7. TRIBUTE TO PRINCE
Prince was a once-in-a-century talent, and it's still difficult to believe he's gone. Your ongoing transition to living in a Prince-less world can be aided by conductor Brent Havens and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra's Tribute to Prince. The program includes the Minnesota Maestro's greatest hits and most beloved songs — "When Doves Cry" and "U Got the Look" among them. Is it too much to ask for Havens and company to go deep and break out some of that Black Album nastiness? Powell Hall (718 North Grand Boulevard; www.slso.org). October 9. $35-$98.
8. UNTIL THE FLOOD
If we have any hope of understanding what's going in St. Louis, it comes through the arts. Department of Justice reports, newscasts, lengthy journalistic breakdowns and oral histories can tell us what happened at a certain point in time, but true illumination must be found in a concert hall, in a gallery or on the stage. Playwright Dael Orlandersmith, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, visited St. Louis in order to interview anybody who was willing to speak with her about life in St. Louis during the unrest that followed Ferguson. Her mission was not to find blame or absolve anyone of guilt — she wanted only to hear what St. Louisans had to say about St. Louis. The resulting play, Until the Flood, is a complex piece that tells the St. Louis story — which is really a series of stories — in a symphony of voices. The Repertory Theatre of Saint Louis commissioned the work to give us a chance to hear ourselves think. We'd be fools not to take advantage of that. Loretto-Hilton Center (130 Edgar Road, Webster Groves; www.repstl.org). October 12-November 6. $18-$81.50
9. THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is that rare cult classic musical that deserves to be called "iconic" — it's so big, Fox is broadcasting a celebrity-studded version live this October. (Does that mean middle America is finally comfortable with Dr. Frank N. Furter?) But to really feel the show, you need to see it in its original, theatrical format. That's where Stray Dog Theatre comes in. The company opens its new season with Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show, one of the greatest live experiences you can have on this planet. The cast has yet to be officially announced, but if you're a close reader of local theater programs you may have already seen who's playing the good doctor. No spoilers, but let's just say it's going to be a hoot. Tower Grove Abbey (2336 Tennessee Avenue; www.straydogtheatre.org). October 13-29. $20-$25.
10. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: ART AND WAR IN MODERN JAPAN
The Saint Louis Art Museum now has one of the world's largest collections of Meiji-period military art, thanks to a gift of more than 1,400 Japanese prints donated by Charles and Rosalyn Lowenhaupt. Conflicts of Interest: Art and War in Modern Japan will include more than 180 objects that demonstrate the technical excellence of Japanese woodblock printing before the advent of modern technological innovations. Among the works on display are many made by Kobayashi Kiyochika, the acknowledged master of print art from the Meiji era. Saint Louis Art Museum (1 Fine Arts Drive; www.slam.org). October 16-January 8.
11. NOSFERATU WITH THE INVINCIBLE CZARS
F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu may be just a rehash of Bram Stoker's Dracula with a bestial monster in place of the suave vampire, but it's a rehash with impeccable style. The silent film is moody and atmospheric, and Max Schreck's legendary performance as the foul Count Orlock is supremely eerie. It's even better with a new soundtrack. The Invincible Czars is an Austin, Texas, band that has composed a modern score for the film that incorporates violin, music box, glockenspiel and several other unusual instruments. Their music also interpolates Bela Bartok's Romanian Folk Dances. The band also encourage the audience to dress in Halloween-appropriate outfits for the screening; it should be an incredible night of sound and vision. Webster University's Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves; www.webster.edu/film-series). October 22. $10.
12. CHEERS LIVE ON STAGE
Cheers, the long-running sitcom from the powerhouse Charles/Burrows/Charles production company, has stayed fixed in American pop culture consciousness with the tidy shorthand "Sam-Diane relationship." The phrase is based on the show's initial romantic premise — that ex-jock Lothario Sam Malone and refugee-from-academia Diane Chambers were destined to end up together despite their fractious work relationship. This unique stage adaptation uses the scripts for the show's first season as the basis for its story, which sees Coach, Carla, Cliff, Norm and, yes, Sam and Diane slinging wisecracks, suds and barbs in Boston's friendliest bar. Peabody Opera House (1400 Market Street; www.peabodyoperahouse.com). October 28-30. $30-$82.
13. FUN HOME
Alison Bechdel's graphic novel memoir Fun Home tackles growing up in rural Pennsylvania as the daughter of a closeted funeral home director. Bechdel's recursive narration and meticulous sense of detail allow the reader to see familiar events in new ways as the narrator ages and gains perspective on things that confused her when younger. Translating that shifting sense of time and awareness to the stage is no easy task, but Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori's musical adaption of the book was very well received — to the tune of five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Fox Theatre (527 North Grand Boulevard; www.fabulousfox.com). November 15-27. Single ticket price TBA.
For more things to do this fall, and every week throughout the year, check out our online calendar at www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/EventSearch. To submit an event, please visit posting.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/Events/AddEvent.
