Behind the Scenes Look at “Murder Ballad”
OVERVIEW
WHO: Sidecountry Theatre
WHAT: Murder Ballad, Conceived by and with Book and Lyrics by Julia Jordan, Music and Lyrics by Juliana Nash
WHEN: October 17, 2016-November 13, 2016 (Press/Opening Night: Friday, October 21)
WHERE: West of Lenin, 203 N. 36th St., Seattle, WA 98103
Murder Ballad, directed by Billie Wildrick, is the sexy, dramatic rock musical about a love triangle gone wrong centering on Sara, an uptown woman who seems to have it all, but whose downtown past lingers enticingly and dangerously in front of her. A downtown and off-broadway sensation, Murder Ballad was the must see theatre experience of 2013. The title is taken from the phrase “murder ballad,” a type of song that describes the details of a crime, from the murderer to the motive to the act itself. Conceived by Jonathan Larson Award winner and two-time Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Julia Jordan with book and lyrics by Jordan and music and lyrics by indie rock singer/songwriter Juliana Nash, Murder Ballad is a steamy and fun thriller with a razor’s edge.
REVIEWS
Wildrick and Sidecountry have crafted a fine piece with this one…..
… one of the few chances for audiences around here to catch it, and catch it they should.Jay Irwin of Broadway World
A little sex, a little violence, a lot of innuendo go into the musical “Murder Ballad”
The actors’ encounters are credibly steamy, bathed in the stark lighting design of Alyssa Milione.
….director Billie Wildrick keeps the momentum humming in Sidecountry Theatre’s production.Dusty Somers of The Seattle Times
Murder Ballad has a top notch cast led by frequent 5th Avenue/Village actor Naomi Morgan.
It’s provocative and sultry with a sexy score and strong performances.
It’s a smart show that’s well directed by Billie Wildrick with a finely honed 4 piece band led by musical director Brandon Peck.Michael Strangeways of the Seattle Gay Scene
[Murder Ballad’s] plot is simple but sharp, and its stunningly performed and directed.
When things really work, they really, really work. And this is a ‘really, REALLY works’!Roger B.A. Klorese, blogger
Cast (in alphabetical order):
NARRATOR – Sarah Henley-Hick
Sara is so elated to be a part of this production of Murder Ballad and to be working with such a talented and wonderful group of people! She will be performing next in StageRights production of The Toxic Avenger. Some of her past credits include: Michelle in Death on the Supermarket Self, Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Mabel in Pirates of Penzance and Lily in The Secret Garden. Sara’s burlesque alter ego Miss Opal Essence can be seen in Tease the Season! on Friday August 19th at Rendezvous in Belltown.SARA – Naomi Morgan
5th Avenue Theatre acting credits are: Little Shop of Horrors, RENT, Cinderella, West Side Story, Oliver!, and more. Village Theatre Credits are: In The Heights, The Full Monty, The Gypsy King, and many festivals. Other performing credits are: California Music Circus, ACT Theatre, Benaroya Hall, Seahawks Stadium, Temple Theatre to name a few. Naomi is the Broadway World Award winner for: “Best Leading Actress in a Musical”. Naomi Morgan is the Founder and Executive Producer of TOM – Jordan Iosua Taylor
Abundant gratitude is the main emotion felt by Jordan Iosua Taylor in being a part of this great cast and production of Murder Ballad. He gives his greatest thanks to all of those whom have supported and pushed him to never stop realizing his passions in life and to always be of service to others. You may have seen him in American Idiot as Favorite Son and Really, Really at MICHAEL – Nick Watson
Nick is ecstatic to be doing this show! BFA in Theatre from Cornish College of the Arts. Other work: Big Fish (Karl the Giant) at
Musicians
Bass Alternate – Mark Miller
Bass Alternate – John VanZenten
Drums – Scot Sexton
Guitar – Ian Hughes
Creative and Production:
DIRECTOR – Billie Wildrick
Billie enjoys a vibrant, multi-faceted musical/theatrical career in Seattle – where she performs, creates, directs and produces – and her onstage work has been celebrated with 3 Gregory nominations a Gregory Award and 3 Footlight Awards. Directing credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (SMT), Peanutty Goodness (Theater Schmeater) and Kiss of the Spider Woman (SSR). Billie has also written and performed her own original work at the Seattle Fringe Festival, Liberty Deli, Thumpers and The Studios. She has performed on Broadway, been featured on cast recordings, produced the first annual Seattle/Mainstreet Festival of New Musicals, and is a proud founding member of girl trio, The Riveting Rosies. A creative fruit tree, Billie is thrilled to be living the dream and always hungry for more. www.billiewildrick.com.ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR – Phillip Lacey
MUSIC DIRECTOR – Brandon Peck
