LYNN — Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning theatrical tour-de-force, ”Assassins,” opens at Arts After Hours Friday night.
”Assassins” portrays the lives of nine individuals who assassinated or tried to assassinate the
president of the United States, in a one-act historical “revusical” that explores the dark side of the American experience. From John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald, Sondheim and fellow writer John Weidman take audiences on a nightmarish roller-coaster ride in which assassins and would-be assassins from different historical periods meet, interact and inspire each other to harrowing acts in the name of the American Dream.
The musical’s Broadway production won five Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical.
Directed by Hingham’s Nathan Fogg DiSisto and produced by Arts After Hours’ Producing Artistic Director Samantha Gambaccini, “Assassins” features Somerville’s Todd McNeel as The Proprietor, Salem’s Asa Pedi as John Wilkes Booth, Salem’s Chris Reade as the Balladeer, Boston’s Dylan C. Wack as John Hinckley, Lowell’s Tim Sheils as Samuel Byck, Medford’s Benjamin Finn as Giuseppe Zangara, Winthrop’s Amy Oldenquist as Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, Lynn’s Derek Clark as Charles Guiteau, Whitman’s Athan Mantalos as Leon Czolgosz, Lynn’s Victoria Weinstein as Sara Jane Moore, and Georgetown’s Ian Prime as Billy, Sara Jane Moore’s son. Ensemble members are Brighton’s Jen Quiros, Stoneham’s Adele Leikauskas, Everett’s Fernando Barbosa, and Boston’s Colin McIntire.
“‘Assassins’ features the largest cast, crew, pit band, and audience seating that we’ve ever had in all nine seasons at Arts After Hours,” said Gambaccini. “We are excited to see how audiences respond to a larger-than-life production in our intimate black box theater. This show
holds a mirror up to audiences and forces them to ask difficult questions about themselves, what
drives them, what they’re passionate about, and what they’d be willing to do to achieve their dreams.”
Opening night is Friday, June 14, at 8 p.m. Additional shows are Saturday, June 15 at 8 p.m., Sunday, June 16 at 4 p.m., Friday, June 21, at 8 p.m., Saturday, June 22 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, June 23, at 4 p.m. All performances will be held at the Neal Rantoul Black Box theatre at Lynn Arts, 25 Exchange St.
For tickets, go to www.artsafterhours.com.