LIZZIE: The Musical
October 4 – November 3, 2024
GK Hardt Theater
by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer, Tim Maner, and Alan Stevens Hewitt
directed by Patrick Nims
music directed by Christina Howell
choreographed by Jonathen Blue
“This is the greatest American musical since ‘Sweeney Todd.'”
—British Theatre
“A gothic rock ritual with a ‘riotgirl’ attitude…”
—The New York Times
In 1892, Lizzie Borden was accused of murdering her father and stepmother. Based on historical records and told by a killer all-female cast, this show is a declaration of strength and survivorship that explores the heated days leading up to the murder and Lizzie’s controversial acquittal.
LIZZIE: The Musical delves into the mysterious mind of Lizzie and speculates on the motivations she may have had. By her side are her older sister Emma, their maid Bridget, and their neighbor Alice.
The four women sing a rocking score telling the story of why “Lizzie Borden took an axe…”
Production Photos
Featured Cast
Shattercane Cast
Chloë Angst
Chloë Angst (Lizzie) is thrilled to be a part of this production in the title role. She is the founding artistic director of B.A.D. Musical Theatre and a Bay Area actor whose goal is to disturb gender binaries, promote anti-racism and challenge traditional white ideas in community and semi-professional theatre. Favorite roles include Bridget in LIZZIE at City Lights Theater Company, Reza in Once at Hillbarn Theatre, and Emcee in Cabaret at Sunnyvale Community Players. Last year they performed Angsty Cabaret, a solo concert of their favorite musical theatre tunes. She holds a BM in vocal performance and an MA in applied anthropology.
Ella Park
Ella Park (Alice) is ecstatic to perform as Alice in this Production of LIZZIE: The Musical at 6th Street Playhouse. After taking a 3-year break to finish her Bachelor’s in Fine Art and Master’s in Business Administration, Ella returned to theater as Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof at 6th Street in 2023. Some other favorite roles have been Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls at 6th Street and Lydia Wickham in Miss Bennet at Spreckels.
Shannon Rider
Brandy Noveh
Velvet Grass Cast
Malia Abayon
Malia Abayon (Lizzie) is thrilled to be back home at 6th Street Playhouse where she was most recently seen as Tania (u/s) in Native Gardens and Alice in The Book of Will. Other Bay Area productions include SF Playhouse’s Guys and Dolls, Evita, and Center Repertory Theater’s In the Heights (ensemble/u/s Nina). Favorite roles include Mimi in RENT, Adela in The House of Bernarda Alba, Acid Queen in The Who’s Tommy, and her Guest Artist role in Revelations the Musical (off-Broadway). Malia received a B.A. in Dramatic Arts from UC Davis. She also teaches Inferno Hot Pilates at Energize Hot Yoga. MaliaAbayon.com @Malialia27
Nicole Stanley
Nicole Stanley (Alice) is excited to return to 6th Street for LIZZIE. You may have seen her as Nicola in Kinky Boots this past June. She was also in the ensemble of She Loves Me and played Ilona for one night. Nicole played Queen Constantina in Berkeley Playhouse’s Cinderella Enchanted, and more recently, Portia the Otter in Wind in the Willows and Sally Brown in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown at Spreckels. She has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Chico State, where she played two favorite roles – Belle in Beauty and the Beast and Paulette in Legally Blonde. Nicole is a teacher in Cinnabar Theater’s Young Rep Program and is working toward becoming a vocal coach. Check out her website at www.nicolestanley.org. She would like to dedicate this performance to her late father.
Megan Bartlett
Andrea Thorpe
Andrea “Andee” Thorpe (Bridget) recently moved from Sacramento and is excited to be in her first production at 6th Street Playhouse. She is honored to perform with such a talented group of women! Previous roles include Rosalie in School of Rock, Donna in Mama Mia!, Diana in Next to Normal, Snoopy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Penny in Urinetown, and Fantine in Les Misérables, among cherished others. Andee is a Change Management specialist by day, co-leads worship music at www.rcumc.net, sings with www.nrtcmusic.com, and spends free time with her partner, Dave, and orange tabby, Miss Morgan. Vocal coaches: James E. Bryant and Carrie Hennessey.
The Story
In the stifling summer of 1892, Lizzie Borden and her older sister Emma live in their father’s Fall River, Massachusetts home with his wife, Abby, and their maid, Bridget. To all appearances, the family is prosperous and respectable, but Andrew Borden’s locked doors conceal dark secrets.
To escape the smoldering rage and ever-present abuse in the house, outspoken Emma leaves town for a few days and sensitive Lizzie retreats to the barn’s loft. There she finds peace, tenderness and love with roosting doves and her neighborhood friend, Alice.
But when the abuse follows Lizzie into her sanctuary… bad things happen.
Lizzie snaps and Mr. and Mrs. Borden are brutally murdered with an axe.
Act One covers the weeks leading up to the murders and a possible reason why Lizzie did it. If she did it.
In Act Two the women’s repressed Victorian rage erupts into a Riot Grrrl concert chronicling the time Lizzie spent in Taunton jail and the trial that ended in her controversial acquittal.
