{"id":7518,"date":"2014-03-17T14:19:02","date_gmt":"2014-03-17T19:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/college.unc.edu\/?p=7518"},"modified":"2024-07-02T14:36:33","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T14:36:33","slug":"assassins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/collegearchive.unc.edu\/?p=7518","title":{"rendered":"PlayMakers presents Sondheim\u2019s Tony-winning \u2018Assassins\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Left<\/a>
Left to right: JULIE FISHELL as Sara Jane Moore, DANNY BINSTOCK as John Wilkes Booth, JEFFREY MEANZA as Charles Guiteau and GREGORY DeCANDIA as Leon Czolgosz (photo by Jon Gardiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

PlayMakers Repertory Company will conclude its main-stage season with the Tony Award-winning musical \u201cAssassins\u201d by Stephen Sondheim, onstage April 2-20.<\/p>\n

PlayMakers is the professional theater in residence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Special events associated with the show begin March 20.<\/p>\n

\u201cAssassins\u201d tells a panoramic story of our nation\u2019s culture of celebrity and the violent means some will use to obtain it, embodied by America\u2019s four successful and five would-be presidential assassins.<\/p>\n

The New York Times<\/em> said, \u201cNothing quite prepares you for the disturbing brilliance of \u2018Assassins.\u2019\u201d The Associated Press<\/em> praised its \u201cdark, demented humor, as horrifying as it is hilarious.\u201d<\/p>\n

Performances will be in the Paul Green Theatre in UNC\u2019s Center for Dramatic Art on Country Club Road. Show times will be 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and\u00a0Sunday, April 6,\u00a0 with 2 p.m. matinees Saturdays, April 12 and 19, and Sundays April 6, 13 and 20.<\/p>\n

\"Left<\/a>
Left to right: MAREN SEARLE as Lynette \u201cSqueaky\u201d Fromme and JULIE FISHELL as Sara Jane Moore (photo by Jon Gardiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For a complete schedule, more information and to purchase tickets, call (919) 962-PLAY (7529) or visit www.playmakersrep.org<\/a>. Individual ticket prices start at $15.<\/p>\n

\u201cAssassins\u201d features music and lyrics by Sondheim, described by Frank Rich of The New York Times<\/em> as \u201cthe greatest and perhaps best-known artist in American musical theater.\u201d The book was written by John Weidman, based on an idea by Charles Gilbert, Jr.<\/p>\n

The director of the PlayMakers production is Mike Donahue, whose credits at PlayMakers include \u201cThe Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby,\u201d \u201cThe Making of a King: Henry IV & V\u201d and \u201cA Number.\u201d Mark Hartman is music director. His Broadway credits include \u201cSondheim on Sondheim,\u201d \u201cAvenue Q,\u201d \u201cMiss Saigon\u201d <\/em>and \u201c<\/em>1776.<\/em>\u201d<\/em> Last season he served as music director for PlayMakers\u2019 hit production of \u201cCabaret.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Guest artists include Danny Binstock, Joseph Medeiros and Spencer Moses. Binstock, who plays Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth, was in the Broadway production of \u201cBreakfast at Tiffany\u2019s.\u201d <\/b>Broadway credits for Medeiros, who appears as Guiseppe Zangara, would-be assassin of Franklin D. Roosevelt, include \u201cWicked,\u201d \u201cWest Side Story,\u201d Irving Berlin\u2019s \u201cWhite Christmas,\u201d \u201cGuys and Dolls,\u201d \u201cGrease\u201d and \u201cBig.\u201d Moses, who plays the Balladeer, appeared in the 2009 Broadway revival of \u201cGuys and Dolls.\u201d His television credits include \u201cNurse Jackie\u201d and \u201cThe Electric Company.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The ensemble cast in “Assassins.” (photo by Jon Gardiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In conjunction with \u201cAssassins,\u201d UNC\u2019s Program in the Humanities and Human Values will host a new event, \u201cTable Talk: Themes in Performances from Sondheim\u2019s \u2018Assassins,\u2019\u201d March 20, 7 to 9:30 p.m., at City Kitchen, 201 S. Estes Dr. in Chapel Hill. The event pairs a four-course dinner with stimulating conversation headlined by UNC David G. Frey Distinguished Professor of Music Tim Carter, with UNC associate professor of art history Cary Levine, associate professor of communications Naeemah Clark of Elon University and PlayMakers producing artistic director Joseph Haj. The guided conversation will explore themes from the musical, such as political murder, fame in America, art and violence, interspersed with insights from cast members. Tickets are $75. Pre-registration is required. For information or to register, visit http:\/\/humanities.unc.edu\/programs\/special-event\/table-talk\/<\/a> or call (919) 962-1544.<\/p>\n

PlayMakers also hosts \u201cThe Vision Series-Directors in Conversation,\u201d a behind-the-scenes preview with Donahue accompanied by designers for the play March 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the Paul Green Theatre. The event is free and open to the public. Participants share coffee and hors d\u2019oeuvres provided by series sponsor Jujube Restaurant, learn about the vision for the show and get a sneak peek at the sets and costumes in progress. Reservations are appreciated. Call PlayMakers\u2019 box office at (919) 962-7529 to RSVP.<\/p>\n

Other special events will include:<\/p>\n