The Robber Bridegroom at The Topfer at Zach

The Robber Bridegroom is a bluegrass-infused musical with book and lyrics by Alfred Uhry and music by Robert Waldman, inspired by a Grimm fairy tale and Eudora Welty's novella of the same name. Directed by Michael Cooper, the production is an immersive, concert-like experience set in 18th-century Mississippi along the Natchez Trace, following the mysterious Jamie Lockhart — gentleman by day, infamous robber by night — as he woos Rosamund, the daughter of the region's richest planter. The 11-member cast is accompanied by live musicians Billy Curtis on fiddle and mandolin, Stevie Trudell on guitar and banjo, and Music Director Dr. Ellie Jarrett Shattles on piano. The production blends folk storytelling, romance, and comedy with a lively score performed by onstage musicians.