New Line Theatre Ends Its 18th Season Of Alternative Musical Theatre With Rave Reviews

New Line Theatre, "the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre," closed its 18th season of alternative musical theatre this month and is proud to report the most financially and critically successful season in its entire history, with more than 6,000 people seeing New Line's performances. Despite the difficult economic times, St. Louis audiences filled New Line's intimate theatre night after night, and more than ever before, all three shows in the season enjoyed many repeat customers who came back to the see the same show multiple times. Excerpts from this season's many rave reviews can be found on the company's website at www.newlinetheatre.com/review.html.
 
New Line's season opened in September with a six-week run of the still riveting and relevant rock musical Hair, as part of the St. Louis Political Theatre Festival, which New Line founded in 2006. This was New Line's third outing with the show, after productions in 2000 and 2001, and again the show enjoyed record audiences and rave reviews all around. This season also included the release of a new French documentary about Hair called "Let the Sun Shine In," which featured New Line artistic director Scott Miller, author of the book "Let the Sun Shine In: The Genius of Hair." The classic rock musical is also enjoying a very successful revival on Broadway this season.
 
The season continued in April and May with the St. Louis premiere of the offbeat Shakespearean rock musical Return to the Forbidden Planet, a wacky sci-fi fable about humans' relationship with advancing technology. Again, New Line was blessed with record audiences, repeat customers, and rave reviews.
 
The season ended in July and August with the first St. Louis production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the hilarious romp about competition, success, and self-value in an often over-pressurized culture -- again with record crowds, more repeat customers, and rave reviews.
 
"We've had a lot of success over the years, but we've never had a response to a season like this," says artistic director Scott Miller. "It is genuinely humbling that our audiences trust us this much -- even with shows they don't know -- and that they love our work so much they want to see our shows more than once. We had one guy who saw our HAIR ten times! We know several people saw HAIR six times. We know how tough the times are right now, and we know theatre isn't as essential as food and shelter, but we do think it matters and so we try to present exciting shows that explore the issues people are grappling with in their everyday lives. We appreciate so much the support St. Louis has shown us and we're so proud that our work means that much to our community."
 
Part of the record attendance this season may be due to New Line's new discounts -- its new educator discount, its new military discount, its continuing program to offer free seats to college students at every performance, and its continued lower prices for Thursday night shows. All this success also allowed New Line to finally offer a musical theatre scholarship for the first time this season, something the company has been discussing for years.
 
But New Line Theatre is also looking for a new home after this coming season. "The folks at Washington University have been incredibly generous and kind to us, letting us use the old CBC High School theatre," says Miller. "But our agreement with them is only for last season and this season about to begin. Next fall, we'll need a new home again. Hopefully we can return to a blackbox space, but right now we have no idea where we'll land this time..."
 
Anyone wanting to offer the nationally known alternative company a new home can contact Miller through the New Line website, at www.newlinetheatre.com.
 
New Line Theatre is a professional company dedicated to involving the people of the St. Louis region in the exploration and creation of daring, provocative, socially and politically relevant works of musical theatre. New Line receives funding from the Regional Arts Commission, the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation, and the Missouri Arts Council. For more about New Line, go to www.newlinetheatre.com/contact.html.

New Line will open its 19th season this fall with the world premiere of Kyle Jarrow's searing new rock musical LOVE KILLS, running October 1-24, on Thursday through Saturday evenings, at 8:00 p.m., at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend. October 1 is a preview. All seating is general admission. For Thursday night performances, tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. On Friday and Saturday nights, tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Tickets are on sale now through all Metrotix outlets, including Macy's stores, the Fox Theatre, and select Schnucks stores, or by calling 314-534-1111. This show contains adult content. More info is available on our website at www.newlinetheatre.com/lovekillspage.html.
 
Educators Discount: New Line now offers all currently employed educators half price tickets on any Thursday night, with work ID or other proof of employment. Not valid in connection with other discounts or offers, available only at the door, and subject to availability.
 
Military Discount: New Line now offers all active duty military personnel half price tickets on any Thursday night, with ID or other proof of active duty status. Not valid in connection with other discounts or offers, available only at the door, and subject to availability.
 
New Line also continues to offer the College Free Seats, ten seats put aside for every performance, free to anyone with a valid college student ID, one ticket per ID. The Free Seats will be available at the theatre box office, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:55 p.m. on performance nights only.
 
For other information, visit New Line Theatre's full-service website at www.newlinetheatre.com. All programs are subject to change.

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