Bring on the mainstage season-openers! Septembers ushers in must-see St. Louis premieres on stage at the Fabulous Fox, The Rep and The Black Rep. Plus some of our favorite al fresco traditions continue with Twilight Thursdays at the Missouri History Museum and the three-day Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden.
WHAT: HOUSE OF JOY
WHERE: The Rep (Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts)
WHEN: Various times; now through Sept. 18
Girl power rules in the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ highly anticipated season opener, “House of Joy.” Set in 17th-century Delhi, the genre-busting adventure fantasy from award-winning playwright Madhuri Shekar peeks inside the emperor’s harem, the “house of joy,” which, at first glance, is a dazzling utopia. But as the newly hired guard, Roshni, soon discovers, it’s more prison than paradise.
The cast includes Regina A. Fernandez, Miriam A. Laube, Emily Marso, Tina Muñoz Pandya, Aila Ayilam Peck, Omer Abbas Salem and Sumi Yu. Lavina Jadhwani directs; Karina Patel serves as assistant director.
“House of Joy” is marking its St. Louis premiere, introducing The Rep’s audience to Shekar’s work. The recipient of the 2020 Lanford Wilson playwriting award, as well as a 2020 Audie Award for best original work for her Audible audio play, “Evil Eye,” Shekar is currently writing the screenplay for “Sister Act 3.” Shekar is also writing a new epic drama pilot for Hulu, ABC Studios and Nisha Ganatra. Her play, “A Nice Indian Boy,” is also being adapted into a film by Levantine Films.
$23 to $92; repstl.org
WHAT: JAPANESE FESTIVAL
WHERE: Missouri Botanical Garden
WHEN: Various times; Sept. 3 to 5
This year marks the 45th Japanese Festival at the Garden. The Labor Day weekend tradition features sumo wrestling, dance and martial arts performances, an Okashi cosplay fashion show, calligraphy demos, sampling from a Japanese candy maker, authentic food and candlelight walks in the Japanese Garden.
The three-day event, widely considered to be the biggest of its kind in the U.S., is in collaboration with local Japanese-American organizations. The celebration kicks off with a lively opening ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, with performances by the St. Louis Osuwa Taiko drummers and St. Louis Okinawa Eisa.
$16 for adults ($8 for members), $5 for children 3 to 12 (free for member children); mobot.org/japanesefestival
WHAT: THE AFRICAN COMPANY PRESENTS RICHARD III
WHERE: The Black Rep (Edison Theatre)
WHEN: Various times; Sept 9 to 25
The drama is backstage – and there’s plenty of it! The St. Louis Black Repertory Company opens its 46th season with “The African Company Presents Richard III,” a true story straight from American theatre history.
When the African Company of New York presents its production of “Richard III” to an enthusiastic Black and white audience, a white theater owner feels threatened by its success and begins a malicious campaign to shut it down. The work by playwright Carlyle Brown is based on the story of the African Grove Theatre, founded in 1821 and believed to be the first Black theatre in the country.
The Black Rep’s production is directed by the company’s founder and producing director Ron Himes. It stars Wali Jamal Abdullah as Papa Shakespeare, Coda Boyce as Ann Johnson, Cameron Jamarr Davis as James Hewlett, Olajuwon Davis as William Henry Brown, Alex Jay as Sarah, Dustin Lane Petrillo as The Constable Man and Eric Dean White as Steven Price.
$45 to $50; theblackrep.org
WHAT: TWILIGHT THURSDAYS – THE ARETHA FRANKLIN CATALOG
WHERE: Missouri History Museum
WHEN: 6 p.m., Sept. 15
Show the “Queen of Soul” some R-E-S-P-E-C-T and head on over to the History Museum to hear classics from the one and only Aretha Franklin!
The museum’s popular Twilight Thursdays concert series pays tribute to Ms. Franklin this month with the Aretha Franklin Catalog featuring lead vocals by Cheryl Brown and music direction by Jeremiah Allen.
Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets and find the perfect spot on the museum’s front lawn. Food trucks will also be on hand for food and drink purchases. Come early and enjoy the museum’s ongoing exhibits, “Coloring STL” and “St. Louis Sound.” The museum stays open until 8 p.m. on concert nights.
Free; mohistory.org
WHAT: AIN’T TOO PROUD – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS
WHERE: Fox Theatre
WHEN: Various times; Sept. 20 to Oct. 2
The Fabulous Fox kicks off its 2022-2023 Broadway season with the St. Louis premiere of “Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations,” hailed by The New York Times as “pretty close to perfection.”
The electrifying new musical follows the story of one of the greatest R&B groups of all time, from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Temptations rose to the top of the Billboard charts with 42 top 10 hits, including 14 No. 1 songs. Featuring Grammy-winning songs and Tony Award-winning moves, “Ain’t Too Proud” tells a thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty and betrayal. Enjoy the group’s American classics like “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready” and more.
$29 to $95; fabulousfox.com
Add Color to Your Weekend with ‘Coloring STL’ at Missouri History Museum
