There are labor strikes, labor pains, labor parties…but nothing is sweeter than a labor of love. On Labor Day weekend.
The Kranzberg Arts Foundation will hold its inaugural resident showcase, Labor of Love, on September 1 at 7 p.m. And every last dollar of ticket money will be donated to the performing artists and organizations.
Stay up-to-date with the local arts scene
Subscribe to the weekly St. Louis Arts+Culture newsletter to discover must-attend art exhibits, performances, festivals, and more.
They will sing (and dance and act) for more than their own supper. As the foundation notes, “the soul of a city is shaped by its artists.” Watch how it happens on September 1 at 7 p.m. at the Grandel Theatre (with pre- and post-show celebration in The Dark Room). The show will be hosted by countertenor Terry Barber, formerly of Chanticleer and the founder of Artists for a Cause.
Onstage:
- Consuming Kinetics Dance Company will perform a new piece: “The Congreve Cube is a work which explores the journey of accepting change, learning to trust oneself, re-learning how to work with others, and embracing all that could be if we lay down our defenses and allow our minds and bodies to explore without boundaries,” says choreographer Kat Norton. “Onstage, dancers engage the Congreve Cube, a concept borrowed from the film Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium. The cube signifies change and serves as the catalyst for personal growth and collective harmony.”
- New Line Theatre will do numbers from their three upcoming shows: The Zombies of Penzance, La Cage aux Folles, and Be More Chill.
- Tonina will play original songs from her latest album, Black Angel, along with not-yet-released material from her upcoming album, due out in 2019—plus her arrangements of covers in both Spanish and English.
- The Ashleyliane Dance Company…will surprise the audience. Trained in lyrical jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, street jazz, gymnastics, and other forms of movement, the dancers in this company bring studio refinement to urban street dance.
- The Owen Ragland Quintet will perform all original tunes written over the last year by young wunder-pianist Ragland (who’s been composing since age 5) and other members of the group. Vocalist Katara Parson will join the quintet. Ragland’s goal was to “create an energized yet soothing blend of harmonies and rhythm”—and to show that jazz is thriving in St. Louis. “The older players keep jazz rooted, but the youth spread its branches far and wide.”
- Another pianist, Mo Egeston, will find his own groove, routed by Latin influences and Indie soul. His career began in St. Louis’ underground house music clubs in the ’90s, and he polished it with a master’s in piano performance (chamber music) at Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville.
