It's the weekend — get naked! Or not. In addition to our beloved World Naked Bike Ride, which kicks off in the Grove on Saturday, you can see Rocky on Art Hill, Young Frankenstein at the Muny or Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf at Webster. View the work of our top local filmmakers or hit Star Wars Night at Busch Stadium — the choice is yours. And who says you can't do more than one?
Here are our picks for this week's very exciting — and affordable — St. Louis events.
1. See the musical version of a comedy classic
Even Mel Brooks knows that Young Frankenstein is the best of his films, so it's little wonder that the comedy was transferred to the stage after the rousing success of Brooks musical version of The Producers. Much of the original elements from the film version remain Igor pronounces his name as "Eye-gor," Frederick goes by "Fronkensteen" instead of the more familiar pronunciation and Inga still enjoys a nice roll in the hay. But now your favorite bits come with music and dance: Frau Blücher (a horse neighs in the distance) now sings of her great love for her deceased paramour in "He Vas My Boyfriend" and Igor welcomes Frederick with the jaunty "Together Again (for the First Time). Keep your eyes on the Frau; star of stage and screen Vicki Lewis plays her in the Muny's inaugural run of the show, which opens this week. Young Frankenstein is performed at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday through Tuesday (July 13 to 19) at the Muny in Forest Park (314-361-1900 or www.muny.org). Tickets are $14 to $90.
2. Catch a smart play in Webster Groves
Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald's musical John & Jen is the story of a young woman who vows to protect her little brother from their abusive father during childhood, but finds that keeping her promise means never engaging with her own best future. Her choice ultimately costs Jen her brother John, but she gets a second chance with her own son, also named John. But too often history repeats itself, and it's difficult if not impossible to escape the curse of turning into your own parents. This is an unusual musical that explores the stages of womanhood and the familiar but always strange terrain of brother-sister relationships, as well as the mother-son dynamic. Insight Theatre Company presents John & Jen at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday (July 15 to 31) at the Heagney Theatre (530 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves; www.insighttheatrecompany.com). Tickets are $10 to $35.
3. Remember what Stallone used to look like on Art Hill
The theme of this year's Art Hill Film Series is the American spirit," which is elucidated by four classic films. This week's selection is the original Rocky, which explores the American dream through the life of Sylvester Stallone's poor but proud Philadelphia boxer. It's a story about an underdog who learns you can't sacrifice love in your quest to be the best, because if you're knocked off the mountain before you get to the top it's good to have someone to catch you before you hit the bottom. Rocky is screened outdoors on Forest Park's Art Hill, directly in front of the Saint Louis Art Museum (www.slam.org). A host of food trucks will be parked nearby, ready to serve you everything from sliders to donuts to sausages from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday. There is also an art project for adults and a DJ spinning. The film starts at 9 p.m. and admission is free, but bring money or your bank card of choice to buy treats.
4. See naked people cycling ... or join them!
The World Naked Bike Ride is more than just the perfect opportunity to bicycle al fresco with a large group of like-minded people. It's the most cheerful protest against oil-dependency you'll ever see, and it's also a celebration of the human body in all its myriad shapes, colors and styles. You'll witness mastectomy scars, body hair, tattoos both beautiful and not-so-great, cellulite and stretch marks; but what you'll remember are the smiles and how everyone looks great in their birthday suit. The World Naked Bike Ride sets up along Manchester Avenue between Sarah Street and Kentucky Avenue in the Grove. The pre-party starts at 5 p.m. Saturday, and riders take off at 7 p.m. Admission is free, and for more information, visit www.wnbrstl.org.
Turn the page for more fun events in St. Louis this week.
