There is a richness to the arts offering in St. Louis during the Holidays.  It's really a treasure.  While natives may take it for granted, it's not so in other towns.  The obligatory concert here and there, and maybe a holiday-themed show or two are standard fare.  But in our 'Lou, arts organizations pull out all the stops and give us a festive feast!

I admit, I am a big fan of Dickens.  Though Pickwick is my favorite, A Chrismas Carol is as good a way as any to get into the spirit.  We went to see it at the Fox last night and it was a really nice performance.  I think, though, that my preference is still the play version.  But the story, with carols incorporated, was a wonderful way to get in the spirit.  "Scrooge" played for humor which was really fun to see, giving this version a lightheartedness that I think Dickens needs to truly be appreciated.  He was, after all, the ultimate Victorian smart-ass.

Handel's Messiah is on tap this weekend at Powell Hall.  Anyone who wants to see it done right needs to get on down to the SLSO and catch it.  While it's not something I'm personally fond of, the SLSO production is a sight to see.  It's one of those things you should see at least once in your life.  There is power and majesty to spare in Handel's marvelous music which the musicians give a luster all their own.  If you're going to see it, see it this weekend.

Another nugget is the spectacular Holiday Brass concert coming up next week.  The sounds of the best brass players in the city, including the SLSO's own Principal Trumpet Susan Slaughter, ringing through the gothic rafters of the Cathedral is an incredible experience. 

There's more merriment to be had, use ArtsZipper to find all the holdiay nooks and crannies.  Like Blind Boys of Alabama at the Sheldon, or the Nutcracker at the Touhill, Erin Bode's Holiday concert at Mad Art (she was just at the Sheldon with David Halen, it was great!) or A Christmas Story at the Rep.  And if you're really feeling spontaneous, drop in on one of the local high school productions, choir concerts abound.

It has been years (lots of them) since I saw Phantom of the Opera.  At the time, I was a near-broke student in London, and sat on a freezing sidewalk after taking my last final, in line all day for turnbacks, blowing what I had just reclaimed after selling my textbooks, to see the show.  I went back to the US 2 days later with about $3. And wow, was it worth it.  The soaring music is what grabs you, but the visuals are what make the show spectacular.  There is a richness to the staging and iconic set pieces that stay with you.  Which is why I was absurdly curious when the publicity folks at the Fox invited me backstage to see "the murals."  It turns out that every show that plays our Fabulous Fox theater leaves behind a mural surrounded by signatures from everyone in that production.  Every show.  So, I figured there must be about 5 Phantom murals lurking in the catacombs that is backstage at the Fox.  There are.  Each past Phantom production has selected a different iconic image for their mural and they're amazing to see.  One is of the Angel of Music and is painted on a wall between two dressing rooms, yet another is of the grand organ and is painted directly on the elevator doors, and an enormous "Phantom mask" graces the landing of the backstage stairs.  There are others, both from past Phantoms and other musicals, my favorite being Avenue Q's irreverent upholstery of orange fur underneath the backstage stairs.  But overall, it's a remarkable and richly visual history of the variety of talent and productions that have been presented at our own Fox Theater.  I can't wait to see what this Phantom production leaves behind!

Late September (and sometimes early October) always heralds the start of the new arts season.  There are Opening Nights all over town this month and there's nothing quite like the vibe of an Opening Night.  There's something just a touch glamorous, a certain spark to being there on opening night.  The artists are on their toes, the staff is eager to welcome you back, the venues are all spiffy, the performances are polished and ready to show off.  So snoop around on the ArtsZipper calendar, or take a look at the partial list below, and make plans to add an Opening to your social calendar this year.  You'll be glad you did!

• Grand Center hosts an annual party to celebrate, Dancin' in the Streets, on September 26th
• The Fox Theater opens Phantom of the Opera on September 30th
• The Saint Louis Symphony opens with Mahler 5 on September 25th
• The Sheldon opens their Jazz series on October 3rd
• The Touhill kicks off with Big Bag Voodoo Daddy on October 18th
• Lindenwood's new PAC - the J. Scheidegger Center - opens with Cats on October 9
• DanceSTL starts later, in November, with Complexions on November 6
• The Florissant Civic Center opens 09/10 with Steve Lippia as "SIMPLY SINATRA" on September 20

Mary Poppins rolls into the FOX Theater on August 14th for a 3-week run.  Actor Karl Kenzler, a St. Louis native, plays the role of father George Banks, so we asked him for some perspective on this Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious show:

 What's your connection to Saint Louis?

