The OU Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre opens “Assassins” Friday as part of the Downtown Series, featuring senior Sydni Moon’s direction and staging.
A dark comedy composed by Stephen Sondheim, “Assassins” covers assassinations and attempted assassinations of United States presidents. Since its 1990 premiere, the musical has adapted with the passing of historical events.
The musical originally features a carnival setting where the assassins are invited to participate in a shooting gallery. Harold Mortimer, “Assassins” director and associate dean of the OU Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, set the upcoming performance at the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
“Sometime before (Sondheim) died, he was talking about how he couldn’t wait to see the different ways everyone would be presenting his work in the coming years,” Mortimer said. “The cast is on board, and they’re doing such a great job.”
Headshot of musical theatre performance senior Sydni Moon.
Auditions for “Assassins” took place at the end of the spring semester, and musical theatre performance senior Sydni Moon was cast in the ensemble. Moon said she was excited about the offer and asked if she could help direct as well.
At 7, Moon began performing at camps in her hometown of Houston, Texas, and performed at her school and at community theaters throughout her childhood.
Last spring, Moon starred as Mary in the season’s Downtown Series musical, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which was performed at the Oklahoma City Myriad Botanical Gardens.
“(Directing) is something that I’ve always wanted to do, and I knew we employ assistant directors every now and then,” Moon said. “It’s been really, really cool. Mortimer has given me such an opportunity to share parts of myself and get to do new things.”
The Downtown Series began in 2020 to showcase the talent of OU performers in communities outside campus. Since the series began, musical theater students have performed at various locations in Norman and Oklahoma City.
“The Downtown Series has another appeal to it,” Moon said. “The students who are in those shows have a kind of stripped down production and not always all the technical elements. You’re just putting on stories that have meaning and really focusing on the craft.”
When working on “Assassins,” Moon said it was scary not knowing how the show and her work would be perceived, but working with the cast provided a positive environment of feedback and support.
“I really tried to think about who I was choreographing and who I was directing because I have known them for three or four years,” Moon said. “I could imagine them when I was thinking of how I wanted to do a scene or number.”
Moon choreographed “How I Saved Roosevelt,” parts of “Another National Anthem” and “The Ballad of Booth.” She also helped stage one of the first interactions between characters Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme and Sara Jane Moore, the attempted assassins of former President Gerald Ford.
“Sydni really brought out the fun and energy that can be between two women of different generations,” Mortimer said. “The choreography is also very specific. She was very smart about how she created the choreography.”
“Assassins” debuts 8 p.m. Friday at the Studio of The Sooner Theatre, with additional performances at 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available online.
This story was edited by Emma Blakley. Gracie Benge and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
