Racial, socio-economic, religious and generational lines were erased when alumni of Normandy High School came together to make possible a three-department production of Dreamgirls in 2011. Students talk about how much it meant that the alumni believed in them and saw their potential.
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.
For those of us who often find ourselves as the "other" in the room, there is something to be said for having enough variety in the mix to not feel "other." And at a scale of thousands - I'm not even sure I can name another experience outside of St. Louis I've been able to describe this way.
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.
Even some of entertainment's most successful and famous women had to fight to be seen beyond stereotypes and marginalization. In this video, produced by the Missouri History Museum and part of the 7 Nights in July project, Professor Kira Banks and KMJM's Arika Parr (pictured) discuss these challenges.
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.
Jennifer Holliday · Laura Peters · Doug Erwin · Brianna Reed · Allexus Harris · Brandon Stewart · Christopher Jackson · Karla Mosley · Kira Hudson Banks · Gia Valenti
Muny Opera · Missouri History Museum · Normandy High School · Nine Network of Public Media
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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.
Developers on the south side come in all shapes and sizes, with ambitions that vary from single buildings to entire city blocks. In the first of a two-part story, Jason Deem talks about building community.
Author M.M. Costantin, who has lived near the Loop for more than 40 years, compiled a photo book that shows Delmar when it was bustling, when it was dangerous and when it came back to life.
They arrived four years ago as fifth-graders, behind in their work and not used to rigorous classes, but they've advanced rapidly and have a strong academic grounding for high school.
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.
This year’s 13th Shakespeare Festival production is a lucky one for local orchestra ensemble “The Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra," chosen to compose the music for "Twelfth Night."
“We speak in old language in a new witty way with contemporary feel,” Sean Curran said about the OTSL production of "Pirates of Penzance," which is set in the 1870s. Much of the Gilbert and Sullivan satire, however, focuses on still-relevant human foibles, government officials’ ineptitude and opera excesses.
The feeling is openness, with soaring, airy spaces planned for easy and logical circulation and planned to reveal art not only to its best advantage but also appropriately and respectfully. Still, the building is notable more for its architectural reticence than its audacity.
Donna Korando is the Beacon's arts and features editor. You can contact her at dkorando@stlbeacon.org.
Developers on the south side come in all shapes and sizes, with ambitions that vary from single buildings to entire city blocks. In the first of a two-part story, Jason Deem talks about building community.
Speaking to reporters at Monsanto, Howard Buffett warned that future generations would foot the bill for irresponsible soil use. He urged leaders to address thorny issues such as malnutrition and environmental destruction.
Twenty winners will split a million dollars and a wide array of professional services after this year's Arch Grants competition. Victors will also see one-on-one business mentoring in their prize package. The diverse group includes everything from biotech concerns to fashion enterprises.
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.
The Academy of Science-St. Louis hosts tours of EarthDance, an organic farm, and the Monsanto Agronomics and Breeding Facility May 21-22. The workshop is meant to prompt discussion and answer questions about these two competing philosophies of food production.
Speaking to reporters at Monsanto, Howard Buffett warned that future generations would foot the bill for irresponsible soil use. He urged leaders to address thorny issues such as malnutrition and environmental destruction.
Vernon Bowman's challenge to Monsanto Co.'s patent on its Roundup Ready soybean seeds was billed as a David vs. Goliath contest. Goliath won and won big. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that an Indiana soybean farmer had violated Monsanto's patent on its genetically engineered soybean seeds.
Sally Altman is the Beacon's Health and Science editor. You can contact her at saltman@stlbeacon.org.
Paying professors less, increasing online courses and raising class size might make the bill cheaper, but the value of the degree will be less, as well. It's not that there are no solutions, but the easy ones create their own problems.
When the Civil War broke out, Grant rejoined the military. He may not have liked it, but it was what he was good at: fighting. The battle that cemented his reputation began 150 years ago yesterday.
Democracy is our answer to perhaps our most difficult ethical problem: How do we ethically protect the social cooperation that makes our society strong, while respecting the rights of individuals to pursue vastly divergent visions of the good life and deeply conflicting moral and political beliefs?
Donna Korando is the Beacon's Voices editor. You can contact her and submit opinion pieces for possible publication at dkorando@stlbeacon.org.