The Hayes Theatre has been Sydney’s home for intimate musical theatre since it opened its doors in early 2014, but is only now tackling a work by the late 20th century’s master of musical theatre: Stephen Sondheim.
Assassins is one of his most idiosyncratic and celebrated shows, telling the stories of the men and women who attempted to assassinate US presidents. The musical originally opened Off-Broadway in 1990 and was later revived for a Broadway season in 2004, picking up five Tony Awards.
Last month, the Hayes announced its production would be led by David Campbell as John Wilkes Booth, alongside Connor Crawford as John Hinckley, Martin Crewes as Giuseppe Zangara and Campbell’s co-star from Dream Lover, Hannah Fredericksen as Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme.
Now the complete cast has been revealed: Bobby Fox as Charles Guiteau, Jason Kos as Leon Czolgosz, Justin Smith as Samuel Byck, Kate Cole as Sara Jane Moore, Rob McDougall as the Proprietor, Laura Bunting as Emma Goldman, and Maxwell Simon, making his professional debut as The Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald.
The production will be directed by Melbourne Theatre Company associate director Dean Bryant, who was behind two of the Hayes Theatre’s biggest hits: the Helpmann Award-winning Sweet Charity and Little Shop of Horrors. He will reunite with choreographer Andrew Hallsworth, musical director Andrew Worboys, and lighting designer Ross Graham, who all worked on both Bryant’s previous Hayes shows. Steven Kreamer is associate musical director, and Alicia Clements will design set and costumes.
