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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
- Cast
- Musical Numbers
- Original London Production Info
- Cast
- Added Songs
- Recordings
- Production Rights
- Articles
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
- Everybody's Got the Right
- The Ballad of Booth
- How I Saved Roosevelt
- Gun Song
- The Ballad of Czolgosz
- Unworthy of Your Love
- The Ballad of Guiteau
- Another National Anthem
- November 22, 1963
- Finale: Everybody's Got the Right
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
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 Cast Recording, 1991 (RCA Victor 60737-2-RC)
Secondary performance rights handled by Music Theatre International
- Something Just Broke
- On Directing Assassins
- The Assassination of America
- Opening Doors: The Art of the Opening Number
- Passassinations
- Sondheim the Politician
- Sondheim's Societal Struggle
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