A-List Editors' Choice Awards 2023: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

STAR POWER

Narcissus Garden

Laumeier Sculpture Park’s presentation of Yayoi Kusama’s Narcissus Garden gave St. Louisans a rare chance to enjoy the artist’s work without having to travel. The winding path of mirrored orbs offered a meditative experience (and some pretty great photo ops) inside Aronson Fine Arts Center.

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WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE

PROM Magazine: Where did you go to high school?

You’ve heard it. We’ve heard it. It is the question asked by St. Louis natives since time immemorial. Our city’s obsession with those golden years is at the center of this free exhibit at the Central Library. Through October, explore the library’s collection of PROM Magazine, a monthly publication dedicated to St. Louis public, private, and parochial high schools that ran from 1947–1973.

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POWERHOUSE PERFORMANCES

The Midnight Company

St. Louis was recently treated to two woman-led shows dedicated to icons. In the fall, Laka led a history lesson with St. Louis Woman, in which she took on the roles of Tina Turner, Josephine Baker, and others. Then, this spring, Kelly Howe embraced the ’80s with Just One Look, a Linda Ronstadt cabaret. The production was so popular, its run was extended several times.

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INSTAGRAM

Hailee and Kendra

This duo has racked up nearly a million followers on Instagram while sharing their fun, positive content (including plenty of ideas for things to do in the city). In addition to Instagram, you can find the pair making videos on TikTok, YouTube, and streaming games on Twitch.

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THEATER NEWCOMER

Prism Theatre Company

With its focus on the work of women and emerging artists, Prism is a welcome addition to St. Louis’ thriving theater scene. Between its impressive main stage performances and a Festival of New Works that highlights up-and-coming voices in theater, it will be exciting to see what comes next for this small-but-mighty company.

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PROMISING PLAYWRIGHT

Courtney Bailey

Last summer, folks in the art, music, and theater worlds kept asking the same question: “Have you seen Brontë Sister House Party yet?” In addition to plenty of buzz, Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble's world premiere production of Courtney Bailey’s play, which was originally commissioned by St. Louis Shakespeare Festival as part of the Confluence Writers Project, earned four nods from The St. Louis Theater Circle, including Outstanding New Play. Bailey’s next project: the Margaret Fuller Magick Show.

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HISTORY LESSON

Nuked: Echoes of the Hiroshima Bomb in St. Louis

Linda C. Morice’s account of St. Louis’ role in the Manhattan Project—the program responsible for creating the first atomic bomb—and the ways we still grapple with the effects of refining uranium was one of the most fascinating and affecting reads of the past year. Even decades after the project’s end, the contamination of St. Louis’ northern suburbs is an ongoing public health concern, and cleanup is expected to take another 15 years.

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TRAVELING SHOW

TourCo

Last summer, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival's TourCo brought musician and composer Tre’Von Griffith’s Afrofuturist version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream to 24 parks across the region, taking the free play directly to scores of community members. This August, Cherokee Street Theater artistic director Suki Peters will lead the traveling caravan of actors in a production of The Merry Wives of Windsor in the style of a ’90s sitcom.

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EXCITING EXHIBIT

Coloring STL

Most museums don’t allow you to touch anything on the walls, much less break out the markers and start coloring on them, but that’s exactly the draw of the Missouri History Museum’s Coloring STL. Visitors can learn about St. Louis architecture while enjoying the exhibit’s innovative interactive elements.

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FUNNY GIRL

Nikki Glaser

What a year it’s been for Glaser (see p. 88). She rang in the new year for a couple thousand St. Louisans at Stifel Theatre, was all over TV (RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Masked Singer, Welcome Home Nikki Glaser, Good Clean Filth), and announced a U.S. and European tour. Plus, her (other) reality TV show, FBOY Island, found a new home on The CW and announced an FGIRL spinoff. Glaser stays booked and busy for good reason.

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NIGHT OUT

Free Public Previews at SLAM

Recently, the Saint Louis Art Museum began highlighting its exhibition openings with free public previews. These evening cocktail hours—complete with live music, drinks, and free early access to upcoming exhibitions—have quickly become some of our favorite date nights, whether with friends or loved ones.

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MUSEUM EXPANSION

St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum

Last fall, the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum in Creve Coeur unveiled its $25 million expansion. The project added a 224-seat auditorium, a reading room, classrooms, and a special exhibit gallery to the space, as well as the Impact Lab, a place that the museum hopes can foster “Active Allies” who will speak out against injustice and discrimination.

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CELEBRATION OF ARTISTS

10th Great Rivers Biennial

This year, the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis celebrated its 10th iteration of the Great Rivers Biennial, featuring regional talents Yowshien Kuo (pictured), Yvonne Osei, and Jon Young. For 20 years, the collaboration between CAM and the Gateway Foundation has supported and recognized area artists, including past winners Sarah Paulsen, Cayce Zavaglia, and Juan William Chávez.

