Katie Nestor News

2009 provided me with the opportunity to review 126 of the more than 200 shows that were available in the St. Louis region, and it began in terrific fashion with New Line Theatre's NIGHT OF THE LIVING SHOW TUNES. This was a wonderful sampling of contemporary show tunes performed by a cast of talented locals, and featuring artistic director Scott Miller's fine accompaniment on piano. In the acoustically perfect confines of the Sheldon Concert Hall, these unique melodies made a glorious noise. And, as I continued on my quest to expose my young son to the world of musical theatre, I ended the year with the Imaginary Theatre Company's splendid presentation of BAH! HUMBUG!. I was lucky enough to catch quite a few gems in between, and I've decided to compile a list of the ten most intriguing and engaging productions I saw in 2009.

THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE pokes fun at these competitions with a cunning mixture of bizarre characters and catchy tunes that's an over the top delight. New Line Theatre's current production is a perfectly cast show filled with moments of high hilarity.

New Line Theatre, 'The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' closes its eighteenth season of provocative, adult, alternative musical theatre with the hilariously quirky and big-hearted Broadway musical, THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, running July 16-August 8, 2009, at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend.

New Line Theatre, 'The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' closes its eighteenth season of provocative, adult, alternative musical theatre with the hilariously quirky and big-hearted Broadway musical, THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, running July 16-August 8, 2009, at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend. This is not on the Wash.U. main campus.

New Line Theatre, 'The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' closes its eighteenth season of provocative, adult, alternative musical theatre with the hilariously quirky and big-hearted Broadway musical, THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, running July 16-August 8, 2009, at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend. This is not on the Wash.U. main campus.

New Line Theatre, 'The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' closes its eighteenth season of provocative, adult, alternative musical theatre with the hilariously quirky and big-hearted Broadway musical, THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, running July 16-August 8, 2009, at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend.

New Line Theatre, 'The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' closes its eighteenth season of provocative, adult, alternative musical theatre with the hilariously quirky and big-hearted Broadway musical, THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, running July 16-August 8, 2009, at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend. This is not on the Wash.U. main campus.

New Line Theatre, 'The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' closes its seventeenth season of provocative, adult, alternative musical theatre with the regional premiere of the new rock musical HIGH FIDELITY, based on the world-famous novel by Nick Hornby and the film starring John Cusack and Jack Black, running June 12-July 5, 2008, at the A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre, in the Mallinckrodt Building at Washington University, 6445 Forsyth Blvd., between Skinker and Big Bend.

New Line Theatre closes its seventeenth season of provocative, adult, alternative musical theatre with the regional premiere of the new rock musical 'High Fidelity.'