Rise Up

A word of caution about the Black Rep's production of Mbongeni Ngema's Sarafina!: It will wear you out if you're not prepared mentally and physically. A raucous and joyous musical about the South African school riots of the '70s, Sarafina! has scenes of great terror and brutality, but the unflagging energy of the young cast members and their shared ebullience during the musical numbers made June's season-ending run of this show a treasured theatrical experience. Expect to be amazed and exhausted when Sarafina! returns at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 3, at the Edison Theatre on the Washington University campus (Forsyth and Skinker boulevards; 314-534-1111 or www.theblackrep.org) then continues Thursday through Sunday through September 14. The show then resumes at the Orthwein Theatre for three additional performances (September 19 through 21). Tickets are $25.
Thursdays-Sundays. Starts: Sept. 4. Continues through Sept. 14, 2008