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Assassins

This musical, with a book by John Weidman, explores the history of presidential assassination in America, from John Wilkes Booth to John Hinckley, Jr. Assassins climaxes in a surreal sequence where the assassins convince Lee Harvey Oswald that his act is the only way he will connect -- with them, with history, and with the world.

The song "Something Just Broke" was added for the London productions, and has been included in all subsequent productions, although it has not yet been recorded.


Show Data


Original Production Info:

Opened December 18, 1990
Closed February 16, 1991
Theatre Playwrights Horizons
Ran 73 Performances
Music Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Stephen Sondheim
Book John Weidman
Based on an idea by Charles S. Gilbert, Jr.
Producer Playwrights Horizons
Director Jerry Zaks
Set Designer Loren Sherman
Costume Designer William Ivey Long
Lighting Designer Paul Gallo
Sound Designer Scott Lehrer
Hair Design Angela Gari
Choreography D.J. Giagni
Musical Direction Paul Gemignani
Orchestrations Michael Starobin
Piano Paul Ford
Drums, Percussion Paul Gemignani
Synthesizers Michael Starobin


Musical Numbers:

  1. Everybody's Got the Right
  2. The Ballad of Booth
  3. How I Saved Roosevelt
  4. Gun Song
  5. The Ballad of Czolgosz
  6. Unworthy of Your Love
  7. The Ballad of Guiteau
  8. Another National Anthem
  9. November 22, 1963
  10. Finale: Everybody's Got the Right


Added Songs:

  1. Something Just Broke


Original Cast:

Proprietor William Parry
Leon Czolgosz Terrence Mann
John Hinckley Greg Germann
Charles Guiteau Jonathan Hadary
Giuseppe Zangara Eddie Korbich
Samuel Byck Lee Wilkof
Lynette Fromme Annie Golden
Sara Jane Moore Debra Monk
John Wilkes Booth Victor Garber
Balladeer Patrick Cassidy
David Herold Marcus Olson
Bartender John Jellison
Bystanders Joy Franz
  Lyn Greene
  John Jellison
  Marcus Olson
  William Parry
Emma Goldman Lyn Greene
Fairgoers Joy Franz
  Lyn Greene
  John Jellison
  Marcus Olson
  William Parry
  Michael Shulman
James Garfield William Parry
James Blaine John Jellison
Hangman Marcus Olson
Warden John Jellison
Billy Michael Shulman
Gerald Ford William Parry
Lee Harvey Oswald Jace Alexander


Original London Production Info:

Opened 1992
Theatre Donmar Warehouse, London
Music Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Stephen Sondheim
Book John Weidman
Based on an idea by Charles S. Gilbert, Jr.
Director Sam Mendes
Set Designer Anthony Ward
Costume Designer Anthony Ward
Costume Supervisor Christine Rowland
Lighting Designer Paul Pyant
Musical Direction Jeremy Sams
Perf. Musical Director Mark Dorrell
Orchestrations Michael Starobin
Sound Designer John A. Leonard


Original London Cast:

Proprietor Paul Bentley
Leon Czolgosz Jack Ellis
John Hinckley Michael Cantwell
Charles Guiteau Henry Goodman
Giuseppe Zangara Paul Harrhy
Samuel Byck Ciaran Hinds
Lynette Fromme Cathryn Bradshaw
Sara Jane Moore Louise Gold
John Wilkes Booth David Firth
Balladeer Anthony Barclay
David Herold Kevin Walton
Emma Goldman Sue Kelvin
James Garfield Kevin Walton
James Blaine Gareth Snook
Gerald Ford Paul Bentley
Lee Harvey Oswald Gareth Snook


Original London Added Songs:

  1. Something Just Broke


Recordings:

  1. Original Cast Recording, 1991 (RCA Victor 60737-2-RC)


Secondary performance rights handled by Music Theatre International


Articles:

  1. Something Just Broke
  2. On Directing Assassins
  3. The Assassination of America
  4. Opening Doors: The Art of the Opening Number
  5. Passassinations
  6. Sondheim the Politician
  7. Sondheim's Societal Struggle


Discuss this show in Sondheim.com's community forum: Finishing the Chat... ››

 

   


Recently Overheard...
Assassins is about how society interprets the American Dream, marginalizes outsiders and rewrites and sanitizes its collective history. "Something Just Broke" is a major distraction and plays like an afterthought, shoe horned simply to appease. The song breaks the dramatic fluidity and obstructs the overall pacing and climactic arc which derails the very intent and momentum that makes this work so compelling...”
- Mark Bakalor

Follow the thread...


“I found [the Sondheim Celebration's Company] to be completely delightful. Almost all of the numbers excited and energized me, and most of the scenes were about as pitch-perfect as you can get. I just sat there with a big smile on my face the whole show.

Which is not to say that it is perfect...”
- popcornonmyknees

Follow the thread...

Explore the rest of the Finishing the Chat Community Forum


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