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CONTACT:
Liz O’Meara-Goldberg
Publicist
202.232.7267 x360
lgoldberg@studiotheatre.org
DATE: March 26, 2015
STUDIO THEATRE PRESENTS MURDER BALLAD, AN IMMERSIVE ROCK
MUSICAL EXPERIENCE
“A hot night of theatre … with an energy that is electric.” —Backstage Magazine
Murder Ballad
conceived and with book by Julia Jordan
music and lyrics by Juliana Nash
directed by David Muse
begins April 15, 2015
Studio Theatre will transform one of its theatre spaces into a gritty dive bar to present the
explosive rock musical Murder Ballad. Staged cabaret-style in Stage 4, with full bar service, the
musical puts the audience in the middle of the action for a full immersive experience. The
production is designed by five-time Tony Award winner Brian MacDevitt.
“Murder Ballad is sensual and smart—a tale of sex, betrayal, and love, told rock-and-roll style,”
says Artistic Director David Muse, who also directs. “With actors performing around the audience
and late-night performances, it’s also a great way to bring the feel of 14th Street nightlife onto our
stages.”
ABOUT THE PLAY
Sara’s life is perfect—Upper West Side husband, daughter, and life—until her irresistible past
blows back into her life in the form of an old flame, a dangerous passion, and a love triangle
headed for ignition. An electric rock musical from Julia Jordan and indie rock singer/songwriter
Juliana Nash.
ABOUT THE CREATORS
Julia Jordan (Conception, Book, and Lyrics) wrote the book for the musicals Sarah, Plain and
Tall and The Mice, a one-act of Hal Prince's 3hree. Her plays include Boy, Tatjana in Color, St.
Scarlet, Smoking Lesson, Dark Yellow, Astrological Quit Claim Deeds, and Jones. Ms. Jordan is the
recipient of the Kleban Award for Librettist, Francesca Primus Prize, Lucille Lortel Playwriting
Fellowship, Manhattan Theatre Club Fellowship, Jonathan Larson Award, Heideman Award,
LeComte Nouy Award (twice), AT&T OnStage Award, The American Spirit Award, and is a threetime finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Her work has been produced at Primary Stages,
Actor's Theatre of Louisville, Soho Rep, McCarter Theatre, Dallas Theater Center, Prince Music
Theater, Ahmanson Theatre, Studio Dante, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, Contemporary
American Theater Festival, Salt Lake Acting Company, and The American Theatre Company, among
others. Her plays have been developed at Sundance, The O'Neill, Ojai Playwrights Conference,
Playlabs at The Playwrights Center, Cleveland Play House, among others. Ms. Jordan is one of the
founders of The Lilly Awards and is on the Council of the Dramatists Guild.
Juliana Nash (Music and Lyrics) was the rhythm guitarist and singer-songwriter for the band
Talking to Animals, which was signed to Columbia and Velvel Records. Her work has been featured
in films such as Rob Morrow's Maze, Eric Schaeffer's Fall, and Schaeffer's television show Starved.
She is currently working with Courtney Baron on a theater piece entitled Leave. She is the proud
recipient of a MTC/Sloan commission and the BMI's Abe Olman Songwriter's Award. Ms. Nash is a
graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and a member of the Dramatists Guild and
BMI.
THE CREATIVE TEAM
• David Muse, Studio’s artistic director, directs. His recent Studio credits include Cock, Tribes, The
Real Thing, An Iliad, and Dirt.
• Production Designer Brian MacDevitt designed Sucker Punch and The Real Thing for Studio
Theatre. He has designed close to 70 shows on Broadway, including Larry David’s A Fish in the
Dark, The Book of Mormon (Tony Award), A Delicate Balance with Glenn Close, and This is Our
Youth by Kenneth Lonergan.
• Music Director Darren Cohen’s Broadway and Off Broadway credits include A Chorus Line
(Shubert Theatre), Chicago (Richard Rodgers Theatre), Fosse (Broadhurst Theatre), Make Me A
Song: Songs of William Finn (New World Stages, original cast recording).
• Set Director Andrew Cohen’s area credits include In the Red and Brown Water at Georgetown
University and Two Comic Operas: Lucrezia/Bastianello at Urban Arias. He was the Associate
Scenic Designer for The Tempest at the American Repertory Theater.