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CREATIVE ENDEAVOR

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ New Works Collective

The idea: Putting stories in the hands of the community. The result: a trio of operas unlike anything we’ve seen before. This powerful project not only celebrated new voices in opera, but also attracted new audiences. The three new works for next year have already been chosen, and we can’t wait to see what New Works Collective stages next.

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LOCAL LEGEND

Joan Lipkin

Artist and activist Joan Lipkin’s work spans the years and the globe, and this year, the St. Louis Theater Circle honored her with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Lipkin, who’s also the producing artistic director of That Uppity Theatre Company, is a champion of marginalized voices and important causes, embodying the idea that the performing arts are about far more than just entertainment.

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VISITING ARTIST

Faye HeavyShield

Right now, art lovers can experience the work of celebrated First Nations artist Faye HeavyShield across two local venues. Faye HeavyShield: Confluences runs through August 6 at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation and includes career-spanning works by the artist, who’s a member of the Kainai Nation of southern Alberta. At the Saint Louis Art Museum, HeavyShield's work is on display in conversation with historic pieces from SLAM’s collection as part of the Native Artist Collaboration series, on view through May 4, 2025. 

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RISING STAR

NandoSTL

The hip-hop artist is having an incredible year. His first album on T-Pain’s NappyBoy label, Y.O.T.A., came out in May and features artists such as Nelly, T-Pain, and Florida rapper Young Cash. As of this writing, the video for the album’s lead single had racked up more than half a million views on YouTube.

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FAVORITE FOLLOW

@CityMuseum on TikTok

The museum’s “weirdly wonderful” tagline definitely extends to its TikTok account with fun, deeply relatable videos. Sometimes, that means sharing museum secrets and highlights; other times, it’s sharing a list of top places in the museum for those needing a quiet spot to calm down. Whatever the topic, the videos keep it fresh, entertaining, and delightfully strange, just like the museum itself.

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STIRRING SCENES

Confederates

Director Elizabeth Carter swung for the fences with The Rep's production of Dominique Morisseau’s Confederates this spring. The result was one of the most memorable performances in recent years. A talented supporting cast bolstered raw, stirring performances from stars Tatiana Williams and Tiffany Oglesby, who  did justice to Morisseau’s poignant work.

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ST. LOUIS SHOUT-OUT

Cocaine Bear

When we saw Elizabeth Banks’ unhinged dark comedy about, well, a bear on cocaine, we weren’t expecting the crowd to cheer. But when Ray Liotta (RIP) and his cronies were revealed as St. Louisans, cheer they did. Each time we’ve brought up the movie since, we’ve bonded over the same question: So, which local dive do you think would serve plain penne?

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FITTING TRIBUTE

Pillars of the Valley

In February, CITYPARK unveiled Pillars of the Valley, artist Damon Davis’ tribute to the former Mill Creek Valley neighborhood. The neighborhood was destroyed by the city in the late 1950s, forcing a thriving community of Black families and businesses elsewhere. But Davis’ columns seek to preserve the memories of that community for generations to come. Each set of pillars contains a piece of pale limestone, meant to represent sand frozen in an hourglass. Between them, the words of former residents share sentiments about the lost community and its importance to the people who once called it home.

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FANTASTIC TALE

Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston

The first installment of Esme Symes-Smith’s new fantasy series for young readers feels like an important addition to the genre. Children (and kids at heart) will almost certainly find a character with whom they can identify among the many residents of Helston. We look forward to following their further adventures in Sir Callie and the Dragon’s Roost, out this fall from Labyrinth Road.

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NEW GIG

Kirven Douthit-Boyd

When we asked local arts leaders what excited them most about the arts in St. Louis right now, nearly all of them mentioned Kirven Douthit-Boyd’s arrival at The Big Muddy Dance Company. As artistic director, he is breathing new life into the company with his  dedication to diversity and representation in dance.

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BEST NEW ALBUM

10,000 gecs

The band 100 gecs may just be the best thing to come out of St. Louis County in recent years. This spring, hyperpop duo Laura Les and Dylan Brady’s long-awaited sophomore offering, 10,000 gecs, arrived to much fanfare, including a “Best New Music” nod from Pitchfork. The joyfully chaotic collection of songs, including hit singles “mememe” and “Doritos & Fritos,” has placed the pair firmly in local legend status.

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AMBASSADORS

Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra

After a long break from traveling due to the pandemic, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra returned to Europe this spring, taking the talents of the nation’s second-oldest orchestra international with sought-after pianist Víkingur Ólafsson in tow. Reports from the tour—which made stops in Vienna, Brussels, the Netherlands, and Madrid—were excellent, and the ensemble returned home for the rest of the 2023–2024 season.

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QUICK READ

Notes from the Booklady's Desk

From The Noir Bookshop owner Ymani Wince, this zine inspired by Risograph printing is an essential addition to a collector’s shelf. One highlight, “All We Have Is Each Other: Thoughts on Community,” is an engaging, enlightening essay authored by Wince.

