“Assassins” to hit Telfair Peet Theatre on Feb. 25
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Auburn University Theatre and the College of Liberal Arts presents Stephen Sondheim's "Assassins," Feb. 25-March 6, 2016, on the main stage at Telfair Peet Theatre. An explosive and controversial, yet wildly entertaining work, "Assassins" had its Off-Broadway premiere in 1990, followed by a number of international and regional productions before landing on Broadway in 2004.
A fantasia on American political violence, the show features characters based on historical figures such as John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald and Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme. The production is directed by Dr. Chase Bringardner, associate professor in the Department of Theatre.
"'Assassins' is a musical that challenges the very foundations of our exceptionalist American narratives of our own history," says Bringardner. "[The assassins] represent a manifestation of the American Dream the public wants to sweep under the rug, imprison, execute or eradicate. They come to tell the story because they are meant to remind us of the dangers of the patriotism and nationalism that we often embrace so willingly without thought."
Music Theatre International calls "Assassins" "perhaps the most controversial musical ever written," as well as "[a] multiple Tony Award-winning theatrical tour-de-force, [combining] Sondheim's signature blend of intelligently stunning lyrics and beautiful music with a panoramic story of our nation's culture of celebrity and the violent means some will use to obtain it, embodied by America's four successful and five would-be presidential assassins. Bold, original, disturbing and alarmingly funny."
Auburn's student cast includes Emily Baade, Cara Elle Benson, Tyler Carter, Noel Dudley, Johnny Dickey, Hannah Rae Faulk, Tara Folio, Andy Gibson, Steven Hatcher, Hudson Hubbard, Alex Horn, Kaylie Horowitz, Teyonna Johnson, Braden Keeter, Jordan Lunstead, Kat McKenna, Cate Rasco, Jessi Rogers, Michael Sanders, Hannah Spaulding, Ben Strickland, Taylor Thomas, Scott Tye and Alec Wesolowski.
The Auburn production features music direction by Elizabeth Kling and Collin Webster, choreography by Jeri Dickey, scenic and lighting design by Fereshteh Rostampour, costume design by Tracy Oleinick and sound design by Anthony Narciso.
Single tickets go on sale February 11th. To purchase tickets, please visit auburnuniversitytheatre.org or call the box office at 334-884-4154. To be included on the mailing list for future productions, please email theatre@auburn.edu.
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Auburn University Theatre and the College of Liberal Arts presents Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins,” Feb. 25-March 6, 2016, on the main stage at Telfair Peet Theatre.
Auburn University Theatre and the College of Liberal Arts presents Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins,” Feb. 25-March 6, 2016, on the main stage at Telfair Peet Theatre.
Auburn University Theatre and the College of Liberal Arts presents Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins,” Feb. 25-March 6, 2016, on the main stage at Telfair Peet Theatre.
Auburn University Theatre and the College of Liberal Arts presents Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins,” Feb. 25-March 6, 2016, on the main stage at Telfair Peet Theatre.
The production image for “Assassins” was created by Cindy Mask, a teaching artist from Beauregard, Alabama. She teaches watercolor, acrylics and drawing at Jan Dempsey Art Center and has taught many years in continuing education at Auburn University.
The production image for “Assassins” was created by Cindy Mask, a teaching artist from Beauregard, Alabama. She teaches watercolor, acrylics and drawing at Jan Dempsey Art Center and has taught many years in continuing education at Auburn University.
The production image for “Assassins” was created by Cindy Mask, a teaching artist from Beauregard, Alabama. She teaches watercolor, acrylics and drawing at Jan Dempsey Art Center and has taught many years in continuing education at Auburn University.
The production image for “Assassins” was created by Cindy Mask, a teaching artist from Beauregard, Alabama. She teaches watercolor, acrylics and drawing at Jan Dempsey Art Center and has taught many years in continuing education at Auburn University.
The production image for “Assassins” was created by Cindy Mask, a teaching artist from Beauregard, Alabama. She teaches watercolor, acrylics and drawing at Jan Dempsey Art Center and has taught many years in continuing education at Auburn University.
Media interested in this story can contact Communications Director Preston Sparks at (334) 844-9999 or preston.sparks@auburn.edu.
Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.
