'Twas a Year Full of New Line, 2025

'Twas a year full of New Line, still lurching toward stable;
Our budget's quite tight, but we do what we're able.
They say that we all have to suffer for art,
But the making of art is the easier part;
It's the bowing and scraping and begging for money,
To pay for the art and the artists to run free;
We suffer alright, and that suff'ring ain't done, G...

The Missouri Arts Council, which once we could trust,
Decided to yank all their funding from us!
For thirty-three years, they had funded New Line,
Now they've blacklisted us, to send us a sign:
Our founding philosophy makes them so sad,
'Cause we value diversity; they think that's bad.
See, Missouri's a red state -- and stark raving mad!

We started the year going back to the Sheldon;
Our Broadway Noir concert was 'specially well-done --
Performers of color recaptured the show tune,
In dazzling displays, like a big Broadway typhoon!
So eye-op'ning, mind-blowing, gob-smacking too,
For these much gifted artists, their message came through --
Just let them, and they'll show you what they can do!

What a joy to return to the Frankenstein Place,
And a re-mounting of Rocky Horror, to face
All the horrors of Now, when our world is so mad,
To remind us that differences aren't always bad,
That queer folks and trans folks and other non-normies
Are just like the rest of us, so we perform these
Subversive rock tuners with important stories.

It was more than a decade since we last did Rent,
But these times, they demanded a cry of dissent
Against hatred and bias and misinformation
That slices and dices our nattering nation;
So Roger and Mark and their friends all returned
To remind us again what we each should have learned,
That empathy's how our humanity's earned.

We brought back the Bat Boy for one final time,
'Cause we need the reason inside of his rhyme,
'Cause we need reminding that scapegoating sucks,
'Cause morality, decency both are in flux.
It's now that we need what our musicals do,
Reveal the real world, with a fictional skew,
To show us the truth 'bout ourselves that breaks through.

Yes, New Line has lasted for thirty-four years,
Through poverty, challenges, setbacks, and tears,
But we're all still plugging along, as we do,
To bring all the quirkiest, best shows to you,
With Promenade's wacky, insightful satire,
And We Will Rock You, full of Queen's rockin' fire,
Plus more of the musical art you inspire.

Stay Sane and Safe, and Have a Happy New Year!
Long Live the Musical!
Scott

P.S. I started these year-poems on a whim way back in 2013. If you're a glutton for punishment, here are my poems from 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024. (Yes, I skipped 2021.)

P.P.S. To buy tickets to our 2026 shows, Broadway Noir DEUX!, Promenade and We Will Rock You, click here.

P.P.P.S. If you'd like to contribute to New Line Theatre (you know you would!), just click here.