I have a lot of fond memories of St. Louis as I lived in Kirkwood until the age of six.  Years later, I saw my first Broadway play at the Fox Theater in St. Louis.  It was Cameron Mackintosh's LES MISERABLES.  So, it's a real homecoming on two levels for me.  I'll get to perform in my childhood hometown.  And I'll be performing at the theater where I saw my first Broadway musical.

What sparked your interest in performing on Broadway?

I had always had an interest in acting as a kid.  I took lessons from a very young age and performed in plays after school.  My mom raised me on her own and once I expressed an interest, she quickly learned that the theater is an unbeatable babysitter.

Have you read any of the books by PL Travers how does the show differ from the book(s) and/or the Disney movie? 

I've read the first book, MARY POPPINS, and I think that the play captures the spirit of Pamela Travers' books almost perfectly.  There is a mischievousness to Mary in the books that carries through onstage.  And of course the play is very faithful to the spirit of the Disney film as well.  All of those amazing musical numbers from the Sherman brothers are there:  Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Step In Time, Feed The Birds, Jolly Holiday.  But the story has been expanded to include more of the father and mother.  It's now a full-fledged Broadway musical play!

 Tell us a bit about your character in Poppins?

I play "George Banks" -- the father in the play.  And in this production, I think he actually needs Mary Poppins more than the kids do.  He's very much stuck in this life as a buttoned-down banker.  He's forgotten what it is to be a husband in love with his wife.  He's forgotten what it is to be a dad who adores his children.  And by the end of the play, he really has a transformation.  With Bert and Mary's help, he reinvents himself.

 What is your favorite scene?

There's a scene at the end of the play (it's in the film as well) where George has really hit rock bottom.  He talks with Bert about how his life has completely fallen apart and he blames Mary Poppins.  Bert helps him come around to see that maybe he needs to pay a bit more attention to his children -- while he can.  As a kid, I watched this scene and thought of my own father.  It gave me a real insight into what he might be going through as a busy professional man with a wife and children.  Now I'm old enough to play the father and I have a chance to see it though grown-up eyes.  It's pretty amazing.

 As a father figure in the show, how would you encourage parents to bring their children to see live theater?

I've always thought that live theater is important because it's about telling stories.  Stories set us apart from all the other animals on the planet.  We tell ourselves stories to make sense of things.  We tell stories to our children -- who tell stories to their children and so on and so on.  This creates a kind of chain that connects us all throughout time.  These stories last longer than we do.  It's an amazing form of communication that is both comforting and educational.  Storytelling is a communal event.  The best way to teach a child to be a good human being is to let them take part in storytelling.

Mary Poppins will be at the Fox through August 30th.  Tickets availble at Metrotix or at the Fox box office in Grand Center.  There is a marvelous video of the show on the Fox website as well, check it out here.

I am headed down to Crestwood Court (formerly Crestwood Mall) to see what ArtSpace is all about.  It's a rare Sunday with time of my own and I've been curious for months about the idea of converting retail space into opportunities for arts organizations to explore and expand.  I imagine a studio-esque atmosphere.  But I think I'll be surprised.  There are several Culture Club blog entries that share news of space as a theater, and galleries.  So it's the difference between what I can fathom, and what it's really like.

If I were smart, I'd wait and go in a few weeks.  Art on the Court is a monthly event, an artistic Open House if you will, where the arts community welcomes the community with artist meet and greets, gallery tours, live music, wine, and other refreshments. Which sounds like the perfect way to explore the new – new space, new artists, new ideas.  Alas, I will be out of town, so I'm off today to satisfy my own curiousiy.

The next Art on the Court is scheduled for Saturday, July 25 from 5 – 9pm at Crestwood Court and more are scheduled on the last Satuday of each month through November.  ArtSpace is a ground-breaking collaboration between Crestwood Court  and the Regional Arts Commission.

Yep, you can finish that song can't'cha?  Immortalized by Judy Garland, "The Trolley Song" from Meet Me In St. Louis was nominated by the Academy of Motion Pictures for Best Original Song in 1945.  But others heard the call of the trolley and made it their own in later recordings, including Frank Sinatra.  Which is probably why the idea of riding on a streetcar is just an incredibly nostalgic, almost romantic idea.  But streetcars were an important part of Saint Louis industry in the late 19th century.  In fact, while the Saint Louis Car Company was founded first, to fulfill the nations need for streetcars, by the turn of the century there were four major streetcar manufactures in St. Louis, each churning out hundreds of streetcars each month. 

Now, of course, the streetcar at the Muny this week is a prop.  But, it still gives us a wonderful emotional link to the song, to the performance and most of all, to our history.  So go see the streetcar, and all the other little things that make a performance of Meet Me In St. Louis, in St. Louis, such a treat.

