Baldwin Wallace University and Playhouse Square Resurrect Lizzie Borden Musical for 10-Year Anniversary Celebration

To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their collaboration, Playhouse Square and Baldwin Wallace University will once again join to present the return of the crowd favorite, American rock musical, LIZZIE to Playhouse Square's Ohio Theatre. Performances will be held Friday, April 28, through Sunday, April 30. Tickets are just $25 and are available by calling 216-241-6000 or visiting playhousesquare.org.

Exploring America's first and favorite axe-wielding double-murderess, LIZZIE recounts the story of a Victorian hometown girl who was acquitted of taking an axe to the skulls of her parents in 1892. In this gripping musical, a powerfully passionate rock score leads audiences deep into the darkness of the Borden house and gives us a glimpse of the silent suffering endured by its female residents.

LIZZIE marks the tenth consecutive year of collaboration between Playhouse Square and BW's renowned music theatre and arts management programs. This production features a talented double cast of BW music theatre majors including Kailey Boyle and Olivia Kaufmann as Lizzie, Emily Wronski and Amy Keum as Bridget, Veronica Otim and Emily Brett as Emma, and Olivia Marcus and Kelsey Baehrens as Alice. BW senior arts management students have the unique opportunity to produce the show under the guidance of Playhouse Square staff.

Victoria Bussert, director of LIZZIE and BW's music theatre program, has spearheaded The Playhouse Square partnership, directing six regional premieres and receiving national attention for academic premieres of Broadway productions. Bussert returns to this BW production fresh from directing the European and London premieres of LIZZIE earlier this year in Denmark at the Fredericia Theater, and in London at the Greenwich Theatre, which was hailed by British Theatre as "the greatest American musical since Sweeney Todd... the entire show is a spectacular rock concert."

Bussert said she is excited to work on this show again, because "BW originated this production five years ago. It is great to do it (LIZZIE) with students again, because who they are at the first rehearsal is completely different from the performers they become at the end." Bussert adds, "The writers have seen four different productions [of LIZZIE] that I've directed and have been able to tweak it. So this will be the most completed LIZZIE that's been done yet."

LIZZIE was named in The Advocate's "Top Ten of 2009" and nominated for three Drama Desk Awards. "Lizzie" features music and lyrics by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer; books, lyrics, and additional music by Tim Maner; along with music and additional lyrics by Alan Stevens Hewitt.

LIZZIE is on stage at the Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square Friday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 29, at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 30, at 7 p.m. For tickets, call 216-241-6000 or visit www.playhousesquare.org. Please be advised: LIZZIE contains mature content.

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