Clark welcomes a new era of performances in renovated space\r\n<\/p>\n
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The cast of “Assassins” includes (from left) Anna Pellerin ’23, Natalie Beck ’24, Eva Sanchez-Navitsky ’26, Sirui Yu ’23, Abby St. Amand ’25, Genevieve Duska ’26, Caroline Dowdle ’23, and Ellie Hanson ’25. Photo by Elizabeth Zinno ’25<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Between the pandemic and construction, it’s been three years since audiences were welcomed into Clark’s Little Center to see a show. But that will change on Thursday, Nov. 10, when the Michelson Theater reopens its doors to the next stage of student performances.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The newly renovated theater reopens with a four-performance run of Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins,” which gathers together the people who have assassinated, or attempted to assassinate, U.S. presidents throughout history. The killers range from the well-known — John Wilkes Booth and John Hinckley Jr. — to the obscure — Charles Guiteau, who killed James Garfield, and Giuseppe Zangara, who attempted to kill Franklin D. Roosevelt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Professor Kevin McGerigle directs a cast of nine Clark students in the Tony Award-winning musical, which was selected to honor the late Sondheim, whose dedication and inspiration changed modern theater as we know it, and to prompt critical thinking about violence in our society.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n “I wanted to make sure we had something to say as we open our new space — to set a tone that our work will not just be an escape, but a commentary,” McGerigle says.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Assassins” questions how we interpret the tragedies and near-tragedies that punctuate our nation’s history, he says. As the characters interact and their stories play out, their motives become clearer: They insist they’re acting against political and social injustice. They’re desperate to turn their anger against the powerful. They crave attention. And, in one case, they’re ignited by misguided idealism.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Story continues below; video by Maeve McEnroe ’23<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n