The Seriously Hilarious 1969 Experimental Musical Comedy! Come for the Party! Stay for the War!

New Line Theatre continues its 34th season with the uproarious 1969 experimental musical comedy PROMENADE at the Marcelle Theater in the Grand Center Arts District.

One of the biggest off Broadway hits of 1969 boasts an absurdist story, a diverse cast, and features a script and lyrics by Latina playwright-director María Irene Fornés, the “mother of avant-garde theatre,” with music by gay minister Al Carmines. With a tiny budget, PROMENADE debuted at the Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village before moving off Broadway. Beneath its dizzying comedy and catchy songs, it explores the ways in which social class can both liberate and imprison us, exploring themes big issues along the way, like wealth inequality, law and order, war, corruption, body image, gender, sexuality, and more. With many of these issues still deeply relevant today, this show has grown powerfully relevant again. In 2019, PROMENADE was presented as part of New York City Center’s Encores! Series.

This Obie Award-winning Best Musical, an abstract fantasia of song and dance, follows the exploits of two escaped prisoners navigating The Big City, where the poor and homeless mingle with the Idle Rich.

PROMENADE premiered at the Judson Poet's Theatre in New York City in April 1965, before trasnfering off-Broadway to the Promenade Theatre in June 1969, where it became the surprise smash hit of the season. María Irene Fornés earned a 1965 Obie Award for Distinguished New Play or Musical, for PROMENADE.

In a review in The New York Times for a 1983 New York revival, Stephen Holden wrote, "This work, which suggests a mixture of Candide and Samuel Beckett viewed through Lewis Carroll's looking glass, is a little too avant-garde and absurdist to appeal to mainstream tastes. But in its odd way it's an exquisite piece of musical theater."

The New Line cast includes Tawaine Noah (as 105), Ronmal Mottley (as 106), Ian McCreary (Jailer), Stephanie Merritt (Servant), Kathleen Dwyer (Miss I), Kay Love (Miss O), Chelsie Johnston (Miss U), Zack Huels (Mr. R), Kent Coffel (Mr. S), Robert Doyle (Mr. T), Lauren Tenenbaum (Miss Cake), Bee Mecey (Mother), Todd Garten (Mayor), Nathan Mecey (Waiter/Soldier/Driver), and Michael Kramer (Dishwasher/Soldier/Injured Man). New Line's production will be directed by Scott Miller and Chris Moore, with music direction by Jason Eschhofen, and costume design by Becca Rose Bessette.