Book by Arhtur Kopit
Based on the film 8½ written & directed by Federico Fellini
Adapted from the Italian by Mario Fratti
March 2-25, 2023
Marcelle Theater
Show Webpage
Production Photos
THE CAST
Guido Contini – Cole Gutmann
Luisa Contini – Lisa Karpowicz
Carla Albanese – Sarah Wilkinson
Claudia Nardi – Ann Hier Brown
Liliane LaFleur – Kimmie Kidd-Booker
Diana – Kat Bailey
Mama Maddelena / Annabella – Kathleen Dwyer
Juliette / Voice of Little Guido – Brittany Kohl Hester
Renata – Chelsie Johnston
Our Lady of the Spa – Kay Love
Saraghina – Sarah Lueken
Guido’s Mother – Stephanie Merritt
Lina Darling / Olga – Julia Monsey
Stephanie Necrophorus – Gillian Pieper
THE NEW LINE BAND
Conductor/Keyboard – Jenna Lee Moore
Cello – Tyler Davis
Brass – John Gerdes
Reeds – Lea Gerdes
Violin – Mallory Golden
Reeds – Joseph Hendricks
Percussion – Clancy Newell
THE ARTISTIC STAFF
Directors – Scott Miller, Chris Kernan
Music Director – Dr. Jenna Lee Moore
Choreographer – Chris Kernan
Stage Manager – Cat Draney
Dance Captain – Stephanie Merritt
Technical Director – Matt Stuckel
Sound Designer – Ryan Day
Scenic Designer – Rob Lippert
Costume Designer – Sarah Porter
Lighting Designer – Matt Stuckel
Props Master – Erin Goodenough
Scenic Crew – Richard Brown, Nick Brunstein, Patrick Donnigan, Bill Stuckel
Volunteer Coordinator – Alison Helmer
Graphic Designer – Matt Reedy
Photographer – Jill Ritter Lindberg
REVIEWS
“A spare but beautifully done stage musical revival in St. Louis, directed by New Line Theatre’s brainiac founder Scott Miller and energetic co-director and choreographer Chris Kernan. As you’d expect from New Line, it’s all lavishly sung, with a Cinemascopic eye for the period style, at the Marcelle Theatre. Sly and seductive, with all the psychological complexity you could ask for, this Nine is a lot more fun than I’d ever figured on. . . it’s flirty and confident and fun. In the beginning of Nine, Guido is the maestro, conducting the women. But by the end of this smart, spirited musical, it’s pretty clear these women have turned the tables on him.” – Richard Green, Talkin’ Broadway
“Thankfully, New Line Theatre has now given me and others the chance to see this unusual, fascinating show, which is ideal for this theatre company, known for its bold choices and excellent production quality, and especially great singing. . . There is also some of the best, most intricate ensemble singing I have heard at New Line, and with this company, that’s saying something. . . it’s staged and sung so well as to make audiences want to pay attention, and to ponder the issues being dealt with here. There’s drama, occasionally raunchy humor, intensity, and reflection. As is frequent for New Line, it’s a production that is simultaneously simple and complex, bringing out the truth of the material through authentic, credible performances and thoughtful staging. It’s a fantastic production.” – Michelle Kenyon, Snoop’s Theatre Thoughts
“New Line Theatre has made the story its own. . . a vocally gorgeous evening of songs that explore the vagaries of love, attraction and imagination.” – Tina Farmer, The Riverfront Times
“The singing is stellar, the story is satisfying and the New Line Theatre production of Maury Yeston’s and Arthur Kopit’s musical Nine is charming and intriguing throughout. . . Yeston generously spreads the musical numbers to many members of the show’s cast. In the case of New Line’s production, that’s a positive, since directors Scott Miller and Chris Kernan have assembled a cast of performers who really know how to turn a tune.” – Mark Bretz, Ladue News
“New Line’s production is passionate, compelling and enjoyable. Directors Scott Miller and Chris Kernan have assembled a female company of thirteen powerful female voices that meld magnificently and make this score come alive. . . New Line Theatre has again put together an overall performance that is entertaining and enjoyable. This production of Nine succeeds because of the quality performances of every member of the cast and their ability to deliver strong vocals.” – James Lindhorst, BroadwayWorld
“The crème de la crème of local female vocal talent displays why they have earned those reputations in a lusty version of Nine, an exotic Felliniesque musical being presented by New Line Theatre. . . New Line’s glamorous production has a cast of 13 females who are connected to celebrated director Guido Contini, a womanizer going through a midlife personal and professional crisis.” – Lynn Venhaus, PopLifeSTL
DIRECTOR'S NOTES
And in a manner that can only be called Felliniesque, the original film 8½ and its adaptations now form a wonderful kind of strange loop. The film was adapted for the musical stage in the early 1980s, retitled Nine, won tons of awards, and became an instant classic of musical theatre, originally directed, choreographed, and shaped by the great Tommy Tune. Then Rob Marshall adapted the musical for the screen. But Marshall made a film adaptation of both the original Fellini film and its stage adaptation. Marshall transformed the stage musical into a new Fellini film, as if Fellini himself were making a film version of the stage musical Nine.
I've been wanting to work on Nine since I first heard the thrilling cast recording in 1982. And I've always thought that it would be both a perfect New Line show and an incredible showcase for our incredibly talented and versatile local women actors. It turns out I’m right.
I remember the first time I saw 8½, it was like I had never really seen all that movies were capable of before that moment, and for the first time I saw how much more film could do than what we routinely get from Hollywood. I felt like Dorothy Gale emerging from the sepia and into Technicolor. I've watched the Fellini film several times over the years, and each time I find more richness in it – and more sly comedy. I love it so much that it moved me to start exploring other Fellini films, each one of them wondrous and mind-blowing, in all the best ways.
Both the film and stage musical tell the story of genius filmmaker Guido Contini (i.e., Fellini) going through a very painful midlife crisis, an artistic crisis, and a complete emotional collapse – and all presented as a wildly entertaining, surrealistic comic romp, all happening inside the mind of this troubled, brilliant, creative man. The challenge for Guido is to recognize his toxic behavior and his terrible treatment of the women in his life, all of which has been tolerated by those around him, and finally, at age forty, to Grow Up. It’s a journey we all have to take.
Guido’s is just more fun.
