Moonstone Theatre Company | Living St. Louis

Moonstone Theatre Company | Living St. Louis

Since the Moonstone Theatre Company launched in 2019, it has enjoying glowing reviews for its work. The company focuses on 20th century classics and new plays.

Moonstone Theatre Company proudly presents The Nerd by Larry Shue

Moonstone Theatre Company proudly presents The Nerd by Larry Shue

ST. LOUIS, May 8, 2023 – Moonstone Theatre Company proudly presents The Nerd by Larry Shue, directed by Gary Wayne Barker July 6-23 at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. Due to scheduling issues, The Nerd replaces the originally slated The Sound Inside by Adam Rapp.

All tickets purchased for The Sound Inside will remain valid for The Nerd now playing in that production slot, July 6-23, including subscriber and individual tickets. Ticket holders will be contacted via email about this programming update. For more information, visit moonstonetheatrecompany.com or call MetroTix at 314-534-1111.

In The Nerd, aspiring young architect Willum Cubbert, has often told his friends about the debt he owes to Rick Steadman, a fellow ex-GI whom he has never met but who saved his life after he was seriously wounded in Vietnam. He has written to Rick telling him that, as long as he is alive, “you will have somebody on Earth who will do anything for you.” Willum is delighted when Rick shows up unexpectedly at his apartment on the night of his birthday party, but his delight soon fades as it becomes apparent that Rick is a hopeless nerd —a bumbling oaf with no social sense, little intelligence and less tact. As Rick stays on and on, his continued presence among Willum and his friends leads to one uproarious incident after another, until the normally placid Willum finds himself contemplating extreme measures—a dire development which, happily, is staved off by a surprising twist ending.

“It is just the kind of comedy we all need right now. Laughs, chuckles and gargantuan grins — that’s the stuff Larry Shue’s The Nerd is made of,” says Sharon Hunter, Moonstone Theatre Company’s producing artistic director. “This production will be the perfect complement to your summer plans and why I chose this hilarious play to close our second season.”

The Nerd runs at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, located at 210 E. Monroe Ave. in Downtown Kirkwood July 6-23. Show times are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. General admission tickets are $40 for adults; $35 for seniors; and $15 for students. They are on sale now and available at moonstonetheatrecompany.com or by calling 314-534-1111.

Moonstone Theatre Company Presents St. Louis Premiere of GRAND HORIZONS

Moonstone Theatre Company Presents St. Louis Premiere of GRAND HORIZONS

ST. LOUIS / January 25, 2023 – Moonstone Theatre Company presents the St. Louis premiere of Grand Horizons by Bess Wohl at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center March 16 – April 2. Show times for the 12-performance run are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

The sophisticated, delightful – and sometimes provocatively – honest play takes an intimate look at the unpredictable and enduring nature of love. 

Happily married for 50 years, Bill and Nancy practically breathe in unison; they anticipate each other’s sighs, sneezes and ends of sentences. But just as they settle into their new retirement home in Florida, Nancy wants out. As their two adult sons struggle to cope with the news, they’re forced to question everything they assumed about the people they thought they knew best.

Grand Horizons features well-known St. Louis actor Joneal Joplin (Bill) and his son Jared Joplin (Ben). Rounding out the cast are Sarah Burke (Nancy), Bridgette Bassa (Jess), Cassidy Flynn (Brian), Carmen Garcia (Carla) and William Humphrey (Tommy.)

“Bess Wohl’s Tony-nominated play puts a Neil Simonesque spin on the story of a couple considering divorce after 50 years’ together,” said Sharon Hunter,” founder and producing artistic director of Moonstone Theatre Company.  “I am excited to present this poignant and witty production to St. Louis theatre audiences for the first time, with such a talented cast of hometown favorites.” 

Hunter is directing Grand Horizons, and the production team includes Dunsi Dai (Set designer), Michael Sullivan (Lighting Designer), Patrick Siler (Stage manager),  Amanda Werre (Sound Designer) and Renee Garcia (Costume Designer).

