Assassins
CLOSED - January 26 - February 12
Opening Night January 27
Book by: John Weidman
Music and Lyrics by: Stephen Sondheim
Directed By: Josh Marx
Choreographed and Assistant Directed By: Leslie Waggoner
Music Direction By: Jad Bernardo
Our nation’s most notorious assassins gather on stage to violently pursue a twisted American Dream.
A multiple Tony Award-winning theatrical tour-de-force, Assassins combines Sondheim’s signature blend of intelligently stunning lyrics and beautiful music with a panoramic story of our nation’s culture of celebrity and the incredible means some will use to obtain it. Bold, original, and alarmingly funny, Assassins lays bare the lives of nine individuals who assassinated or tried to assassinate the President of the United States, in a one-act historical “revusical”. From John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald, writers, Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman, bend the rules of time and space, taking us on a roller coaster ride in which assassins and would-be assassins from different historical periods meet, interact and inspire each other to harrowing acts in the name of the American Dream.
*Parental Advisory Warning: This show contains adult content and language. Children under the age of 13 will not be allowed in without adult supervision.
Cast & Production
Show Cast
*Actors appear courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association
| Booth | *Andre Amarotico |
|---|---|
| Czolgosz | Benjamin Ball |
| Ensemble, u/s Zangara + Guiteau | River Bermudez-Sanders |
| Ensemble, u/s Fromme | Wynne Chan |
| Oswald, u/s Byck + Czolgosz | Julio Chavez |
| Byck | Andrew Cope |
| Zangara | Jesse Cortez |
| Goldman, Ensemble/ u/s Moore | Angela Harrrington |
| Ensemble, u/s Hinckley + Oswald | Zachary Isen |
| Hinckley | Nick Kenrick |
| Fromme | Brigitte Losey |
| Moore | Hayley Lovgren |
| Balladeer (Proprietor) | *Keith Pinto |
| Ensemble, u/s Goldman | Shelby Stewart |
| Guiteau | Ted Zoldan |
| Boy | Leo Itzkovitz |
Production team
| Director | Joshua Marx |
|---|---|
| Assistant Director/Choreographer | Leslie Waggoner |
| Music Director | Jad Bernardo |
| Production Manager | Danielle Santana Combs |
| Dramaturg | River Bermudez-Sanders |
| Sound Designer | Jules Indelicato |
| Stage Manager | Kalon Thibodeaux |
| Scenic Designer | Christopher Fitzer |
| Props Designer (no guns/consumables) | Christopher Fitzer |
| Company AD/ u/s Booth/Ensemble | Randy O’Hara |
| Tech Director | Eric Olson |
| Lighting Designer | John Bernard |
| Dialect Coach | Rachel Powers |
| Costumer | Sharon Peng |
| Weapons Master (training) | Will Springhorn |
| AV Consultant | Daniel Cadigan |
| Projection/AV Help | Chai Kohen |
Bios
*Andre Amarotico
(John Wilkes Booth) (he/him) Andre studied Theatre at Stanford University. He was recently featured in Presidio Theatre’s Sleeping Beauty, and Neighborhood Stories, in a short untitled play by Pulitzer nominated playwright Amy Freed. Andre was TBA nominated for his work in RVP’s The 39 Steps. He has also performed with Mountain Play, Cutting Ball, Word for Word, 6th Street Playhouse, and Stanford Repertory. Andre is an actor and collective member at the Tony Award winning SF Mime Troupe.
Benjamin Ball
(Leon Czolgosz) (he/him) Ben is a Former Marine-Arabic-linguist-turned-fiber optic global account manager and Berkeley MBA grad. Ben’s recent theater credits include Harold Hill in The Music Man (Spreckels), Bobby in Company (PCTCA), The Baker in Into the Woods (Woodminster), Zoser in Aida (BBBay), and Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady (PSP). When not on stage, Ben can be found sailing the bounding main on his 44’ sailboat Allora. Ben is excited to return to the Hillbarn stage!
