Audra McDonald and More Join Caissie Levy, Will Swenson, and Murder Ballad Cast on Opening Night

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Rebecca Naomi Jones takes her curtain call on opening night of <i>Murder Ballad</i>.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Rebecca Naomi Jones takes her curtain call on opening night of Murder Ballad.
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The <i>Murder Ballad</i> company: John Ellison Conlee, Caissie Levy, Rebecca Naomi Jones, and Will Swenson.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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The Murder Ballad company: John Ellison Conlee, Caissie Levy, Rebecca Naomi Jones, and Will Swenson.
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Coauthors Julia Jordan (left) and Juliana Nash (right) join production star Caissie Levy for a snapshot.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Coauthors Julia Jordan (left) and Juliana Nash (right) join production star Caissie Levy for a snapshot.
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Five-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald is on hand to support her hubby, <i>Murder Ballad</i> star Will Swenson.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Five-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald is on hand to support her hubby, Murder Ballad star Will Swenson.
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McDonald reminds photographers that Swenson is hers…and no one else’s.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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McDonald reminds photographers that Swenson is hers…and no one else’s.
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Two-time Tony nominee Celia Keenan-Bolger, who will next be seen on Broadway in <i>The Glass Menagerie</i>, is excited to cheer on her husband, John Ellison Conlee, on his opening night.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Two-time Tony nominee Celia Keenan-Bolger, who will next be seen on Broadway in The Glass Menagerie, is excited to cheer on her husband, John Ellison Conlee, on his opening night.
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Stage favorites Mamie Gummer and Ari Graynor pal around before heading into the Union Square Theatre.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Stage favorites Mamie Gummer and Ari Graynor pal around before heading into the Union Square Theatre.
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Tony Award winner Steve Kazee is ready to catch his old pal Will Swenson on stage.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Tony Award winner Steve Kazee is ready to catch his old pal Will Swenson on stage.
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Constantine Maroulis adds another opening night feather to his cap.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Constantine Maroulis adds another opening night feather to his cap.
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<i>American Idiot</i> cast members Van Hughes and Leslie McDonel are proud to root for their “Whatshername,” Rebecca Naomi Jones.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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American Idiot cast members Van Hughes and Leslie McDonel are proud to root for their “Whatshername,” Rebecca Naomi Jones.
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Chad Goodrich wouldn’t miss the chance to cheer on his <i>Passing Strange</i> costar, Rebecca Naomi Jones.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Chad Goodrich wouldn’t miss the chance to cheer on his Passing Strange costar, Rebecca Naomi Jones.
(© David Gordon)

Trip Cullman serves as director of <i>Murder Ballad</i>.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Trip Cullman serves as director of Murder Ballad.
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Caissie Levy heads the company as Sara, an Upper West Side mother tempted by the memories of her past.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Caissie Levy heads the company as Sara, an Upper West Side mother tempted by the memories of her past.
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Will Swenson appears as Tom, Sara’s bartender former boyfriend.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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John Ellison Conlee costars as Michael, Sara’s husband.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Rebecca Naomi Jones guides the proceedings as the evening’s Narrator.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Caissie Levy and Rebecca Naomi Jones get into the spirit of the grand finale.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Audra McDonald, Steve Kazee, Ari Graynor, Mamie Gummer, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Constantine Maroulis were among the stars on hand to celebrate the off-Broadway opening night of Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash’s Murder Ballad on Wednesday, May 22 at the Union Square Theatre. Drama Desk Award nominee Trip Cullman helms the rock opera, which transferred downtown following an acclaimed, sold-out run at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Studio at Stage II.

The recipient of five Lucille Lortel Award nominations, as well as Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and Off-Broadway Alliance Award nominations, Murder Ballad focuses on Sara (Caissie Levy), a party girl turned Upper West Side mom, who is caught between a future with her family and her dangerous downtown past. John Ellison Conlee and Will Swenson play the objects of Sara’s affection, with Rebecca Naomi Jones as the production’s Narrator.

Murder Ballad is conceived by Jonathan Larson Award winner and two-time Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Jordan, who wrote the book and lyrics. It features music and additional lyrics by indie rock singer/songwriter Nash. The creative team includes Mark Wendland (scenic design), Jessica Pabst (costume design), Ben Stanton (lighting design), Leon Rothenberg (sound design), Doug Varone (choreography), and Justin Levine (music direction, vocal arrangement, and orchestrations).

Click here to read TheaterMania’s review of Murder Ballad.

Click here for more information and tickets to Murder Ballad.