Grand Horizons plays at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, located at 210 E. Monroe Ave, Kirkwood 63122.  General admission tickets are $40 for adults; $35 for seniors; and $15 for students. They are on sale now and available at moonstonetheatrecompany.com or by calling 314-534-1111.

Moonstone Theatre Company Reschedules its performances of THE SOUND INSIDE

Moonstone Theatre Company Reschedules its performances of THE SOUND INSIDE

ST. LOUIS / December 22, 2022 – Moonstone Theatre Company has postponed its upcoming performances of The Sound Inside.

Originally scheduled for January 26 – February 12, The Sound Inside will now run July 6 – 23, 2023, at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. Showtimes for the 12-performance run are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Friday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

All original tickets remain valid for the newly scheduled dates. Ticket holders will be contacted via email about the postponement.

The new performance dates of The Sound Inside will be on sale in early January. For more information, contact Moonstone Theatre Company, or call MetroTix at 314-534-1111.

GO! Magazine: Most Promising New Theatre Company

GO! Magazine: Most Promising New Theatre Company

In any theater scene, there’s always room for fresh voices. And with the Moonstone Theatre Company, artistic director Sharon Hunter is well on the way to becoming an essential player. The company has already demonstrated impressive range with first-rate productions of Neil Simon’s “Jake’s Women” and David Auburn’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Proof.”

Best New(ish) Local Theater Company: Moonstone Theatre Company

Best New(ish) Local Theater Company: Moonstone Theatre Company

Sharon Hunter had a plan. The professional actor and director was going to launch her own theater company in 2020. That didn’t happen. Instead she started the St. Louis Theatre Community Task Force, bringing together artistic directors from across the area to discuss how to handle the pandemic and share ideas to keep theater alive. Eventually, Hunter did launch her Moonstone Theatre Company and has tackled some challenging shows, including David Auburn’s Proof, which is about struggles with mental illness. This season, she’s not backing down, with plans to stage Adam Rapp’s The Sound Inside, about two writers wrapped in a dark mystery by the fictions they create. —Rosalind Early

Moonstone Theatre Company Announces Three-Show Lineup, Lower Ticket Prices for 2022-2023 Season

Moonstone Theatre Company Announces Three-Show Lineup, Lower Ticket Prices for 2022-2023 Season

Theatre Company Strives to Ensure its Art is Accessible,
Especially in this Time of Inflation

LOUIS / September 7, 2022 – Moonstone Theatre Company is proud to announce its full lineup for the 2022-23 season at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center (KPAC, 210 E. Monroe Ave, Kirkwood). The season will kick off with Barefoot in the Park, October 27 – November 13, and continue with The Sound Inside, January 26 – February 12, and Grand Horizons, March 16 – April 2. Each production has a 12-performance run.
“The second season of Moonstone Theatre Company will feature both new plays as well as one classics of the American Theatre,” said Sharon Hunter, founder and producing artistic director of Moonstone Theatre Company.  “We will explore themes of humans attempting to continue to understand each other. Sometimes in moments of great humor and sometimes in moments of great pathos. One thing is certain – this season is about the human spirit and empathy.”

Moonstone also announces lower ticket prices for its upcoming, three-show season. The theatre’s adult general admission ticket prices are now $40, which is down 20% from last season.

“Our goal is to make the art we put on our stage as accessible as possible,” added Hunter. “Accessible theatre is a passion of mine and especially important at this time of rising inflation. This 20 percent reduction can make the difference in seeing live theatre or not being able to afford it.”

The season kicks off with Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon. Hunter is directing this romantic comedy that tells the story of Paul and Corie Bratter, who are newlyweds in every sense of the word. He’s a straight-as-an-arrow lawyer, and she’s a free spirit always looking for the latest kick. Their new apartment is her most recent find – too expensive with bad plumbing and in need of a paint job. After a six-day honeymoon, they get a surprise visit from Corie’s loopy mother and decide to play matchmaker during a dinner with their neighbor-in-the-attic, Velasco, where everything that can go wrong does. Paul just doesn’t understand Corie, as she sees it. He’s too staid, too boring.  She just wants him to be a little more spontaneous – and running “barefoot in the park” would be a start.

