New Line Theatre, "the bad boy of musical theatre," closes its 24th season of adult, alternative musical theatre in June with one of the masterpieces of the art form, the darkly satiric THREEPENNY OPERA (which isn't really an opera), running now through June 20, 2015. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
New Line's season closes with the dark, comic masterpiece, Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's world-famous musical comedy THETHREEPENNY OPERA, in the famous translation by Marc Blitzstein ( The Cradle Will Rock). This is the show that launched the pop standard, "Mack the Knife." With its haunting jazz score, acid harmonies, biting lyrics, and questionable morals, this is the show that inspired Cabaret, Urinetown, Sweeney Todd, Bat Boy, Urinetown, and so many other modern musicals. It's an ironic morality tale about brutal paradoxes, about redemption for the irredeemable, about devotion to the undeserving, and about justice serving the unjust. Originally opening in Berlin in 1928, the show later became the first mega-hit off Broadway in the 1950s, running over 2,700 performances. It's now one of the most revived musicals around the world, having been translated into eighteen languages and performed more than 10,000 times.
The New Line cast includes Todd Schaefer as Capt. MacHeath; Zachary Allen Farmer as Mr. Peachum; Sarah Porter as Mrs. Peachum; Cherlynn Alvarez as Polly; Christopher "Zany" Clark as Tiger Brown; Christina Rios as Lucy Brown; Nikki Glenn as Jenny Diver; and Reynaldo Arceno, Brian Claussen, Kent Coffel, Jeremy Hyatt, Todd Micali, Kimi Short, Margeau Baue Steinau, Luke Steingruby, and Larissa White. Scott Miller directs, with music direction by Jeffery Richard Carter, scenic design by Rob Lippert, costume design by Sarah Porter, lighting design by Kenneth Zinkl, and sound design by Ben Rosemann.
THE THREEPENNY OPERA runs May 28-June 20, 2015, on Thursday, Friday, and 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. May 28 is a preview. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students/seniors on Fridays and Saturdays; and $20 for adults and $15 for students/seniors on Thursdays. For other information, visit New Line Theatre's full-service website at www.newlinetheatre.com.
Photo Credit: Jill Ritter Lindberg
Macheath (Todd Schaefer) sings 'What Keeps a Man Alive'
Capt. Macheath (Todd Schaefer) says goodbye to Polly (Cherlynn Alvarez)
Mr. Peachum (Zachary Allen Farmer) explains his business
Mr. Peachum (Zachary Allen Farmer) and Mrs. Peachum (Sarah Porter) make plans
Mr. Peachum (Zachary Allen Farmer) and Mrs. Peachum (Sarah Porter) sing the 'Instead Of Song'
Mack's gang - Crookfinger Jake (Kent Coffel), Bob the Saw (Luke Steingruby), Readymoney Matt (Brian Claussen), and Walt Dreary (Todd Micali), singing the 'Wedding Song'
Mack's gang - Readymoney Matt (Brian Claussen), Walt Dreary (Todd Micali, in back), Bob the Saw (Luke Steingruby), and Crookfinger Jake (Kent Coffel), singing the 'Wedding Song'
Readymoney Matt (Brian Claussen) is threatened by Macheath (Todd Schaefer)
Polly (Cherlynn Alvarez) sings 'Pirate Jenny' with Crookfinger Jake (Kent Coffel) listening
Polly (Cherlynn Alvarez) sings 'Pirate Jenny' to Crookfinger Jake (Kent Coffel)
Commissioner of Police Tiger Brown (Christopher 'Zany' Clark) and Macheath (Todd Schaefer) sing the 'Army Song'
Captain Macheath (Todd Schaefer) and Polly Peachum (Cherlynn Alvarez) sing the 'Love Song'
Polly Peachum (Cherlynn Alvarez) tells Mrs. Peachum (Sarah Porter), and Mr. Peachum (Zachary Allen Farmer) that she's gotten married
Polly Peachum (Cherlynn Alvarez) and Mrs. Peachum (Sarah Porter) have a mother-daughter moment
Macheath (Todd Schaefer) explains the family business to Polly (Cherlynn Alvarez)
Polly (Cherlynn Alvarez) sings 'Polly's Song'
Mrs. Peachum (Sarah Porter) sings the 'Ballad of Dependency'
Mrs. Peachum (Sarah Porter) arranges Mack's arrest with Jenny (Nikki Glenn)
Macheath (Todd Schaefer) gets his palm read by Jenny (Nikki Glenn)
Macheath (Todd Schaefer) is visited in prison by one of his wives, Lucy Brown (Christina Rios)
Jenny (Nikki Glenn) sings the 'Solomon Song'
Mrs. Peachum (Sarah Porter)
Macheath (Todd Schaefer) in jail
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