Did Lizzie Borden wield the axe or not? It's an international four-strong cast of strong women for the UK premiere of rock musical LIZZIE, including Broadway Ciara Renee and the West End's Jodie Jacobs. Chop, chop...
Broadway star Ciara Renée (Pippin and Big Fish, Broadway), Brits Jodie Jacobs (Carrie, We Will Rock You) and Bleu Woodward (Oh! What A Lovely War, Kinky Boots) and Dane Bjørg Gamst (The Little Mermaid, The Drowsy Chaperone) will star in the UK premiere of American rock musical LIZZIE, which runs at London’s Greenwich Theatre next year following a run at Fredericia Teater, Denmark in January 2017. LIZZIE runs at Greenwich Theatre from 22 February to 12 March 2017, with a press night on 24 February.
On a sweltering summer morning in 1892, in a small New England city, a prominent businessman and his wife were axed to death in their home. Their daughter Lizzie Borden was the prime suspect. Lizzie’s trial was a coast-to-coast media sensation, and her story has become an American legend.
LIZZIE is four women fronting a six-piece rock band. Lizzie is rage, sex, betrayal, and bloody murder. LIZZIE is American mythology set to a blistering rock score. LIZZIE is a new American musical with a sound owing less to Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber than to Bikini Kill, the Runaways, and Heart.
Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment says:
“I am absolutely delighted to be collaborating with Søren Møller of Fredericia Theater – a producer and theatre totally committed to new musical theatre who are contributing so much to the development and showcasing of international artists. LIZZIE is one of those contemporary, chamber and also commercial new musicals which instantly grabbed my attention due to its vibrant rock score and dark subject matter. We are excited to be working with an incredible international cast and can’t wait to help introduce this phenomenal piece to the UK.’’
James Haddrell, Artistic Director of Greenwich Theatre says: “I’m delighted to be welcoming such an international cast to Greenwich Theatre next year for the UK premiere of LIZZIE. Katy Lipson and Søren Møller have assembled an incredible team and I can’t wait for our audiences to be astonished by this new and exciting rock musical.”
LIZZIE marks the start of a new and exciting collaboration between British-based company Aria Entertainment, headed by producer Katy Lipson, and Denmark-based Fredericia Theater, headed by producer and Artistic Director Søren Møller. The collaboration builds on Aria Entertainment’s support and development for new musicals both in the UK and overseas and Fredericia Theater’s desire to continue mounting acclaimed work on an international scale beyond their home in Fredericia, Denmark.
LIZZIE has lighting design by Martin Jensen and Bo Kudsk and sound design by Tim Hoyer. Set design is by Anders D. Jensen and Jens Frausing and costume design by is Michael Nøhr. Original costume design by Michael Nøhr. Additional costume design by Anna Juul Holm. UK casting is by Anne Vosser.
