Top 15 things to do in St. Louis this week: Nelly, 'Les Miz,' and Roy Wood Jr. (2024)

FRIDAY

Mississippi River Festival

The Mississippi River Festival is back! The first festival was held in June 1969, but the festival shut down in 1981. Back in the day Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville played host to the festival and attracted legends like Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead and the Eagles. The revived version is a little bit smaller, but still has a lot of heart and will include roots rock band Larkin Poe. By Rosalind Early

‘Meet Me in St. Louis’

“It’s clear to see there’s no hope for me/Though I live at Fifty-One Thirty-Five Kensington Avenue/And he lives at Fifty-One Thirty-Three.” Ignite Theatre Company, which is for performers from 8-21, will present St. Louis’ favorite musical close to the site of the actual 1904 World’s Fair. “Right here where we live. Right here in St. Louis.” By Daniel Neman

Roy Wood Jr. ‘Happy to Be Here Live Tour’

Emmy nominee Roy Wood Jr. has entertained millions across the country as the senior Black correspondent on “The Daily Show.” Despite killing it at the White House Correspondents Dinner last year and having a successful run guest hosting “The Daily Show,” Wood left the show in 2023, when he realized he wouldn’t be promoted to host. For now, you can catch Wood on stage, but he’s sure to be back on a silver screen soon. By Nina Giraldo

Nate Bargatze 'The Be Funny Tour'

Bargatze shouldn’t have to use the title of his tour to remind himself to “be funny.” No less an authority than David Letterman recently said of him, “In the world of comedy, some perhaps are as good. No one is better.”By Daniel Durchholz

‘King Hedley II’

In the Black Rep’s “King Hedley II,” a formerly incarcerated person is selling stolen refrigerators, trying to save up enough money to buy a video store. The play is the ninth in August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle, which examines the Black experience in America decade by decade. This play is set in the 1980s but also continues stories from his play “Seven Guitars.” By Rosalind Early

‘Titanic on Ice: The Musical’

Magic Smoking Monkey Theater is spoofing the wildly popular film “Titanic,” that launched a million crushes when Leonardo DiCaprio (Jack) wooed Kate Winslet (Rose) on the ill-fated maiden voyage of the “unsinkable” ship. You’ll definitely laugh, you may cry and the ice skating will definitely be pantomimed. By Rosalind Early

‘Les Misérables’

“Les Miz” is one of the most famous musicals of all time. It was a first date for the Obamas. It’s a movie. SNL spoofed it in a song about eating lobster at a diner. So check out this cultural touchstone at the Muny about Jean Valjean, a former convict who breaks his parole and is pursued by the relentless police inspector Javert. By Rosalind Early

SATURDAY

St. Louis SERA Black Rodeo

Watch Black cowboys and cowgirls ride horses and bucking broncos and do other rodeo skills. Yee-haw! By Rosalind Early

Frankie Beverly & Maze ‘I Wanna Thank You Farewell Tour’

The theme of this concert is, well, in the name. R&B legend Frankie Beverly is retiring as lead singer of Maze — after he finishes this tour, of course. The soul band is joined by the O’Jays and the Whispers in its final good-bye. By Nina Giraldo

New Kids on the Block

“The Magic Summer Tour” was major for the New Kids on the Block in the early ‘90s. Now, 34 years later, the boy band is on another one. The group released its eighth album, “Still Kids,” in May, and will be joined by Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff. By Nina Giraldo

MONDAY

Chukwuebuka Ibeh

Chukwuebuka Ibeh will discuss his debut novel “Blessings” at this launch event. The writer, who is in Washington University’s MFA program, set the book in his home country of Nigeria. In it, a gay boy is sent to boarding school, where he faces abuse but also possible relationships. Publishers Weekly says, “Ibeh incisively portrays the family members’ conflicting emotions and strife, and offers a bracing depiction of queer life in Nigeria.” Ibeh will be in conversation with author Danielle Dutton. By Jane Henderson

THURSDAY

Queer Writes

Local LGBTQ+ writers will read from their works on the Missouri History Museum stage. Before the main event (at 6:30 p.m.), food and drinks will be available for purchase and at 5:30 and 6 p.m., the museum will give mini-tours of its excellent Gateway to Pride exhibit. By Daniel Neman

Gabrielle Zevin

Gabrielle Zevin’s “Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” is now out in paperback — for anyone who hasn’t already read the bestseller (it was Amazon’s No. 1 book of the year in 2022). In it, friends found a videogame company, bringing fame, success and troubles, a story many readers said was appealing even to non-gamers. Zevin may divulge any movie news for her novel. By Jane Henderson

Lyle Lovett and His Large Band

Texas-based singer, songwriter and actor Lyle Lovett will showcase the combination of country, jazz, blues, and more that helped catapult his fame in the ‘80s. By Nina Giraldo