Trustus Theatre Presents ASSASSINS 3/25-4/16

Stephen Sondheim (Sweeny Todd, Company, Into the Woods) and John Weidman's (Pacific Overtures) Assassins opened Off-Broadway in 1990, and a new revival script was produced on Broadway in 2004 winning five Tony Awards. Now, Trustus Theatre is bringing the award-winning revival of Assassins to the Capital City with an unprecedented cast and crew in tow. Assassins will begin knocking audiences dead on March 25th at 8:00pm on the Trustus Main Stage, and the production will run through April 16th, 2011.

One part Vaudeville, one part "revusical", and one part historical drama; Assassins brings the audience into a nightmarish amusement park where the American Dream is being put to the test. As the lights go down the crowd is plunged into a world where the rules of time no longer exist, and a carnival barker is selling firearms to all of the would-be presidential assassins from all eras of history claiming that "Everybody's got the right to their dreams." With John Wilkes Booth at the helm of this eccentric group of historic monsters, the assassins collect and interact as they execute their plans. Pitted against the assassins is the Balladeer, representing the folksy collective voice of the American people who attempts to take away the power that the assassins are trying to gain. The struggle grows into an unbelievable climax that leaves audiences breathless and moved as the assassins finally conspire to generate one of the most controversial events in American history.

Stephen Sondheim, who is considered the purveyor of modern musicals, is famously known for writing multi-layered and challenging material for musicians and singers. With Sondheim's music and lyrics joining John Weidman's highly lauded book writing, Assassins has become a theatrical gem offering actors the ability to create multi-dimensional and disciplined performances. The music in the show is also derived from popular music over the different eras of American history, to create an evening of familiar songs that take unfamiliar approaches in their performance. Trustus Theatre, in an effort to bring only the best musicals to the Capital City, happily added Assassins to the season and put young critically-acclaimed director Chad Henderson (Dog Sees God, The Last 5 Years, The Rocky Horror Show) at the helm of the project. Famously talented musical director Tom Beard signed on with Henderson, and the search for the cast began. 

"I knew this cast would have to be tremendous," said director Chad Henderson. "This musical is truly a piece of literature, so I was hopeful that the weight of the work would attract the actors in town who welcomed a challenge." Luckily Henderson was right, and after over four months of auditions a cast was assembled that was stacked with unbelievable talent and promise.

There are a lot of familiar faces from Columbia stages in the line-up for Assassins, along
with some new exciting culprits. Playing the Balladeer and Lee Harvey Oswald is Kevin Bush (Rent, The Thing About Men). Paul Kaufmann (I Am My Own Wife, Dangerous Liasons) is Charles J. Guiteau, who assassinated James Garfield. Chip Stubbs (A Few Good Men, The Thing About Men) is Leon Czolgosz, William McKinley's assassin. Christopher Cockrell (The Rocky Horror Show, Evita) is Guiseppe Zangara, attempted assassin of FDR. Steve Harley (Pounding Nails In the Floor With My Forehead) is Sam Byck, attempted assassin of Richard Nixon. Kyle L. Collins (The Producers,
Tick...Tick...BOOM) plays John Hinckley, famously lovesick attempted assassin of Ronald Reagan who claimed his actions were the result of his love for Jodie Foster.

Kim Harne (The Great American Trailer Park Musical) and Trustus Company Member Jessica Leach are cast as Sara Jane Moore and Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme respectively,
attempted assassins of Gerald Ford. G. Scott Wild is making his Trustus debut as John Wilkes Booth, infamous assassin of Abraham Lincoln.

Playing various roles and rounding out the cast of Assassins is a tremendous group of
talent from Columbia including Vicky Saye Henderson (The Great American Trailer
Park Musical), Linda Posey (Urinetown, Rent), Clint Poston (Love! Valor! Compassion!
), Rob Sprankle (Gypsy, The King And I), Frank Thompson (Harvey, White Christmas),
and Cullen Henderson (A Christmas Carol).

"Having this group of people together is a real treat," said director Chad
Henderson. "Most of these people you've seen in productions as principle actors over
the years, but now they're on stage together for the first time. They've created an
unbelievable ensemble...that's probably why so there's so much buzz about this show
here in the Columbia theatre scene."

The first rule of a great night of theatre is to start with a great script, and this show
certainly has that to its credit. The production is bolstered with distinctively imaginative
direction, the highly inventive production design, and the merits of the talented cast.
Columbia theatre-goers can be assured that Assassins will be unlike any show that they
will see this season.

Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's Assassins blasts onto the Trustus main stage at 8:00pm on March 25th. The show will run through April 16th, 2011. All tickets are $25, and half-price student tickets are available 15 minutes prior to every curtain. With Trustus musicals selling out and long waiting lists accruing, patrons are encouraged to make their reservations early.

-more-

Trustus Theatre is located at 520 Lady Street, behind the Gervais St. Publix. Parking is available on Lady St. and on Pulaski St. The main stage entrance is located on the
Publix side of the building. Shows start at 7:30pm on Thursdays, 8:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3:00pm on Sundays.

For more information or reservations call the box office Tuesdays through Saturdays 1-6
pm at 803-254-9732. Visit www.trustus.or  for all show information and season info.

Photo Credit: Jason Steelman.

Photo Captions: (left to right)
Photo 1: Chip Stubbs, Kim Harne, Paul Kaufmann, G. Scott Wild, Kevin Bush, Christopher Cockrell, Steve Harley, Kyle L. Collins, & Jessica Leach
Photo 2: Kevin Bush & G. Scott Wild
Photo 2: Christopher Cockrell, Jessica Leach, & Steve Harley

To post a comment, you must register and login.