Assassins - theo

Home » Assassins

October 27 – December 17, 2023

Previews: October 27-November 5, 2023
Fridays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sunday at 6:00pm

Run: November 9-December 17, 2023
Thursday-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 6:00pm

*Please note no performance Thursday, November 23.

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by John Weidman
Assassins is based on an idea by Charles Gilbert, Jr.
Orchestrations by Michael Starobin
Directed by Daryl Brooks

A multiple Tony Award-winning theatrical tour-de-force, Assassins lays bare the lives of nine individuals who assassinated or tried to assassinate the President of the United States, exploring the dark side of the American experience. From John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald, writers Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman bend the rules of time and space, taking us on a nightmarish roller coaster ride in which figures from different historical periods meet, interact, and inspire each other to harrowing acts in the name of the American Dream.

Assassins is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

Playwrights Horizons, Inc. – New York City produced Assassins Off-Broadway in 1990

Please be advised, this production contains gunshots (recorded), racial slurs, flashing lights, and suicidal ideation.

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Dinner

Add a 3-course prix fixe meal when you purchase your tickets for just $33!

Arrive early and enjoy dinner before the show! Dinner service commences 90 minutes prior to showtime (it is not served during the performance) and must be reserved 1 week in advance. Please ensure you contact the box office at the time of purchase to request the vegetarian or chicken slider option if preferred. All meals default to cheeseburger sliders. (Drinks & gratuity not included.)

Dinner for Assassins will be provided by
The Blue Horse Tavern

First Course
Mixed greens salad

Second Course
Pair of sliders (cheeseburger, chicken or veggie) with coleslaw and potato salad

Dessert
Carrot cake and chocolate Brownie dessert squares

Please ensure you contact the box office at the time of purchase to request the vegetarian or chicken slider option if preferred. All meals default to cheeseburger sliders.

Production Team

Director – Daryl Brooks

(he/him; Director) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO/REGIONAL: Reasons: A Tribute to Earth Wind and Fire, A Taste of Soul, Men of Soul (Jeff nom) and many others (Black Ensemble); The Color Purple and Dreamgirls (Phoenix Theater Co); Memphis (Jeff nom) and Pump Boys & Dinettes (Porchlight). He also is the Producing Managing Director of The Black Ensemble Theater and a proud member of the Sarah Siddons Society. Daryl would like to thank Chris and Fred for letting him bring this show to life, and Denise and Maya for all their support. “And as always, Maya… Daddy loves you!”

Music Director – Heidi Joosten

(she/her; Music Director) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: American Psycho (MD, Kokandy), Beauty and the Beast (AMD/orchestrator, Chicago Shakes), Grease (orchestrator, Drury Lane), Children of Eden (MD/conductor, Chicagoland Theater Fund) & Queer Eye: the Musical Parody (MD/ orchestrator/composer/lyricist) and Don’t Quit Your Daydream (u/s MD) (Second City). REGIONAL: Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse (associate conductor, 1st National Tour), The Bone Harp (composer/lyricist, Theater Row NYC), Micro (composer/lyricist, Music Theater of Madison), The It Girl (music director, Meadowbrook Theater (MI). She holds degrees in composition from CCPA and UW-Eau Claire. “Love to my family, especially

Musical Staging - Grant Carriker

(he/him; Musical Staging) THEO: Filch & Rev. Kimball, The Threepenny Opera. CHICAGO: Malapert Love, Rock ‘N’ Roll, & School for Lies (The Artistic Home); Newsies (Paramount); A Chorus Line (Porchlight Music); Dutchman/TRANSit & Origin Story (American Blues). DIRECTING CREDITS: Newsies, Cinderella, & The Light in the Piazza (American Gothic Performing Arts Festival); Merrily We Roll Along (Asst. Director, Blank). BFA Acting, Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Represented by Big Mouth Talent.

Set Designer - Bek Lambrecht

(they/them; Scenic Designer) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: tick, tick…BOOM! (Scenic Design, Boho); Ernest Shackleton Loves Me (Rigging Consultant, Porchlight); Reasons: A Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire (Painter) and Grandma’s Jukebox (Scenic Design) (Black Ensemble); Relentless (Technical Consultant, Timeline); Mr. Dickens Hat (Technical Director, Northlight). BA Theater Design/Production, Millikin University. Currently pursuing a Masters of Business from North Park University and working as Project Financial Coordinator at Chicago Scenic Studios.