The Sound Inside by Adam Rapp opened on Broadway in 2019 to rave reviews. This new play is a gripping drama centers around a brilliant Ivy League professor Bella Baird, a mysterious student Christopher Dunn and a troubling favor.  Bella begins to mentor the brilliant but enigmatic Christopher, and the two form an unexpectedly intense bond. As their lives and the stories they tell about themselves become intertwined in unpredictable ways, Bella makes a surprising request of Christopher that neither knows if he can fulfill. Brimming with suspense, Rapp’s riveting play explores the limits of what one person can ask of another.

Moonstone will close its season with another new Broadway hit Grand Horizons by Bess Wohl. The comedy is Sophisticated, funny, delightfully – and sometimes provocatively – honest, as it takes an intimate look at the unpredictable and enduring nature of love. Happily married for 50 years, Bill and Nancy practically breathe in unison; they anticipate each other’s sighs, sneezes and ends of sentences. But just as they settle into their new retirement home in Florida, Nancy wants out. As their two adult sons struggle to cope with the news, they’re forced to question everything they assumed about the people they thought they knew best.

Renewal for the current Moonstone Theatre Company subscribers will begin on Wednesday, September 7, by calling 314-412-3850.

Single tickets and new subscriptions will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 12. Visit moonstonetheatrecompany.com for both single tickets and new subscription packages.

Show times are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

The only exception is the last weekend of Barefoot in the Park, when there is no show on Friday, November 11, two shows on Saturday, November 12, at 3 and 7:30 p.m. The closing performance on Barefoot in the Park is on Sunday, November 13, at 2 p.m.

Moonstone Theatre Company Recognized at St. Louis Theatre Circle Awards

Moonstone Theatre Company Recognized at St. Louis Theatre Circle Awards

Thank you St. Louis Theatre Circle for 4 nominations of our inaugural production “Jakes Women”, and congratulations to the nominees!

  • Outstanding Leading Performer in a Comedy (Male or Non-Binary Role) – Jeff Cummings
  • Outstanding Director of a Comedy – Edward M. Coffield
  • Outstanding Production of a Comedy – “Jake’s Women” Moonstone Theatre Company
  • Moonstone Theatre Company is extremely honored and grateful to be recognized by St. Louis Theatre Circle.

Moonstone Theatre Company Announces the Cast of Proof

Announcing the Cast of Proof at Moonstone Theatre Company

Directed by Sharon Hunter

Michael James Reed as Robert*

Michael James Reed (Robert) is so honored to appear in the debut season of Moonstone and so grateful to see another Equity company bravely and safely producing theatre in this post/current pandemic world. Michael’s most recent appearance was with the Rep playing Marley and & Mrs. Dllber in A Christmas Carol (directed by Hana Sharif) after making his last appearance there right before the pandemic in Pride & Prejudice (also directed by Hana Sharif). He has appeared in 18 other Rep shows including Oslo, Dolls House Pt 2, All the Way, A Steady Rain and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (St. Louis Theatre Circle Award). Other local credits include frequent appearances with the MUNY (last summer’s Sound of Music and Chicago) and St. Louis Shakespeare Festival (most recently Love’s Labour’s Lost and Romeo & Juliet), as well as performances with St. Louis Actors Studio, New Jewish Theatre, and Upstream. New York theatre credits include La Bête (Broadway), King Lear (Roundabout), Amphitryon (Classic Stage Co), and A Forest in Arden (New York Theatre Workshop). Regionally, Michael’s favorites include the Old Globe (including Pericles in Pericles, Marc Anthony in Julius Caesar), Alley Theatre (Joe Pitt in Angels in America), American Conservatory Theatre (Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), as well as productions at Papermill Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, South Coast Rep, Asolo Theatre Festival, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Syracuse Stage, Great Lakes Theatre Festival, and Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Favorite TV appearances include “Chicago PD,” “Numbers,” “24,” “Six Feet Under,” “The Shield,” “King of Queens,” and “That 70’s Show.” He is a graduate of London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama. www.michaeljamesreed.com

