Theater: LIZZIE (Ray of Light Theatre in San Francisco; January 21 only; Hosted by James Monroe Iglehart)

LEAPIN’ LIZZIE!

I kept saying to folks, see it, see it. Then it became “You shoulda seen it.” Fortunately, the ephemerality of theater changes for one night only, as San Francisco’s Ray of Light Theatre brings back their 2015 production of Lizzie, featuring the original cast with Broadway’s Taylor Iman Jones, with special fresh performances backed by the original Bay Area-based band. Hosted by ROLT alum James Monroe Iglehart (Broadway’s Aladdin, Hamilton, Memphis, et al.), the event will also feature appearances from the full creative team and the writers behind the hit gothic rock musical. Set for this Thursday, January 21 at 6pm PST, 9pm EST, tickets can now be purchased on Eventbrite.

Lizzie imagines the story behind the legend Lizzie Borden — the primary suspect for her father and stepmother’s brutal murder in 1892 — with a cast of four powerhouse women. This show melds the infamous 19th century true-crime story with a driving rock score.

To witness the transformation of Lizzie from an anxious and tortured soul to a feminist rock star who finds her voice along with her wings is a marvel. Feminist rockers can thank a trio of males — Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer (composer/lyricist), Alan Stevens Hewitt (composer/orchestrator), and Tim Maner (lyricist/book writer) — for writing not only the ultimate female-empowering bio-musical but also one of the few so-called “rock musicals” to feature an honest-to-God hardcore score, though it’s more likely the Devil that made Lizzie Borden do it — that is if she really did take an axe to her stepmother a grand total of forty times (and to her father another forty-one). ROLT’s 2015 production was directed by Eliza Leoni, music directed by David Möschler, and choreographed by Nicole Helfer.

ROLT original cast members Jessica Coker, Elizabeth Curtis, and Melissa Reinertson will return to our virtual Fall River, Massachusetts, alongside Taylor Iman Jones (Broadway’s Groundhog Day, Head Over Heels). Jones, set to star as Andy Sachs in the future production of The Devil Wears Prada on Broadway, will join Iglehart during the rebroadcast for a Q&A with the creative team and writers/composers of LIZZIE. The rebroadcast will also feature fresh performances by the original cast and band. 

for more info and tickets, visit Ray of Light