Underscore Theatre and The Den Theatre Announce HAYMARKET Cast

May 4, 2018

Underscore Theatre and The Den Theatre have announced the cast and design team for an all-new staging of HAYMARKET (formerly Haymarket: The Anarchist’s Songbook), the true story of Chicago’s infamous Haymarket massacre with book, music, and lyrics by Alex Higgin-Houser and David Kornfeld.

Directed by Nick Thornton, the cast features Bridget Adams-King (Lucy Parsons), Erik Pearson (Albert Parsons), TJ Anderson (August Spies), Joey Harbert (Louis Lingg), Josiah Robinson (Adolph Fischer), Mike Mazzocca (George Engel), Sarah Beth Tanner (Mrs. Engel), Amanda Giles (Nina Van Zandt), Melanie Vitaterna (Joanna Fischer) and Kelan Smith, Eric Loughlin and Elleon Dobias (Pick Chorus).

Pictured:(top, l to r): Bridget Adams-King, TJ Anderson, Elleon Dobias, Amanda Giles, Joey Harbert, Eric Loughlin, (bottom, l to r), Mike Mazzocca, Erik Pearson, Josiah Robinson, Kelan Smith, Sarah Beth Tanner and Melanie Vitaterna.

The production team for includes Eric Luchen (scenic designer), Christina Leinicke (costume designer), Erik Barry (lighting designer), Brandon Reed (sound designer), Kate Cuellar (dramaturg), Jena Sugay (assistant director), Andy Lynn and Ellen White (co-production managers) Josh Prishing (technical director) and Kristin Davis (stage manager).

From the press release: “Based on historical events, HAYMARKET tells the dramatic story of labor unrest in Chicago, 1886, where striking workers clashed with a brutal police force, resulting in an act of terror, a corrupt trial and the death of five innocent men. Told by a cast of twelve actor-instrumentalists, HAYMARKET is a folk, bluegrass and Americana adventure, led by Lucy Parsons, the African American firebrand and wife of one of the accused anarchists.”

Having spent the last two years workshopping the show, the authors alongside director Thornton and music director Robert Ollis have crafted new songs, overhauled the book, and built anew.

“Underscore’s mission is to develop new musicals, and Haymarket is a perfect example of how a show can develop immensely after its initial run, building on the feedback from critics, audiences and artists” notes Co-Artistic Director Laura Stratford. “This is not a remount of our 2016 production. This is a brand-new experience, with a new team, a new cast and a new show. We’re thrilled to partner with the Den to bring this timely, enthralling story to Chicago.”

HAYMARKET will play June 13 – July 22, 2018, at The Den Theatre’s Heath Main Stage, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Tickets go on sale Thursday, May 10 at underscoretheatre.org or by calling (773) 697-3830.