Milwaukee Repertory Theater Announces Casting for ASSASSINS

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced casting today for the groundbreaking American musicalAssassins, the first production in The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse for the 2012/13 Season. The bold, original, thought-provoking and alarmingly funny play is a five-time Tony Award-winner. Assassins investigates the personalities behind nine Presidential assassins and reveals uneasy truths about the American Dream. Directed by Artistic Director Mark Clements, this will be the third musical that Clements has directed during his tenure at The Rep following last season's hit Next to Normal and Cabaret from his first season. With the selection of Assassins for the 2012/13 Season, Milwaukee Repertory Theater shows its commitment to continuing to produce full-scale musicals as part of its repertoire. Assassins runs in the Quadracci Powerhouse from September 4 – October 7, and opens onFriday, September 7.

The cast for Assassins will include Luke Brotherhood, seen here last season in Rep Lab's play Normal, Jonathan Gillard Daly andLee E. Ernst, both recently seen in last season's bestselling production of To Kill a Mockingbird, Steve French, Melissa Joy Hart,Evan Harrington, Sarah Litzsinger, who dazzled audiences as Diana in Next to Normal last season, Adam Monley, Caroline O'Connor, who did the stunning one-woman show Bombshells during the 2010/11 Season, Chris Peluso, Mark Price and Brian Sills. Accompanying in the chorus will be Jonathan Altman, Kelley Faulkner, who performed the role of Patsy in last season's popular cabaret show Always . . .Patsy Cline, Ray Jivoff, a frequent artist seen at Skylight Music Theatre and Milwaukee audience favorite,Alex Keiper and JR Yancher. Assassins will also feature an ensemble which features members of The Rep's Artistic Intern Ensemble including: Emily Berman, Lamar Jefferson, Toni Linn Martin, Jessi Noel, Tyrone Phillips, Jess Prichard, Jamie Rezanour,Teddy Spencer, Bri Sudia, Trequon Tate and Mercedes White.

Musicians for Assassins include: Blaire Bielawski (Tenor/Soprano/Saxophone/ Clarinet/Bass Clarinet); Anton Hatwich (Bass); Dan Kazemi (Musical Director/Keyboard/Synthesizer) who music directed Next to Normal and Always . . . Patsy Cline last season; Patrick Morrow (Drums/Percussion) who performed in last season's Next to Normal; Kyle Samuelson (Trombone/Euphonium), Barrie Shaw(Reed 1); Tom Schleuter (Trumpet/Flugel/Cornet) and John Zaffiro (Guitar/Mandolin).

"I am eager to direct Stephen Sondheim's thought-provoking musical Assassins," says Artistic Director Mark Clements. "It's a riveting exploration of such issues as the meaning of exploitation, our obsession with celebrity status, our attitudes about guns and gun control, as well as how a society can be complicit in facilitating the violent behavior of some its of deranged citizens."

More Articles by This Author...