ASSASSINS Closes Season At The Long Beach Playhouse

The Long Beach Playhouse Studio Theatre closes its 2018 season with Stephen Sondheim's musical Assassins. The play opens with an eerie carnival calliope playing Hail to the Chief. Instead of a patriotic welcome for a president it's a carnival shooting gallery that offers a shocking invitation to the assembled crowd. As the barker calls for contestants, eight individuals step forward.

Apparel ranges from a 19th Century frock coat to a Santa Claus costume. Each receives their own gun. And with that most shocking opening scene, musical genius Stephen Sondheim and playwright John Weidman bend time and space to allow the nation's nine successful and would-be presidential assassins to meet, interact, and inspire one another to make their mark in the American history books.

"Sondheim uses music to show us the souls of the assassins," said Madison Mooney, Executive Director for the Long Beach Playhouse. "He insists we see them as human beings and understand their motives. For example, John Wilkes Booth muses that some think he did it for fame, but he contends he wanted to kill the man who killed his country. Unfortunately, that probably reflected the view of many southerners in that era."

The music for The Ballad of Booth is reminiscent of Civil War songs. John Hinckley is writing a love note to Jodie Foster that turns into a ballad. Squeaky Fromme joins with Hinckley declaring her love for Charlie Manson.

"It's the music that speaks the loudest," said Sean Gray, Artistic Director for the Playhouse and director for this show. "The lyrics draw us in and show us the commonality in the experience. In Something Just Broke Sondheim reminds us that the words 'I know where I was when I heard it' cuts across political leanings and time to capture the feeling of the nation when a president is shot.

"One of the defining characteristics of Sondheim is his ability to handle the darkest of topics with melodies and arrangements that are upbeat and in sharp contrast to the lyrics. Not everyone can write about political assassinations in a way that makes one want to sing along, but Sondheim and Weidman have done just that. I think it's that counterpoint that makes the show engaging despite the dark subject."

As artistic director for the Playhouse, Gray proposed and advocated for the show. As the show's director, he is responsible for selecting the cast, approving the designs and pulling the absolute best performance out of the actors as individuals and as a group. This is his tenth time in the director's chair at the Playhouse. He has a string of successes behind him including Spring Awakening, Sweeney Todd and Cabaret.

The set is equal parts patriotic Americana and pure carnival. Stephen Olear is the musical director. The show boasts a six-piece band with trombones, flutes, sax, keyboards and drums. Halley Hardy is the choreographer, her touch is a meaningful addition to the production. Costume Shop Manager Donna Fritsche and her team of volunteers are building memorable costumes for the actors. Her talents for design and storytelling will be on full display.

Making their debuts are: Derek Rubiano, Kevin Wood, Sean McCallon, John Vann, Amanda Webb and Jess Oliver. Those returning are: Brian Pirnat, Jeseka Luna, Kyra Kiener, Taryne Moyse, Nick Bradfield, Noah Wagner, Hunter Ryti, Mark Eggert, William Ardelean, and Serena Bottiani-Henderson.

The show opens October 12 and runs through November 17.

Friday: Adults are $20.00, Seniors $18.00, and Students $14.00Saturday and Sunday: Adults are $24.00, Seniors $21.00, and Students $14.00.

Tickets are available at www.lbplayhouse.org, or by calling 562-494-1014, option 1. Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA, 90804, right across from the Long Beach Recreation golf course. The Playhouse is community-supported theatre with programs and events that cut across age, gender, ethnic, and cultural boundaries.

Performances are 8 p.m. Friday, and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The box office is open Wednesday-Saturday from 3:00-8:00 pm and Sundays from 1:00-2:00 pm on scheduled matinees.

To post a comment, you must register and login.