Overview
Synopsis
In this darkly humorous musical revue, Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and John Weidman (book) depict nine misfit men and women who set out to assassinate American Presidents. Though only some were successful, all left their mark on American history. While every nation has its assassins and would-be assassins, only in America, the authors suggest, do disturbed and disturbing individuals act not because they hope to influence national politics, but because they are wrapped up in a malignant sense of entitlement. Feeling betrayed by the failed promise of American democracy and the American Dream, they strike out at the symbol for America: the American President. Assassins spans several musical styles and many decades in a dizzying series of musical and theatrical inventions that culminate in the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
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Context
Assassins first premiered off Broadway at Playwrights Horizon on December 18, 1990 to mixed reviews. This production ran until February 16, 1991, playing only 72 performances. The very next year on October 29, Assassins had its London premiere at the Donmar Warehouse. This production had nearly the exact same fate as its predecessor, closing on January 9, 1993 after playing only 76 performances.
The Roundabout Theatre Company was set to give Assassins its Broadway debut in 2001, but due to
to read the context for Assassins and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
The show opens at what appears to be a lively and bright carnival. The Proprietor stands behind the counter manning a "shoot-and-win" game. The targets however don’t seem quite normal. As people pass, the Proprietor hollers at them, trying to persuade them to “shoot a president and win a prize” (“Opening”).
The first to stumble upon the booth is a scruffy, brooding, factory worker named Leon Czolgosz. The Proprietor tells Czolgosz that he can fix all of his sorrows by killing a president. He
to read the plot for Assassins and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
Showing 8 of 18 characters
Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in Assassins.
Showing 8 of 23 portrayals
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Monologues
Scenes
Songs
- "Everybody's Got the Right" - Proprietor, Czolgosz, Hinckley, Guiteau, Zangara, Byck, Fromme, Moore, Booth
- "The Ballad of Booth" - Balladeer, Booth, David Harold
- "How I Saved Roosevelt" - Bystanders, Zangara
- "Gun Song" - Czolgosz, Booth, Guiteau, Moore
- "The Ballad of Czolgosz" - Balladeer, Fairgoers
- "Unworthy of Your Love" - Hinckley, Fromme
- "The Ballad of Guiteau" - Guiteau, Balladeer
- "Another National Anthem" - Czolgosz, Booth, Hinckley, Fromme, Zangara, Guiteau, Moore, Byck, Balladeer
- "November 22, 1963" - Booth, Oswald, Guiteau, Czolgosz, Byck, Hinckley, Fromme, Moore, Zangara
- "Finale: Everybody's Got the Right" - Booth, Czolgosz, Moore, Guiteau, Zangara, Byck, Hinckley, Fromme, Oswald
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Key Terms
A theme in theatre representing hope, success, and its disillusionment, particularly in realist and symbolist plays.
A dramatic event involving a political or symbolic killing, often central to tragedy or historical plays.
A concept musical is a type of musical structured around a central idea, theme, or message rather than a straightforward linear plot. Songs, characters, and scenes are often arranged to explore this unifying concept from different perspectives. This style allows for greater experimentation and can blend satire, social commentary, or abstract storytelling.
