The opening song issues a warning: by the end of the show, someone will be dead. Lust, murder, and other uncontrolled passions abound in Murder Ballad, Prima Theatre’s upcoming rock musical. Written by Jonathan Larson Award winner Julia Jordan and indie rock singer-songwriter Juliana Nash, this slick modern musical follows the story of a young mother named Sara, who is torn between a stable life with her husband and child, and a passionate affair with a former lover. The show had its world premiere off-Broadway in 2012, and has since been staged in Belgium, Argentina, and New Zealand. Now, Prima’s production will be the regional premiere of the show, taking place March 25-April 9 and promising to dazzle audiences with its hard-hitting story and electrifying music.
“It is a relentless piece of musical theatre,” says Elizabeth Lucas, the co-founder of the New York Music Theatre Festival, who will be directing Prima’s production of Murder Ballad. Lucas previously directed Jekyll & Hyde for Prima in 2019, and has directed Murder Ballad before, for her own theatre company, Free Range Humans, which is based in Maryland. She was drawn to the show, she says, because it is “stylish, fun… and at the same time has something to say. You come away with a really strong connection to yourself and your own feelings and your own questionings.”
Although Lucas has directed the show before, she says Prima’s production will be a brand-new experience. “You walk into the first room on day one, with a different set of people, different ideas, and you just kind of start from scratch,” she says, “guiding them towards one vision while still honoring what they bring into the room with them.” For Prima, that shared vision always means creating an experience that is uniquely invigorating for the audience.
“When you come to see a Prima show, you know it’s going to have incredible vocals, it’s going to look stylish, it’s going to feel very put-together and professional and theatrical in a fantastic, invigorating way,” says Lucas.
As part of that vision, Prima has put together a stunning cast. Alyssa Wray, who was a Top 9 Finalist on American Idol, plays the Narrator, whose songs guide the audience through the show. Rita Castagna (Bonnie & Clyde, Side Show) is the conflicted Sara, Connor Bond (Madam Secretary, Into The Woods) is wild bartender Tom, and Joshua Keefer (Prima’s Jekyll & Hyde, Godspell) is Sara’s more sensible and stable husband, Michael.
Alyssa Wray (Narrator)
Rita Castagna (Sara)
Joshua Keefer (Michael)
Connor Bond (Tom)
Elizabeth Lucas, Director
One of the most important collaborators for Lucas and the entire cast is Kristin Pontz, an award-winning choreographer. Unlike a more traditional musical, Murder Ballad doesn’t have straightforward, standalone dance numbers. Instead, Lucas and Pontz must work together to create “a heightened emotional moment that requires evolving into dance.” Another key collaborator is music director Paulino Contreras, who will help the cast bring to life a soundtrack as gritty and intense as the story it tells.
To some, the show’s intensity and bold, transgressive story might make it seem like a risky choice for a production in Lancaster– but that willingness to dig deep into raw and complex emotions is also what makes Murder Ballad so compelling. “I have found that most people find it incredibly refreshing, because it’s a piece that deals honestly with feelings,” says Lucas. “It deals honestly with things that people go through, that couples go through. That’s the beauty of the piece. It’s so multifaceted and layered that people can bring their own baggage into the room and take their own message back out.”
Prima’s Executive Artistic Producer, Mitch Nugent, also believes this production of Murder Ballad will captivate local audiences. “This is one of those rare shows that you’ve perhaps never heard of but leave with it as a new favorite,” says Nugent. “It’s gritty, authentic, and a slick date night experience.” Prima’s boutique venue offers limited table seating for small groups and an in-house bar, making it the perfect spot for a group of friends seeking a fun night out, or couples in need of a fresh date experience.
Of course, the show isn’t family fare, or for the faint of heart. The murder foreshadowed in the first song will certainly come to fruition– though perhaps not in the way audiences might expect.
“I have to speak carefully so I don’t give anything away, but the climax of the show is the actual murder, of course,” says Lucas. “And when it happens, the reason that comes out is so unexpected, but it speaks to me really strongly. It’s a fantastic moment.” This tantalizing hint at the show’s ending is further proof that Murder Ballad will draw audiences in in from the very first song and keep them on the edge of their seats until the final note is sung.
Meet the cast: https://vimeo.com/662080553/5f93a27362
Murder Ballad is running at Prima Theatre in Lancaster, PA March 25 - April 9. Tickets are available at primatheatre.org/shows. For the safety of patrons, face coverings are required except when eating and drinking, and proof of vaccination or a negative antigen test are required for entry.
