In the Dutchess County Spotlight

Powerhouse Theater is back at Vassar College. Over the past 27 seasons Powerhouse has reached more than 2,750 artists and over 200,000 audience members through its production of new plays, musicals and readings.  This season has been great and with just a few weeks left, yet another amazing performance is coming to the stage.

Tony nominees Daniel Breaker (Passing Strange, Shrek The Musical) and Will Swenson (Hair, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), as well as Dee Roscioli (Wicked) and Rebecca Naomi Jones (American Idiot, Passing Strange) join the 28th Vassar & New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theater season in the workshop of the new indie rock musical Murder Ballad, by Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash, directed by Trip Cullman.

A love triangle gone wrong, Murder Ballad centers on Sara, an Upper West Side mom who seems to have it all, but whose downtown past lingers enticingly and dangerously in front of her. Created by composer Juliana Nash, front-woman for the 90's indie rock band Talking to Animals and award-winning playwright Julia Jordan (Tatjana in Color;Sarah, Plain and Tall), this sexy, explosive, newSound rock musical explores the complications of love, the compromises we make, and the small betrayals that can ultimately undo us. Cast includes Daniel Breaker, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Dee Roscioli, and Will Swenson. With Thomas Juliano (lead guitar), Josh Myers (bass), and Seth Faulk (drums)

Daniel Breaker has been seen on Broadway in Shrek: The Musical (Broadway Theatre), Passing Strange (Belasco Theatre, Tony Award nomination, Drama Desk Nomination, Theatre World Award, Audelco Award), Cymbeline (Lincoln Center Theatre), and Well (Longacre). Rebecca Naomi Jones has performed on Broadway in American Idiot and Passing Strange.

Trip Cullman (Director) has directed in NYC: Paul Weitz's Lonely, I'm Not (Second Stage), Leslye Headland's Assistance (Playwrights Horizons), Adam Bock's A Small Fire (Playwrights Horizons, Drama Desk nom.), Adam Rapp's The Hallway Trilogy: Nursing (Rattlestick), Headland'sBachelorette (Second Stage), Terrence McNally's Some Men (Second Stage) and much more.  Julia Jordan's (writer) plays include Boy, Tatjana in Color, St. Scarlet, Smoking Lesson, Dark Yellow, Astrological Quit Claim Deeds,and Jones. Musical books include Sarah Plain and Tall and The Mice, both written with Larry O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin. Justin Levine (Music Director) has written: Bonfire Night (Book, Music & Lyrics), Tell Me Tomorrow (Music & Lyrics), Jump Jim Crow (Music & Lyrics), Naked Radio (Music), Death by Vaudeville (Co-creator).

Juliana Nash is new to theater. Her background is in pop music. She was the rhythm guitarist, and singer-songwriter for the band Talking to Animals, signed to Columbia and Velvel Records. She is the recipient of the BMI's 1989 Abe Olman songwriter's award.  Dee Roscioli is best known for her work in Wicked, in which Roscioli holds the distinction of having played Elphaba in more performances than any other actress. Before appearing in Wicked's 1st national tour, Dee played Elphaba on Broadway after closing the record-breaking Chicago production.  Will Swenson most recently was seen starring on Broadway in the hit musical Priscilla: Queen of the Desert. Prior to that he received a Tony and a Drama Desk Award nomination for his performance as Berger in the Broadway revival of Hair. He also played the role on London's West End.

Each summer, more than 8,000 Hudson Valley residents and visitors attend Powerhouse performances of plays and musicals in development. Ticket prices are affordable and many programs are offered free-of-charge to provide the greatest access to our programs.

Performance dates are Friday & Saturday July 27th and 28th at 8pm, and Sunday the 29th at 2pm and 7:30pm. Tickets are $30 a seat. Single tickets are available online and at the box office. Go to http://powerhouse.vassar.edu or visit the box office on the Vassar College campus at 124 Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie: (845) 437-5599, (845) 437-5599 or email PHTBoxOffice@vassar.edu