River Bermudez-Sanders
(Ensemble, u/s Zangara + Guiteau) (they/them) River has worked as an actor, director, choreographer, writer, stage manager, production manager, teaching artist, and dramaturge at companies around the Bay Area including Palo Alto Players, Children’s Fairy Land, the Oakland Theatre Project, SPARC, Townhall Theatre, NCTC, and Theatre Rhinoceros. Recent directing work includes Guillermo Reyes’ Bad Hombres (Theatre Rhino) and the first ever staged reading of Justin P. Lopez’ The Re-Education of Fernando Morales (Townhall Theatre). Other directing credits include Little Women (Emerson College), Legally Blonde (Hillbarn Theatre), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Irvington Conservatory).
Wynne Chan
(Ensemble, u/s Fromme) (she/her) Wynne is a San Francisco native performer and director. Wynne is so excited to work on her first show by the late great Stephen Sondheim. She most recently directed Tiny Beautiful Things with Plethos Productions, and was last seen on stage at The Pear Theatre’s Metamorphoses. Coming up, Wynne will be directing The Language Archives at Masquers Playhouse and assistant directing Chinglish at San Francisco Playhouse. IG: @wynne.chan
Julio Chavez
(Lee Harvey Oswald, u/s Byck + Czolgosz) (he/him) Julio is excited to make his Hillbarn debut! Credits include Usnavi in In the Heights (Custom Made Theatre), Brad in a fully immersive production of The Rocky Horror Show (Ray of Light Theatre, SF OASIS), McDermott in the West Coast premiere of American Psycho (Ray of Light Theatre), and Wolf in Into the Woods (Woodminster Summer Musicals). Julio would like to thank Jill and his family for their loving support.
Andrew Cope
(Samuel Byck) (he/him) Andrew is delighted to return to Hillbarn Theatre. Previously, he performed as Neal Tilden in The 1940s Radio Hour at Hillbarn. Other recent roles in include Nigel Bottom in Something Rotten (WVLO) and Don Price in Big Fish (SCP). He would like to thank his family, friends, and his tortoise Dr. Crinkles for their endless support.
Jesse Cortez
(Giuseppe Zangara) (he/him) Jesse is thrilled to return to his third show at Hillbarn with this incredible group of artists! Last seen in Sweeney Todd and Clue: On Stage (Hillbarn Theater), he is the winner of Best Showtunes Cabaret 2013 at Martuni’s and member of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. Other recent post-Covid theater credits include In The Heights (Berkeley Playhouse) and La Cage Aux Folles (Altarena Playhouse)
Find out more at jessecortezmusic.com
Instagram/Tiktok @jessecortezmusic.
Angela Harrington
(Emma Goldman, Ensemble/ u/s Moore) (she/her) Angela is thrilled to return to Hillbarn, previously featured in Elf: The Musical, The Hunchback of Notre Dame & Annie. Recent roles include Susan in Snapshots, Mrs. Hudson in Sherlock Holmes… (Tabard Theater), Gianetta in The Gondoliers, & Constance in The Sorcerer (Lyric Theater). Angela holds a BA in Music from Santa Clara University & her Masters of Music from Northwestern University. She is the performing arts director at Beechwood School, and teaches voice to singers of all ages. @SingwithAngela
Zachary Isen
(Ensemble, u/s Hinckley + Oswald) (he/him) Zachary is slayed to be returning to the Hillbarn stage. Bay Area born and raised, he most recently appeared as an Angel in Kinky Boots with Ray of Light. Other favorite roles include, Phantom in Rocky Horror Show (Ray of Light/OASIS), Albert in Newsies (Hillbarn Theatre), Bobby in Cabaret (San Francisco Playhouse) Bobby in A Chorus Line (Sierra Repertory Theatre), Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, and Riff in West Side Story (Mountain Play). Zachary holds a BFA in drama from New York University Tisch School of the Arts.
