A rock opera about a love triangle that goes wrong. Sexy with a sharp wit and the driving force of a noir thriller, Murder Ballad explores the complications of love, the compromises we make, and the betrayals that can ultimately undo us.
Murder Ballad
- April 8 - May 3, 2026
- Regional Premiere
- A rock opera about a love triangle that goes wrong. Sexy with a sharp wit and the driving force of a noir thriller, it explores the complications of love, the compromises we make, and the betrayals that can ultimately undo us.
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- Playbill
- Playwright: Julia Jordan & Juliana Nash
- Director: Cynthia Fleming
- Running Time: 2 hours including intermission.
- Cast: Collette Astle* (Sara), Gray Aydelott (Tom), Latoya Cameron* (Narrator), M. Scott McLean* (Michael)
- Creative Team: Cynthia Fleming (Director), David Evanoff (Music Director), Erik Reichert (Set Designer), David DeCarolis (Lighting Designer), Cynthia L. Kehr Rees** (Sound Designer), Dennis Hassan (Costume Designer), Arika Schockmel (Props Designer), Adriana Lemke (Fight/Intimacy Director), Tahra Veasley* (Production Stage Manager), Bridgette Lehman (Assistant Stage Manager), Sara Schwartz (PTP Asst. Lighting Designer), Calvin J. Vinson (PTP Asst. Sound Designer & Audio Engineer) The Band: David Evanoff (Music Director/Keyboard), Mark D. Maxson (Guitar), Davin Tayler (Bass), Kendall White (Drums)
- Other Notes: *Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. **Represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA 829 of the IATSE.
- Open Captioned Performance: Sunday, April 26 at 6 PM
- Audio Described Performance: Sunday, May 3 at 6 PM
- Sensory Friendly Performance: Saturday, May 2 at 2 PM
- ASL Interpreted Performance: Saturday, May 2 at 2 PM
- Reviews:
- "Murder Ballad is a fun, fresh, and exceedingly sexy musical – driven by upbeat, edgy rock music and a thrilling element of lingering suspense." — Utah Theatre Bloggers Review | Tara Nicole
- "An exorcism of the polite and a slaying of the mundane, Salt Lake Acting Company’s Murder Ballad knows how captivating a car crash in slow motion can be. Murder Ballad is rock theatre at its most visceral and unapologetic." — Front Row Reviewers | Alisha & Jason Hagey
- "The production commits fully to its form, favoring momentum over nuance and movement over reflection. Once it starts, it rarely pauses. Desire, jealousy, and anger build steadily until they feel almost unavoidable." — Rhetorical Review | Keolanani Kinghorn
- "Gray Aydelott as Tom is infinitely charismatic with Broadway-caliber acting and singing. Collette Astle as Sara wears her passionate heart on her sleeve, and M. Scott McLean as Michael provides contrast and depth. As the narrator, Latoya Cameron is a force to be reckoned with." — BroadwayWorld Review | Tyler Hinton
- Dive Deeper:
- City Weekly Names Murder Ballad an Essential Arts & Entertainment Pick
- Collette Astle, Gray Aydelott, and Joseph Paul Branca Chat About Murder Ballad with Deena Manzanares on Good Things Utah
- Cynthia Fleming, Adriana Lemke, and the Cast of Murder Ballad on KRCL RadioACTive
- Latoya Cameron Discusses Murder Ballad on PBS Contact with Liz Adeola