Summer Baer as Catherine

Summer Baer (Catherine) is very excited to join the cast of Proof with Moonstone Theater Company! Summer studied Theatre Performance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where she was proud to direct Almost, Maine, act in a number of shows, as well as start the annual One and Done Play Festival. Since leaving SIUE, Summer has started her career as a St. Louis based actor and teaching artist, and was most recently seen in Prison Performing Arts’ production of Elsinore as Ophelia. Some of her favorite roles have been Peter Quince in A Midsummer’s Night Stroll, Celia in As You Like It, Nora in New Jewish Theatre’s Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Charlotte Goodall in Tennessee Williams Festival STL’s Night of the Iguana. Since moving to St. Louis, Summer has also been able to direct with S.A.T.E. in their Aphra Behn Play Festival, and stage manage a few productions as well. You may have also seen her in shows such as; Jailbird (Lucy Robbins), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Hermia), Poor Monsters’ production of Or What You Will the Third (ensemble), and Gruesome Playground Injuries (Kayleen). To keep up with Summer, you can visit her website: www.summerbaer.com

Julie Amuedo as Claire

Julie Amuedo (Claire) is thrilled to be a part of Moonstone Theater Company’s second show of the season! With a degree in Theater from Truman State University, Julie and has been a part of several local projects including “Two of Every Animal” with SATE, “The Food Monologues” with OverDue Theater, “Khakis” and “Playdate” by Scott Wisdom in the St. Louis Film Festival and the St. Louis Public Radio Theater Showcase with both Midnight Theater and R-S Theatrics. Most recently, you might have seen her perform in “Breadcrumbs” with R-S Theatrics as Beth/Mother. Being a Kirkwood resident, Julie is honored to have the chance to perform in the community she was raised in at the brand-new Kirkwood Performing Arts Center.

* Denotes Member Actors’ Equity Association

Announcing the cast of Proof at Moonstone Theatre Company

* Denotes Member Actors’ Equity Association

Michael James Reed as Robert*

Summer Baer as Catherine

Julie Amuedo as Claire

Moonstone Theatre Company Announces the Cast of Jake’s Women!

Announcing the Cast of Jake's Women

Jeff Cummings as Jake*

Jeff Cummings, JAKE, is thrilled to be a part of this show.  Locally, he has appeared (and disappeared) as the Ghost in HAMLET and as Thor & American Diplomat in OSLO for the Rep, Boyet in LOVE’S LABOR’S LOST for Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, and Dr. Astor in LIFE SUCKS for New Jewish Theatre.  Regionally, Jeff has worked at theaters across the country including Goodman Theatre, Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Seattle’s A Contemporary Theatre, South Jersey Regional Theatre, Utah Shakespeare Festival and Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  He has narrated over 200 audiobooks including works by Mark Twain and Gore Vidal.  Jeff dedicates this performance to his mom who worked as a registered nurse for over 50 years and made a career in the arts possible.

