A touchy topic, set to music: Troupe stages `Assassins'.Byline: The Register-Guard Two musicals open on Eugene stages this week: One is an audacious production that became a Broadway hit; the other is an adaptation for young performers of a classic story. Assassins Lord Leebrick Theatre Previews Wednesday; closes Oct. 16 The Lord Leebrick Theatre Company begins its 14th season Friday with a production of the Tony Award-winning musical ``Assassins'' with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Noun 1. Stephen Sondheim - United States composer of musicals (born in 1930) Sondheim and libretto libretto (ləbrĕt`ō) [Ital.,=little book], the text of an opera or an oratorio. Although a play usually emphasizes an integrated plot, a libretto is most often a loose plot connecting a series of episodes. by John Weidman John Weidman is an American librettist. He is the son of librettist and novelist Jerome Weidman. Since 1986, John Weidman has been a staff writer for Sesame Street, for which he has won numerous Emmy Awards. He is president of the Dramatists Guild of America. . OPENING THIS WEEK Perhaps the most controversial musical ever written, "Assassins" won four Tonys last year, including best musical revival. It is the story of the lives of the nine individuals who assassinated as·sas·si·nate tr.v. as·sas·si·nat·ed, as·sas·si·nat·ing, as·sas·si·nates 1. To murder (a prominent person) by surprise attack, as for political reasons. 2. , or tried to assassinate as·sas·si·nate tr.v. as·sas·si·nat·ed, as·sas·si·nat·ing, as·sas·si·nates 1. To murder (a prominent person) by surprise attack, as for political reasons. 2. , the president of the United States The head of the Executive Branch, one of the three branches of the federal government. The U.S. Constitution sets relatively strict requirements about who may serve as president and for how long. . From John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald Noun 1. Lee Harvey Oswald - United States assassin of President John F. Kennedy (1939-1963) Oswald to John Hinckley, Sondheim and Weidman bend the rules of time and space, taking you on a frightening and hilarious roller-coaster ride in which assassins and would-be assassins from different historical periods meet, interact and inspire each other to harrowing acts in pursuit of the American dream American dream also American Dream n. An American ideal of a happy and successful life to which all may aspire: . As the musical opens, a crowd is gathering at a carnival shooting gallery shooting gallery Substance abuse A place–eg, an abandoned building in an economically-depressed urban area–ie, a ghetto, where IV drug users congregate, purchase, inject–'shoot' heroin, cocaine, oxycodone or other drug. that features a revolving wheel on which various presidents are depicted. Attempting to entice customers toward his stand, the proprietor of the gallery shouts: ``C'mere and kill a president!'' From there, the show goes on to examine the lives of the men and women who have committed, or attempted to commit, the ultimate crime. From Sam Byck, who hijacked a plane and tried to kill Richard Nixon by crashing into the White House, to Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, the former Charles Manson Charles Milles Manson (born November 12, 1934) is a career criminal who led the so-called Manson Family, a commune or cult that began to form around him in the U.S. city of San Francisco in 1967. groupie, each assassin is made to confront his or her act of meaningless violence that failed to bring about the desired results. With artistic direction by Craig Willis Craig Willis (born 1954-) is an Australian announcer who has appeared as the voice of many of the Seven Network's AFL Grand Final broadcasts. He is known to many as the 'voice of the AFL' He also performs voiceovers at many major events, including the Melbourne Cup. and musical direction by Vicki Brabham, the show stars local actors such as Benjamin Newman as Oswald, Michael Watkins as Booth, Ben Minnis as Hinckley, Kim Bates Bates , Katherine Lee 1859-1929. American educator and writer best known for her poem "America the Beautiful," written in 1893 and revised in 1904 and 1911. as Fromme, Don Kelley as Charles Guiteau, Matt Musgrove as Leon Czolgosz, Connie Hymer as Sara Jane Moore Sara Jane Moore (born Sara Jane Kahn[1] on February 15, 1930[2] in Charleston, West Virginia[1]) attempted to assassinate US President Gerald Ford on September 22, 1975 outside the St. , Richard Leebrick as Byck and Al Villanueva as Giuseppe Zangara. The rest of the cast includes Chad Bush, Kim Donahey, Larry George, Evan Howells, Michael Scott, Evynne Smith and Jeremy Wierenga. "Assassins" is the first musical in more than 10 years to be staged at Lord Leebrick. "Eugene audiences will be thrilled by the experience of a first-rate musical in our intimate theater space," Willis says. "We're expanding our seating and putting the audience on all four sides to create a carnival-style shooting gallery to accommodate this musical `fun house.' '' Jeffrey Cook, a Seattle-based scenic designer, created the set. The rest of the production team includes assistant director and choreographer Kimberly Colburn, costume designer Anna Lawrence, lighting designer Janet Rose, sound designer Danny Thomas and properties coordinator Sarah Fix. Two preview performances will be 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Regular evening performances will be at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and Sept. 29-Oct. 1, Oct. 6-8 and 13-15. Two Sunday matinees are scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 9 and 16. Tickets are $14 on Thursdays and Sundays and $18 on Fridays and Saturdays. Students get a discount to $10 on Thursdays. Seniors get a discount to $12 on Sundays. The two previews cost $6 for students and $8 for general admission. The Lord Leebrick Theatre is at 540 Charnelton St. Call the box office at 465-1506. Cinderella Actors Cabaret of Eugene Youth Academy Opens Saturday; closes Oct. 9 Actors Cabaret of Eugene Youth Academy will present the Oregon premiere of ``Cinderella,'' adapted for young performers, over the next two weekends. A performance at the Hult Center's Soreng Theater will follow on Oct. 9. This version of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic has been adapted for performers between 8 and 18 years old. Joe Zingo will direct with Erica Jean as the vocal director. Ashley Apelzin will star in the title role. The original ``Cinderella'' was Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's only musical created for television. First presented by CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. in 1957, it starred Julie Andrews and was the most widely viewed program in the history of TV at the time. There were subsequent TV versions, too: Lesley Ann Warren starred in one in 1965; and in 1997, Brandy was Cinderella and Whitney Houston was her fairy godmother. In this version, besides Apelzin, you'll see local actors Arianna Avena, Marley Blue, Kella Hanna-Wayne, Nathan Hanson, Josiah Hull, Maura Humphreys, Hillary Humphreys, Joseph Lombardi, Carrie Schell, Alexandria Shonk, Braden Smith, Maddie Thompson and Kyra Walters, along with an ensemble cast of eight. Performances are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday and Sept. 25, and Oct. 1-2 at the Actors Cabaret Annex, 39 W. 10th Ave. There also will be a show at 2 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Hult Center's Soreng Theatre, Seventh Avenue and Willamette Street. Admission to Annex shows is $12 for reserved seats and $8 for youth 12 and younger. Call 683-4368. The Hult Center performance is $15 for reserved seats and $12 for youth 12 and younger. Call 682-5000. CAPTION(S): Lord Leebrick Theatre's "Assassins" includes (from left) Benjamin Newman as Lee Harvey Oswald, Michael Watkins as John Wilkes Booth, Don Kelley as Charles Guiteau, Kim Bates as Squeaky Fromme and Connie Hymer as Sarah Jane Moore. |
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