ASSASSINS
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by John Weidman
ASSASSINS chronicles the motives behind nine people who set out to kill the President of the United States. From John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald, each assassin delves into the emotional turmoil that leads to the most public crime in history. Lost in a realm without time, the nine assassins mingle and contemplate their mission in pursuit of the American Dream. ASSASSINS contains some of the finest and darkly funny scenes in contemporary musical theatre as well as a brilliant, melodic score by the celebrated composer Stephen Sondheim (INTO THE WOODS, COMPANY, SWEENEY TODD) that explores music styles throughout American history from folk to ragtime to 1970s soft rock.
ABOUT MUSKET:
MUSKET is the only completely student run musical theatre troupe on campus of the University of Michigan. Everything from directing to stage crew is done by students. MUSKET is a sub-committee of the University Activities Center (UAC), which manages numerous other student groups on campus such as Impact Dance, Amazing Blue, Groove and The Michigan Every Three Weekly. Each school year MUSKET presents two musical productions: one fall semester and one winter semester. MUSKET has presented everything from the traditional SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN and WESTSIDE STORY, to more contemporary works such as DREAMGIRLS and Andrew Lippa’s THE WILD PARTY.
The group was originally known as the Michigan Union Opera Company, when founded in 1908. As an all male troupe the company performed student written shows until 1956 when women were invited to join the organization. The group then changed its focus to presenting Broadway-style musicals. Thus the name was altered to “Michigan Union Shows, Ko-Eds, Too” or MUSKET for short.
2006 marked the organization’s fiftieth year on campus and MUSKET’s URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL was chosen as “The Best Musical of 2006” in Ann Arbor by The Ann Arbor News. The current members of MUSKET are proud to uphold the century old tradition of performance that has graced the stages of the university for so many years.
MUSKET
c/o University Activities Center
4002 Michigan Union
530 State Street #541
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1349
E-mail the producers at: musket.prod@umich.edu