Jennifer Theby-Quinn as Maggie*

Jennifer Theby-Quinn (Maggie) is delighted to be back at work and excited to be part of Moonstone Theatre’s inaugural cast. Some of Jen’s favorite roles include: Kate Monster in Avenue Q with Emery Entertainment, Jerusha Abbott in Daddy Long Legs at Insight Theatre, Chris in Dancing at Lughnasa with Mustard Seed Theatre, and Rebecca DeSpinoza in New Jerusalem at the New Jewish Theatre. Her portrayal of Abigail Williams in Metro Theatre’s Afflicted and Hope Cladwell in Stray Dog Theatre’s Urinetown earned her the St. Louis Theatre Circle Award. Catch her in Iphigenia in Splott this winter and Once this coming spring! Jen loves bourbon and her boys, and is a happy member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Sharon Hunter as Karen*

Sharon Hunter is the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of Moonstone Theatre Company. She is the host, writer and producer of the arts and entertainment podcast, Moonstone Connections, currently streaming on Spotify, SoundCloud, Stitcher and iTunes. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the St. Louis Theatre Task Force. Sharon has performed in plays and musicals regionally and in New York City and toured with the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’s Imaginary Theatre Company. Some of Sharon’s favorite shows she has performed in are The Picture of Dorian Gray, Bad Seed, The House of Bernarda Alba, Working and Falsettos. As a singer, Sharon performed her one-woman cabaret show in NYC at the Metropolitan Room, Don’t Tell Mama and the Triad and in St. Louis at The Monocle. In addition, Sharon is an Adjunct Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at Maryville University. She is a proud member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA. Thank you for supporting live theatre!

Jennie Brick as Edith*

Jennie is over the MOON(stone) to make her St. Louis debut in this amazing company’s inaugural production. Though originally from Kirkwood (her family moved west when she was 3 months old), Jennie spent most of her life in California. Her theatre career focuses mainly in the Bay Area and favorite roles include Fräulein Schneider (Cabaret), Adlean (Barbeque), Silda (Other Desert Cities), and Mattie Fae (August: Osage County). Jennie originated the role of Mrs. Reynolds in the world premiere of The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley. Gratitude and love to Eddie and Sharon for taking a chance on this newbie! Love as always to B.

Amelie Lock as Molly

Amelie Lock is thrilled  to be part of Moonstone Theatre Company’s 2021 season!  She was last seen as Louisa von Trapp in The Sound of Music at the Muny and recently voiced the role of Ribberta in DreamWorks Madagascar- Season 3. Other favorite roles include Baby June in Gypsy and Footloose at the Muny, Pollyanna in Pollyanna, Gracie Shinn in The Music Man and A Christmas Story: The Musical.  Amelie studies dance at the Professional Dance Center (PDC), is a member of the MUNY Kids Troupe and performed as a member of the 2020 Missouri All-State Choir. Amelie studies voice  with Lisa-Campbell-Albert and acting with Michael James Reed.  Amelie would like to thank Ed Coffield and Sharon Hunter for this exciting opportunity!  DDO Artists Agency; Insta: @Amelie.Lock

Marisa Puller as Julie

Marisa Puller performed in “The Father” produced by Riverbend Theatre, “The Dining Room” produced by Hawthorne Players, “Who’s in Bed with the Butler” produced by Act Two Theatre, and “Puffs or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic” produced by O’fallon Theatre Works.  She took part in the re-telling of local Alton history by portraying Cordelia Jones during Vintage Voices Fall of 2020.  February and August 2021 she performed in her very first musical showcases with Psalm Theatrics. Marisa is absolutely thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to perform in Moonstone Theatre’s production of Jake’s Women.

Carly Uding as Molly

Carly is thrilled to be working with Moonstone! She has been locally seen as Marie in Translations – recipient of St. Louis Theatre Circle Best Supporting Actress Award (The Black Mirror Theatre), Marina Oswald in Mama’s Boy (Tesseract Theatre), Ariyana in Bosnian American: The Dance of Life (Mustard Seed Theatre), and Rachel in Trick and Anotonia (First Run Theatre). Based in St. Louis, she is also the Assistant Director of Programming for The Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries.

