PlayhouseSquare and Baldwin-Wallace College Present the Midwest Regional Premiere of LIZZIE BORDEN

PlayhouseSquare and Baldwin-Wallace College collaborate for a fifth year to present the Midwest regional premiere of LIZZIE BORDEN, a rock musical directed by Victoria Bussert, at PlayhouseSquare's 14^th Street Theatre. Performances will be held Friday, March 30, through Sunday, April 1, 2012. Tickets start at just $10, and are available by calling 216-241-6000 or visiting www.playhousesquare.org.

Exploring America's first and favorite axe-wielding double-murderess, LIZZIE BORDEN 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 new musical, a powerfully passionate rock score leads us deep into the darkness of the Borden house and gives us a glimpse of the silent suffering endured by its female residents.

Victoria Bussert, director of B-W's music theatre program, has spearheaded the collaboration with PlayhouseSquare, bringing the regional premiere of Brooklyn to Cleveland in 2008, the first production of [title of show] outside of New Yorkin 2009, the London Stage Version of Chess in 2010, and, in 2011, the regional premiere of Passing Strange. Among numerous Off-Broadway, National Tour, Regional and Opera credits, Bussert directed the first ever in-repertory productions of La Bohéme and RENT at Baldwin-Wallace College last spring.  Bussert is "…thrilled to be co-producing the first college production of the award-winning off-Broadway hit, LIZZIE BORDEN with PlayhouseSquare.  The all girl cast will be rocking out this wickedly funny murder mystery based on the infamous crime of the century."

Featuring Baldwin-Wallace College music theatre majors, LIZZIE BORDEN marks the fifth consecutive year of collaboration between PlayhouseSquare and B-W's renowned music theatre and arts management programs.  This production features a talented double-cast of Keri Fuller and Shannon O'Boyle as Lizzie, Andrea Leach and Ciara Renée as Emma, Elizabeth Wehrli and Rachel Jones as Alice and Genna Kanago and Sophie Brown as Bridget.  B-W senior arts management students produce the show under the guidance of PlayhouseSquare staff.

New York City's Tiny Mythic Theatre Company first produced LIZZIE BORDEN in 1990. The original was followed by a full production by the New York City producing organization, HERE. The show was expanded into a full-length, two-act musical in 2006 and premiered at the Living Theatre in 2009. LIZZIE BORDEN was named in The Advocate's "Top Ten of 2009" and was nominated for three Drama Desk Awards. LIZZIE BORDEN 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.

The Midwest regional premiere of LIZZIE BORDEN will take place at the 14^th Street Theatre at PlayhouseSquare Friday, March 30, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 31, at 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 1, at 7:00 p.m.  For tickets, call 216-241-6000 or visit www.playhousesquare.org. LIZZIE BORDEN contains mature content. Please be advised.

Scott Plate, Assistant Professor of Music Theatre and Music Theatre Program Manager at B-W, will offer pre-show talks on Friday, March 30, at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, March 31, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 1, at 6:00 p.m. in the Idea Center's Westfield Insurance Studio Theatre, 1375 Euclid Avenue.  A post-show talk with the writers will be offered on Saturday, March 31 following the 8:30 p.m. show along with a post-show cast talkback on Sunday, April 1, in the 14th Street Theatre.

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