Lighting Designer - Denise Karczewski

(she/her; Lighting Designer) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO/ REGIONAL: Recently, A Taste of Soul (Black Ensemble), Dreamgirls (Phoenix Theatre Co.) and Big River (Mercury). UPCOMING: The Other Cinderella at Black Ensemble Theatre, where she is the Resident Lighting Designer. She would like to thank Fred and Chris for the opportunity & Daryl for all of the love and support. “Maya, mommy loves you!” ddklightingdesign.com

Assistant Lighting Designer - Jackson Mikkelsen

(he/him; Assistant Lighting Designer & Production Electrician) THEO: Baked! (Production Electrician), The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Swing). CHICAGO: Ragtime (Metropolis), The Wild Party (Blank), The Tempest (Oak Park Festival). In addition to performing, Jackson has worked as an electrician with Hell in a Handbag, Black Button Eyes, City Lit, Redtwist, and Prop Theatre. BFA in Musical Theatre, Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where he now works as the department’s lead electrician and studio theatre lighting designer. jacksonmikkelsen.com

Costume Designer - Marquecia Jordan

(she/her; Costume Designer) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Taste of Soul, Black Playwrights Festival, Reasons: A Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire, The Girl Who Was Different, Urban Love Story, Grandma’s Jukebox & Blue Heaven (Black Ensemble); Sister Act, Big River and Clue (all Jeff nominated, Mercury); Five Guys Named Moe, A Raisin in the Sun, and The Christmas Schooner (Beverly Arts Center); The Mountaintop and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Invictus). REGIONAL: Slave Play (Short North Stage). TV: “Chicago Stories” (WTTW). 2022 Black Theater Alliance Award for Best Costume Design, Sister Act (Mercury).

Properties Designer - Isa Noe

(they/them; Properties Designer) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: The Women Who Discovered How to Measure the Universe (Raven), Albert Herring (DePaul Opera), Shaw v Tunney (Grippo Stage Company), and Little Shop of Horrors (Citadel). BA from Northwestern University, scenic design focus. They would like to thank their family, mentors, and partner for their loving encouragement and unwavering support.

Sound Designer - Matthew R. Chase

(he/him; Director of Production & Sound Designer) THEO: Baked! (Sound Design), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Assoc. Sound Design). CHICAGO/PRODUCTION MANAGER: Spring Awakening and Broadway in your Backyard (Porchlight), Mary’s Seacole & Heisenberg (Griffin). CHICAGO/SOUND DESIGN: Ernest Shackleton Loves Me, Cabaret, The Apple Tree, Rent, Clear, Spring Awakening, Passing Strange & Nunsense (Porchlight); Who’s Holiday (Theater Wit); The Producers & Pippin (Music Theatre Works). Resident Production Manager at Theater Wit, where his credits include Mr. Burns, a postelectric play; Who’s Holiday; Hurricane Diane, Whistleblower & Household Spirits. matthewrchasedesign.com

Stage Manager - Shay Gordon

(they/them; Stage Manager) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Saint Hildegard: The Rupertsberg Tour (ASM, workshop), Sex Tips For Straight Women from A Gay Man (SM, Greenhouse), Right To Be Forgotten (ASM, Raven), Small Mouth Sounds (SM, Human Needs Theatre Project). Shay’s first Sondheim show! In their free time they love cooking, reading, listening to spooky podcasts, and cuddling their cat, Sporty. “Much love to friends and family!”

Cast

Neala Barron

(she/her; John Wilkes Booth) THEO: Hello Again. CHICAGO: Cabaret, Merrily We Roll Along, A Funny Thing… (Porchlight); Botticelli in the Fire (First Floor); 110 In the Shade (Jeff Nomination—Principal Performer), Marie Christine (Boho); Queen of the Mist (Firebrand); Ragtime, Titanic (Griffin Theatre); Adding Machine (The Hypocrites); Assassins, The Full Monty (Kokandy Productions); The Fly Honey Show & other projects with Chicago Shakespeare, Circle, Brown Paper Box, Raven, GRSF, and more. TV: “Chicago Med” (NBC), “Night Sky” (Amazon). BFA Acting, UIUC. Represented by DDO Chicago.

