JOPLIN, Mo. —
Lovers seeking the arts for a romantic Valentine’s Day date have two solid choices for entertainment. Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre and Missouri Southern State University will offer romantic productions on Tuesday night.
‘Candlelight’
One of the things that director Raven Micale enjoys about working with the cast of “Candlelight” is that it includes two married couples. Tom and Leslie Brown play an older couple that was set up as a blind date, and Pete and Maryann Schlau play mysterious restaurant owners.
A series of vignettes that play out in a restaurant, “Candlelight” tells the story of love in many forms, Micale said.
“Love comes in all different ways,” she said of the play’s theme. “It is as varied as the personalities of people.”
Other stories that play out include the double date between an oil billionaire and his loud wife, and a couple where the husband is seeking a promotion; a nervous woman gets stood up while waiting for her date, yet meets a charming singing waiter; and two widows who celebrate and remember their loving husbands.
The play will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the theater. Doors open at 6 p.m. and dinner is served at 6:30. Tickets are $25 and include a premium dinner menu and candy favors.
Details: 417-358-9665.
Sweet sounds, sweethearts
An evening of romantic music is on tap at MSSU, featuring a vocal duet of two timeless pieces. Most will listen, said director Kexi Liu, but if couples feel the urge to dance during the finale, Strauss’ “Blue Danube,” they are welcome.
“That piece of music is so famous,” Kexi said. “If you want to dance, get on the stage. There will be plenty of room for people to dance.”
Susan Smith, director of vocal studies at MSSU, and Lawrence Stotsbery, a voice teacher at MSSU, will perform alongside the Southern Symphony Orchestra. The two will sing romantic selections from Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” and Sullivan’s “The Mikado.”
Other pieces on the program include Elgar’s “Salut d’Amour,” Kreisler’s “Liebesleid” and “Liebesfreud,” the theme from the “Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto” by He Zhanhao and Chen Gang (arranged by Kexi) and Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro.”
The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Taylor Performing Arts Center.
Details: 417-625-9681.
