Assassins Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by John Weidman
Justin Audibert and Kathy Bourne Photograph by Peter Flude
Festival 2023 Hello and welcome to our first musical of 2023, Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins. Stepping into the Theatre foyer, you will already have been plunged into the world of the US political arena where music, folklore and show-business collide head-on with the American Dream. With musical influences ranging from The Carpenters and James Taylor to American folk songs and Scott Joplin, this Tony Award-winning biting musical comedy takes us on a daring, time-bending journey through American history. This is the first major production of Assassins since Sondheim’s death in 2021 and we’re delighted that director Polly Findlay is finally able to stage it here, nearly three years after it was originally scheduled during the ‘lost’ season of 2020. Polly is making her CFT debut, as are many of the outstanding
ensemble company she has assembled – including Danny Mac, who was raised and still lives near Chichester. It’s a delight to welcome all those working here for the first time, and to greet the actors returning to our stages. Speaking personally, this is the first time that we are welcoming you together. Having succeeded Daniel Evans, Justin will be here full-time from July and is looking forward to meeting many of you over the coming months. There are two more musicals to come: our summer centrepiece, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s beloved The Sound of Music (being staged at Chichester for the first time), and in the Minerva, a brand new musical Rock Follies, based on the iconic 1970s TV series. We hope you’ll join us for more exhilarating productions throughout the season, and that you enjoy today’s performance.
Justin Audibert Artistic Director Designate
Kathy Bourne Executive Director
The Sound of Music Festival Theatre 10 July – 3 September For a special experience, join us for the charity Summer Gala performance on 28 July Tickets from £10 Book at cft.org.uk
Music by Richard Rodgers Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse Suggested by The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp
This summer, join us for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s beloved musical, produced at Chichester for the first time. Gina Beck (South Pacific 2021) returns to play Maria, directed by Adam Penford. The Sound of Music is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd on behalf of Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization concordtheatricals.co.uk
Rock Follies Based on the television series written by Howard Schuman Book by Chloë Moss Songs by Howard Schuman and Andy Mackay With songs from the ground-breaking 1970s TV series, this punchy new musical is a rousing, riotous rollercoaster of woman power! Dominic Cooke directs a cast including Carly Bawden, Samuel Barnett, Angela Marie Hurst and Zizi Strallen.
Minerva Theatre 24 July – 26 August Tickets from £10 Book at cft.org.uk Songs used by kind permission of Universal Music Publishing.
Festival Fridays Every Friday, a group of 9 – 10 yearolds from local primary schools across the Chichester district arrive at the Festival Theatre. They are children who are identified as struggling with formal education and might therefore benefit from a programme of creative activities working with specialist arts practitioners. Handpicked by their headteachers, the ‘Festival Fridays’ programme is designed to re-engage these children by offering a creative environment which contrasts with their formal school setting, crucially before the transition to secondary education at age 11. This vibrant and practical approach allows them to explore skills that develop their literacy, social development, confidence, self-esteem and well-being. We identified the children who were going to take part in the project as those who would really benefit from an opportunity like this. For example, one has an EHCP for ADHD. They try
incredibly hard with learning but are significantly behind in all areas that require them to write and record any responses. They are incredibly articulate and have a brilliant mind – particularly for science and technical areas of the curriculum – but a busy classroom can be a very difficult place for them to navigate. We knew we wanted to provide an opportunity for them to build selfesteem and belief in themselves, and this seemed to be perfect. – School leader Unique amongst theatres across England, the programme was devised after consultation with teachers and senior leaders at Sussex schools and piloted during 2019-20. Following positive feedback, a new cohort of pupils was welcomed for the 2021-22 academic year, with additional workshops during the summer holidays, led by freelance facilitators and CFT staff. The day starts with a healthy breakfast and then lunch, part-provided through a partnership with local food reclamation charity UK Harvest,
before launching into activities from storytelling, script work and prop-making to costume design and movement. Pupils also see family-friendly shows such as Pinocchio. My favourite thing about Festival Fridays is that we had amazing opportunities to do stuff like acting and the performance that we have been working so hard on. I hope that my hard work has paid off. I hope that it has meant a lot for my mum. - Participant For the children taking part in the 2021/22 programme, the year culminated in a remarkable performance in the Minerva by the participants, who had not only come up with ideas for the content – which included drama, dance and storytelling (plus a hilarious filmed pastiche of professional theatre roles, from marketing to make-up) – but designed and created a set. The invited audience of families, teachers, observers and staff were bowled over.
What a finale! The children were absolute stars and I was heart-burstingly proud of the performance, as was their Headteacher. Their confidence, dedication, creativity, skill and energy in the show is testimony to your team’s efforts of encouragement, support and inspiration. All the Festival Fridays children receive invitations to join Chichester Festival Youth Theatre workshops, with bursary places ensuring no financial barrier, to encourage continued engagement between pupils, their families and the Theatre. It’s absolutely amazing they can continue on this journey with CFT after the project and building on that confidence gained so far. We are incredibly grateful for this project, and how much it has changed their life. - Parent
Discover new foodie experiences Street Foodcakes at CFT Ever been to Thedining Brasserie? From cracking and brilliant barista coffee to delicious Satisfy on-the-go cravings with theof options If you’re for a your great family spot to dine, look in Theyour Brasserie, we have plenty to looking keep you, new menu in our new Street Food truck! no further. Fantastic food featuring local, and friends feeling full and happy. Pre-order on arrival, click and collect seasonal ingredients plus à la carte options, from our sunny al fresco Terrace and top notch service and excellent wine. It also grab a hotdog, grab a drink, and join happens to be the closest restaurant to the the spectacle... Theatre so there’s no need to rush to catch the overture.
Stay for a drink and get 10% off*
Assassins runs straight through so the Bar will stay open for you to enjoy a drink after the performance. Why not pre-order your post-show drinks and get 10% off?
Like some more? Pizza, cracking cakes and barista coffee are available from the Café on the Park and, once the sun shines, we plan to pitch pop-up bars on the park where you'll be able to de-stress with a drink in a deckchair. Bliss!
For the full menu of food and drink, visit cft.org.uk/eat, email dining@cft.org.uk or call 01243 782219. *10% discount available on post-show drink orders completed before the performance starts only. Orders to be collected from the Festival Theatre foyer.
Assassins Assassins Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Music Lyrics by Book and by John Weidman Stephen Sondheim Book by John Weidman
The assassin
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Thirteen people have attempted to assassinate the President or President-elect of the United States. Four succeeded – killing Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley and John F. Kennedy. In each case, the attacker’s weapon was a firearm. Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s biting musical comedy leads us on a journey through American history, featuring nine of the assassins.
1865 John Wilkes Booth John Wilkes Booth was a well-known stage actor and sympathiser with the Confederacy (the 11 southern US states where slavery was legal, who fought against the northern ‘free’ states in the American Civil War). Vehement in his denunciation of President Abraham Lincoln, who introduced the abolition of slavery, in 1864 Booth formulated a plan to kidnap Lincoln in exchange for the release of Confederate prisoners. However, after attending a speech in which Lincoln promoted voting rights for black people, Booth resolved to assassinate the president instead. On Good Friday, 14 April 1865, at Ford’s Theatre in Washington DC, as the president sat in a private box with his wife and two guests watching Our American Cousin, Booth entered from behind. He fired a gun to the back of Lincoln’s head, mortally wounding him. The president died the following morning.