Photo Coverage: MURDER BALLAD's Opening Night Party!

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by Walter McBride

The Off-Broadway production of Murder Ballad is currently playing at The Studio at Stage II at New York City Center and opened last night, November 15. Manhattan Theatre Club's Murder Ballad, the new musical that is the inaugural production of MTC’s The Studio at Stage II – Harold and Mimi Steinberg New Play Series at New York City Center – Stage II, runs through December 2. BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture all of opening night. Check out photos from the opening night party below!

Murder Ballad is conceived by Jonathan Larson Award winner and two-time Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Julia Jordan with book and lyrics by Jordan and music and lyrics by indie rock singer/songwriter Juliana Nash. Drama Desk Award nominee Trip Cullman (Paul Weitz’s Lonely, I’m Not; Adam Bock’s A Small Fire) directs.

Murder Ballad features four of New York’s most exciting musical theatre talents: Tony Award nominee John Ellison Conlee (“Parks & Rec,” The Full Monty), Rebecca Naomi Jones (American Idiot, Passing Strange), Tony Award winner Karen Olivo (West Side Story, In The Heights), and Tony Award nominee Will Swenson (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Hair).

A love triangle gone wrong, Murder Ballad centers on Sara, an Upper West Sider who seems to have it all, but whose downtown past lingers enticingly and dangerously in front of her. This sexy, explosive new musical explores the complications of love, the compromises we make, and the betrayals that can ultimately undo us.

The creative team for Murder Ballad includes: Mark Wendland (scenic design), Jessica Pabst (costume design), Ben Stanton (lighting design), Leon Rothenberg (sound design), Doug Varone (choreography), and Justin Levine (music director, vocal arranger and orchestrator).

In order to ensure that tickets to Murder Ballad are affordable to the widest possible, most diverse audiences, MTC is continuing the $30 pricing for all tickets during this extension week. Tickets are on sale via CityTix (212-581-1212), www.nycitycenter.org and at the New York City Center Box Office.

Photos by Walter McBride



Director Trip Cullman


John Ellison Conlee


Julia Jordan


Juliana Nash


Will Swenson


Rebecca Naomi Jones


Nicole Lewis


Celia Keenan-Bolger


Juliana Nash


Karen Olivo


Rebecca Naomi Jones


Director Trip Cullman


John Ellison Conlee


John Ellison Conlee


Karen Olivo


Karen Olivo


Karen Olivo


Karen Olivo


Will Swenson


Will Swenson


Rebecca Naomi Jones


Nicole Lewis


Michael Chernus


Celia Keenan-Bolger & John Ellison


Juliana Nash & Julia Jordan


Juliana Nash & Julia Jordan


Karen Olivo & Audra McDonald


Juliana Nash & Julia Jordan


Celia Keenan-Bolger & John Ellison Conlee


Karen Olivo, John Ellison Conlee, Rebecca Naomi Jones and Will Swenson


Karen Olivo, John Ellison Conlee, Rebecca Naomi Jones and Will Swenson


Juliana Nash, Julia Jordan, Mandy Greenfield, Trip Cullman, Karen Olivo, John Ellison Conlee, Rebecca Naomi Jones and Will Swenson


Juliana Nash, Julia Jordan, Mandy Greenfield, Trip Cullman, Karen Olivo, John Ellison Conlee, Rebecca Naomi Jones and Will Swenson


Mandy Greenfield, Julia Jordan, Juliana Nash and Trip Cullman


Mandy Greenfield, Julia Jordan, Juliana Nash


Kevin Smith Kirkwood & Nicole Lewis


Audra McDonald & Will Swenson


Rebecca Naomi Jones, Kevin Smith Kirkwood & Nicole Lewis


Karen Olivo & Guest


Rebecca Naomi Jones & Director Trip Cullman


Karen Olivo & Julia Jordan


Rebecca Naomi Jones, Kevin Smith Kirkwood & Nicole Lewis


Daniel Breaker & Karen Olivo


Rebecca Naomi Jones and Daniel Breaker


Audra McDonald & Will Swenson