High Times

In my capacity as the senior performing arts critic and performing arts producer at 88.1 KDHX, I get a fair number of press releases about local theatre events on a regular basis. It occurred to me that I could do worse than to pass the news along to anyone who might actually be reading this here blog.

Here, then, is the first in a series of series of releases relevant to the local theatre scene, prefaced by my own sagacious (or not) views on the subject.  I have edited the original copy for length but not for content.

My take: I was somewhat underwhelmed by High when I saw it last year.  The script struck me as clumsily written and overly dependent on the "big secret" gimmick to create dramatic tension.  Of the three characters described in the press release below, only the addict, Corey, seemed to have any real life or depth - possibly because the author is also a recovering addict.  On the other hand, given the fact that High has been in a pretty much constant state of revision for some time now, it's possible that the show I saw and the one that New Yorkers will see in the spring will be very different animals.

Given the celebrity-driven nature of the Broadway stage, it's possible that Turner's name on the bill might be enough to assure High of an audience, but I wouldn't bet on it.

The press release:

The Rep to Produce High on Broadway

After a successful run in St. Louis, Matthew Lombardo’s new play is Broadway-bound

ST. LOUIS, MO – The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) announced today that it is a producer of Matthew Lombardo’s High, directed by Rob Ruggiero and starring movie and stage actress Kathleen Turner, opening on Broadway this spring.

Leonard Soloway, Chase Mishkin, Terry. E. Schnuck, Ann Cady Scott, Timothy J. Hampton, James and Catherine Berges, The Shubert Organization and The Rep will produce the Broadway run.
High will begin previews on Friday, March 25 and open officially on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at the Booth Theatre in New York City. High will play Tuesday – Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2:00 pm & Sunday matinees at 3:00 pm.

Tickets will be available beginning Monday, January 24 online at Telecharge.com or by phone at (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250. The Booth Theatre Box Office (222 W. 45th St) will open on Friday, March 4th. Ticket prices range from $61.50–$111.50 with a special preview price of $61.50–$91.50 for performances March 25–April 18.

A $26.50 ticket will be reserved for the first row for all performances, for audience members ages 17–21. Interested ticket buyers can purchase these seats at the Booth Theatre box office only, the day of the performance.  There will be a limit of two tickets per person.

In July 2010, High premiered at TheaterWorks in Hartford, Connecticut, followed by the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park in September 2010 and The Rep in October 2010.

The cast includes Tony Award® nominee Kathleen Turner as Sister Jamison Connelly, Tony Award® nominee Stephen Kunken (Enron) as Father Michael Delpapp and Evan Jonigkeit making his Broadway debut as Cody Randall.

High explores the universal themes of truth, forgiveness, redemption and human fallibility. When Sister Jamison Connelly (Turner) agrees to sponsor a 19 year–old drug user in an effort to help him combat his addiction, her own faith is ultimately tested. Struggling between the knowledge she possesses as a rehabilitation counselor and a woman of religious conviction, she begins to question her belief in miracles and whether people can find the courage to change.

"I am absolutely thrilled that The Rep has the opportunity to help produce High on Broadway," said Steve Woolf, artistic director of The Rep.  "We were asked to sign on as a producer because of the work we did in developing High during its pre–Broadway run and the success which the show had in St. Louis. Initially, we were reluctant to do this because we did not want to commit The Rep’s money to backing a Broadway show.  After giving it a little more thought, we were able to come up with a unique plan whereby we asked supporters of The Rep to invest in the Broadway production on our behalf.  Through this mechanism, we have raised about 30% of the capitalization of the Broadway production from investors in St. Louis.  It has been a great opportunity for us to be part of the Broadway producing team, without putting any of The Rep’s money at risk," said Woolf.

Over 19,000 people came to see High at The Rep during its four–week run, with 90% of shows completely selling out, making it the one of the highest selling shows in The Rep’s history.

Playwright Matthew Lombardo is also thrilled with The Rep’s involvement in taking High to Broadway. "I am so excited to continue my collaboration with The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. This venue in particular has been instrumental in the development of my play and it is so wonderful to have them onboard as one of our Broadway producers. This accomplishment would not have been possible without The Rep’s unwavering commitment and dedication."

High contains mature themes, strong language, and nudity. A parent or guardian will be required to accompany audience members under 17.


For more information on High on Broadway visit http://www.highonbroadway.com. To purchase tickets, visit Telecharge.com or call (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250.

For information on The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and the current season of shows, visit http://www.repstl.org or call (314) 968-4925.