New Line Theatre Presents Regional Premiere of Rock Musical BARE, 6/2-6/25

New Line Theatre, "the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre," opens the final show of its 20th anniversary season, the regional premiere of the massive cult hit, BARE, running June 2-25, 2011, at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend. Tickets are available through Metrotix, at 314-534-1111.

BARE is a powerful, driving pop/rock opera by up-and-coming theatre writers Jon Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo, the most exciting new piece of rock theatre in this new millennium. The show has been described as a mix of Rent and Dead Poets Society, exploring sex, sexuality, self expression, guilt, jealously, and religion, and all overflowing with the kind of urgency and intensity that comes with being 17. First produced in Los Angeles in 2000 and then off Broadway in 2004, this show has attracted a fierce cult following across the country and around the world. New Line Theatre is one of the first companies in America to produce this exciting new work since its off Broadway run.

The New Line cast includes Jacob Golliher (as Jason), Mike Dowdy (Peter), Terrie Carolan (Ivy), Charlotte Byrd (Nadia), Jonathan Foster (Matt), Rahamses Galvan (Lucas), Nyssa Duchow (Diane), Zachary Allen Farmer (Priest), Nikki Glenn (Sr. Chantelle), Alison Helmer (Claire), Chance Kilgour (Zack), Andréa Kimberling (Kyra), Sarah Porter (Rory), John Michael Rotello (Alan), and Michelle Sauer (Tanya). The show is directed by Scott Miller, with costume design by Thom Crain, scenic design by Todd Schaefer, and lighting design by Kenneth Zinkl.

Some members of the cast have been blogging about the process of creating this amazing show, and you can access their blogs at http://www.newlinetheatre.com/blogs.html

BARE follows a group of seniors at a Catholic boarding school. At the center are Jason and Peter, who are forced to deal with their mutual romantic attraction while trying to live up to the expexctations of their parents and the Catholic Church. The show explores the range of problems facing American youth today, from body image to teen pregnancy, from drug culture to adult expectations. In Los Angeles, BARE won the L.A. Weekly Award for Best Musical, the Ovation Award for Best Musical and the L.A. Drama Critics Award for Best Score. About its off Broadway production, The New York Times wrote, "Bare has youthful promise written all over it." The Associated Press called the show an "ambitious and original creation." TalkinBroadway.com said, "The show is breathlessly energetic, and an obvious labor of love crafted with care down to its smallest details."

For more info about the show, visit http://www.newlinetheatre.com/barepage.html

To read director Scott Miller's background and analysis essay about the show, visit http://www.newlinetheatre.com/barechapter.html

ABOUT NEW LINE THEATRE

New Line Theatre, "The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre," was created in 1991, at the vanguard of a new wave of nonprofit musical theatre being born across the country during the early 1990s, offering an alternative to the commercial musical theatre of New York and Broadway tours. New Line was created to involve the people of the St. Louis region in the creation and exploration of provocative, alternative, politically and socially relevant works of musical theatre - daring, muscular, intelligent theatre about politics, race, violence, drugs, sexuality, religion, art, obscenity, the media, and other contemporary issues.

New Line has given birth to several world premiere musicals over the years and has brought back to life many shows that did not do well in their original New York productions. Altogether, New Line has produced 60 musicals and 5 concerts of theatre songs since 1991. New Line Theatre was recently given its own entry in the latest edition of the prestigious Cambridge Guide to American 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

BARE runs June 2-25, 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. June 2 is a preview. Tickets are on sale now through Metrotix outlets, including the Fox Theatre box office and the Edison Theatre box office at Washington University, or by calling 314-534-1111. BARE contains mature content and language.

HIGH SCHOOL DISCOUNT: New Line has created a new ticket discount for high school students. Any student with a valid school ID can get a $10 ticket at any performance, with the code word for that show, which will be posted on New Line's Facebook page, at http://www.facebook.com/NewLineTheatre

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.

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.

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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