• Lighting Director Andrew Cissna has designed numerous shows at Round House Theatre,
Signature Theatre, Theater J, and others. Mr. Cissna received Helen Hayes nominations for 1984 at
Catalyst Theatre Company in 2008 and Sex with Strangers at Signature Theatre in 2014.
• Costume Designer Laree Lentz designed An Iliad for Studio Theatre and Songs of the Dragons
Flying to Heaven for Studio 2ndStage. She has also designed locally for productions including The
Gift of Nothing, Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences and Romeo and Juliet, Folger Theatre.
• Sound Designer Ryan Rumery is a musician, composer, and designer. He previously
designed Tribes, Frozen, and Belleville at Studio. Recent shows include Between Riverside and
Crazy (Atlantic/Second Stage), Placebo (Playwrights Horizons), and By the Water (MTC).
• Movement Director Nancy Bannon is a performer, writer, and director. Recent original theater
work includes Cornfield, Puncture, The Pod Project (all immersive events, NYC) and, as Movement
Director, Romeo and Juliet on Broadway.
THE CAST
• Christine Dwyer (Sara) was most recently seen as Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway. Her other
credits include the national tour of RENT, The New Hopeville Comics at the American Theatre for
Actors, and Tinyard Hill at Goodspeed Opera House.
• Tommar Wilson (Michael) makes his Studio Theatre debut. Mr. Wilson’s New York credits
include The Book of Mormon, In Transit at Primary Stages (Drama Desk Award), Hair, Lestat,
Hairspray, Never Gonna Dance, The Music Man, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
• Cole Burden (Tom) makes his Studio Theatre debut. His New York credits include Applause at
Encores!, and Bonnie and Clyde at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Mr. Burden was in the
national tour of Cameron Mackintosh’s New 25th Anniversary Production of Les Misérables.
• Anastacia McCleskey (Narrator) has appeared on Broadway in the original casts of Violet,
Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and Tarzan, as well as The Book of Mormon and Hair.
INFORMATION
Where: Studio Theatre’s Stage 4, 1501 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
Dates: April 15—May 10, 2015
Performances: Wednesday-Thursday at 8pm; Friday-Saturday at 7pm and 10pm; Sunday at 3pm;
Monday at 8pm
Bar: Doors open an hour before the show for the best seats and to enjoy full bar service. Last call
is 10 minutes before show time. Bottles of wine and alcohol, and buckets of beers will be for sale.
(ID required.) Bar open after show except for Friday and Saturday evenings.
Ticket Prices: $45-$80, general admission except limited VIP seats reserved and with table
service
Groups: Groups of 10 or more people save $5 per ticket. Call 202.232.7267 x361.
Press Performance: Sunday, April 19 at 7pm
Captioned Performance: Thursday, May 7 at 8pm
SUPPORT
The 2014-15 Special Events Season is underwritten by Susan L. and Dixon M. Butler.
STUDIO THEATRE
Now in its fifth season under the leadership of Artistic Director David Muse, Studio Theatre is
Washington’s premiere venue for contemporary theatre, “where local audiences will find today’s
edgiest playwrights” (Variety). One of the most respected midsized theatres in the country, Studio
Theatre produces the work of today’s greatest writers, augmented by occasional productions of
modern classics, performed by acclaimed actors in intimate spaces. Throughout the Theatre’s 37year history, the quality of its work has been recognized by sustained community support as well
as with 329 nominations and 61 Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in professional theatre.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Accessibility: Studio’s theatres are all wheelchair accessible; seats are available by reservation.
Assistive listen devices are available for all shows at concessions. Call the Box Office at
202.332.3300 for more information.
Location: 1501 14th Street NW (northeast corner of 14th and P Streets).
Parking:
•
•
Studio has a parking partnership with Washington Plaza Hotel at 10 Thomas Circle NW,
three blocks south of Studio; patrons who park at the hotel’s parking garage can purchase a
$13 voucher at concessions.
Street parking is limited; arrive early to increase your options.
Metro Stops: Red Line: Dupont Circle, Orange/Blue Lines: McPherson Square, and Green/Yellow
Lines: U Street/Cardozo.
Contact Information:
Tickets: 202.332.3300
Administration: 202.232.7267
Website: studiotheatre.org
E-mail: info@studiotheatre.org
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