Leo Itzkovitz
(Billy) Leo is 10 years old and in 5th grade at Fiesta Gardens International School. He recently performed in Hillbarn’s production of Gypsy and the conservatory production of Shrek the Musical. Leo has seen many musicals over the years, and is so very happy to be part of the Assassins cast. Leo also enjoys sketching, kung fu, roller coasters, and online gaming. He thanks the Assassins Directorial Team team for this opportunity!
Nick Kenrick
(John Hinckley) (he/him) Nick is excited to be performing in his second show with Hillbarn. He has performed in community theaters up and down the peninsula, and is best known for his portrayal as Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet at multiple companies, for which he’s won several nominations and a TBA award. By day he works as an engineer at Intuitive Surgical, where they did surgery on a grape. Much love to Sammi and Clifford.
Brigitte Losey
(Lynette “squeaky”Fromme) (she/hers) Brigitte is a native Bay Area actress and theatre maker. When Brigitte is not on the stage she is taking your calls managing the Hillbarn Box office. Brigitte Is very excited to be back performing on the Hillbarn stage with such an incredible wealth of bay area talent. Some past roles include Ensemble/swing in Kinky Boots (ROLT), Kelly Manning in The Mad Ones & Heather Chandler in Heathers (PSP), Ali in Mamma Mia (San Jose Stage Co), Poppy in Noises Off (Hillbarn Theatre), Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods (LASC).
Hayley Lovgren
(Sara Jane Moore) (she/her) Hayley was born and raised in the Bay Area. Most recently she appeared as Mrs. White in Clue Woman #2 in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Hillbarn and pre-pandemic as Ensemble in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (42nd Street Moon), Kiki in *Significant Other (*SF Playhouse), Drood in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (3Below). She got all dolled up to play King Herod in the all female production of JC Superstar at Ray of Light which earned her a TBA award. She received a BA in Theatre Arts from Santa Clara University, and an MFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory.
*Keith Pinto
(Balladeer / Proprietor) Keith is so excited to be back at Hillbarn after appearing in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. You may have also seen him in Sweeney Todd and Cabaret for which he recieved a TBA Award. Other favorits include 1776 (American Conservatory Theatre), Hedwig and the Angry Inch (San Jose Stage Company), Company (San Francisco Playhouse), Sweet Charity (CenterRep) and Me & My Girl (42nd Street Moon).
Shelby Stewart
(Ensemble, u/s Goldman) (she/her) Shelby is thrilled to be back on stage and making her Hillbarn debut. Favorite theatre credits: Lady Jacqueline in Me and My Girl (Jewel Theatre), Regina in Rock of Ages (PCRT), Marta in Company and Ado Annie in Oklahoma! (Altarena Playhouse).Titanic (42nd Street Moon), Thoroughly Modern Millie and Grease (CCMT). www.shelby-stewart.com
Rhys Townsager
(Billy) Rhys is 12 years old and in 7th grade. He’s been performing in shows since 2nd grade, most recently in Hillbarn’s Elf: The Musical & Gypsy. His favorite recent role was playing Lord Farquaad in Hillbarn Theatre Conservatory’s summer production of Shrek. In his spare time, Rhys enjoys hanging out with friends, jumping on his trampoline and dancing. He would like to thank the artistic team, the cast and his family and friends for their support!
Ted Zoldan
(Charles Guiteau) (he/him) Ted was most recently seen in San Francisco Playhouse’s production of Paula Vogel’s Indecent. In a decade of Bay Area theater, he’s appeared with 42nd Street Moon, Custom Made Theater, Ray of Light Theatre, Berkeley Playhouse, West Edge Opera, Killing My Lobster, and spent two years touring schools throughout California with the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival. He is a graduate of San Francisco Conservatory of Music. His facial hair is not usually this noteworthy. @Intheroleofted
*Actors appear courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association
Video
2022/2023 Season
