Look/Listen

Review: The Mineola Twins by Muddy Waters Theatre

Muddy Waters Theatre does an admirable job with Paula Voge's sexual politics play.

By Rosalind Early

Fruit of the Tomb: A Look Inside the Wainwright Mausoleum

Earlier this month, Louis Sullivan's famous Wainwright Tomb was opened to the public...here's what was inside.

by Byron Kerman

Wish You Were Here: American Idol Auditons

More than 10,000 American Idol hopefuls blocked parts of 14th and Market streets as early as 3:30 a.m. this morning outside the Scottrade Center waiting to audition.

by Allison Copenbargen and Christina Stiehl

Review: Behind the Chair at First Run Theatre

The premise: independent salon's contented ragtag gaggle of stylists, faced with takeover from corporate entity, plot to get the place back. The story: see premise. Get it? The situation and the premise should comprise the foundation upon which to build a story, but that's all we get, nothing deeper.

by Devin C. Baker

Commentary: Dumbing Down the Culture

Commentators over the years have remarked that a country’s psyche can be understood by observing the popular arts. As one who is heavily involved in the arts (music, photography and writing), I have been observing this very closely. When we look at the characters played out in films, in television and in popular music, we see something that tells us about what we really are. While there are exceptions, we rarely find an educated person in any comedy or drama who is not an object of derision.

by Dennis Owsley

Review: Beginners

Mike Mills pitches "Beginners" as a romance fanciful enough to capture an audience’s wishful thinking, but realistic enough about the struggles of romantic relationships to keep us engaged and believing. Plus it features a cute dog who communicates telepathically through captions. Risky? Absolutely. Overboard? It works.

by Patricia Brooke

Review: "Legally Blonde" at The Muny

This effervescent show is also a rib tickling crowd pleaser.

By Zakea Boeger

Edward Boccia’s 90th Birthday Bash

The venerable artist will have a birthday bash with a retrospective of his drawings at A.J. Brewington Home Furnishings.

By Rosalind Early

Review: "A Chorus Line" at Stages

Stages revives one of their most popular productions.

By Rosalind Early

Trapped in Amber, Forever: Supermodel Amber Smith Comes Clean

Byron Kerman chats with former Maxim model Amber Smith, who visits the ConTamination Horror, Sci Fi, and Pop Culture Convention this weekend at the Sheraton Westport Chalet.

By Byron Kerman

Wish You Were Here: S.L.U.M. Fest 2011

Text and photos by Rosalind Early

Review: The Visit at Stray Dog Theatre

Something gets lost in translation of the famous Swiss playwright's most notable drama.

By Rosalind Early

Fred Fausz, Author of "Founding St. Louis," Signs Books at The Royale this Monday

Fausz, a history professor at UMSL, has just published a groundbreaking new book on the earliest history of St. Louis.

by Stefene Russell

Kickstarting an Art Project in Hyde Park

Architect Andrew Raimist is currently making use of Kickstarter to fund the (en)Visioning Hyde Park project, a three-week long class that begins with basic lessons in digital photography, teaching a group of young North St. Louis students how to document their experience with rehabbing a building in North City.

by Zakea Boeger

St. Louis Arts Project Conference Kicks off Tomorrow

Tomorrow night, the St. Louis Arts Project's four-day conference kicks off at the Contemporary Arts Museum's courtyard with a performance by the St. Louis Complaints Choir, who will sing a litany of woes submitted by St. Louisans via Facebook.

by Stefene Russell

Review: Insight Theatre Company, "Becky's New Car"

Sometimes a simple script, even if it's little more than a rehash with some clever one-liners and an oddball staging conceit, can soar in the hands of a skilled director with an able cast. Insight Theatre Company does not disappoint.

by Devin C. Baker

Wish You Were Here: "The American City: St. Louis Architecture, Three Centuries of Classic Design"

Photographs from Robert Sharoff and William Zbaren's architectural coffee table book will be on view through August 21 at the Missouri Botanical Garden. St. Louis architecture can be seen, of course, all around you indefinitely.

by Brian Newman

Interview with Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn of Thao + Mirah

In advance of Thao + Mirah's upcoming show at Off Broadway on June 15, we sat down with Yom Tov Zeitlyn to talk about her collaboration with Thao Nguyen and Merill Garbus, the social justice aspect of the tour, and plans to play on top of the Arch.

