Scott Miller News

The St. Louis Theater Circle has just announced the nominees for the 2013 Louie Awards, honoring excellence in professional theater. The ceremony is set to take place on March 11 at the Gaslight Theater (358 North Boyle Avenue). To reserve tickets, email stltheatercircle@sbcglobal.net.

I'm lucky enough to see over a hundred shows every year, and I'm happy to report that 2012 was an excellent year for theatre in St. Louis. So, here I am again, offering up my lists for the best productions of 2012. While I'm not going to include the touring companies that came through town this year in my listings, I'd like to give them a shout out just the same.

Theatre Harrisburg presents live, on stage at Whitaker Center, the classic all-American musical THE MUSIC MAN. Opening Today, November 2, other performances are scheduled for November 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17 & 18.

New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre,' now in its 22nd season of alternative, adult musical theatre, has announced its cast for the powerhouse Pulitzer Prize winning rock opera NEXT TO NORMAL, running Feb. 28-March 23, 2013 at the Washington University South Campus Theatre.

Just in time for election season, New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre,' opens its 22nd season of alternative, adult musical theatre with the St. Louis premiere of the outrageous rock musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, now running through Oct. 20, 2012. An outrageous, audacious, hard-rocking mix of historical fact and fiction redefines America's controversial seventh President, through a time-bending funhouse mirror that reveals the jacked-up political landscape of America in 2012. Get a first look at highlights from the production below.

Theatre Harrisburg presents live, on stage at Whitaker Center, the classic all-American musical THE MUSIC MAN. Opening Friday, November 2, other performances are scheduled for November 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17 & 18.

It's kind of hard to describe the new musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON (book by Alex Timbers with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman), but only because it's such a phantasmagorical journey through the life and presidency of Andrew Jackson. Parts of it are downright hilarious, while others are amazingly informative. Kind of like what Bill Cosby used to say during the opening credits of The Fat Albert Show: "If you're not careful, you might learn something before it's done". New Line's current presentation of this wild and woolly excursion into history is a rockin' riot, filled with catchy tunes and funny, anachronistic humor that rarely misses the mark.

Just in time for election season, New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre,' opens its 22nd season of alternative, adult musical theatre with the St. Louis premiere of the outrageous rock musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, running Sept. 27-Oct. 20, 2012. An outrageous, audacious, hard-rocking mix of historical fact and fiction redefines America's controversial seventh President, through a time-bending funhouse mirror that reveals the jacked-up political landscape of America in 2012. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below!

The 22nd season at New Line Theatre opens with alternative, adult musical theatre with the St. Louis premiere of the outrageous rock musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, running Sept. 27-Oct. 20, 2012. Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, at 8:00 p.m. BroadwayWorld has various interviews with Taylor Pietz, Zak Farmer and D. Mike Bauer from the cast. Check out the videos below!

Just in time for election season, New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre,' opens its 22nd season of alternative, adult musical theatre with the St. Louis premiere of the outrageous rock musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, running Sept. 27-Oct. 20, 2012. An outrageous, audacious, hard-rocking mix of historical fact and fiction redefines America's controversial seventh President, through a time-bending funhouse mirror that reveals the jacked-up political landscape of America in 2012. Get a first look at the cast in the photos below!

New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre,' has secured the rights to three premieres for its 22nd season of alternative, adult musical theatre -- the outrageous emo rock musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, running Sept. 27-Oct. 20, 2012; the powerhouse Pulitzer Prize-winning rock opera NEXT TO NORMAL, running Feb. 28-March 23, 2013; and the hilariously dark, adult musical comedy BUKOWSICAL, running May 30-June 22, 2013.

New Line Theatre, 'the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' has created a new side identity called New Line Theatre Off Line, which will be a framework for the New Line actors to explore other music and Theatre Projects, including New Line's own unique brand of adult cabaret, musical improv, and other kinds of performance opportunities, as well as master classes, workshops, and more. New Line actor Mike Dowdy (Forbidden Planet, Spelling Bee, The Wild Party, Evita, Two Gentlemen of Verona, bare, Cry-Baby, High Fidelity) will head up the Off Line brand under his new title of Associate Artistic Director.

New Line Theatre, soon to start its 22nd season of alternative musical theatre, has awarded its 2012 musical theatre scholarship in the amount of $1,500 to Amanda Leigh Jerry of Nerinx Hall High School, who plans to major in musical theatre at Carnegie Mellon University. Judith Newmark, theatre critic for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, selects the winner of the scholarship each year, which is funded through the donations of New Line supporters.

Old Courthouse Theater holds a reading of THE NORMAL HEART today, July 15 at 4:00 PM. The reading is directed by Jonathan M. Ewart.

Old Courthouse Theater has announced a reading of THE NORMAL HEART on July 15 at 4:00 PM. The reading will be directed by Jonathan M. Ewart.

When I reviewed New Line Theatre's production of HIGH FIDELITY in 2008, I decided to start off in the spirit of Nick Hornby by giving my readers the top five reasons they should see this wonderful musical. Well, here are the Top Five reasons you should see High Fidelity, either for the very first time, or again, in 2012 (in reverse order, naturally). Number Five: because the cast members that remain the same are still superb in their roles, and the new additions make it even more entertaining. Number Four: because the music of Tom Kitt and the lyrics of Amanda Green are pure ear candy that cribs cool bits from classic rock and soul. Number Three: because this time it's in a different venue that allows for a grander scenic design, as well as a larger area for the fun choreography. Number Two: because seeing the musical still beats sitting through the movie, which didn't really capture Hornby's novel completely. And the Number One reason to see this revival production of HIGH FIDELITY: IT ABSOLUTELY ROCKS!

New Line Theatre closes its 21st season with HIGH FIDELITY, playing now through June 23, 2012. With a script by award-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole, Good People), music by Tom Kitt (Pulitzer Prize-winning composer of Next to Normal), and lyrics by Amanda Green (Bring It On, Hands on a Hardbody), HIGH FIDELITY explores America's new Lost Generation and the music they live their lives to. Check out photos of the cast performing on stage in St. Louis below!

People's Light and Theatre is postponing the public production of Shakespeare's Will and will be presenting Beautiful Boy in its place. Beautiful Boy, A Hatchling Production, is a play written by Associate Artistic Director Pete Pryor which explores the process of a father coming to terms with his son's diagnosis of autism. The show runs tonight, May 30-June 24, 2012 at the People's Light & Theatre, located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, Pa. The official opening is set for June 1.

New Line Theatre will close its 21st season May 31-June 23, 2012, with HIGH FIDELITY. Tickets are on sale now through Metrotix, 314-534-1111. View photos below!