New Line Theatre's Scott Miller to Helm STAGE GROK Podcast
By: Sally Henry Fuller May. 02, 2015
After fifteen years as co-host of the radio show Break a Leg: Theatre in St. Louis and Beyond on KDHX, Miller decided to strike out on his own and, as he did with theatre when he founded New Line, find his own individual path. Because Miller has written six books about musical theatre and regularly talks with musical theatre artists in New York, the Stage Grok guest list will be an eclectic mix of artists from New York, St. Louis, and across the country, and the conversation will always be in-depth. And rather than the guests coming to the host for the interview, Miller will interview artists in their own offices and workspaces, where they're most comfortable.
The podcast's first several guests have already been posted: -- Denny Reagan, president and CEO, The Muny -- Judith Newmark, theatre critic, St. Louis Post-Dispatch -- William Finn, Tony-winning composer and lyricist And posting soon... -- Steve Woolf, artistic director, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis -- Mark Bernstein, managing director, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis -- Jeffrey Carter, music dept chair, Webster University, and resident music director, New Line Theatre -- Jennifer Ashley Tepper, author, historian, producer, 54 Below, New York
"Grok" is a "Martian" word coined by Robert Heinlein for his 1961 science-fiction novel, Stranger in a Strange Land, where it is defined as follows: "Grok means to understand so thoroughly that the observer becomes a part of the observed -- to merge, blend, intermarry, lose identity in group experience. It means almost everything that we mean by religion, philosophy, and science." The dictionary defines "Grok" as "to understand profoundly or intuitively."
The Stage Grok theme music is the overture to Cry-Baby the Musical, by Adam Schlessinger and David Javerbaum, from New Line's 2012 American regional premiere of the show, used with permission. The Stage Grok logo was designed by Matt Reedy. You can subscribe to Stage Grok in the iTunes store. ABOUT NEW LINE THEATRE 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 Theatre was created in 1991 at the vanguard of a new wave of nonprofit musical theatre just starting to take hold across the country. The company 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 73 musicals and 5 concerts of theatre songs since 1991. New Line has been given its own entry in the prestigious Cambridge Guide to American Theatre and Theatre World. American Theatre magazine profiled the company in July 2014, and the St. Louis Theater Circle awarded New Line a Special Award in 2014 for the company's body of work over the years. In fall 2015, New Line will move into its new home, the Marcelle Theater in Grand Center. New Line finishes its current season with the classic satirical comedy THE THREEPENNY OPERA, May 28-June 20. For tickets, call 314-534-1111. New Line receives funding from the Regional Arts Commission and the Missouri Arts Council.
For other information, visit New Line Theatre's full-service website at www.newlinetheatre.com.
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