Touch the Flames: Spotlight 814 Premieres Murder Ballad at Room 33
The New York City rock opera offers an immersive, high-energy experience
Premiering Tuesday, Nov. 3
As the inaugural theatre production from Spotlight 814, Murder Ballad promises to be an immersive experience with soaring rock vocals and passionate live band performances.
"We hear them sing 'Someone's gonna die,'" the show's narrator says in the opener.
That's not a spoiler. It's in the title. Someone in the show is not making it out alive.
Telling the story of a dangerous love triangle in New York City, Murder Ballad features four main characters: Sara (Alexis Afton), Tom (Howard Lang), Michael (Curtis Jones III), and the narrator (Maeve Kirby). The story begins as Sara, a singer and bartender, meets Tom, a hotheaded actor and downtown NYC bar owner. They begin a raucous yet intense relationship that ends tumultuously. She then meets Michael, a much more stable NYU professor. As time goes by, they carve out a life and family on the Upper West Side before Sara once again crosses paths with Tom. The plot builds and escalates quickly, with the messy spiral of each character leading to a tragic culmination.
The rock opera debuted in 2012 with music by Juliana Nash, lyrics by Nash and Julia Jordan, and book by Jordan.
"A good portion of Murder Ballad takes place in a bar in New York City," explains Ryan Dawley, artistic director of Spotlight 814 and 40 Under 40 alum. "I always imagined the set as a functioning bar, so Room 33 makes so much sense." With characters intermingling with audience members and staff, the show becomes a unique theatrical experience. "The action will not be limited to the stage. Actors will be moving throughout the entire space, including behind and even on the bar."
This production marks a significant evolution for Spotlight 814. Debuting in April 2023 as a podcast, Spotlight 814 grew to include regular contributors writing reviews of local theatre productions, providing a platform for long-form and in-depth discussions.
"It was always in the back of my mind that we would produce our own shows someday," Dawley admitted. "When we had the opportunity to do that with Murder Ballad, we had to jump on it."
In partnership with Room 33, the event will offer a special dinner theater menu of bourbon-glazed chicken over garlic mashed potatoes and roasted carrots in addition to an open bar at selected times.
The musical is directed by Zachery Hoffman, with James Wallace serving as music director, Julia LaCoe as stage manager, and Nicole Schneelock as assistant director and intimacy coordinator.
Infectious, provocative, and raw, Murder Ballad marks a key moment in the local theater community.
Nov. 3, 4, and 5 // Doors at 6:30 p.m., Dinner at 6:45 p.m., Show at 7:30 p.m. // Room 33, 1033 State St. // $65.75 (dinner included) // For tickets and info: tickets.eriereader.com
