THE WILD PARTY Makes St. Louis Premiere Through 5/15

New Line Theatre, "the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre," continues its nineteenth season of provocative, adult, alternative musical theatre with the St. Louis premiere of Andrew Lippa's rowdy, raunchy, jazz musical THE WILD PARTY, running April 22-May 15, 2010, at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend. Tickets are on sale now, through Metrotix, 314-534-1111.

Have you ever been so angry, so desperate, so trapped, that your only choice is to throw a party? New Line Theatre's 19th season continues with the St. Louis premiere of Andrew Lippa's pulse-pounding jazz musical THE WILD PARTY, based on the notorious epic poem about a decadent and deadly all-night party in 1920s Manhattan, poised at the fiery peak of the Jazz Age and the beginning of the end of vaudeville, just a year before the Crash of 1929. With an unflinching eye, this riveting story centers on two desperate lives spiraling downward, lives filled to the brim with meaningless sex, drugs, jealousy, betrayal, murder - all the things that make a party wild.

A stylistic cross between Chicago and Cabaret, this fearless, powerful show centers on the relationship between vaudeville dancer Queenie and vaudeville clown Burrs, marked by the scars of their own vicious recklessness. Intent on hurting each other as publicly as possible, they decide to throw an outrageous party to end all parties, and as the guests arrive, we meet an assortment of people living on the fringes of society. After a long night of decadence, drugs, and drink, Burrs' simmering jealousy finally erupts and a romantic double-triangle ends the only way it can.

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

The cast for the New Line production includes Margeau Baue Steinau (as Queenie), Jeffrey Pruett (Burrs), Deborah Sharn (Kate), Keith Parker (Black), Nikki Glenn (Madelaine True), Zachary Allen Farmer (Eddie), Emily Berry (Mae), Joel Hackbarth (Phil D'Armano), Mike Dowdy (Oscar D'Armano), Eeyan Richardson (Max), Mara Bollini (Delores), Aaron VanderYacht (Jackie), Marcia Norman (Nadine), Troy Turnip seed (Sam), Michelle Saucer (El lie), and Theresa Hermann (Peggy). The show will be directed by Scott Miller and Alison Helmer, with choreography by Robin Michelle Berger, scenic design by Todd Schaefer, costumes by Thom Crain, and lighting by Shannon Fed de.

As they have since 2007, the New Liners are blogging about the process of putting this show together, and you can read the six WILD PARTY blogs online at http://www.newlinetheatre.com/blogs.html

The New York Daily News called the original off Broadway production "sizzling, vital and groundbreaking." The New York Times said, "Its strong suit is summoning the anxious restlessness behind the hellbent hedonism of the days of Prohibition." The legendary Beat writer William Burroughs said of the original poem, "It's the book that made me want to become a writer." The Wild Party won the 2000 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music, the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical, three Lucille Lore Awards, and one Obie Award. It was nominated for twelve additional Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding New Musical. New Line is very proud to present the St. Louis premiere of The Wild Party.

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 http://www.newlinetheatre.com/contact.html

THE WILD PARTY runs April 22-May 15, 2010, 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. This is not on the Washington University main campus. April 22 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 the Fox Theatre box office, the Edison Theatre box office, and select Schnucks stores, or by calling 314-534-1111. This show contains adult content and language.

HIGH SCHOOL DISCOUNT: New Line has created a new ticket discount for high school students. Any student with a 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, http://www.facebook.com/NewLineTheatre

EDUCATORS DISCOUNT: New Line 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 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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