It's sad when a star has to withdraw from a show, as Ciara Renee has done with LIZZIE due to a scheduling conflict. But when the fallback is a mega Broadway star like Eden Espinosa, there's reason to celebrate too. She'll now join the axe-wielding quartet of women wielding the axe in the UK premiere of the axe-wielding Lizzie Borden musical in February...
Eden Espinosa, well known for playing Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway, will replace fellow Broadway star Ciara Renée in the UK premiere of American rock musical LIZZIE. Renee has had to withdraw due to a scheduling conflict. Following a run at Fredericia Teater, Denmark in January, LIZZIE runs at Greenwich Theatre from 22 February to 12 March 2017, with a press night on 24 February.
The cast of LIZZIE also comprises 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).
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.
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.
Eden Espinosa is most recognised for her critically acclaimed portrayal of Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway and in Los Angeles and San Francisco. She originated the title character in Brooklyn the Musical, played Flora in Flora the Red Menace, and Maureen in the closing company of Rent. Most recently she portrayed Eva Peron in TPAC and Studio Tenn’s production of Evita. Her television appearances include Law and Order and Ugly Betty. Voiceover credits include Cassandra in the upcoming Disney show Tangled, the series Robot Chicken, MAD TV, Elena of Avalor, and Titan Maximum. Eden was the featured soloist in Magical, the fireworks spectacular at the Disneyland Resort and can be heard on such recordings as Hair (BCEFA benefit recording), The Maury Yeston Songbook, Bright Lights, Big City, John McDaniel Live at Joe’s Pub, and Scott Alan’s Dreaming Wide Awake. Her debut album, Look Around, is out now.
