Some famous names will soon be making their way to St. Louis, including movie superstar Dennis Quaid, who is taking his high-energy music tour, “Dennis Quaid Live,” to The Sheldon.
(Editor’s Note: The Nov. 12 Dennis Quaid concert has been cancelled due to unexpected circumstances. Ticket-holders have been notified and purchases refunded. Through The Sheldon, Quaid issued an apology for the inconvenience and said he hopes to return to St. Louis very soon.)
Quaid has been performing live music and touring for the last four decades, most notably with his band, The Sharks. We’re told Quaid’s lengthy set for the show at The Sheldon on Friday, Nov. 12, will feature songs by Jerry Lee Lewis from the box-office smash, “Great Balls of Fire!,” which stars Quaid as “the Killer,” as well as country standards with an acoustic guitar. Quaid is also known to share captivating anecdotes about his film career and the stories behind his highly personal songs with the audience.
The multi-hyphenate (actor/producer/director/singer/songwriter) Quaid is an Emmy Award winner and two-time Golden Globe nominee whose upcoming film projects include “Reagan,” with Quaid portraying the 40th president of the United States, and “American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story,” where he portrays St. Louis Rams coach Dick Vermeil.
Tickets are now available by calling MetroTix (314) 534-1111 or by visiting TheSheldon.org.
On Saturday, Dec. 4, the Enterprise Center is presenting a one-night-only concert with legendary singer/songwriter James Taylor & His All-Star Band, along with special guest Jackson Browne.
An inductee of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Taylor has touched audiences with his distinctive baritone voice and guitar-playing for more than 40 years. He has sold more than 100 million albums, and earned multiple Grammy Awards and other distinguished accolades, such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 and the Kennedy Center Honor in 2016.
Tickets are now on sale via Ticketmaster.
Actor and Broadway star Ben Platt is bringing his “Reverie Tour” to the Fabulous Fox Theatre next spring.
“Reverie,” Platt’s biggest North American headline tour so far, is coming to the Fox Theatre on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. The tour coincides with Platt’s second solo album, “Reverie,” which includes new singles “Happy to the Sad” and “Imagine.”
Platt, who won the 2017 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for performance as Evan Hansen in “Dear Evan Hansen,” is set to star in the film version of the Broadway hit, set for release later this month. He’s also appeared in Hollywood blockbusters “Pitch Perfect” and “Pitch Perfect 2.”
For tickets, call Metrotix (314) 534-1111 or visit fabulousfox.com.
Speaking of Broadway musicals, St. Louis is getting its own turn in the spotlight with the world premiere of “The Karate Kid, The Musical.”
Based on the iconic 1980s film, “The Karate Kid,” the stage version will be presented by STAGES St. Louis, and will mark STAGES’ first tryout of a pre-Broadway musical and the first-ever major residency of a pre-Broadway musical in St. Louis.
The limited, pre-Broadway engagement of “The Karate Kid” runs May 27 to June 26, 2022 at the Ross Family Theatre at the new Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. In addition to the movie, source material for the musical includes a semi-autobiographical book by the film’s screenwriter, Robert Mark Kamen, and music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini. The creative team also features renowned Japanese director Amon Miyamoto and MTV Video Music Award nominees Keone and Mari Madrid as choreographers, among others.
“The Karate Kid” became a global sensation and an instant cultural phenomenon in the U.S. when it premiered in theaters in 1984, and has since spawned a media franchise that includes a total of five movies, an animated television series and the hit TV series, “Cobra Kai.”
“When I was a young man, my life was forever changed by traditional Okinawan karate and the instructors who taught it to me,” Kamen said in a statement. “‘The Karate Kid’ is my love letter to both those masters and their practice. Karate teaches, above all, to follow your dreams no matter what obstacles are put in front of you, and that is the spirit with which all of us are approaching this show.”
Overseeing the production for STAGES St. Louis is executive producer Jack Lane and artistic director Michael Hamilton, who founded STAGES in 1987 and still lead the company today.
“We are truly honored to be squarely between the crossroads of Tokyo and New York City and telling this universal story of understanding and acceptance,” Lane said. “We cannot think of a better show to help launch not just STAGES, but the St. Louis region, as a brand new, pre-Broadway tryout destination.”
Specific ticket dates will be announced at a later time, with STAGES subscription renewals expected next month, new subscriptions in early December, and single tickets in early spring 2022. In addition to “The Karate Kid, The Musical,” STAGES’ upcoming season includes “In the Heights” and “A Chorus Line.” Visit the STAGES St. Louis website for more information.
Congratulations to the YWCA’s 2021 Leaders of Distinction honorees, who will be celebrated during the organization’s 41st annual Leader Lunch on Thursday, Dec. 9.
Recognized for their achievements, talent, persistence, work ethic and sisterhood are:
Cathy Arshadi, senior vice president and director of Financial Management at Commerce Trust Company; Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer, executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Mercy; Renée Franklin, chief diversity officer at the Saint Louis Art Museum; Gloria Carter-Hicks, president & CEO of Hicks-Carter-Hicks; Charli Cooksey, founder and CEO of WEPOWER; Aparna Deora, executive director and Medical Sciences Vaccines Category lead at Pfizer; Kelly Gast, CFO at Bayer U.S.; Carol Voss, philanthropist and community volunteer; and Kristen Wild, president and CEO of Operation Food Search.
For more information, visit YWCA’s official event page.
A sweeping mural representing St. Louis’ historic Italian-American community will go up at Volpi Foods’ flagship storefront on The Hill.
Local artist Jordan Bauer has been announced as the winner of Volpi’s 120th Anniversary Mural Contest, in honor of the company’s milestone year. Volpi Foods, founded in 1902 by John Volpi, whose family migrated from Milan to St. Louis, is now on its fourth generation and continues to own and operate the specialty cured meat company.
Bauer bested four other semifinalists to win $6,000 and the opportunity to paint his design on the store’s north-facing white stone wall this fall. A public unveiling of the murals is expected at a later date.
On his winning design, Bauer says he wanted to display the many “windows” of The Hill in a fresh style.
“The windows from left to right showcase diversity in the community, bikeable neighborhoods, spaghetti and meatballs, old Italian heritage, the Parish of St. Ambrose and a young and progressive next generation – windows of the past, with many opportunities toward the future,” Bauer explained.
The 29-year-old Bauer, who was born and raised in St. Louis, is currently the senior art director at Upbrand. His work has been featured across the city, including at City Foundry and Angad Arts Hotel.
An award-winning journalist recognized for her media leadership and for promoting diversity, Trish Muyco-Tobin has more than 25 years of experience in print and broadcasting. She is also a proud community volunteer.