Patrick O'Keefe

(he/him; Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald) THEO: 8-Track (Jeff Award, Best Ensemble). CHICAGO: Sweeney Todd (Jeff Award–Supporting Performer), Head Over Heels (Kokandy); New Faces Sing Broadway: 1984 (Porchlight); The Drag Seed (Hell in a Handbag); Mamma Mia! (Music Theater Works). BFA from Millikin University. All my love to my family! IG: @pat_okeefe

Jon Parker Jackson

(he/they; Sam Byck) THEO: The Full Monty, Godspell. CHICAGO: Billy Elliot (Music Theater Works), Anything Goes (Metropolis), Barney the Elf (The Other Theater Co.), Bare: A Pop Opera (Refuge). Graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Musical Theatre Performance. Represented by Shirley Hamilton.

Amanda Rodriguez

(she/her; Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme) THEO: Debut. REGIONAL: Peter Pan: Wendy’s Adventure to Neverland and Return to Sender (Nashville Children’s Theatre); …Spelling Bee (Skylight Music Theatre); The Mole Hill Stories and Diary of a Worm, a Spider, and a Fly (Children’s Theater of Madison). When not onstage, she is a teaching artist and performer for Whoopensocker, an education residency that uses theatre as a tool to teach creative writing and social-emotional skills. She sends love to her family and friends for their constant support! For S & H. theotheramandarodriguez.com

Nick Arceo

(he/him; Charles Guiteau) THEO: Debut. CHICAGOLAND: Merrily We Roll Along (Blank); La Trout Lily (New Moon Opera); City of Angels (BrightSide); Will, Island Song (Broadway-World nom, 4 Chairs); Plano (First Floor); Robbie Fay, A Man of No Importance (PrideArts); Sparky, Plaid Tidings (Towle); Grand Hotel (Kokandy). REGIONAL: Pippin, Pippin & Eddie Ryan, Funny Girl (Revival Theatre Co). Nick is also a musician, educator, and audition coach. Seeking representation! nickarceoactor.com

Josh Pablo Szabo

(they/he; Giuseppe Zangara) THEO: Hello Again. CHICAGO: Rent (Porchlight), Evita (Drury Lane), Ragtime (MTW), Dex & Abby (Pride Arts), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Metropolis), Book of Sebastian (The Jacobins). TV/FILM: “Beat,” “Succubabe,” “1968.” BFA Musical Theatre, Columbia College Chicago. You may have also seen Josh in a recent McDonald’s hiring campaign. Special thanks to their father, Westley, and Cookie: “it’s never just for me, it’s always for us.” Represented by Shirley Hamilton. IG: @joshpabloszabo

Will Koski

(he/him; John Hinckley Jr.) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Jack, Into the Woods (Paramount). Graduate of Millikin University (Class of ‘21). Represented by Stewart Talent.

Laura Sportiello

(she/her; Sara Jane Moore & Dance Captain) THEO: Once Upon a Mattress, The Most Happy Fella. CHICAGO: MotherFreakingHood! (Mercury); Ragtime, Gypsy, My Fair Lady, Guys & Dolls (Music Theater Works); Sunset Boulevard, New Faces Sing 1939 (Porchlight); Wonder Women The Musical (Chicago MT Festival); Grand Hotel (Kokandy); A Chorus Line (Metropolis); Scapin (Citadel); Cabaret (Big Noise). REGIONAL: It Shoulda Been You, The Fantasticks, Ruthless! (Actors Theatre of Indiana). Proud graduate of Ball State University. Represented by Grossman & Jack Talent. “Unending gratitude and love to my family and friends! And Drew, it’s always you.”

