New Line Theatre facts for kids
| Formation | December 6, 1991 |
|---|---|
| Type | Theatre group |
| Purpose | Alternative Musical Theatre |
| Location |
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Artistic director(s)
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Scott Miller |
New Line Theatre is a special kind of musical theater company in St. Louis, Missouri. They put on musicals that are often thought-provoking and deal with important ideas. The company started in 1991.
New Line Theatre is known for producing many different types of shows:
- Brand New Shows: They've put on world premieres, which means these shows were performed for the very first time anywhere! Examples include Love Kills and Johnny Appleweed.
- Less Common Shows: They also perform musicals that might have been on Broadway or Off-Broadway but aren't as famous. These include shows like High Fidelity and Bat Boy.
- Abstract and Absurdist Musicals: Some shows are a bit unusual or dream-like, like Hair, or they might be very silly and over-the-top, like Reefer Madness.
- Concept Musicals: These shows explore a specific idea or theme rather than just telling a straightforward story. Think of Company or Urinetown.
- New Takes on Classics: They also put their own unique spin on well-known musicals, such as Evita or Sweeney Todd.
Contents
What Inspires New Line Theatre?
New Line Theatre gets its ideas from theater groups of the 1960s. These groups, like Caffé Cino and Cafe LaMaMa ETC, were known for trying new and different ways of putting on plays. They wanted to create theater that was exciting and pushed boundaries, and New Line Theatre aims to do the same.
Bringing Shows Back to Life
New Line Theatre has been the first company outside of New York City to produce certain musicals after their original runs on Broadway. For example, they were the first to bring High Fidelity, Cry-Baby, and Hands on a Hardbody back to the stage. Their performances of these shows received great reviews, helping them find new audiences in other parts of the country.
Awards and Recognition
New Line Theatre has been recognized for its amazing work over the years. The St. Louis Theater Circle gave them a special award for all the great shows they've produced. They have also been featured in magazines like American Theatre (magazine) and local newspapers like The Riverfront Times.
A Look at Past Productions
New Line Theatre has put on many exciting shows since it started. Here are some examples from their long history:
- Early Years (1991-1995):
- A Tribute to the Rock Musicals *
Assassins
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- Pippin
- Mid-90s to Early 2000s (1995-2002):
- Mid-2000s (2002-2006):
Bat Boy: The Musical
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- Sunday in the Park with George
- The Rocky Horror Show
- Jesus Christ Superstar
- Late 2000s (2006-2010):
- Urinetown
High Fidelity
- Early 2010s (2010-2014):
Bare: A Pop Opera
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- Next to Normal
- Rent
- Mid-2010s (2014-2017):
Bonnie & Clyde Heathers: The Musical
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- American Idiot
- Recent Years (2017-2020):
Lizzie
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- Be More Chill
Head Over Heels
An asterisk (*) means it was a world premiere (the very first time the show was performed anywhere). A double-asterisk (**) means it was a regional premiere (the first time the show was performed in that area).
