West Side Story sets Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in 1950s New York City as the two star-crossed young lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs. From the first notes to the final breath, their struggle to survive in a world of violence and prejudice remains one of the most memorable and powerful musical dramas of our time.
The cast of West Side Story includes 38 of COCA's most talented "Triple Threat" performers who represent 28 different ZIP codes spanning Eureka to Belleville. Tickets are $14 - $18. For ages 6 and up.
Shows are Friday, July 27 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, July 28 at 1 and 5 p.m.
More information and tickets: cocastl.org
Celebrating the history, culture, and people of Japan, the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the largest and oldest festivals of its kind in the United States. Your family can enjoy guided walking tours, bonsai, cooking, martial arts and origami demonstrations, sumo wrestling, and special activities for kids.
Kids can work on existing gym skills, learn new skills or just play around during Open Gym at Miss Kelly's Gym in Creve Coeur.
Wagon rides, live entertainment, great festival foods, a petting zoo and much more make this an apple pickin' good time for the whole family. There will be pony rides, a children's carnival, opportunities to feed goats and other farm animals, caramel apples, funnel cakes and more.
See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.
LEGO Club at the St. Louis County Library is a free opportunity for kids to gather and have fun building with LEGO bricks. LEGOs are provided.