Brandon is so happy to be a part of Murder Ballad! Previous favorite Music Director credits: Toxic Avenger the Musical with StageRight; Lion King Jr., at SCT, First Date at Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre; South Pacific, 9 to 5, Jesus Christ Superstar and Legally Blonde at Seattle Musical Theatre,; Kiss of the Spider Woman at Second Story Rep;Young Frankenstein, Hairspray, and Legally Blonde at Nathan Hale High School. Additionally, He teaches music theatre classes with Village Theatre’s Kidstage program and at Seattle Children’s Theatre. Brandon holds a BA in Theatre Performance from the U of WA.COSTUME DESIGNER – Darren Mills
LIGHTING DESIGN – Alyssa Milione
SCENIC DESIGNER & PROPS MASTER – Catherine Cornell
Catherine Cornell is a fantastic scenic designer in the Seattle area. Local designs include (and are certainly not limited to) Buyer and Cellar at Seattle Repertory Theatre; Slaughterhouse Five, Truth Like the Sun, Jesus’ Son, and the Arts and Education Tour with Book-It Repertory Theatre; Buzzer for ACTLab in the Allen Theatre; Into the Woods with STAGEright; Master Harold… and the boys at West of Lenin; Red Light Winter and 25 Saints with Azeotrope; Undo, Zapoi!, and Precious Little at Annex Theatre. Designs beyond Seattle include Cloud Nine for the University of Michigan (where she obtained a BFA in Design and Production) and work as a scenic artist for Walt Disney’s motion picture, Oz: The Great and Powerful.SOUND DESIGN – Mike Miller
SOUND TECHNICIAN – Jonathan Fowles
STAGE MANAGER – Jennifer Essinger
After travelling the world for the past 6 years as a Stage/Production Manager for Holland America Line Jennifer, a native of Everett, WA, is elated to back home in Seattle, joining this thriving community of artists, performers and technicians. Before deciding a sailor’s life was for her, Jennifer lived and worked in and around the Chicago, IL area in various theatrical capacities. Favorite stage management credits include: Damn Yankees, Lend Me a Tenor (Metropolis Performing Arts), Altar Boyz (Noble Fool Theatricals), Elisir d’Amore (Northwestern University Opera Program).STAGE HAND | BARTENDER | SOUND TECHNICIAN – David Marshall
SIDECOUNTRY THEATRE PRODUCTION MANAGER – Crystal Dawn Munkers
After choreographing the inspiring and popular Passing Strange for SideCountry Theatre, Crystal is thrilled to be back on the production team of Murder Ballad! Recent credits include Romeo + Juliet (Seattle Shakespeare Company), Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play (ACT), No Way to Treat a Lady (Village Theatre), Dick Whittington and His Cat (Seattle Children’s Theatre) and Hound of the Baskervilles (Seattle Repertory Theatre). Crystal trained at the British Dancing Academy, studied the art of choreography with Agnes DeMille protégé Oliver Woodall, and completed the University of Washington’s graduate program in Directing for the Stage and Screen under Allison Narver and John Jacobsen. She is a reviewer of new musicals for Village Theatre, she is an evaluator for the 5th Avenue Awards to honor excellence in high school musical theatre and she recently began teaching at Cornish College for the Arts.PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR – John Sutherland
About the Playwrights
Julia Jordan (Book and Lyrics): Musicals: Murder Ballad (book and lyrics); Sarah, Plain and Tall (book); The Mice (book, 1 act of Hal Prince’s 3hree). Plays: Boy, Tatjana in Color, St. Scarlet, Smoking Lesson, Dark Yellow, Astrological Quit Claim Deeds , Jones. The Kleban Award for librettist, Francesca Primus Prize, Lucille Lortel Playwriting Fellowship, Manhattan Theatre Club Fellowship, Jonathan Larson Award, Heideman Award and two time LeComte Nouy Award, AT&T OnStage Award, The American Spirit Award, three times shortlisted for the Susan Smith Blackburn Award. Her work has been produced at Primary Stages, Actor’s Theater of Louisville, SoHo Rep, McCarter Theatre, Dallas Theater Center, Prince Music Theater, Ahmanson, Studio Dante, Wellfleet, Contemporary American Theater Festival, Salt Lake Acting Company and The American Theater, among others. Her plays have been developed at Sundance, The O’Neill, Ojai Playwrights Conference, Playlabs at the Minneapolis Playwrights Center, Cleveland Playhouse, among others. Jordan is one of the founders of The Lilly Awards and is on the Council of the Dramatists Guild.
Juliana Nash (Music and Lyrics): Juliana Nash was the rhythm guitarist, and singer-songwriter for the band Talking to Animals, which was signed to Columbia and Velvel Records. Her work has been featured in films such as Rob Morrow’s Maze and Eric Schaeffer’s Fall. She is the proud recipient of an MTC/Sloan commission. She is the co-lyricist and composer for MURDER BALLAD. MURDER BALLAD was produced at the Manhattan theater club in their 2012-13 season and then transferred to the Union Square Theater in the spring of 2013. MURDER BALLAS was nominated for five Lortel Awards including outstanding musical, Drama League for outstanding musical and the Outer Critics Circle for best musical. Juliana is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild and BMI and would like to thank both organizations for their support.
Murder Ballad performances:
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Special Events
- Red Carpet Opening Night
- Post-Play Discussions
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