Mindy Shaw as Sheila

Mindy Shaw (Sheila) is thrilled to be working with Moonstone Theatre Co. Her Midwest credits include playing Clara, the Guardian Angel, and Zuzu in Metro Theater Company’s original version of It’s a Wonderful Life (St. Louis), Insane Sisters (Bluff City Theater, Hannibal, MO), seven roles in It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Bankside Repertory Theater Co., Alton, IL), and Sen. Morgan in the audio drama Title IX (Eclectic Full Contact Theatre, Chicago). DC area performances include the world premier of Marc Acito’s The Secrets of the Universe (and other songs) (The Hub Theatre), The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs (Spooky Action Theater), Oblivion (Unexpected Stage Company), Collaborators (Spooky Action Theater), Stories From the Fringe: Women Rabbis Revealed (touring), and Silent Sky (Silver Spring Stage). She was playing Silda in a Florida production of Other Desert Cities when the world shut down in 2020. Films include the award-winning feature I Like Me. Mindy trained at Trinity Rep. Conservatory and is also a voiceover actor. Thanks to Mom, for instilling in me the love of theatre and to Jack, for making my dreams come true! mindyshawactor.com

* Denotes Member Actors’ Equity Association

Moonstone Theatre Company Announces the Cast of Jake’s Women!

Jeff Cummings as Jake*

Jennifer Theby-Quinn as Maggie*

Sharon Hunter as Karen*

Jennie Brick as Edith*

Marisa Puller as Julie

Carly Uding as Molly

Amelie Lock as Molly

Mindy Shaw as Sheila

Moonstone Theatre Company Announces Date Changes for Jake’s Women

Moonstone Theatre Company Announces Date Changes for Jake’s Women

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Moonstone Theatre Company has had to adjust the performance dates of our first production, Jake’s Women by Neil Simon.

Our new performance dates for Jake’s Women are now the following:

  • November 4th, 6th-7th, 11th-14th, 17th-21st

Performance times for Jake’s Women are now the following:

  • Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm
  • Sunday at 2:00 pm

Performances for Jake’s Women will remain in the Studio Theatre of the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center.

We apologize for any inconvenience and hope you will join us for this wonderful comedy in November!

Sharon Hunter
Artistic Director
Moonstone Theatre Company

Moonstone Theatre Company Partners with MindsEye Radio for Audio Description Show Dates

Moonstone Theatre Company Partners with MindsEye Radio for Audio Description Show Dates

Moonstone Theatre Company is proud to announce our partnership with MindsEye Radio to offer audio descriptions to ensure attendees who are blind or visually impaired enjoy the show.

Audio description will be offered to our audiences on the following dates for our production of Jake’s Women:

Sunday, November 7 at 2:00 pm

Friday, November 19 at 7:30 pm

We are so excited to continue this partnership and ensure a quality theatrical experience for all of our patrons!

Artistic Director Sharon Hunter Sits Down with Arnold Stricker from Saint Louis In Tune

Sharon Hunter is the Producing Artistic Director of the Moonstone Theatre Company. Moonstone Theatre Company is a new professional performing arts organization in the St. Louis area. Productions will include a wide range of quality theatrical productions while at the same time supporting local arts and education.

The 2021-2022 season starts with Jake’s Women by Neil Simon (October 14-17, 21-24, and 28-31), followed by the 2001 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Proof by David Auburn (February 17-20, 24-27, and March 3-6), and the final show of the season is The House of Blue Leaves by John Guare (May 19-22, 26-29, and June 2-5).

All performances are in the Blackbox of the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center.

Moonstone Theatre Company Announces 2021-2022 Season

Moonstone Theatre Company Announces 2021-2022 Season

Moonstone Theatre Company has announced their inaugural season for 2021-2022 in their new home at the beautiful new Kirkwood Performing Arts Center (KPAC, 210 E. Monroe Ave, Kirkwood). This season will shine a light on mental health and the family through the lens of theatre with three insightful shows all performed in the KPAC Blackbox.

“I’m very excited to launch Moonstone Theatre after our season was delayed due to the pandemic which affected theatres globally, explains Sharon Hunter, Moonstone’s Producing Artistic Director. “I chose this season prior to the Covid crisis because I wanted to place a spotlight focusing on mental health and how it affects individuals and their families. It is a universal topic that deserves to be reflected on, in the theatre and spark dialog.”

