Breaking: 2004 Cast of Roundabout's ASSASSINS to Reunite for Dec. 3 Benefit Reading; Cerveris, O'Hare, Kudisch, Harris, Barbour, Cantone & More!

Roundabout Theatre Company has just announced a special Benefit performance of ASSASSINS with music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman, with Joe Mantello reprising his Tony Award winning direction.

Reuniting for one night only are the stars of the 2004 Tony Award winning production: Becky Ann Baker (Sara Jane Moore), James Barbour (Leon Czolgosz), Mario Cantone (Samuel Byck), Michael Cerveris (John Wilkes Booth), Mary Catherine Garrison (Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme), Alexander Gemignani (John Hinckley), Neil Patrick Harris (Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald), Marc Kudisch (Proprietor), Jeffrey Kuhn (Giuseppe Zangara) and Denis O'Hare (Charles Guiteau).

The Benefit Concert Reading will take place on Monday, December 3, 2012 at 7:30PM at Studio 54, on the same Broadway stage that Assassins thrilled audiences in 2004. The evening will feature musical direction by Paul Gemignani.

About the concert, Roundabout's Todd Haimes, Artistic Director said "Roundabout's ongoing relationship with Stephen Sondheim has meant so much to this theatre over the years. Assassins was an incredibly proud moment for all of us, and I know that it will be thrilling to revisit Joe Mantello's brilliant production, especially with the original cast. We are so grateful to Mary Jo and Ted Shen, whose lead support allows us to present this reunion concert reading of Assassins and to raise important funds for Roundabout's Musical Theatre Program."

The company will also include ensemble cast members from the original 2004 production: Merwin Foard, Eamon Foley, Ken Krugman, Anne L. Nathan, Chris Peluso, Brandon Wardell, Sally Wilfert. ASSASSINS is the show that gives new meaning to the phrase "killer musical." With a stylish Stephen Sondheim score and a provocative book by John Weidman, Assassins brings to the stage a (shooting) gallery of some of history's most notorious players – the men and women who attempted to kill American Presidents. This striking work looks at the lives, loves and lunacy of nine American assassins, including John Wilkes Booth, John Hinckley, Lee Harvey Oswald and Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme. Both serious and satirical, the musical asks what hunger drove these people to their actions and what binds them all together. Is that drive what makes them quintessentially American? ASSASSINS first appeared off-Broadway in 1991. Roundabout's 2004 revival, under the direction of Joe Mantello, was the show's Broadway debut and received huge critical acclaim, winning five Tony Awards®, including Best Revival of a Musical, Best Director for Mantello, and Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Michael Cerveris as John Wilkes Booth. That year, ASSASSINS also won four Drama Desk Awards, two Outer Critics Circle Awards, a Theatre World Award and a Drama League Award for Distinguished Production of a Revival - Musical.

Roundabout has a long relationship with Stephen Sondheim having produced five Tony Award nominated Sondheim revivals including Company (1995), Follies (2001), Tony Award winning Assassins (2004), Pacific Overtures (2004) and Sunday in the Park with George (2008). In 2005, Roundabout honored Sondheim with the Jason Robards Award for Excellence in Theatre for the indelible impact his life's work has made on the theatre world and in 2010, the Stephen Sondheim Theatre was named in his honor. This special performance of Assassins marks the fourth Sondheim musical produced by Roundabout Theatre Company at Studio 54, where Assassins, Pacific Overtures and Sunday in the Park with George all played.

VIP, Premium, and Benefit tickets include admission to an exclusive cast party following the performance with all proceeds to benefit not-for-profit Roundabout Theatre Company and all its programs and activities.

Major support for the Benefit performance of Assassins is provided by Presenters Mary Jo and Ted Shen. Roundabout gratefully acknowledges Gold Sponsors the HRH Foundation and one anonymous donor, and Silver Sponsors Michael T. Cohen, Colliers International NY LLC, and Mark R. Fetting.

TICKET INFORMATION:

Beginning August 21, tax-deductible benefit tickets will be available by calling Roundabout's Development Office at (212)719-9393. Production Underwriter packages available upon inquiry.

VIP Tickets at $5,000 (Limited Availability) - The VIP experience includes the very best house seats for the performance, complimentary cocktail at intermission, post-show cast party with reserved VIP seating, a limited edition poster, plus two seats to the opening night of an upcoming Roundabout production. ($4,700 tax-deductible)

Premium Tickets at $2,500 - Includes premium center orchestra seating, complimentary cocktail at intermission, post-show cast party and limited edition show poster. ($2,200 tax-deductible)

Benefit Tickets at $1,000 - Includes premium orchestra seat, complimentary cocktail at intermission and post-show cast party. ($700 tax-deductible)

Select orchestra and mezzanine tickets ($150-$500) will also be available to the general public by calling Roundabout Audience Services at (212)719-1300 or online: www.roundabouttheatre.org.