University of Dubuque's Department of Fine and Performing Arts to Present 'Assassins'

UPDATE

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque's Department of Fine and Performing Arts will hold a post-show discussion and response following the 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 21, 2025, performance of Assassins, music and lyrics by lyricist-composer Stephen Sondheim and book by librettist John Weidman, in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center.

"Theater has the powerful and important potential to stir us, and Assassins does just that. It provides an important platform upon which society's ills can be examined and invites conversation about a variety of themes including disillusionment, alienation, counterculture, the healthy and unhealthy desire for belonging, misguided sacrifice in the name of political justice, media image and attention, and how the constant need for attention can negatively affect both," said Joe Klinebriel, MFA, professor of theatre at UD who will direct the musical. "Needless to say, Assassins is rich with thought-provoking topics, and it will be a great gift to have our special guests respond to the musical through the lens of their respective professional fields and help launch meaningful and reflective conversations."

Immediately after the performance, some UD faculty and special guests will join a few members of the cast and crew to engage in a 30-minute post-show discussion with the audience. Those joining the cast and crew onstage will be Shea Chapin, JD, head of the Department of Criminal Justice and assistant professor of criminal justice at UD; Brian Hallstoos, PhD, head of the Department of Philosophy, Politics, and History and associate professor of history at UD; and Lorie Murphy, MA, MBTI certified personal life coach and counselor at Body & Soul Wellness Center & Spa.

ORIGINAL

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque's Department of Fine and Performing Arts will perform Assassins, music and lyrics by lyricist-composer Stephen Sondheim and book by librettist John Weidman, at 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, March 21-22, 2025, and 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 23, 2025, in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center.

A multiple Tony Award-winning theatrical tour-de-force, Assassins combines Sondheim's signature blend of intelligently stunning lyrics and beautiful music with a panoramic story of our nation's culture of celebrity and the violent means some will use to obtain it, embodied by nine people who assassinated or tried to assassinate the president of the United States over a period of two centuries.

Assassins is a one-act historical "revusical" that explores the dark side of the American experience and gives voice to the nine characters' hopes, fears, and furies by exposing the twisted thoughts that make them such intriguing figures. From John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald, Sondheim and Weidman bend the rules of time and space, taking audience members on a nightmarish roller coaster ride in which assassins and would-be assassins from different historical periods meet, interact, and inspire each other with dark humor to harrowing acts in the name of the American Dream.

Assassins will be directed by Joe Klinebriel, MFA, professor of theatre at UD. The production's music director will be Kristen Eby, MM, head of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, director of choral activities, and associate professor of music.

"Assassins, originally written and produced in 1990, continues to stand as a pertinent and thought-provoking piece of art," Klinebriel said. "It provides an important platform upon which society's ills can be examined and invites conversations about a variety of themes which include disillusionment, alienation, counterculture, the healthy and unhealthy desire for belonging, misguided sacrifice in the name of political justice, media image and attention, and how the constant need for attention can negatively affect both. When we consider the challenges and struggles we are currently facing in our American culture, this musical proves to be more relevant than ever and will undoubtedly teach invaluable lessons and prompt important discussions for both our audiences and our student performers."

Eby added, "The show provides an interesting mix of music as it takes us through various American eras. There are early folk styles, barbershop, marches, a beautiful 1970s-style ballad, and Sondheim's imaginative harmonies and rhythms."

Assassins is based on an idea by Charles Gilbert Jr. Playwrights Horizon Inc. in New York City produced the play Off-Broadway in 1990.

Disclaimer: This show contains mature language, themes, and simulated gun violence. Due to the subject matter, this musical is not recommended for children.

Tickets for Assassins may be purchased by visiting the Farber Box Office, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque, 2255 Bennett Street; by calling 563.585.7469; or by visiting www.dbq.edu/HeritageCenter. The box office is open 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 90 minutes prior to events.

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

This production of Assassins is licensed by MTI.