The Muny is holding its first-ever garage sale Saturday, Sept. 22. Starting at 10 a.m. people can come and pick out props, costumes, lighting equipment and even a fully functional hotdog launcher. Larry Pry, the Muny's assistant director of marketing, said that the garage sale is more about making space than making money.
Edward Coffield and Leon Braxton discuss how the show inspired them and helped them through tough times, including the AIDS crisis. Patrick Scott Magnuson and Rich Patrick discuss how seeing people of color in major roles resonates with them.
As the Muny draws to a close, we look at a tradition that was built into the development of this outdoor theater: its free seats. The last nine rows are avaiable on a first-come first-served basis. We talk to those who were at the front of the line for "Dreamgirls."
From its inception, The Muny -- America's oldest and largest outdoor theatre -- has been dedicated to bringing together St. Louisans of all backgrounds. We look at the inclusive philosophy held by some of the Muny's founding members.
On Saturday, 10 students from McCluer High School who had starred in their own production of "Dreamgirls" were invited to The Muny's show. Not only did they see the performance, they got to meet the professional entertainers, including Jennifer Holliday. (Slideshow inside)
Do you edit part of yourself to fit in or not offend? Do you judge others based on your ideas of what they should do or like or say? Where's the line between being polite and growing and change that is damaging?
Most of us take for granted the reinforcement or assumption of possibility that comes from seeing people who look like us in various roles. A comfort comes in seeing ourselves reflected in our goals and dreams.
The audience held its breath as Jennifer Holliday started the last song of the first half of "Dreamgirls" Monday night at the Muny. This is what many came for, “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going,” and she delivered. As part of the "7 Nights in July" project, we talk with audience members.
When I have conversations about diversity, I often find myself asserting the concept of diversity meaning more than "taking turns." It's not enough that everyone has access or something that appeals to them - what's going to get everyone together.
Jennifer Holliday’s red-hot rendition of her star-making “Dreamgirls” signature song had Muny-goers whooping and whistling and wishing for more Monday night. Tuesday afternoon, Holliday talked about feeling the love in her opening night performance.
Jennifer Holliday · Laura Peters · Doug Erwin · Al Fischer · J. Joseph Schlafly · Edward Coffield · Arika Parr · Leon Braxton · Alexis Tucker · Patrick Scott Magnuson
When you register with the Beacon, you can save your searches as news alerts, rsvp for events, manage your donations and receive news and updates from the Beacon team.
Take a look at our tutorials to help you get the hang of the new site.
Meeting in St. Louis next week, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious will have its first opportunity as an assembled group to consider what to do after the Vatican issued a mandate for change this spring. It calls on the conference to reorganize and more strictly observe church teachings.
When a family of four goes to the St. Louis Zoo, they can be forgiven for not knowing it will cost them $60, $72 if they park. If they can't pay, the alternative is to tell the kids they can't do what kids do at the zoo.
Missouri House Speaker Steve Tilley gave reporters less than a half-hour’s notice today when he announced that conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh’s sculptured bust will be formally installed in the Capitol at 1 p.m.
Fifty years ago this week, President John F. Kennedy confronted Cold War tensions in Wall-divided Berlin and bolstered the confidence of its beleaguered residents by telling them, "Ich bin ein Berliner." On Wednesday, President Barack Obama will face eastward from the Brandenburg Gate for the latest address of an American president in the city that has been a flashpoint of East-West relations.
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill on Tuesday became the first member of Congress to endorse a “Ready for Hillary” super PAC that wants former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to run for the Democratic nomination for president in 2016. Clinton has not said whether she will run.
Whether the topic is military justice or military camouflage, Super Hornets or small-diameter bombs, base closures or weapons proliferation, provisions backed by area lawmakers have progressed in the House and Senate defense bills.
The Beacon's Mary Delach Leonard and Rob Koenig extensively covered flooding in 2011 in Missouri. Now this coverage is compiled in an iBook. Read the stories.
Duff's, a mainstay of the Central West End since Karen Duffy opened it in 1972, is closing its doors this month. Over the years, Duff's developed a reputation for reasonably priced, imaginative menus and a good selection of wines. But what made Duff's invaluable were the poetry readings on Monday evenings.
When all memories of disagreements about kissing or not kissing have faded into the special obscure place where flimsy opera plots go to rest, there will remain the beautiful singing of Smetana’s seamlessly controlled and genuinely magnificent music.
As The Muny turns 95, a new fan system makes the seats cooler than ever. Boosting the cool factor, overall, is the job of executive producer Mike Isaacson and president and CEO Denny Reagan, who talked with the Beacon about The Muny's future.
Donna Korando is the Beacon's arts and features editor. You can contact her at dkorando@stlbeacon.org.
As St. Louis gears up to be a part of events for National Small Business Week in which local entrepreneurs Jack Dorsey and David Steward will play prominent roles, the area's SBA director feels that the Gateway City's climate for entrepreneurs and small businesses is improving.
Mark Lynas, a noted British author and environmentalist, spoke Thursday at the Donald Danforth Plant Science center about his conversion from an anti-genetically modified crop activist to a proponent of GM plants.
St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay said the initiative is about keeping start-up businesses “here when they become successful and grow jobs here as well, rather than just being some sort of training ground for Silicon Valley companies.”
Innovation and entrepreneurial activity are on the rise in St. Louis, especially in bioscience, technology and alternative energy. The Beacon's InnovationSTL section focuses on the people who are part of this wave, what they're doing and how this is shaping our future. To many St. Louisans, this wave is not yet visible. InnovationSTL aims to change that. We welcome you to share your knowledge, learn more about this vibrant trend and discuss its impact.
Tossing a high school graduation cap into the air typically signals the launch of a bigger life. But a new study shows that's often not the case for young people with autism.
Recent research out of Mizzou suggests that excessive use of Facebook can have negative effects on romantic relationships, including cheating, breaking up and divorce. The negative impact tends to be on newer relations, under three years duration. Doctoral student Russell Clayton advocates more moderate Facebook use to prevent its threats.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against a company that had patents on genes linked to higher risks for breast and ovarian cancers. The ruling is disliked by a biotechnology industry group, but is praised by university researchers.
Sally Altman is the Beacon's Health and Science editor. You can contact her at saltman@stlbeacon.org.