Breaking News: MURDER BALLAD to Open at Union Square Theatre on 5/22; Caissie Levy to Replace Karen Olivo as 'Sara'

MURDER BALLAD, the new musical that enjoyed an acclaimed, sold-out engagement at Manhattan Theatre Club's The Studio at Stage II, will transfer to the Union Square Theatre (100 East 17^th Street) this spring for a strictly limited nine week engagement, featuring three of the critically acclaimed cast members from the MTC run of the musical: John Ellison Conlee, Rebecca Naomi Jones, and Will Swenson. They will be joined by Caissie Levy who will play the role of 'Sara.'

Performances will resume at the Union Square Theatre on Tuesday, May 7 with a press opening set for Wednesday, May 22. Tickets for Murder Ballad on sale tomorrow at 10 AM via Ticketmaster.com or calling 800-982-2787.

Last week, Murder Ballad received five Lucille Lortel nominations, including Best Musical, making it the most nominated musical of the season.

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.

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).

MURDER BALLAD is being produced at the Union Square Theatre by Manhattan Theatre Club Productions, Inc.; Niclas Nagler; Richard Frankel; Tom Viertel; Steven Baruch; Marc Routh; Simone Genatt Haft; Scott M. Delman; and Susanne Adamski.

The world premiere cast album for Murder Ballad will be released soon from Yellow Sound Label.

Tickets to Murder Ballad will go on sale on tomorrow via Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-982-2787. Starting Monday, April 29, the Union Square Theatre Box Office (100 East 17^th Street) will sell tickets to Murder Ballad. Tickets are $80.00 for performances Monday-Thursday and $90.00 for performances Friday-Sunday. Rush policies for Murder Ballad will be announced shortly.