Art in Bloom 2017
Lorde | March 2
She made her first splash as a teen with the anthem “Royals,” and has grown up gracefully under the spotlight; her latest, Melodrama, was released last year to universal critical acclaim. "Using empty space to spectacular effect, the arrangements veer from stark clarity to delirium, often in a few bars," Rolling Stone wrote. "Like the finger snaps on her breakout, 'Royals,' small touches loom: the dry guitar opening of 'The Louvre,' with its ambient-dub atmospherics; the distant yelps and heraldic roots-reggae brass on 'Sober,' a sexy midtempo jam endlessly second-guessing its own pleasure; the screeching industrial noise and f-bombs on 'Hard Feelings–Loveless'; the trap beats that strafe the title track's orchestral brooding. As a pop song production display, it's a tour de force." Run the Jewels and Tove Stryke open. $29-$99.50. 7 p.m. Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton, thechaifetzarena.com.
Trajal Harrell | March 2 & 3
"The voguing balls of Harlem, the hoochie koochie dances of rural America, the elaborate, prancing gait of runway models—these aren’t influences that routinely feature in contemporary dance. Yet for the American choreographer Trajal Harrell they’ve proved extraordinarily fertile," The Guardian wrote of this groundbreaking American choreographer and dancer. Over the course of two days, Harrell will present work that draws on those influences as well as the radical art of Japanese butō. Harrell’s work has been presented at The Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Barbican Art Gallery in London; and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, among others. Free. 7:30 p.m. Friday, 1, 2, 4 p.m. Saturday. Pulitzer Arts Foundation, 3716 Washington, pulitzerarts.org.
Art in Bloom | March 2-4
A rose is a rose is a rose, unless it's tucked in one of the floral displays at Art in Bloom, where it may be standing in for a patch of red in a painting or as part of a sculpture. This annual flower show, where local florists interpret works in the museum's collection with greenery and blooms, has become St. Louis' tradition for ushering in spring. Though many of this year's signature events are sold out (including the tea ceremony, Mixology 101, and a workshop with Martha Stewart), there are still lots of fun, informative presentations, lectures, and events, plus the opportunity to just take in lots of lovely flowers and art together in the same room. Free, with some paid ticketed events; see website for details. 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday & Sunday. Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts, slam.org.
Chicago | March 2-4
Now the longest-running musical in Broadway history—it opened in 1975—Chicago's combination of Kander & Ebb's snappy tunes, Bob Fosse's energetic choreography, and gritty urban narrative still keeps audiences spellbound 40 years after its debut; New York Times critic Ben Brantley wrote that it "still glitters hypnotically." Based on hard-boiled New York reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins' play of the same name, the show tells real stories of crime and corruption in the Windy City during Prohibition. $25–$100. See website for performance times. Fox Theatre 527 N. Grand, fabulousfox.com.
Robert Classic French Film Festival | March 2-25
Ten years ago, Cinema St. Louis decided to remind us of our Gallic heritage—by dedicating the month of March to screening French films, from the earliest talkies to contemporary features. This year's fest kicks off this Friday night with a screening of documentary filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier's critically acclaimed My Journey Through French Cinema, which serves as the prefect introduction to several of the movies on this year's slate, including Jean-Luc Godard’s absolute classic, Alphaville. $13, $10 Cinema St. Louis members. See website for individual screening dates and times. Winifred Moore Auditorium, Webster University Campus, 470 E. Lockwood, cinemastlouis.org.
Check out SLM's calendar for other happenings, including Blues games, Annie, Maya and Mary at Yeyo Arts Collective, Sean Jones Quartet at Jazz at the Bistro, New Line Theatre's Anything Goes, Dan Soder at Helium, Not So Late Night at 2720 Cherokee, St. Louis Ballet at The Grandel, Steve Winwood at The Fox, and more.