Little Theatre Presents “Assassins”

“Assassins” will have its regional premiere on Friday, November 10, 2006 at 8:00 PM at Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, 537 North Main Street, Wilkes-Barre. Additional performances will be held November 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 2006, with Friday and Saturday night performances beginning at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday matinees beginning at 3:00 p.m. Special Notice: Adult Content and Language. All tickets are $15.00 and reservations are strongly recommended. Visit www.ltwb.org or call the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre Box Office at (570) 823-1875 for more information and to make your reservations.

“Assassins” explores the history of presidential assassination in America, from John Wilkes Booth to Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, all the way up to John Hinkley, Jr. It is an examination of those who feel the need to assassinate
and how they felt it gave their otherwise unsuccessful lives some meaning. From its nightmarish beginning in a carnival shooting gallery, “Assassins” goes on to examine the lives of various men and women who have committed–or attempted to commit–the ultimate crime, and dramatizes the unpopular thesis that the most notorious killers in our culture are as much a product of that culture as the leaders they attempt to murder. For this chorus of lost souls, Sondheim composes “Another National Anthem,” the nightmarish underside of the American dream.

Director Deirdre McLaughlin was impressed with the quality of talent that attended the auditions in late September. The cast that has been assembled is made up of a fine blend of Little Theatre favorites, veterans who haven’t graced the stage on North Main Street for many years, and a few new faces.

Jack Evans will portray the assassin who started it all with his assassination of Abraham Lincoln - John Wilkes Booth. Charles J. Guiteau, the failed lawyer, failed writer and aspiring Ambassador to France who assassinated James Garfield, will be played by Joe Sheridan. Ron Araya will portray Leon Czolgosz, the poverty-worn, young factory worker who assassinated William McKinley because he believed that one man should not have so much service while others have none. Tony Alberti will play Guiseppe Zangara, the immigrant brick layer driven mad by the constant sharp pain in his abdomen who attempted to assassinate President-Elect Franklin D. Roosevelt. Sean McKeown will portray the Santa suit-clad Samuel Byck, who tried to assassinate Richard Nixon by hijacking a commercial jetliner and crashing it into the White House. Eleanor Gwyn-Jones will play Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, the pixie hippie who loved Charles Manson and Ellen O’Brien will play the frazzled housewife Sara Jane Moore - both Fromme and Moore attempted to assassinate Gerald Ford within weeks of each other. Michael Marone will play John Hinkley, the depressed college student who attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan as an expression of his love for Jodie Foster. Jay Fink will play Lee Harvey Oswald, the suicidal, dejected, shipping clerk who assassinated John F. Kennedy from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas, Texas. Christa Manning will play Emma Goldman, the turn of the century anarchist, agitator, and feminist who many believe inspired Czolgosz to action. The Proprietor will be interpreted by Steven Stylinski while Jason Sherry will play the Balladeer. Matthew Gorski will play Billy, the son of Sara Jane Moore. appearing in the ensemble will be Jim Williams, Christina Reynolds, Gina Gibbon, Paul J. Rodella, Beth Titus, Dave Baloga, and Matthew Bloom.