Mack Spotts

(they/he; Leon Czolgosz) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Merrily We Roll Along and She Loves Me (Blank), St. Sebastian (Refracted). REGIONAL: Sister Act (Highland Summer Theatre), Newsies (MNSU) and more. BFA Musical Theatre; Minnesota State University, Mankato. “All my love to my friends and family.” IG: @mackspotts

Liz Bollar

(she/they; Proprietor/Ensemble & u/s Booth/Moore) THEO: Jenny, The Threepenny Opera and Honky Tonk Angels. CHICAGO: Queen of the Mist (Firebrand), The Last Session (Jeff Award nom, Refuge), Marry Me a Little (Porchlight), Hair (American Theatre Company), Belfast Girls (Artemisia), 35MM and Reefer Madness (Circle), and others. “Thank you for supporting storefront theatre! For my sister, Kyle Lyndee Bollar, who is with me most when I’m singing.”

Tyler DeLoatch

(he/they; Ensemble & u/s Czolgosz/Byck) THEO: The Threepenny Opera (Ensemble, u/s Brown & Peachum). CHICAGO: Rock of Ages (Mercury), Sweeney Todd (Kokandy), The Virginian (City Lit), Rent (Possibilities), Laughterreise (i/a/w Fourth Coast Ensemble). Tyler is an understudy for Second City’s Touring Company and a member of musical improv troupes Baby Wants Candy, Shamilton (Second City Skybox), and Riff (iO). Tyler is a graduate of Coker University where he gained his love of Sondheim in Into The Woods (Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf) and Sweeney Todd (Sweeney). Thank you to TEAMD6, Voice_life Studio, and Theo staff and creatives. Represented by Lily’s Talent.

Simon Keiser

(he/him; David Herold/Ensemble & u/s Guiteau/Zangara) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Next To Normal (Paramount), Queer Eye: The Parody Musical (Second City). COLLEGE: The 25th Annual...Spelling Bee (Chip), The Pajama Game (Sid). BFA Musical Theatre, Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. All the love to his friends, family and Brade. IG: @simonh.keiser

Evan Morales

(he/him; Ensemble & u/s Balladeer/ Oswald/Hinckley) THEO: Debut. COLLEGE: Into the Woods (Jack), Skin and Bones, and Bring it On. Evan is thrilled to be making his Chicagoland professional debut here at Theo. He’d like to thank his family, friends, mentors, and the Assassins team for their constant support. BFA Musical Theatre, Ball State University. Represented by Big Mouth Talent.

Brittney Brown

(she/her; Emma Goldman/ Ensemble & u/s Fromme) THEO: Hedwig & the Angry Inch, Sweeney Todd. CHICAGO: Merrily We Roll Along (Blank); The Kelly Girls, Last Night in Karaoke Town (Factory); Sweeney Todd, Bonnie & Clyde (Kokandy); All That He Was (Jeff Nomination–Supporting Performer, PrideArts); Ragtime, Violet (Griffin); Hot Pink, Scraps (New American Folk). Millikin University School of Theatre & Dance Alumni. In addition to performing, she is also a director, songwriter, and huge cinephile. All the gratitude to her mom, her Game Night Crew, and her partner George for all of their incredible support.

Michael Penick

(he/him; Ensemble Swing) THEO: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. CHICAGO/REGIONAL: 4000 Days (PrideArts); Hot Mikado (Skylight Music Theatre); Little Mermaid (Northern Stage); Curly, Oklahoma! (Revival Theatre Company); Charlie Price, Kinky Boots (Circa ‘21); and Candide, Candide (Third Avenue Playhouse). Michael studied music performance at Luther College (BA) and The University of Iowa (MA). michaelpenick.com

Stephanie Boyd

(she/her; Ensemble Swing) THEO: Debut. CHICAGO: Hope, Urinetown and Julia, The Wedding Singer (Surging Film & Theatrics); Mr. Rocksfeld, The Ballad of Lefty and Crabbe (Underscore); Electra, Gypsy (Jedlicka). REGIONAL: Snow White (Lafon Performing Arts), Nunsense (National WWII Museum). TV/FILM: “88.” Graduate of University of Central Oklahoma (M.M. Musical Theatre) and Centenary College of Louisiana (B.M. Vocal Performance). “Thank you to my friends, fam, Tim, Chloe, Mary, and this incredible cast and production team.”

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