Saint Louis Indoor Activities

Elizabeth Birkenmeier, Scott McMaster, Jerry Vogel, and Jason Cannon bring Scotland playwright David Greig's sensual show to life for mature audiences. Set on a remote island off Scotland's coast and directed by Philip Boehm, the play explores three characters entangled in a web of sexual tension on the eve of World War II. The lyrical play is at once a keen exploration of human nature, a moving study of young emotion, and a powerful snapshot of a world teetering on the brink of cataclysm.

Union Avenue Opera provides professional opportunities to gifted, emerging artists and offers vibrant and affordable opera experiences that reflect the breadth and diversity of the St. Louis region. Union Avenue Opera is committed to its urban setting, educational outreach and artistic integrity.

The classically focused Alexandra Ballet entertains audiences with a well-rounded dance diet ranging from contemporary original pieces to traditional masterworks. The company’s agile dancers have pirouetted their way to uproarious applause in past performances that include The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Peter and the Wolf. Since 2003, the company has enriched the community through its educational-outreach programs, which provide youngsters with free learning materials and ballet performances throughout the school year.

At Shrewsbury Lanes, 10 white appendages await punishment from careening spheres at the end of 24 polished alleys. Automatic scoring screens keep count at every lane so that rollers can concentrate on picking up seven-ten splits, savoring hot eats from the snack counter, and grabbing cold beers or daily happy hour cocktails from No Bul's Bar. During birthday packages, revelers can bounce between bowling alleys and party rooms, which are stocked with hot dogs, drinks, and chips. Shrewsbury Lanes also hosts leagues for bowlers who enjoy more serious competition or nostalgic adults who were raised inside trophy cases. The roar of ransacked pins echoes throughout the facility until 11 p.m. on weekdays and 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

When asked about their teaching qualifications, the instructors at Finney's MMA and Finney's HIT Squad—including Jesse Finney himself—all point to their win records. All of them have a competitive fighting history in their chosen disciplines, and several have earned championships or black belts. As full-time employees of the gyms, they school guests on MMA, kickboxing, boxing, Brazilian jujitsu, and wrestling. They also access their inside knowledge of the industry for fighter-development programs, which strive to transform beginners into professional combatants without stuffing them into hollowed-out punching-bag cocoons for 5 years. For amateurs and experts alike, they assert that "you fight how you train," and aim to simulate official rounds inside their onsite cages, boxing rings, and matted arenas. In 2011, their professional chops helped Finney's HIT Squad take the title of Best MMA Gym in the Riverfront Times Best of St Louis feature.

Despite their investment in competitions, however, the staffers view the two gyms as all-inclusive spaces. Whether they are instilling confidence in children through kids' jujitsu, orienting a new member to the fitness equipment, or leading a women-only martial-arts class, they mentor students of all backgrounds.

Rush Studio of Dance's seasoned cadre of dance instructors lead sessions in hip-hop, jazz, ballet, tap, and breakdance. While each style varies drastically, one-hour classes generally focus on artistry, rhythm, and techniques popularized by venerable dance legends such as Bob Fosse, Martha Graham, and Fred "Twinkle Toes" Flintstone.