Assassins

Sept. 13-Oct. 21, $27-$45, Arden Theatre Co., 40 N. Second St., 215-922-1122, www.ardentheatre.org.

by Deni Kasrel

theater

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If a Broadway musical about individuals who have killed or tried to kill an American president strikes you as a dubious piece of theater, consider the source: Assassins features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The same guy who gave us Sweeney Todd, a rip-snorting musical about a murderous barber whose accomplice makes meat pies from the mortal remains.

Multiple Tony Award-winning Assassins explores the twisted minds of nine people who held such extreme dislike for a U.S. president, or simply craved attention, enough so that they were moved to take dire action. Some of the names are likely familiar — such as John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald and Lynette Alice "Squeaky" Fromme — others are merely footnotes in our nation's history. Either way, each character has a motive and a story that not only reflects on his or her specific situation, but also says something about American politics and society. The show's run here in Philly marks the ninth time the Arden Theatre has presented a musical by this popular composer/lyricist. Terrence Nolen, Arden's producing artistic director, says he continues to "return to Sondheim's stories because their audacity never ceases to surprise and inspire me."

Sept. 13-Oct. 21, $27-$45, Arden Theatre Co., 40 N. Second St., 215-922-1122, www.ardentheatre.org.