Their first show of the season…

The Centene Center for the Arts Welcomes Sharon Hunter

The Centene Center for the Arts Welcomes Sharon Hunter

This fall, the Centene Center for the Arts welcomed Sharon Hunter, a St. Louis native and life-long performing artist.

Hunter has worn many hats over the course of her career, but some St. Louisans may recognize her from her time as a radio personality with local stations KEZK, where she was the original host of Pillow Talk, and Y98FM.

She continued to work in radio for some time, but she found herself pulled toward different forms of live performance. Her acting portfolio includes credits like “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, “Falsettos” and the popular CBS political drama “The Good Wife”. She has also found herself playing the roles of director, producer, costume and set designer for various stage productions. Her years of experience in the arts are what inspired her to create her own professional performing arts organization: Moonstone Theatre Company. She will serve as the company’s artistic director and producer.

While her work has taken her across the country…

Moonstone Theatre Company announces first show!

Moonstone Theatre Company announces first show!

St. Louis’ vibrant theater community just got a little brighter with the addition of new performing arts organization Moonstone Theatre Company.

Moonstone was founded by St. Louis native Sharon Hunter, who serves as the company’s artistic director and producer. Hunter has made a name for herself nationally as a professional actor, singer, director and producer. Most recently Hunter was performing and producing in New York City, but decided to move back home to start Moonstone.  St. Louisans may recognize her as the original host and producer of KEZK’s “Pillow Talk” or her time hosting at Y98.

“Moonstone Theatre Company was founded in response to my vision for creating a cultural theatrical environment in St. Louis to inspire actors and artists to do their best work,” Hunter says. “St. Louis is a great theatre city and I think it’s wonderful to be a part of that cultural conversation. It is essential for the arts to contribute to this conversation particularly during challenging times.”

Hunter says the name Moonstone combines two things close to her heart.

“I have always loved the moon. I gain energy, clarity and inspiration from the moonlight. I knew I wanted the word moon somewhere in the company title,” she says. “I was also committed to finding a way to incorporate my former NYC acting coach, the late Peter Flint, and his name in there as well.  He was like a true father figure to me, and I thought that since “flint” is a stone then I could put that together and create Moonstone.”

Hunter says Moonstone will focus on producing works that challenge and enlighten audiences on important and socially relevant topics including equality, diversity, mental illness, addiction and sexual harassment and assault.

“Theatre truly is a reflection of life,” says Hunter. “I’m happy to be back in my hometown where I began and collaborate with so many talented artists and actors. There is something very special about returning to St. Louis and having the opportunity to bring new ideas and experiences to an art form I dearly love.”

“How exciting for St. Louis that another wonderful Theatre Artist with great entrepreneurial chutzpah is broadening our vibrant theatre community,” enthused Edward Coffield, the artistic director and producer at New Jewish Theatre.  “There is such great legacy here in St. Louis when savvy theatre practitioners are willing to plant roots and continue the tradition of great theatre in St. Louis.”

Moonstone’s debut production, “The House of Blue Leaves” by John Guare, will open at the Wool Studio Theatre at the Jewish Community Center (2 Millstone Campus Drive, Creve Coeur, 63146) on Thursday, July 16, 2020, directed by Annamaria Pileggi. Auditions for the show will be held Saturday, October 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the JCC, and callbacks will be held at the theater on Monday, October 28. Those wanting more information about the audition process can register online here or email [email protected].

Moonstone Theatre Company’s Mission Statement

Moonstone Theatre Company is a new professional performing arts organization which will offer the community a wide range of quality theatrical productions while supporting local arts and education. Moonstone Theatre looks to inspire, entertain and challenge audiences with productions that range from the classics to new works. Moonstone Theatre Company celebrates the power of the theatre to illuminate our diversity and enlighten our shared humanity.

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