June! It’s officially summer in St. Louis, and what an ARTful summer this promises to be!
By Michelle “Mike” Okonicky, Healthy Planet Arts Editor
Photo caption: Pottery by Jennifer Falter, Webster Arts Fair.
The Whitaker Music Series at the Missouri Botanical Garden, which began on May 29, celebrates summer evenings in Missouri Botanical Garden every Wednesday through July 31. Each week offers different performers and genres of music! Gates open at 5 p.m. with free admission; music starts at 7 p.m. Pack a picnic or purchase food and drink on the grounds. www.mobot.org
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra brings Cody Fry from Nashville to Stifel Theatre on June 7, 7:30 p.m., for a memorable performance. The 33-year old singer-songwriter performs favorites (“I Hear a Symphony,” “Eleanor Rigby,” etc.) with orchestral accompaniment. www.slso.org
In the mood to rock? Nab a free reserved ticket for Allegro Chorus’ We Will Rock You 3 p.m. concert on June 9. One hundred voices (all age 50 or older) fill 1st Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood with music made famous by Madonna, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Elton John, Tina Turner, and more! www.allegrochoral.org
Or does jazz suit your mood this June? Check out Jazz St. Louis, 3536 Washington, for Donuts & Jazz, at 11 a.m. on the second Saturday of every month. Evening concerts include Keyon Harrold on June 19-23 and there’s a jam session scheduled for June 25 in Nancy’s Jazz Lounge. Cool. www.jazzstl.org
The Ambassadors of Harmony, a five-time gold-medal men’s ensemble, take the stage at The Touhill for two performances (2 & 8 p.m) on June 15. They are joined by Visions of Harmony, a dynamic women’s chorus, plus The Recruits, an all-voices youth chorus. It’s gonna be good!! https://umsl.edu/touhill/
St. Louis Shakespeare Festival returns to the Glen in Forest Park with its free performances, nightly Tuesday-Sunday, through June 23. Shakespeare’s comedy, As You Like It, is guaranteed to delight! Performances begin at 8 p.m. Arrive early to savor a picnic (purchased there, or bring your own). www.stlshakes.org
Even more performances fill Forest Park when The Muny season begins on June 17 with Les Miserables. Return to 19th century France for an unforgettable (and maybe a bit tearful) evening as Victor Hugo’s characters come to life under the stars. Motown magic follows it on June 27 with Dreamgirls. www.muny.org
Karlovsky & Company entertains the lunchtime crowd with their free Dine on Dance outdoor shows, June 14 in Strauss Park (Grand Center) and June 21 downtown at the Old Post Office. Bring your lunch; performances begin at 1 p.m. www.karlovskydance.org
Crossroads Arts Council, 310 W. Pearce Blvd. in Wentzville, presents an intriguing multi-media exhibition this month with Color of Water is on view June 6-30. The awards reception is open to the public on June 2, 2-4 p.m. www.crossroadsartscouncil.org
Wonderful Webster Arts hosts the 20th Annual Webster Arts Fair, June 7-9, on the parklike grounds of Eden Theological Seminary, on Lockwood Avenue. View (and purchase!) works by 100 artists from across the country, enjoy live music, food and more. On June 9, encourage the next generation of artists at the Young Makers Market (artists aged 6-18 years old). www.websterartsfair.com
Bruno David Gallery, 7513 Forsyth, presents the following exhibits through June 29: Shawn Burkard: Under the Sun, Damon Freed: The Inner Chapters, Judith Shaw: Lifelines, Jean Mason: Resting, at Peace; Van McElwee: Incarnation. Worth checking out! www.brunodavidgallery.com
Third Degree Glass Factory, 5200 Delmar, showcases the glassworks of Mark Salsbury and Mike Wyatt in its gallery, along with its Third Friday event on June 21. From 6-10 p.m. enjoy live music, food, art activities and demonstrations, and just plain ARTsy fun! www.thirddegreeglassfactory.com
Through July 20, The Luminary, 2701 Cherokee, presents its summer exhibition, entitled Considering St. Louis. New and existing works by St. Louis-based artists explore how they/we/you view this beloved city as the culmination of a year’s worth of discussion, exploration, and research. www.theluminaryarts.com
June closes out by ramping up with The Barber of Seville as Opera Theatre of St. Louis kicks off its 2024 Festival, opening on May 25 and running through June 29. Take a romp through a world of high notes, hijinks, and hair-raising escapades with Rossini’s comedic masterpiece. A comedy of mistaken identities, cunning disguises, and laugh-out-loud antics. Come for the romance, stay for the slapstick, at the Loretto Hilton Center. www.opera-stl.org
Happy Father’s Day to all those great dads! You know we love ‘ya!