Chris Miller 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.

Pool Boy, a splashy new musical in development under the auspices of Barrington Stage Company's Musical Theatre Lab (under the mentorship of Producer William Finn and Artistic Director Julianne Boyd) will be given a staged reading on Monday, January 11 at Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 Eighth Avenue.

Pool Boy, a splashy new musical in development under the auspices of Barrington Stage Company's Musical Theatre Lab (under the mentorship of Producer William Finn and Artistic Director Julianne Boyd) will be given a staged reading on Monday, January 11 at Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 Eighth Avenue.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for not for profit professional theatre, is pleased to announce that in 2009, twenty-seven Edgerton Foundation New American Play Awards were granted to theatres around the country.

Tickets to the eagerly-anticipated world-premiere of the Kander and Ebb musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS will go on-sale beginning Monday, January 4th, 2010, it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, Vineyard Theatre's Artistic Director. Mr. Aibel also announced that January 4th also marks the first day of rehearsals for the musical, which is directed and choregraphed by Susan Stroman.

John Kander -- the renowned, Tony Award-winning composer of such beloved musicals as CHICAGO, CABARET, KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN and many others -- will be honored by Vineyard Theatre at the company's annual Gala on Monday, March 8th beginning at 6 PM at the Hudson Theater (145 West 44th Street) in Manhattan, it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director of Vineyard Theatre.

John Kander, the renowned, Tony Award-winning composer of such beloved musicals as CHICAGO, CABARET, KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN and many others, will be honored by Vineyard Theatre at the company's annual Gala on Monday, March 8th beginning at 6 PM at the Hudson Theater in Manhattan, it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director of Vineyard Theatre. David Hyde Pierce - Tony Award-winner for his appearance in the musical CURTAINS by John Kander and his collaborator, the late Fred Ebb - will host.

John Cullum, Colman Domingo and more have been announced for the upcoming production of THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS by the acclaimed Broadway composing team Kander and Ebb. The production will take place at the Vineyard Theatre off-Broadway and begins previews February 12th with an official opening date of March 10th.

Randy Redd presents We Are The Song 2: After The Storm, a second helping of extraordinary new music to benefit The North Rampart Community Center and to celebrate the work that began in New Orleans...After The Storm. We Are The Song 2: After The Storm will be presented at Joe's Pub on Monday, December 7th at 7 PM.

Randy Redd presents We Are The Song 2: After The Storm, a second helping of extraordinary new music to benefit The North RampartCommunity Center and to celebrate the work that began in New Orleans...After The Storm.

Musical web series 'The Battery's Down' premiered its three-part Series Finale on December 1st at 11:00PM, Episode 16: 'The Party's Over,' which features original songs by Ryan Scott Oliver and Kirsten Guenther (Mrs. Sharp) and the Tony Award-winning Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal). BroadwayWorld was at Etc. Etc. in Manhattan to capture the fun!

Randy Redd presents We Are The Song 2: After The Storm, a second helping of extraordinary new music to benefit The North Rampart Community Center and to celebrate the work that began in New Orleans...After The Storm. We Are The Song 2: After The Storm will be presented at Joe's Pub on Monday, December 7th at 7 PM.

Musical web series 'The Battery's Down' premiered its three-part Series Finale on December 1st at 11:00PM. Episode 16, 'The Party's Over,' which features original songs by Ryan Scott Oliver and Kirsten Guenther (Mrs. Sharp) and the Tony Award-winning Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal).

Musical web series 'The Battery's Down' premiered its three-part Series Finale on December 1st at 11:00PM. Episode 16, 'The Party's Over,' which features original songs by Ryan Scott Oliver and Kirsten Guenther (Mrs. Sharp) and the Tony Award-winning Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal).

Musical web series 'The Battery's Down' premiered its three-part Series Finale on December 1st at 11:00PM. Episode 16, 'The Party's Over,' which features original songs by Ryan Scott Oliver and Kirsten Guenther (Mrs. Sharp) and the Tony Award-winning Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal).

Musical web series 'The Battery's Down' will premiere its three-part Series Finale on December 1st at 11:00PM. Episode 16, 'The Party's Over,' will feature original songs by Ryan Scott Oliver and Kirsten Guenther (Mrs. Sharp) and the Tony Award-winning Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal).

The much-loved, musical web series 'The Battery's Down' has announced its season finale complete with two final episodes to close out the second, and last, season. Episodes 15 and 16 will premiere on October 15 and December 1, respectively.

Randy Redd presents We Are The Song 2: After The Storm, a second helping of extraordinary new music to benefit The North RampartCommunity Center and to celebrate the work that began in New Orleans...After The Storm.

The much-loved, musical web series 'The Battery's Down' will present its series finale on December 1st, 2009. Stage and 'Battery's' star Andrew Keenan-Bolger looks back on some of his favorite memories and reminds everyone to tune in to the final episode in this video blog which you can watch right here on STAGE TUBE!

The Tony Award-winning Vineyard Theatre will present the world-premiere of the new musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, with music and lyrics by Tony Award-winners John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson and directed by Tony Award-winner Susan Stroman with musical direction by David Loud. Previews begin February 12, 2010 prior to an official opening date of March 10, it has been announced by Vineyard Artistic Director Douglas Aibel.