Photo Flash: Firebrand Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of LIZZIE

Firebrand Theatre, the first musical theatre company committed to employing and empowering women by expanding opportunities on and off the stage, is pleased to present its inaugural production, the Chicago premiere of LIZZIE, the rock musical based on the true-life story of accused axe-murderess Lizzie Borden. LIZZIE will play November 11 - December 17, 2017 at The Den Theatre's Bookspan Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. Single tickets for LIZZIE and season subscriptions (including 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL) are currently available at firebrandtheatre.org.

 

Directed by Victoria Bussert with music direction by Andra Velis Simon, LIZZIE features music by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Alan Stevens Hewitt, lyrics by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Tim Maner, book by Tim Maner, additional music by Tim Maner, additional lyrics by Alan Stevens Hewitt, based on an original concept by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Tim Maner with orchestrations by Alan Stevens Hewitt.

 

LIZZIE features Liz Chidester as Lizzie, Leah Davis as Bridget, Jacquelyne Jones as Alice and Camille Robinson as Emma.

 

"Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, gave her father forty-one." So goes the nursery rhyme describing the crime of the century that took the nation by storm when Lizzie Borden murdered her parents with an axe in 1892. Or did she? LIZZIE is a musical that reimagines that bloody legend with four women fronting a female rock band. LIZZIE is American mythology set to a blistering rock score with rage, sex, betrayal and bloody murder.

 

Late Night Understudy Showcase

 

The production's understudy cast will be featured in late night, concert-style performances of LIZZIE throughout the run. The understudy cast includes Kyrie Anderson as Lizzie, Tatiana Bustamante as Bridget, Paige Daigle as Alice and Dakota Hughes as Emma. All late-night performances are pay-what-you-can.

 

Comments Artistic Director Harmony France, "We knew pretty early on that we wanted Lizzie to open our season. It fits our mission perfectly. It's one of the few musicals that feature all women. The characters are flawed and complicated in a way that women don't normally get to portray in musical theatre. There is an unapologetic blistering rock score that will be played by our all femme band. It's sexy and scary and vulnerable and there's a splash zone. The alleged axe-murderess, Lizzie Borden, has captured our imagination for centuries. She is a fascinating historical figure who lived a very unconventional life and she is one of the few women in America responsible for a 'crime of the century.' At Firebrand, we are committed to illuminating women's stories whether they're good, bad or ugly - and Lizzie is definitely all of the above."

 

The production team for LIZZIE includes: Eleanor Kahn (scenic design), Charlotte M. Yetman (costume design), Maya Michele Fein (lighting design), Victoria Deiorio (sound design), Jon Martinez (assistant director), Danielle Stack (production manager) and Jean E. Compton (stage manager).

 

(left to right) Jacquelyne Jones,  Liz Chidester, Camille Robinson and Leah Davis in Firebrand Theatre's Chicago premiere of LIZZIE. Photo by Marisa KM.

(left to right) Leah Davis, Liz Chidester, Camille Robinson and Jacquelyne Jones in Firebrand Theatre's  Chicago premiere of LIZZIE. Photo by Marisa KM.

(back) Leah Davis with (front, l to r) Camille Robinson, Liz Chidester and Jacquelyne Jones in Firebrand Theatre's Chicago premiere of LIZZIE. Photo by Marisa KM.

(left to right) Jacquelyne Jones and Liz Chidester in Firebrand Theatre's Chicago premiere of LIZZIE. Photo by Marisa KM.

(left to right) Jacquelyne Jones and Liz Chidester in Firebrand Theatre's Chicago premiere of LIZZIE. Photo by Marisa KM.

(left to right) Camille Robinson and Liz Chidester in Firebrand Theatre's Chicago premiere of LIZZIE. Photo by Marisa KM.

(back) Leah Davis with (front, l to r) Liz Chidester, Jacquelyne Jones and Camille Robinson in Firebrand Theatre's Chicago premiere of LIZZIE. Photo by Marisa KM.

(left to right) Liz Chidester, Leah Davis, Camille Robinson and Jacquelyne Jones in Firebrand Theatre's Chicago premiere of LIZZIE. Photo by Marisa KM.

 

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