“Assassins” to thrill Audiences at Great Escape

How does a fledgling theatre company bring the feel of Broadway to a small Midwestern town?   By staging one of the funniest, most patriotic, and complicated musicals ever written, that’s how!

Steven Sondheim – the revered composer of “Send in the Clowns” and such ground-breaking musicals as “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”, “Company”, “Sweeney Todd”, “Into the Woods” and “Sunday in the Park with George” – teamed with the writer John Weidman in 1990 to create “Assassins”, a vaudevillian review that examines the “average” Americans who have attempted and/or succeeded in assassinating a President of the United States.  Darkly funny, dazzling and ultimately chilling, the show’s initial limited run at Playwrights Horizons in NYC sold out immediately.  But the anticipated Broadway transfer never happened at that time due to the start of the first Gulf War.  With the release of the original Off-Broadway cast album, the thrilling musical developed many fans and eventually reached Broadway in 2004 – winning accolades and five Tony awards – including Best Musical Revival. 

Helming the piece for Great Escape is Robert Matteau, a New York based performer & director, who has assembled a cast of 19 singers & actors to present this historical cavalcade.  Featuring both local talent and other NYC professionals (along with two musicians and 11 guns), the show promises to thrill, tickle and even touch the hearts of Marshall audiences. 

“Assassins’ open Thursday, April 26 and plays nine performances through Sunday, May 6.  Complete dates, times, and ticket prices can also be found at  www.ShowTix4u.com – or by calling the GESC Box Office at any time: 269-781-2700.  Seating will be extremely limited for this production, so reserved seats are suggested in advance.

Great Escape Stage Company is located in the former Heritage Dry Cleaners building – 155 West Michigan Avenue (at the corner of Eagle Street) – in Historic Downtown Marshall.

"Assassins" is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, 425 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019. Plone: 212-541-4684, FAX: 212-397-4684. www.MTIshows.com