ASSASSINS Starts Performances Tonight in Sonoma

Sonoma Arts Live will present the final play in its Sonoma Arts Local series, the four-time Tony Award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical Assassins, Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., tonight, Sept. 17-Oct. 4, on the Rotary Stage of Andrews Hall in the Sonoma Community Center, 276 E. Napa St. in Sonoma.

Evoking a fraternity of political assassins and would-be assassins across a hundred years of our history, Sondheim daringly examines success, failure and the questionable drive for power and celebrity in American society. Michael Kuchwara of the Associated Press described the work as "dark, demented humor, as horrifying as it is hilarious. Sondheim's piece is thought-provoking and brilliant."

The show is being produced by Narrow Way Stage Company. Producer Chris Ginesi feels "the real triumph of Assassins stems from its telling of just how strong the American story is, and how our nation doesn't stop dreaming because of the actions of a single madman."

Co-directors Trevor Hoffman and Skylar Evans are sensitive to the issues associated with Assassins. States Hoffman, "It's hard to come up with solutions for problems if we don't examine those problems; what better way to examine a really thorny topic than through an evening of great performances and beautiful music? We are performing Assassins not to excuse these criminals, but to examine a truly painful problem with sensitivity, some humor, and always with humanity." The Cast is made up of Sonoma and Sonoma County locals; Adam Blankenship, Tim Setzer, Trevor Hoffman, Patrick St. John, Rick Love, Zane Walters, Sara Passemar, Brett Mollard, Ryan Whitlock, Matt Loewenstein, Erik Weiss, Nora Summers, Julia Holsworth and Theo Marvin.

Continuing Sonoma Arts Live's new tradition of an opening night guest, historian John Stephen Futini, B.A., M.A., History, will be on hand Saturday, Sept. 19, to provide historical context for the play. "We will explore the conversation behind Winston Churchill's famous quote 'What happened in history is singular; what might have happened is legion.'" This discussion is open to the public, included in the ticket price, and will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Rotary Lounge of the Community Center.

A talkback with the actors will take place immediately following the matinee on Sunday, Sept. 27. Tickets are available at www.sonomaartslive.org or call 707-974-1931.