An exceptional supporting cast that all play multiple roles includes: Terry Meddows, Peggy Billo, Jennifer Theby-Quinn, Amy Loui, Will Bonfiglio, Brendan Ochs, Luke Steingruby, and Jack Zanger. All of them add immensely to the proceedings in their portrayal of various characters.
The ensemble is strong as well, with each of the supporting actors playing multiple roles featuring Terry Meddows, Jennifer Theby-Quinn, Peggy Billo, Amy Loui, Will Bonfiglio, Brendan Ochs, Luke Steingruby, and Jack Zanger. The actors add considerable depth and texture to the story and songs. Meddows is sympathetic as Yentl’s father, Theby-Quinn charms as Avigdor’s alternate to Hadass. Loui, Billo, Bonfiglio, Ochs, and Zanger successfully fill in missing exposition and add color and depth to the musical chorus, while Steingruby impresses, contrasting Gabrielle’s earthy voice with a number of small, piercingly pure solos.
The ensemble of students who serve as a Greek chorus is effectively portrayed by Will Bonfiglio, Brendan Ochs, Luke Steingruby and Jack Zanger. Bonfiglio is especially enjoyable to observe in Isom’s engaging choreography.
The play is bolstered by its supporting members — Peggy Billo as the uncompromising mother of Hadass, Frumka, Jennifer Theby-Quinn as Pesha, Avigdor’s commerce-savvy wife, along with Amy Loui, Will Bonfiglio, Brendan Ochs, Luke Steingruby and Jack Zanger — all in multiple roles, elevating the play with solid performances.
Mustard Seed gives a last hurrah to World War I
By Judith Newmark St. Louis Post-Dispatch Mar 29, 2016 (0)
2015 All is Calm
At Mustard Seed Theatre, members of the 2015 cast of “All Is Calm” portray World War I soldiers of different nations.
On Veterans Day, Mustard Seed Theatre will open its fourth — and last — production of “All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914.”The a cappella musical about World War I has become a holiday tradition for some theatergoers. In 2013, Mustard Seed’s first production of “All Is Calm” garnered five St. Louis Theater Circle Awards and big audiences. People warmed to the story of Christmas Eve, 1914, when some soldiers on both sides of the Western Front put down their weapons to mark the holiday. They sang carols (in their own languages), shared food, drink and tobacco, even played a little soccer. It didn’t last long, and it never happened again.
Mustard Seed plans to stage the perennially popular musical only once more, however. This year’s production will run Nov. 11 to Dec. 4. After a while, “artists need to do something new and challenging,” explained artistic director Deanna Jent. She added that the switch will allow Mustard Seed to present other musicals in seasons ahead.
Once again, Jent will direct “All Is Calm,” and Joe Schoen will return as music director. The ensemble includes performers from previous seasons: Charlie Barron, Steve Isom, Greg Lhamon, Gerry Love, Ben Nordstrom, Antonio Rodriguez, Luke Steingruby, Kelvin Urday and Jeffrey Wright.
“All Is Calm” is the second production of Mustard Seed’s 2016-17 season — the troupe’s 10th anniversary season.
Mustard Seed Theatre performs at Fontbonne University’s Fine Arts Theatre, 6800 Wydown Boulevard. Single tickets to its shows are $25-$30; 2016-17 season tickets are available, too. For more information, visit mustardseedtheatre.com.
Book, Music and Lyrics by Richard O’Brien. Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
A humorous tribute to the science fiction and horror B movies of the late 1940s through to the early 1970s. The musical tells the story of a newly engaged couple getting caught in a storm and coming to the home of a mad transvestite scientist unveiling his new creation, a sort of Frankenstein-style monster in the form of an artificially made, fully grown, physically perfect muscle man named Rocky Horror.
Performances: Opens October 13, 2016 and closes October 29, 2016.
Eleven performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm with additional performances on Wednesday, October 26 at 8pm and Saturday, October 29 at 2pm.
Visit www.straydogtheatre.org for tickets
Luke Steingruby 