Wonderfully done in all facets, measured dialogue tempered with
artist folds of complex stage origami.  The scenes transition with 
creative inventive paths, sometimes quickly though always clear and 
direct.  The motives abound for the well known homicide and grow 
like moss in a  fog laden cove.  Reasonable doubt of Lizzie Borden's 
innocence  grow and becomes an exponential increase.  The focused 
vision on stage intensifies as the characters on stage reveal their 
own dislike for ma and pa Borden.  Complex and entertaining " Murder 
Americana: The People vs. Lizzie Borden", should be destined for 
awards and accolades this year as Circle theatre brings this World 
Premiere event to stage. 

Ann Followill gives a powerful, beautifully executed role to the 
character of Lizzie Borden.  The feminist message of the time is 
almost transparent given the plot and action abounding on the stage.
The set is inventive, eye catching, functional wonderfully used. 
Ty Perry has done a tremendous job and his effort is well worth 
your visit.  Highly recommended.

Murder Americana: The People vs. Lizzie Borden
A Thriller

Harry McEwan
Satan's School for Girls (book and lyrics) a rock & roll comedy, workshopped 
at The Producer's Club in NYC starring late night comedienne and Broadway diva 
Lea DeLaria (On The Town and The Rocky Horror Show) and Laura Bell Bundy 
(off-Broadway's Ruthless and TV's The Guiding Light). Satan's School... also 
enjoyed a Jeff Recommended run here at Circle Theater; a production at Dudley
 Riggs' ETC Theatre in Minneapolis, and a limited engagemenf at Don't Tell 
Mama in New York City; Mostly-Dyed Blonde (book and additional lyrics) at 
Eighty-Eights in NYC; Countess (a drama), Walter Reade Theatre, Mays Landing,
 N.J. Harry was also a contributing writer for Puns of Steel, an improv 
troupe that appeared regularly at the Luna Park Theatre in Los Angeles with 
guest star Fred Willard. Harry McEwan is a member of A.S.C.A.P., and the 
Dramatists Guild and Authors League of America.

This world premiere production marks another developmental partnership with 
playwright Harry McEwan, who's Satan School for Girls was revised at Circle 
in 1997. Jeff Citation Nominee and After Dark Award winning director Ty Perry 
focuses the play not so much as a murder mystery, but as a comment on the 
women's rights movement. He highlights how Lizzie Borden took a considerable 
risk after her acquittal by changing her name, selling her house and taking 
a female lover. Designer Michael Simons creates a dark, bleak world with sharp 
angles and steep drops to illustrate the constant battle between Lizzie and 
the world around her. Watch how this ordinary woman handles herself when 
thrown into extraordinary circumstances!

This thriller examines the events that led up to the murder, trial and 
subsequent acquittal of Lizzie Borden for the murder of her parents. Actual 
events, testimonies and persons inspired Murder Americana.

Ty Perry
Directing credits at Circle include "Raised in Captivity", "£arth and Sky",
"Murder in Green Meadows", "Hair", "Jeffrey", "Unidentified Human Remains",
and "The True Nature of Love".

Jen Albert, Marie Goodkin, Nancy Greco, Martin Halacy, Robin Hughes, 
William King, Michael Matthews, David Tibble, Dan Wolfe, Karen Yates, 
and Ann Followill as Lizzie Borden.

Michael Simons (scenic & lighting); Kevin Bellie (costume); 
Peter Storms (sound); Karen Pertruska (dramaturg); Peter Storms (producer); 
Anne Marie Beaulieu (stage manager)

Currently in its 17th season, Circle Theatre is an artist-based company that 
has received 22 Joseph Jefferson Citations in the past 5 years and has produced 
multiple world premieres, including Rebecca Gilman's The Glory of
Livina and their current hit, Stephen Clark's Stripped.

Circle Theatre, 7300 W. Madison Street, Forest Park, IL 60130
 

June 26-August 4
Fridays and Saturdays @ 8 PM; Sundays @ 3 PM; Thursdays @ 8 PM
 (July 18 & 25 and August 1 only)

708-771-0700

Harry McEwan

Musicals/Plays: Satan's School for Girls (book and lyrics)
a rock & roll comedy, workshopped at The Producer's
Club in NYC starring late night comedienne and Broadway diva 
Lea Debaria (On The Town and The Rocky Horror Show) and Laura 
Bell Bundy (off-Broadway's Ruthless and TV's The Guiding Light). 
Satan's School... also enjoyed ajeff Recommended run here at 
Circle Theater; a production at Dudley Riggs' ETC Theatre in 
Minneapolis, and a limited engagement at Don't Tell Mama in 
New York City; Mostly-Dyed Blonde (book and additional lyrics) 
at Eighty-Eights in NYC; Countess (a drama), Walter Reade Theatre, 
Mays Landing, N.J. Harry was a also contributing writer for 
Puns of Steel an improv troupe that appeared regularly at the Luna
 Park Theatre in Los Angeles with guest star Fred Willard. 
Harry McEwan is a member of A.S.C.A.P., and the Dramatists Guild 
and Authors League of America. Film: "In The Bathroom" 
(writer/director) a comedy short (in post-production); and 
"Once Eden" a feature length maturation dramedy he
is currently producing independently.

