts. Looked exhausting but they never slowed down.          

Rosenkrantz And Guildenstern Aren't Dead Yet

Another show from the St. Louis Theatre Crawl, this one a brief scene from Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. I remember seeing this on Broadway shortly after I finished high school. Two of Shakespeare's most minor characters are left adrift on the seas of absurdity. In Hamlet, they eventually reach their demise. 

The Theatre Crawl uses every possible venue in the Grand Centre arts district. This was performed in a candy store. I wonder if the gaudy mannequin in the corner is meant to represent Queen Gertrude.   

What Fools These Mortals Be

Words to live by, whether watching A Midsummer Night's Dream or observing what's going on in Washington. This was a very abbreviated version of the Shakespeare play called Midsummer Madness by Prison Performing Arts. The company is made up of men and women who have been incarcerated. They somehow maintain a sense of humor.

To experience midsummer madness in St. Louis, you need only step outdoors.  

Her Voice Must Be Heard

Posted from AA 4416 heading to La Guardia. Busy.   

A more detailed look at one of the Theatre Crawl shows, Her Voice Must Be Heard. A black #MeToo perspective about being a woman of color and the object of sexual abuse. The cast was brilliant. I'll add more detail about the company when we're at the hotel. 

Okay, now we're at our favorite hotel, the LIC. It's in Queens, my home turf, one subway stop from midtown and we will not pay Manhattan hotel prices. However, it's even hotter here than it St. Louis. We think we'll hang out until dinner.

So anyway, this is a sample of a show that will appear in the St. Louis Fringe Festival (yours truly, house photographer), the title the same as the caption of this post. The cast, Sieglinda Fox (in blue), Sharon Reed-Ussery (in white) and Joel Anthony were brilliant. The women have stage presence and vocal power that's hard to describe. Looking forward to seeing the full show in August.

St. Louis Theatre Crawl - Intro

Late post today. I started shooting at the St. Louis Theatre Crawl last night, fell asleep as soon as I got home, and there was too much family stuff on Saturday. This is from something called The Statement of Randolph Carter by a new group, Theatre Macbre. I think it had something to do with H. P. Lovecraft.

Gotta get back to work.