Show Showdown: Lizzie Borden

By Wendy Caster, Show Showdown
September 12, 2009

Jenny Fellner. Photo: Carl Skutsch.

Can murdering one’s parents with an axe be a woman’s path to empowerment? In the excellent rock musical Lizzie Borden, it certainly can. Lizzie, abused, in danger of being disinherited, and lacking options, finally decides that freedom lies in ridding herself of her incestuous father and her horrid stepmother. After an attempt at poisoning them fails, she grabs an ax and, well, takes matters into her own hands. Lizzie Borden (with book, lyrics, music, concept, direction, and musical direction by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer, Tim Maner, and Alan Stevens Hewitt) beautifully combines a kick-ass score, strong lyrics, surprising humor, sweet sexiness, cheerful anachronisms, and an eerie atmosphere. The multitalented designers Caleb Levengood (scenery), Christian DeAngelis (lighting), Jamie McElhinney (sound), Bobby Frederick Tilley (costume), Carrie Lynn Rohm (hair and makeup), and Zoë Woodworth (video) manage to evoke a vivid, attractive, and affectingly creepy time and place in a small space on what must have been a small budget. And the four actress-singers—Marie-France Arcilla, Lisa Birnbaum, Carrie Cimma, and Jenny Fellner—are heartbreaking, satirical, funny, sexy, real, and larger-than-life, sometimes all at the same time. And can they rock! Special notice must be paid to the superb Jenny Fellner as Lizzie. Fellner’s transition from repressed to explosive is calibrated perfectly, and she performs with her heart, body, and soul—and with great intelligence. (A few small quibbles: the lyrics were occasionally difficult to hear; both acts end with whimpers rather than bangs; playing rock music during intermission hurt the mood.)

Playbill: Lizzie Borden, with Fellner, Birnbaum, Arcilla and Cimma, Rocks NYC Starting Sept. 10

By Adam Hetrick, Playbill
September 10, 2009

Broadway’s Jenny Fellner stars in the title role of the new rock musical Lizzie Borden, which begins performances at the Living Theatre Sept. 10.

Tim Maner directs the new musical about the American woman who was acquitted of murdering her father and stepmother in 1892. Lizzie Borden has music by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer and Alan Stevens Hewitt, additional music by Tim Maner, with lyrics by Cheslik-DeMeyer and Maner (who also penned the book).

In addition to Fellner (Pal Joey, Mamma Mia!), the cast features Lisa Birnbaum (On Island) as Emma Borden, Marie-France Arcilla (Working) as Alice Russell and Carrie Cimma (Wedding Singer) as Bridget Sullivan.

The musical is based on the brutal 1892 murder of Andrew and Abby Borden, father and stepmother to 32-year-old Lizzie Borden, who was acquitted of murdering the two with a hatchet in their home.

According to press notes, “This dark, hard, campy, bloody, sexy, loud show offers a glimpse of these infamous events through the eyes of Lizzie, her older sister Emma, Lizzie’s close friend Alice, and the housemaid Bridget. Packed with kick-ass original songs, four fierce rocker divas, and two very bloody murders, our tale of repression and patricide sheds some light on why Lizzie Borden took that axe, and why we see her as a heroine for doing it.”

Lizzie Borden has musical direction, orchestrations and arrangements by Alan Stevens Hewitt, with scenic design by Caleb Levengood, lighting design by Christian DeAngelis and costumes by Bobby Frederick Tilley II.

Lizzie Borden will run through Oct. 17. For tickets, priced $25, phone (212) 352-3101. The Living Theatre is located at 21 Clinton Street.

Visit LizzieBordentheShow.

Playbill: Fellner, Birnbaum, Arcilla and Cimma Will Rock Lizzie Borden in September

By Adam Hetrick, Playbill
05 Aug 2009

Jenny Fellner (photo by Aubrey Reuben)

A new rock musical adaptation of Lizzie Borden, starring Jenny Fellner, will play a limited engagement at the Living Theatre beginning Sept. 10.

The latest incarnation of the infamous slaying has music by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer and Alan Stevens Hewitt, additional music by Tim Maner, with lyrics by Cheslik-DeMeyer and Maner (who also penned the book).

Tim Maner directs the production that stars Jenny Fellner (Pal Joey, Mamma Mia!) as Lizzie Borden, Lisa Birnbaum (On Island) as Emma Borden, Marie-France Arcilla (Working) as Alice Russell and Carrie Cimma (Wedding Singer) as Bridget Sullivan.

The musical is based on the brutal 1892 murder of Andrew and Abby Borden, father and stepmother to 32-year-old Lizzie Borden, who was acquitted of murdering the two with a hatchet in their home.

According to press notes, “This dark, hard, campy, bloody, sexy, loud show offers a glimpse of these infamous events through the eyes of Lizzie, her older sister Emma, Lizzie’s close friend Alice, and the housemaid Bridget. Packed with kick-ass original songs, four fierce rocker divas, and two very bloody murders, our tale of repression and patricide sheds some light on why Lizzie Borden took that axe, and why we see her as a heroine for doing it.”

Lizzie Borden has musical direction, orchestrations and arrangements by Alan Stevens Hewitt, with scenic design by Caleb Levengood, lighting design by Christian M. DeAngelis and costumes by Bobby Frederick Tilley II.

Lizzie Borden will run through Oct. 17. For tickets, priced $25, phone (212) 352-3101. The Living Theatre is located at 21 Clinton Street.