Coming Summer 2024: Sister Act The Musical

St. John Theatre is delighted to announce Sister Act, as its summer musical 2024.  The memorable and humorous musical comedy has captivated screens and hearts of audiences across the globe. Join us as we continue our 40 + year tradition of bringing live theatrical entertainment to the river parishes. Now you have the opportunity to be a part of the unforgettable cast of Sister Act and bring the production to life!

Sister Act is a feel-good musical comedy based on the 1992 film, set in the fabulous late-1970s Philadelphia. When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she’s placed in protective custody where she won’t be found: a convent. Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with the rigid lifestyle of Mother Superior. Using her unique talents, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community, ultimately blowing her cover. Will Deloris and her newly found sisterhood be a match when the murderer shows up?

Sister Act will be performed July 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20 at 7:30pm and July 14th at 2:30pm.

Sister Act will be directed by Lucas Harms. 

Audition information coming soon! .

If you have any questions please email stjohntheatredirector@gmail.com or call/text our managing director Amy Wombles at (504) 676-4700.

Lighting the way for Papa Noel

Our area is so rich with tradition. This year they may be burning the Bon Fires a day early but we are sure that PaPa Noel will still find his way to the river parishes.

For a few years now Tyler Wombles and friends have built a bonfire on the levee in front of St. John Theatre. This year the bonfire is in the shape of an 18-wheeler. All volunteers and cast members are invited to join in the festivities. All members of the SJT family wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Introducing the cast of STEEL MAGNOLIAS

Since 1981 St. John Theatre has produced and staged over 70 high-quality dramas, comedies and musicals for the St. John the Baptist Parish and surrounding areas. We proudly continue our efforts of entertaining our community by presenting Steel Magnolias as our Spring 2024 production. Centered around a group of gossipy southern ladies in a small-town beauty parlor, the play is alternately hilarious and touching—and, in the end, deeply revealing of the strength and purposefulness which underlies the antic banter of its characters.

Auditions were held at the theatre on W. 4th street December 11 & 12th, and we are pleased to announce the cast. 

Shelby - Lauren Michel
M’lynn - Cindy Grosse
Truvy - Laura Smith
Annelle - Sara Brooks
Clariee - Connie Powell
Ouiser - Janell Napier

The production Steel Magnolias is a stage play by American writer Robert Harling, and is based on his experience with his sister's death. 

The plot of the play covers a 3-year span in the lives of the six women as the action is set in Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, where all the ladies who are “anybody” come to have their hair done. Helped by her eager new assistant, Annelle, the outspoken, wise-cracking Truvy dispenses shampoos and free advice to the town’s rich curmudgeon, Ouiser, an eccentric millionaire, Miss Clairee, who has a raging sweet tooth; and the local social leader, M’Lynn, whose daughter, Shelby, is about to marry a “good ole boy.” 

This production is being directed by Danielle Ordoyne.
Show dates will be February 23, 24 at 7:30pm  & 25th at 2:30pm.

On Air Now!

The weekend of December 8, 9 , & 10th St. John Theatre brought to stage a very different adaptation of a classic Christmas tale. It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.

Directed by Mike Brooks, set in the 1940’s this play told the story of George Bailey during a live radio broadcast. With actors voicing different characters and making their own sound effects for a live studio audience.

Marine Forces Reserve Band comes to St. John Theatre

On Tuesday November 7th we were honored to host a special community event. The Marine Forces Reserve Concert Band brought a special patriotic concert to St. John Theatre. This event was free to the public and all members of the community were invited to attend. We were thrilled that residents of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans home were also able to attend.

We want to thank Mr. Spuddy Faucheaux for cooking his famous jambalaya for our performers pre concert meal and Oak Alley Plantations Restaurant for providing dessert for them.

St. John Theatre Ghost Hunting Workshop

On the night of October 28th 2023 St. John Theatre hosted its first ever Ghost Hunting Workshop. Led by Mr. Shane Brooks and Mrs. Amy Wombles, attendees were able to experience something out of the normal for our patrons.
With a history that spans back to 1931 out Historic Theatre is bound to have some spirits walking the isles and stage. Through the years we have had countless people tell staff that they have seen or heard unexplained things while in the building.
Mr. Brooks and Mrs. Wombles gave attendees a history of our building and had special guests tell them stories of experiences they had while working on productions. They also showed them how to use ghost hunting equipment and led them through parts of the building where they collected evidence of spirits.

St. John Theatre Readies Itself For A Busy Fall Season

Members of the board along with volunteers spent some time recently, getting the Historic Theatre ready for a busy Fall Season.

