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“font-family: Verdana;”>In 2007, when Passing Strange made its Off Broadway debut, The Color Purple cash cow had Broadway captivated and brought black audiences in droves to connect with what was thought to be “black musical theatre at its finest.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The Color Purple “font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>captured the attention of the mainstream – who traveled by planes, trains and automobiles to connect with the Oprah Winfrey-backed production. But with Passing Strange, writer and performer Stew delivered for hardcore theatre lovers.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>With its unique character composition and storyline and primarily rock musical catalog, the production attracted those in search of an entirely new concept of the black musical.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Audience buzz for the groundbreaking musical continued long after Color Purple had come and gone. It would lead to an award-winning Broadway run, Tony Award nominations, a film adaptation by Spike Lee and international praise at Sundance, Tribeca and SXSW film festivals.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>New Line Theatre Company Artistic Director Scott Miller knew from a small snippet that the show was perfect for the cutting-edge drama he produces. Much to his delight, the show will make its St. Louis debut this week.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I saw a piece of it on the Tony Awards show and it seemed pretty amazing,” said Miller, who also directs the New Line presentation of Passing Strange.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I saw the film on PBS, and it absolutely thrilled me. It was exactly the type of show we do. I knew that Passing Strange is universal, and anybody who saw this show would see themselves in what was going on onstage.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The all-black production focuses on the complexities that come with young people developing their own identities – the speed bumps, doubts, growing pains and turmoil that come with the territory.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>The New Line Theatre production of the show stars Charles Glenn, Keith parker, Talichia Noah, Jeanitta Perkins, Andrea Purnell, John Reed and Cecil Washington.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The piece is a brilliantly played showcase of the diversity that lies within the American black experience. It highlights the angst of upper- and middle-class blacks and their struggle to find a relevant voice among blackness that seems to be associated and identified through blight and lack.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I don’t think our regular audience is going to think anything different of it, but I’m hoping that it will bring in a new crowd,” Miller said. “My hope is because we are doing a black show we will get a black audience – and they will keep coming back.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>Passing Strange “font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>is all black, but also mostly all rock. The lead characters are torn with respect to every aspect of their identity – from sexual to racial – and they travel to Europe to find themselves as people, activists and artists. What they actually find is that they managed to smuggle their insecurities across the ocean.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The notion of an expanded idea of black struggle, as is relates to the common identity crises among black children of privilege, is one of the musical’s many gifts. But Miller believes the push and pull among the characters goes far beyond their blackness.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“It’s everybody’s story of growing up and figuring out who you are,” Miller said. “And everybody – no matter what their background is – they are going to see themselves in Passing Strange. And that’s pretty cool.”
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Passing Strange runs Sept. 22-Oct. 15 at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend. For more information, visit
“http://www.newlinetheatre.com/”>www.newlinetheatre.com A special opening night performance will include a post-show meet and greet with cast members on Friday.