THE CAST

Woman #3/Nance O'Neill/Bridget Sullivan       Jen Albert

Lizzie Borden                                                    Ann Followill

Woman #5/A hhy Borden/Sarah Whitehead    Marie Goodkin

Woman #6/Alice Russell                                  Nancy Greco

Man #4/Andrew Borden/George Robinson      Martin Halacy

Woman #2/Emma Borden                               Robin Hughes

Man #5/Edwin Porter/Dr. Seahury Bowen        William King

Man #3/Phillip Reed                                      Michael Matthews

Man #1/Hosea Knowlton                               Dan Wolfe

Woman #4/Sylvia Knowlton/Adelaide Churchill    Karen Yates

Man #2/John Morse                                      Daniel Loftus

Man #6/Eli Bence/Mayor John Coughlin        David Tibble

ARTISTIC TEAM
 

Director Ty Perry*
Playwright Harry McEwan
Scenic & Lighting Designer Michael Simons
Costume Designer Kevin Bellie
Sound Designer Peter Storms*
Production Coordinator Peter Storms*
Stage Manager Anne Marie Beaulieu
Poster Designer Robert A. Knuth*
Publicity Photographer Greg Kolack
Dramaturg Karen Pertruska
* Circle Company member

SETTING

The action takes place during the course of a 
soiree at Lizzie's mansion, Maplecroft, in
Fall River, Massachusetts.
The time is November 1893.

Act 1: Murder and Inquest
In recall, August 1892, Fall River, Massachusetts

Act 2: Trial and Verdict

In recall, May and June 1893, New Bedford, Massachusetts

Murder Americana.. . while ostensibly a work of fiction, was inspired 
primarily by actual events, testimonies and persons with one noted 
exception: The character Phillip Gordon Reed was inspired by the author 
of a letter found among papers retained in the case file of prosecuting 
attorney Hosea Knowlton. All attempts to verify the actual existence of 
Phillip Reed have been inconclusive.

Board of Directors
Kevin Bellie, Lynn Ann Bernatowicz, Todd Cornils,
Lynn Kirsch, Greg Kolack, Alena Murguia, Jeffrey Strauss,
Jack Vanisi, Jeanne Wall

Company Members
Sheldon Baren, Kevin Bellie, Lynn Ann Bernatowicz,
Jennifer Fisk, Jay Fontanetta, Erika Goodman, Annie Kasak,
Brett Kashanitz, Laura Keeling, Ben Keeling, Bob Knuth,
Ty Perry, Beth Scheible, Stephanie Samuel, John Simmons,
Peter Storms, Jeanne Wall, Jim Wall

Associate Company Members
Kelly Schumann, Anne Marie Beaulieu

Our Mission Statement
Circle Theatre is an artist-based company whose
mission is to produce exciting, and innovative, theatre
accessible to our widely diversified suburban and city
audience. Through variety-filled seasons including
drama, comedy, musicals, and new works, Circle Theatre
challenges, entertains, and educates audiences and
artists of all ages.
 

1985/1986
Fiddler on the Roof; Come Back to the Five and
Dime Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean;
The Royale Hollyfeste;
The Diary of Anne Frank

1986/1987
Pippin; Agnes of God; The Last of the Red Hot
Lovers; Three by Tennessee; Born Yesterday;
Rigoletto; Birthday Girls

1987/1988
Miracle Worker; Psycho: The Musical; Crimes of
the Heart; Godapell; On Golden Pond;
Night Mother; Chicago

1988/1989
The Odd Couple (Female Version); Ghouls; Annie;
Yentl; One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest;
Rose Tattoo; Grease

1989/1990
Plaza Suite; Back to Berlin; Unfinished Business;
Nuts, Harold and Maude; And Miss Reardon
Drinks a Little; Whatever Happened to B.B. Jane?

1990/1991
Greater Tuna; Oliver; A Shayna Maidel; La Boheme;
Sexual Perversity in Chicago and Sister Mary Ignatius
Explains it All for You; Evita

1991/1992
Little Shop of Horrors; Pass the Love; The Glass
Menagerie; Jesus Christ Superstar; Nighthawks;
Vendetta

1992/1993
Orphans; Ten Little Indians; Shrubtown; Christmas
in Mughy Junction; Crossing Delancy; Hair;
He's Having Her Baby

1993/1994
Voices; Crazy Little Thing; Sweeney Todd; Mill
Fire; A Rosen by Any Other Name; Godspell;
People Like Us; Marriage and Children;
Seascapes with Sharks and Dancer

1994/1995
No Exit; Cabaret; Myron; After The Fall; Pirates of
Penzance; The Seven Year Itch; What If;
Merrily We Roll Along

1995/1996
A Piece of My Heart; Unidentified Human Remains
and the True Nature of Love; The Medium;
Shindig! Les Liaisons Dangereuses; Inferno Beach;
As You Like It; Mijo and T-Cells and Sympathy;
Texanna Rearranges the Planets and Saves Her
Family From the Gates of Hell; Just a Little Lipstick
Dear; Whatever Happened to B.B. Jane

1996/1997
Jeffrey; The Glory of Living; Five Women Wearing
the Same Dress; Rags; My Sister in This House;
Journeys; Shindig!; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

1997/1998
Principia Scriptoria; Satan's School for Girls Old
Times; Grand Hotel; My Song; Auschwitz Lullaby;
Garage Sale; Shindig!; Murder in Green Meadows

1998/1999
Cyrano; Lips Together, Teeth Apart; Salome;
Inspecting Carol; Eating Ranul; A Moon for the
Misbegotten

1999/2000
Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune; Earth &
Sky; The Crime of the Century; A Shindig
Christmas; Eleemosynary; Shindig X-Mas A-Go-
Go!; Candida; The Cover of Life; The Life;
American Buffalo

2000/2001
the dreamer examines his pillow; Cosi; Hedda
Gabler; Shindig's I Know What You Did Last XMas!;
subUrbia; Raised in Captivity, Triumph Of
Love, The Moon's the Madonna, Sanctuary

2001/2002
Show and Tell, Nine