Cindy Duggan

Looking over a list of New Line Theatre's shows for the past 23 years is a very telling experience. This is a group dedicated to restoring the old and embracing the new. That's why their current production of HANDS ON A HARDBODY shouldn't shock you that it's so damn good (it really is), because this is exactly what they do so well. They take something tuneful and different, perform it enthusiastically in an intimate environment, and the audience is rewarded with a fresh and invigorating experience. Go see HANDS ON A HARDBODY now!

New Line closes its 23rd season with the American regional premiere - the very first production since its Broadway run - of HANDS ON A HARDBODY, the thrilling, powerfully emotional new musical featuring a country-rock-pop score by Trey Anastasio (frontman for the rock band Phish) and Amanda Green (High Fidelity, Bring It On), and a script by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Doug Wright.

New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre, ' closes its 23rd season of adult, alternative musical theatre with the American regional premiere, straight from Broadway, of the country-rock musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY, running tonight, May 29-June 21 (May 29 is a preview). New Line is the first company in the country to produce this show since its Broadway run last season.

New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre, ' closes its 23rd season of adult, alternative musical theatre with the American regional premiere, straight from Broadway, of the country-rock musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY, running May 29-June 21. New Line is the first company in the country to produce this show since its Broadway run last season. Check out a first look at the cast below!

New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre, ' closes its 23rd season of adult, alternative musical theatre with the American regional premiere, straight from Broadway, of the country-rock musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY, running May 29-June 21 (May 29 is a preview). New Line is the first company in the country to produce this show since its Broadway run last season.

New Line's season closes with the regional premiere of this new rock musical, inspired by true events, with music and lyrics by Amanda Green (High Fidelity, Bring It On), music by Trey Anastasio (of the rock band Phish), and a script by Doug Wright (Pulitzer Prize winner, I Am My Own Wife), adapted from the 1997 documentary of the same name.

New Line Theatre, 'the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' will continue its 21st season of rock theatre March 1-24, 2012 with the American regional premiere of the Broadway rock musical CRY-BABY.

CRY-BABY is a smash, a musical and cultural send up of drape and square mores, while at the same time, a parody of the typical "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back" scenarios that we've all been exposed to in more traditional shows. At times, it's like watching a throwdown between Little Richard and Pat Boone over who really sings "Good Golly, Miss Molly" the best and most authentic. And, at other times, it's a completely over the top take off on shows of the past. For some reason, I was reminded of both The Music Man and West Side Story. Scott Miller and New Line Theatre have once again given us something outside the norm, and it's a joyous ride. This revision of CRY-BABY (I confess, I didn't see it on Broadway) is a sheer delight, full of characters and situations from the movie by filmmaker John Waters, but also standing on its own with a clever and hilarious score (music and lyrics by David Javerbaum and Adam Schlesinger), having jettisoned the tunes from the film itself. Go see this play now. It's wonderfully directed, smartly choreographed, and marvelously acted.

New Line Theatre, 'the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' continues its 21st season of rock theatre through March 24, 2012 with the American regional premiere of the Broadway rock musical CRY-BABY. Check out the production photos below!

New Line Theatre, 'the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' will continue its 21st season of rock theatre March 1-24, 2012 with the American regional premiere of the Broadway rock musical CRY-BABY.

New Line Theatre, 'the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' will continue its 21st season of rock theatre March 1-24, 2012 with the American regional premiere of the Broadway rock musical CRY-BABY.

New Line Theatre, 'the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' will continue its 21st season of rock theatre March 1-24, 2012 with the American regional premiere of the Broadway rock musical CRY-BABY, which The Wall Street Journal called 'the funniest new musical since Avenue Q.' The stage musical is based on the cult classic John Waters film starring Johnny Depp. The original creative team is reworking and re-orchestrating the show for New Line, to make it a smaller, more intimate musical for this first production since Broadway.

Citilites Theatre presents a late night show, making a sort of double bill for theatre patrons after they take in THE CRUMPLE ZONE, with the short musical, SONGS FROM AN UNMADE BED. Fortunately, it's well worth staying over for (although I took in a Sunday matinee performance), featuring a terrific performance from Justin Ivan Brown. It's a collection of eighteen songs by various composers, but all featuring the pithy and amusing lyrics of Mark Campbell. The brevity of the show, which runs about an hour, is perfectly suited to the material, and easily outshines the production that plays before it.

The idea of following the stories of four young gay men who are raised as members of a Baptist church in Texas is certainly fertile enough stuff for a play on its own. But, with SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES, playwright Del Shores muddies this basic premise with a non-linear, and at times illogical, presentation that generates a modicum of laughs, but misses the mark dramatically. Although I'm usually a fan of unconventionality, I think Shores pushes too hard here, and the opportunity to create something truly memorable is lost in the process. However, Citilites Theatre has put together a fitfully funny and heartfelt production that makes the most of this decidedly uneven material, and it benefits greatly from a number of strong performances as well.

Citilites Theatre proudly presents its production of SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES, Del Shores' hilarious and touching follow-up to his cult favorite Sordid Lives (stage play, movie, and TV series) at The Gaslight Theater @ 358 N. Boyle Ave. 63108 opening March 11, running through March 27.

Citilites Theatre proudly presents its production of SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES, Del Shores' hilarious and touching follow-up to his cult favorite Sordid Lives (stage play, movie, and TV series) at The Gaslight Theater @ 358 N. Boyle Ave. 63108 opening March 11, running through March 27.

MARRY ME A LITTLE is an interesting little musical that cobbles together cut songs and lesser celebrated numbers composed by Stephen Sondheim. It's a clever idea, and even though some of the numbers don't really seem to fit perfectly with the 'story', they still provide an opportunity to hear a master songwriter at work, with even these castoffs showcasing his catchy, but challenging gift for melodic invention, as well as his considerable lyrical wit. Citilites Theatre is presenting a solid production of this brief, but engaging, work conceived and developed by Craig Lucas and Norman Rene.

The NonProphet Theater Company is excited to bring you the second show of their 2010 season CABARET by Masterson, Kander & Ebb featuring St. Louis 's own, 'The Derriere Beyond Compare' Lola Van Ella as Sally Bowles! Cabaret opens Friday, July 23, 8pm at the Kranzberg Arts Center.

Most of the productions of Kander and Ebb's CABARET that I've attended in recent years have been rather intimate and cozy affairs, with stagings seeking to replicate the smoky atmosphere of the Kit Kat Klub as closely as possible. And, the latest production by Non-Prophet Theatre Company is one such example, making full use of every square inch of the Kranzberg Arts Center space. The performers are certainly an enthusiastic lot, but there's a decided lack of dramatic focus in this production that removes the sting from its downbeat, but honest finale. Still, there are some memorable moments to be gleaned from this generally engaging presentation.