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NEW VENUES FOR LIVE MUSIC AND FILM IN ST. LOUIS

First and foremost, two music venues recently opened in Midtown. City Winery at City Foundry STL, a New York–based chain that boasts a space for intimate dining and concert experiences, opened in March. Just a stone’s throw from City Foundry, the Armory STL indoor entertainment complex spans 6 acres, including six bars and a stage for live entertainment. In nearby Grand Center, the former home of The Stage @ KDHX and the Creepy Crawl reopened this past fall as Central Stage, a live music venue from the Kranzberg Arts Foundation. Additionally, The Hawthorn, taking its name from Missouri’s state flower, opened last fall on Washington Avenue as both a venue for live music and private events.

In terms of movie theaters, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema—a boutique dine-in theater chain originally from Austin that specializes in first-run films, repertory screenings, and immersive movie party experiences—opened at City Foundry late last year. In December, Cinema St. Louis announced its purchase of the Hi-Pointe Theatre from the James family. The beloved movie house now serves as the organization’s home base for its programming, including first-run independent films, entries in its Golden Anniversaries series, screenings for local festivals such as QFest, and other special events. And Arkadin Cinema and Bar, which shows rep programming that runs the gamut of silent classics, arthouse favorites, and grindhouse gems, opened its indoor theater space in March, after three years of outdoor screenings on its backlot.

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MOVIE MAGIC

Underneath: Children of the Sun

Filmmaker David Kirkman’s feature debut is a welcome new take on the sci-fi epic. The Washington University Department of African and African-American Studies artist-in-residence takes viewers on an Afrofuturist journey through the eyes of an enslaved person from Little Dixie, Missouri, as he’s pulled into a battle for power between intergalactic forces.

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PUBLIC ART

The Walls Off Washington

Last fall, the Kranzberg Arts Foundation unveiled its 20-mural initiative, adding bursts of color and artistry to the spaces between Josephine Baker Boulevard and North Leonard Avenue. The collection of works includes pieces by artists from St. Louis and around the world, including Cbabi Bayoc, José Luis Vargas, and Pl@stic.

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Cool for the Summer

Mark your calendars for some of our favorite annual events.

St. Charles Riverfest

Our friends across the river in St. Charles know a thing or two about street festivals—their absolutely charming red brick main drag hosts lots of them all summer long. Saint Charles Riverfest runs all day long July 2–4 this year. The event in Frontier Park features tons to eat and drink as well as super talented musicians keeping everyone moving. With classic carnival rides aplenty as well as kid-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone. Naturally, fireworks round out the party.

Let Them Eat Art

Let Them Eat Art, this year on July 7 from 6-10 p.m., really puts Maplewood on display. Some of the area’s best restaurants call the city home, and they’ll have food and drink on offer. There’s music, shopping, and kid’s activities, too. The event is also a nod to Bastille Day—hence the rather imperious title. You can’t really eat the art, but you sure can take it in. Dozens of local artists across mediums will be selling their work, and you can watch the magic happen with live art demonstrations.

Grub and Groove

Since 2013, Grub and Groove has brought the party to Francis Park. Food, music, a kids’ play area, local vendors and more will be in Francis Park on August 12 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. The volunteer-run event is super local—any proceeds from the event are invested right back into the park and the neighborhood.

STL Fringe

The cutting edge of performing arts will come to St. Louis August 14–20—from dance to comedy to a one-woman show to a dramatic reading by one of the city’s most noted rabble-rousing raconteurs (and occasional SLM contributor) Chris Andoe. The festival takes its name and inspiration from the legendary Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Think of it as a showcase for excellence in the quirky arts. It’s spread across The .Zack, the High Low, The Marcelle, UCBC, and The Shed.

St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase

The venerable Cinema St. Louis brings so much to local movie fans, from QFest to the Classic French Festival to the year’s biggest cinematic event, St. Louis International Film Festival. They really lean into hometown pride, though, with St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, this year from July 21–30. It’s the main way to see films with a St. Louis connection—submissions were filmed here or written, directed, or produced by residents or folks with strong ties to the city. Some of the finest flicks to screen at Filmmakers Showcase win prizes, and some even get invited to screen at SLIFF.

Shakespeare in the Park

St. Louis Shakespeare Festival is a cultural gem all year long: TourCo brings productions to dozens of parks in Missouri and Illinois, while Shakespeare in the Streets takes a deep dive into one of the city’s amazingly diverse neighborhoods every fall, reimagining a Shakespeare play through the lens of the neighborhood with the residents’ input. But the crown jewel is undoubtedly Shakespeare in the Park, a gorgeous multi-week production in Shakespeare Glen at Forest Park. This year’s show is Twelfth Night, running from May 31 to June 25. 

Festival of Nations

Come hungry to Tower Grove Park for your passport-free tour of the planet August 26 & 27. Since 1934, the International Institute of St. Louis has brought together cultural performances, vendors, and food representing nearly a hundred nations, as well as information booths and pretty much all your neighbors, for a party in the park. Have a Thai iced coffee and some Polish pierogies while you watch Japanese taiko drumming, all in one afternoon and in one place. The festival is free and typically attracts more than 100,000 people.