As part of the MUSE repertory season, tickets are also available for:

AND

JOHN WILKES BOOTH- PATRICK HOWARDAssassinated Abraham Lincoln on April15, 1865

CHARLES GUITEAU-TOBY ROSENGARTENAssassinated James Garfield on July 2, 1881

LEON CZOLGOSZ- ISAAC CAROL

AssassinatedWilliam McKinleyOn September14, 1901

GIUSEPPE ZANGARA- WILLIAM NELSONAttempted to assassinate FranklinD. Roosevelt on February 15, 1933

LEE HARVEY OSWALD/THE BALLADEER-SHAUN GNANYAssassinated John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963

SAMUEL BYCK-LIAM BEIGLARIAttempted to assassinate Richard Nixon on February 22, 1974

LYNETTE FROMME-LAUREN EISINGER, &

SARA JANE MOORE-ANNA COLLESSAttempted to assassinate Gerald Ford on September 5 and 22, 1975

JOHN HINCKLEY, JR.-LUKE DERRICKAttempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan on March 30. 1981

THE PROPRIETOR-DAVIS MURPHY

ENSEMBLE-

GABI KELLAND

SIAN LUXFORD

JAMES GATENBY

ALLISTER HAIRE

JONATHAN RUSH

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FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTORA conductor’s baton is the only weapon he/she has to keep a performance together. Perhaps a gun would be more useful… (Wouldn’t it be great to finally shoot someone for coming in early, playing too loud, or singing out of tune?) But in the end somehow the little white stick pulls everything together. It has a somewhat magical quality!Directing Assassins has been tremendous. Despite Sondheim’s music being exceptionally difficult, the cast has done a magnificent job. In the pit, I have enjoyed working with a talented group of musicians. It is immensely satisfying during rehearsals when we really get to the heart of the score and start to make music together.To Jen and Chloe, thank you for all the time and effort you have generously provided to make this show a success.I hope to work with MUSE again soon.

FROM THE PRODUCERAssassins, the first (and hopefully not the last) of my producing experiences, can only be described as overwhelming. From my first meeting with Chris Nobbs (executive producer extraordinaire), a bewildering blur of smiling, nodding and blind terror; to the prospect of sourcing a props list which frankly should have had me reported to police, including among other things a noose, a joint, a dead dog, an electric chair and nine handguns. But more than anything I was overwhelmed by the people I had the pleasure and privilege to work with on this show. Jen and Matt have done absolutely incredible things in a very short period, finding time in between being amazing directors to help me out whenever I needed it. The cast have continued to leave me in awe of their talent with each new rehearsal; watching the show come together really has been a joy. And in a group of MUSE veterans where I felt more like a puppy than a producer, Chris and Teams Patience and Little Shop were always there for a push (or sometimes a shove) in the right direction. I honestly can’t think of a more lovely or brilliant group of people to work with and I’m so thankful that I’ve been allowed this experience, despite the sacrifice of sleep, uni work and a couple of fingers. Big thank you hugs to all involved, and enjoy the show!  

Assassins has been one of the most enjoyable shows I have had the pleasure of working on. I was drawn to it originally by its catchy, upbeat melodies, and the way it covered such dark topics with wit and ease. Throughout the rehearsal process, I kept going back to these things to try and keep them at the forefront of the show so that the audience experienced it the way I first experienced it. I can say with confidence this has happened, and the piece of theatre that stands before you is a testament to this. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the constant guidance and support of our executive producer Christopher Nobbs, who has been there with solutions to every problem. Also, to my fellow production team – Matt Winnel, who’s music direction has been incredible, and my producer Chloe Pryce, without whom this show could never have happened due to the sheer number of hours she put in painting and sewing and organising every minute detail. Finally, thanks go to my most beautiful cast, who have made these last three months some of the best of my life with their humour, their dedication, and beyond all their genuine loveliness – thank you all so much.

I hope you all enjoy MUSE’s production of Assassins, and I encourage you to support the other two shows in the season –

FROM THE DIRECTOR

CASTLiam Beiglari- Samuel ByckIsaac Carroll- Leon CzolgoszAnna Colless- Sara Jane Moore, FairgoerLuke Derrick- John Hinckley, Jr., FairgoerLauren Eisinger- Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, FairgoerJames Gatenby- Ensemble, David Herold, James GarfieldShaun Gnany- Balladeer, Lee Harvey OswaldAllister Haire- Ensemble, Union Soldier, James BlainePatrick Howard- John Wilkes Booth, FairgoerGabi Kelland- Ensemble, BillySian Luxford- Ensemble, Emma GoldmanDavis Murphy- The Proprietor, Radio Announcer, HangmanWilliam Nelson- Giuseppe Zangara, FairgoerToby Rosengarten- Charles Guiteau, FairgoerJonathan Rush- Ensemble, Gerald Ford

DIRECTOR- Jennifer Bartlett

MUSIC DIRECTOR- Matthew Winnel

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER- Christopher Nobbs

PRODUCER- Chloe Pryce

LIGHTING DESIGN- Vivian Li

SOUND DESIGN- Ben Chen

COSTUME DESIGN- Caitlin Kenny

GRAPHIC DESIGN- Charlotte Howland

LIGHTING OPERATION- Jennifer Bartlett

SOUND OPERATION- Chloe Pryce

CREWElizabeth BlowerJason HarrisTeresa NguyenMark SomervilleBelinda TooheyJade Yeung

BANDBass: Hugh GuestGuitar: James AudetHorn: Veronica RynnKeyboard 1: Andrew McBrideKeyboard 2: Alexandra SwanPercussion: James GuestReed 1: Alvin MakReed 2: Jill TwiggerReed 3: Jonathan FeldmanReed 4: Daniel DinhTrombone: Lachlan DeaconTrumpet 1: Zachary AndersonTrumpet 2: Felicity Rynn

SPECIAL THANKS TO:Lizzie Blower, Yuta Himura, Andrew McBride, Kay Pengelly, Belinda Toohey, the Bartlett family, Ma and Pa Kettle, Sydney University Dramatic Society, Sydney University Musical Theatre Ensemble, and the University of Sydney Union