October 28th - SJT Kids Club Welcome event and Halloween Party

October 28th - St. John Theatre Ghost Hunting Workshop

November 7th - US Marine Reserve Forces Concert Band Community Concert

December 8, 9, 10 - It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

December 9 - Holiday Craft Fair

December 11 & 12 - Steel Magnolias Auditions

Thank you to everyone who came out to help and we hope to see everyone at all of our upcoming events!

Al "Lil" Fat's Jackson Returns to the SJT Stage

Back by Popular Demand - Al “Lil Fats” Jackson

When Al “Lil Fats” Jackson takes the stage, audiences are convinced that the legendary Fats Domino has entered the room.   The south Louisiana native is a master of New Orleans rhythm and blues and best known for his tribute to the legendary Fats Domino. 
Instilled with a love of music from an early age Al grew up listening to the classic New Orleans R&B and decided as a very young child that Fats Domino was his favorite artist. Inspired by the music that his grandfather would bring home from the jukebox at his grandmother's club Al was driven to play several different instruments during his high school years and later became a professional musician. 
Winning over not just audiences but even Fats Domino himself with his talent and musical tribute to the Legendary Fats Domino. 
Al returned to St. John Theatre on October 7th at 7:30pm. 

Missoula Children's Theatre Brings Cinderella to St. John Theatre

For the last several months, professional actors  Savannah Greiveldinger and Jackie Wiles have driven across the country in a little red truck packed to the roof with everything needed to put on a show.

They’ve got costumes, lights, sets, scripts and a whole bunch of props. All they need are the actors.

Those they find in towns big and small, like Reserve.

Greiveldinger and Wiles  found a talented group of St. John the Baptist Parish actors this week, which will present two performances of “Cinderella” at 2:30 and 6 p.m. Saturday August 5th at the St. John Theatre, 115 W. 4th St. in Reserve. Admission was $5.

It’s all part of the Missoula Children’s Theatre troupe’s mission to introduce theater and the arts to youngsters in communities around the world through a series of weeklong workshops for kids. In a matter of five days the team holds auditions, casts the show, teaches the parts, builds the sets, produces a pair of shows and, hopefully, plants a seed.

The mission is to get them to enjoy the arts and build life skills. The show is not the end goal. It’s the process of how we got there. Did we work as a team? Did we listen and follow directions? Did we learn to read a little better? Did we build some self-confidence in our skills? That’s what’s important.

Reserve has been a regular stop on the tour, presenting such productions as “Rapunzel,” “The Snow Queen” and “Pinocchio.”

For more information on our children’s programing please contact Managing Director Amy Wombles at 504.676.4700

Mother Goose helps her friend Dubi at the SJBP Library!

Thespians from St. John Theatre were honored to again help out our friend Dubi at the St. John The Baptist Library with the summer program. Raynia Johnson, Karli Wombles and Amy Wombles traveled to all branches of the library system as Mother Goose and her friends helped Dubi bring stories to life for the summer program children.

The Cast of Footloose, Cuts Loose at the Library!

Cast members from this summers musical production of Footloose the Musical visited each branch of the St. john The Baptist Library system this week, teaching the children in the summer program the iconic Footloose dance. Its always a great time to visit the library and we can’t wait to have them come and see the production in July!

Summmmmerrr Children's Workshop

St. John Theatre presented a children’s drama workshop May 29 – June 10 at the theater, 115 W. Fourth Street., in Reserve. Children having completed third grade through eighth grade were invited to attend.

Frozen KIDS is a 30-minute adaptation of the 2018 Broadway musical, which was based on the 2013 Walt Disney Animation Studios film.Campers loved this fanciful and heartwarming stage adaptation of the celebrated animated film. Join Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven, and all of our favorite characters as they embarked on an epic, ice-filled journey of self-discovery, camaraderie, and the real meaning of true love. Adapted for young performers, this musical included favorite Frozen songs such as “Love Is an Open Door,” “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and “Let It Go.”

Veteran director Kristen Brooks directed the workshop and the production. Participants presented Disney’s Frozen Kids June 10 at 2:00 pm and  7 p.m.

Campers participated in crafts and games while taking part in the production and they  also received a special cast t-shirt and were treated to a cast pizza party on the last day of the camp.

Dubi's Let's Go Library Tours St. John Theatre...

St. John the Baptist Parish Library’s very own Dubi got the chance to tour St. John Theatre recently. Taye Drake was able to show Dubi around the theatre and teach him all about the fun and exciting things we do.

“Come along for another adventure on Dubi's Let's Go Library! Today Dubi's Travel Book is taking us to the Theatre. Learn all about Theatres and stage shows with Dubi & the St. John Theatre!”

