The Broadway Rose Theatre Company will present the world premiere of Duane Nelsen's new musical "Ripper" opening August 4 and continuing through August 21, 2011. With direction by by Abe Reybold and music direction by Alan D. Lytle, Ripper will be performed at the Deb Fennell Auditorium in Tigard, Oregon.
In the autumn of 1888, five East End London prostitutes were murdered in the span of about 10 weeks. The killer was never found. More than a hundred years later, the mystery of Jack the Ripper's identity lingers in our consciousness not because we don't know who he is, but because he could be anyone.
Chicago-based author and composer Duane Nelsen loosely based his script on the story of Jack the Ripper. The five women featured in the story (Kate, Liz, Polly, Annie, and Mary) were actual victims of the Ripper, but they did not know one another as they do in this production. They all work together at the PennyWise Music Hall (a fictional locale) in London's East End, where the proprietress of the establishment is both a madam and a magician. Much of the story takes place in the Hall and the element of illusion sets the theme for the show.
Nelsen defines the style of the show as a musical thriller. "The theme speaks to how people survive in a climate of fear, knowing that what we see may not be what it seems," says Nelsen.
Neighbors, friends, and lovers are all suspects. Some are driven to find the truth. Others stop at nothing to obscure the facts and manipulate the situation to their own advantage. From the reporter who covers the story and the magician who runs the brothel, to the police and, of course, the prostitutes, an intricate plot unfolds that interweaves magic and mayhem, the lively nightlife of the music halls, and the ever-present danger of a killer lurking in The Shadows.
The cast includes Isaac Lamb as reporter Chester Talbot, Bruce Blanchard as John Pizer, Amy Jo Halliday as Mrs. Ratkin, Audrey Voon as Mary, Josh Stenseth as Eddie, Rebecca Teran as Kate, Olivia Shimkus as Long Liz, and Gary Norman as Sergeant Neill.
The production features scenic and lighting design is by Gene Dent, costume design by Shana Targosz, prop design by Deb Dahling, and sound design by Dan Hallberg. Production stage manger is Chelle Jazuk.
Ticket Information
Preview performance is August 3 with opening night on Thursday, August 4, and performances continue through August 21, 2011. Evening performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Matinees are at 2 p.m. on Sundays, on Saturday, August 13, and on Saturday, August 20. The Deb Fennell Auditorium is located at 9000 SW Durham Road in Tigard. Adult tickets are $28 - $35, with $20 tickets available for ages 6 - 25. To order tickets visit www.broadwayrose.org or call the box office at 503.620.5262.
Broadway Rose's Title Sponsor is Platt Electric Supply. Production Sponsor for Ripper is Portland Spirit and the Print Media Sponsor is The Oregonian. The production is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment of the Arts and the Kinsman Foundation. Broadway Rose's 2011 season is funded in part by the Regional Arts & Culture Council and Work for Art as well as the Oregon Arts Commission.
BROADWAY ROSE THEATRE COMPANY, a not-for-profit arts organization, has been successfully producing musical theater in Tigard since 1992 under the artistic direction of Sharon Maroney. As the only professional musical theater company in Washington County, Broadway Rose plays an important role in enriching the community's cultural arts. Committed to increasing opportunities for Oregonians to participate in the arts and working to retain Portland's talent pool and attract new talent to the area, Broadway Rose is resolved to keep live theater affordable and make its productions accessible to all ages and members of the community. The Broadway Rose Theatre was selected as one of the "100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon" by Oregon Business Magazine in 2009 and 2010, and it was selected as the 2009 "Business of the Year" by the Tigard Chamber of Commerce.