Meet Me In St. Louis is at the MUNY through July 12th.  Tickets are available through Metrotix or at the MUNY Box Office.

Being a RAC summer intern definitely has its moments. Meeting new people? Check. Gaining experience? Check. Amazing co-workers? Check. Learning to take advantage of all the arts and culture events that St. Louis has to offer? Check!

Case in point: Going to the STAGES ST. LOUIS production of Little Shop of Horrors.

I discovered this little gem while working on an assignment for ArtsZipper.com and the seed was planted; I was immediately intrigued and decided I had to see the show.

I had never been to the Reim Theatre in Kirkwood Park before, but I liked the slightly smaller venue. The lobby was packed as more people began to arrive and take advantage of the available snacks and drinks before the show. I couldn't help but feel a flutter of pride seeing the RAC logo on the banner listing the production's sponsors!

The show itself was amazing. I was impressed by the quality of the acting, singing, costumes, and, well, everything! It was fun to keep my eyes peeled and catch the progression of the story through some subtle (and not so subtle!) costume and set changes, like bandages on Seymour's fingers from giving in to Audrey II's carnivorous appetite, the increasing quality of clothing as fame and fortune became a reality for the characters, and the impending growth of the plant itself. The characters themselves appear, at times, out of the woodwork. Imagine my shock when the giant plant's roots took on a life of their own!

The musical talent was just as extraordinary. I have to say, some of my favorite songs came from the small chorus line of Crystal, Ronnette and Chiffon, three "doo-wop" characters who kept a running commentary on the show.  Each of these women has an amazing voice, and they blended together perfectly to keep the plot moving smoothly.  It shouldn't be surprising that the songs were catchy, clever and memorable; with a team from Disney writing the score and lyrics, memorable tunes are a must. I don't think I was the only one chanting "Little Shop, Little Shop of Horrors..." as I walked to my car after the show (or days later, for that matter).

I don't want to give anything away, but the finale was also exceptional. Thinking of the clever special effects and humorous ending still puts a smile on my face. As I walked outside I happened to brush by a bush, only to have a fellow show-goer behind me warn, "Don't feed the plants!" It was truly a very enjoyable evening, and left me hungry for more... I look forward to going to another STAGES production soon!

Little Shop of Horrors runs until Sunday, June 28. If you don't get a chance to see it, be sure to check out the next STAGES production, The Drowsy Chaperone, which runs July 17 to August 16!

Did you hear the one about the painter, the poet the philosopher and the musician?   They are penniless roommates in a 19th century Parisan "loft."  Sound like a good story?  It is.  There is something about opera.  Not sure what it is, since I'm relatively new to the art form, but there's always something.  The music is always stunning (as it should be with the SLSO in the pit) and the stories are always inspiring.

La Boheme opened the 34th Opera Theater St Louis season last Saturday night, and if you've seen RENT (which was inspired by and is an updated/modern day Boheme - and will be at the FOX next week), you know the story.  Which is good, and bad.  When Mimi comes in to ask for a light for her candle, I heard "Light My Candle" in my head - the two scenes are nearly identical.   But once Derek Taylor and Alyson Cambridge (Rodolfo and Mimi respectively) got into the meat of the scene, their voices took over and it was all glorious Puccini for the next two-and-a-half hours.  While their romance is the centerpiece, the more fun and feisty one to follow is that of Musetta and Marcello - there is spunk and sass to spare and both vocalists (Amanda Majeski and Timothy Mix) had a blast with their parts of the story.  The real takeaway for me was in Act III when, with precious little to call their own, each makes his/her own sacrifice to help ease Mimi's last moments.  It was marvelous.

There is rarely an opportunity to see two masterpieces in the same season, so take advantage of it and plan to see LaBoheme at OTSL and its updated, twenty-first century incarnation RENT this summer.

Tickets for Opera Theater St. Louis are availble by phone or in person at the Loretto Hilton Theater Box Office on the campus of Webster Universtiy, 314. 961.0644, or online.

Tickets for the FOX performances are availabe through Metrotix or at the Fox Box Office on Grand Blvd in the Grand Center Performing Arts District.

Tomorrow night (Wed 5/27) at 8pm PBS (KETC Channel 9) will feature a an inside look at what it really takes to get to Broadway.  Featuring the creative team & actors from the 2008 Tony Award winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS.  The show is part of PBS's Great Performances series.  So tune in to find out what all the fuss is about, so you're prepared to see it hit the FOX stage when it opens the 2009-2010 U.S. Bank Broadway Series in November.