By Rosalind Early

Web Gallery: Dwight Night at Bar Louie

Wish You Were Here: "Dwight Night" at Bar Louie

Some twisted magic was in the air last Thursday, when several 20-somethings vied for the chance to become Dwight the Tennis Ball, the mascot for the St. Louis Aces.

by Byron Kerman

Double-Take: The Tree of Life

Last month, Look/Listen film writers Patricia Brooke and Andrew Wyatt got an early look at "The Tree of Life," the Palm d’Or-winning fifth feature from legendary filmmaker Terrence Malick. This week, they sat down to discuss the highly anticipated film, which opens today at the Landmark Tivoli Theater.

by Patricia Brooke and Andrew Wyatt

St. Louis’ first Barter Fest to be held this Sunday

For one afternoon, participants in St. Louis’ first Barter Fest will return to a more medieval form of commerce. Artists, cooks, brew masters, and many others will barter and trade for other goods and services—no money allowed.

by Darren Orf

Review: Neil LaBute's "Just Desserts" at St. Louis Actors Studio

by Devin C. Baker

Review: "The Immigrant," at New Jewish Theatre

The New Jewish Theatre has put together an endearing, engaging work with heart, intelligence and insight.

by Devin C. Baker

Preview: “Jim Schmidt Presents: Abstraction” at Philip Slein Gallery

Philip Slein and Jim Schmidt co-curate a group show of the nation’s best abstract artists.

By Darren Orf

Preview: Opera Theatre of St. Louis, "The Death of Klinghoffer"

This summer, Opera Theatre of St. Louis mounts the first fully-staged production in the U.S. of John Adams' controversial opera, The Death of Klinghoffer, set to open on June 15.

by Gary Scott

Review: "Bare," at New Line Theatre

The self-proclaimed “Bad Boy of Musical Theater” delivers a tale of our time, in stunning clarity.

By Darren Orf

A Conversation With Steve Wynn of The Baseball Project

Among the headliners of this year’s Twangfest is The Baseball Project, a switch-hitting supergroup featuring Steve Wynn (late of the Dream Syndicate and currently a solo artist); Scott McCaughey, (Young Fresh Fellows, Minus 5); Peter Buck (R.E.M., Minus 5); and Wynn’s wife, Linda Pitmon (Golden Smog, Miracle 3). Currently, Buck’s R.E.M. bandmate, Mike Mills, is touring in his stead.)

by Daniel Durchholz

Moosylvania Designs 15 Posters to Raise Money for Joplin

By Christina Stiehl

Review: Circo

Aaron Schock’s outstanding new documentary feature, "Circo," traces all sorts of circles, both literal and metaphorical, as it draws a portrait of the family behind Gran Circo Mexico.

by Andrew Wyatt

MoBot Unveils Plans for 2012 Chinese Lantern Festival, "Art by Day, Magic by Night"

Next summer, St. Louis will pay homage to its sister city Nanjing, China by holding the first ever Chinese lantern festival on American soil.

by Allison Copenbarger

Arts News for Thursday, June 2

Too much to list here! Seriously. But shorthand, we can tell you there's good news about art openings, music festivals, film projects and more.

by Stefene Russell

Vintage Vinyl's Brand-New Mural: Berry, Bumbry, Nelly, Davis and Willie Mae Ford Smith

There's a new mural in town, and it should be a source of civic pride for years to come. Check out the west side of Vintage Vinyl in the U. City Loop, and say hello to five old friends.

by Byron Kerman