Have you been waiting to attend a star-studded world premiere of a performance right here in St. Louis?

Mark your calendars for this Wednesday, June 1 for the St. Louis premiere of "The Karate Kid" at 6:00 p.m., at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, 210 Monroe in Kirkwood. The red carpet will see the original screenwriter Robert Kamen along with the original Karate Kid Ralph Macchio along with a host of theater patrons and VIPs.

For generations, audiences have cheered the 1984 blockbuster, THE KARATE KID. Now this iconic story comes to the stage as a thrilling and inventive new musical. Inspired by the real-life story of screenwriter Robert Kamen, creator of the original franchise, THE KARATE KID tells the story of Daniel LaRusso, who finds trouble with a group of cruel and harassing classmates. To defend himself, Daniel begins training with a reclusive handyman – who just happens to be an expert martial artist. What he learns, though, is that fighting is done with the head and the heart, not the fists. THE KARATE KID features music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini (“Smash”) and choreography from award-winning duo Keone and Mari Madrid with direction by Amon Miyamoto (Pacific Overtures).

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