Black History Month Programing

St. John Theatre recently hosted a Black History Program featuring New Orleans native Don Lewis. Lewis is pictured with some of the local 3rd and 4th grade students who visited the Theatre on Friday Feb. 10. Lewis performed skits and encouraged audience participation acting out different scenes.

Mr. Lewis. is a graduate of NOCCA and studied theater at the College of Santa Fe, NM and University of New Orleans. He currently teaches Gifted and Talented Theater in New Orleans Public Schools.

Going Going ALREADY GONE

Saturday February 4th was an amazing night for St. John Theatre. Playing to a SOLD OUT crowd, the Texas based band Already Gone rocked the house as band members Jay Bourgeois (Bass / vocals), Clint Springer (Lead Vocals / guitar), Johnny Ono (Guitar / keys / vocals), Harry Ochsenbein (lead guitar / talk box / vocals), Leroy St. Pierre (drummer / vocals) brought their own twist to the classic tunes of The Eagles. The concert was extra special for Leroy St. Pierre and Jay Bourgeois who are both from St. John Parish.

In conjunction with our 2023 concert series St. John Theatre is partnering with our bands to help support charity organizations in our community. Already Gone chose the organization Perry’s Posse. Already Gone, Perry’s Posse, and all of us at St. John Theatre would like to thank those who donated to the organization.

Already Gone now holds the record of being the first band to ever sell out a St. John Theatre concert!

Photos by: Danielle Bourgeois & Leroy St. Pierre

Auditions

St. John Theatre has provided St. John and the surrounding parishes with live theatre experiences since 1981. Our 42nd season will be no exception as we are thrilled to present FOOTLOOSE The Musical as our summer production. If you want to dance, dance dance this summer, join the SJT family for FOOTLOOSE.

There will be an informational meeting May 8th at 6:30 pm with auditions May 9, 10, 11, & 12 at 6:30 pm.  With callbacks May 13th at 6:30 pm.
Ages 15 & up invited to audition.
You MUST fill out the google form in order to audition.
These will be CLOSED auditions. (you must be auditioning in order to enter the building.)

St. John Theatre 115 West 4th Street, Reserve LA

For more information please email the director - stjohntheatredirector@gmail.com

539 Days

It has been 539 days since the closing of our last summer musical on July 31, 2021. Little did we know that just a few short weeks after the final curtain call for “Once Upon A Mattress” that the face of our region and community would be changed forever. These 539 days have been Stretched into a long stretch; we are so happy to be welcoming you back into our Historic Theatre very soon! As we put on the final touches on our come back campaign, we are so grateful for the help of all of our volunteers who came out to support and help us get the theatre ready for all of you. While many things have been changed and updated, rest assured that we have preserved the history and nostalgia of the oldest community theatre in the river parishes.
Here is a sneak peek at some of the newly-renovated theatre.
Thank you again to everyone who came out to volunteer!

Announcing our Summer 2023 Musical Production

FOOTLOOSE THE MUSICAL

St. John Theatre has provided St. John and the surrounding parishes with live theatre experiences since 1981. Our 42nd season will be no exception as we are thrilled to present FOOTLOOSE The Musical as our summer production. If you want to dance, dance dance this summer, join the SJT family for FOOTLOOSE.

When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, he is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. But he’s not prepared for the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing instituted by the local preacher, who is determined to exercise control over the town’s youth. When the reverend’s rebellious daughter sets her sights on Ren, her roughneck boyfriend tries to sabotage Ren’s reputation, with many of the locals eager to believe the worst about the new kid. The heartfelt story that emerges pins a father longing for the son he lost against a young man aching for the father who walked out on him.

To the rockin’ rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated Top 40 score, augmented with dynamic new songs, Footloose celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people while guiding them with a warm heart and open mind.

Footloose first burst onto the silver screen in 1984 and proved to be one of the year’s most successful motion pictures. The soundtrack recording reached #1 on the Billboard charts, and went on to sell over 17 million copies worldwide, generating such Top Forty hits as its title song and “Let’s Hear It For The Boy" (both of which received Academy Award nominations), plus “Almost Paradise,” “Holding Out For A Hero,” and “I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man).”

Audition information and dates will be announced soon. Keep an eye on our social media and website for updates. 

Show dates will be July 21, 22, 23 & 26 - 29, 2023.

St. John Theatre Having fun at the Library!

We are excited to once again be partnering with the St. John Parish Public Libraries! The Libray’s very own mascot Dubi had a special Christmas event with Santa and they needed some help from St. John Theater. Karli Wombles helped Santa and Dubi spread some Christmas cheer to the children of St. John Parish.