Hudson Backstage Theatre (Hollywood, CA)
Relationships can be murder. This new musical tells the chilling tale of the original "thrill killers," Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, who murdered a young boy in 1924 in order to commit "the perfect crime." Thrill Me is a spellbinding musical cat-and-mouse game between two young men addicted to getting exactly what they want from each other, no matter the consequences.
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
All dates for this event have expired.
The last event was Sunday March 16, 2008 / 7:00pm. (view all dates)
AMAZING! The show itself was incredibly engaging and very disturbing, but what impressed me the most were the remarkable performances of the leads - Stewart W. Calhoun and Alex Schemmer. Their performances alone are worth the trip to see the show!
The direction by Nick DeGruccio is first rate and just proves that he's one of the most talented directors in LA. The staging, lighting, etc. all added to the suspense and eerie feel of the show. It was such an amazing experience that I'm going back to see it on my next trip to Los Angeles.
great direction by Nick DeGruccio, great lighting and set design, very talented actors (though they sounded a bit vocally tired on opening night). but overall, the music is very uninteresting, which leads one to wonder why shows like this get produced?
Although I am quite a prolific theatre-goer, this was easily one of the best shows I have yet seen. I thoroughly enjoyed it and only wish it were running longer so I could return with friends. Both actors were amazing in their respective roles as was the pianist.
...surprisingly brilliant...Stewart Calhoun has a voice like an angel...I not only recommend it; I will see it again...
Wow! One of the best shows I've ever seen!
I was blown away by the story and the performances. It was intense, gripping, and beautifully told. There was no intermission. I was fully engrossed and I felt the same from the crowd. Both actors did a high caliber performance. Music, production, direction - everything worked!
This is the 2nd show by this director that I saw (first one was Zanna, Don't) and I think I'm becoming a fan. He picks great talent and puts on a polished show. I wouldn't hesitate to see his future shows.
Before this play, I've never heard of this story. I can't believe it really happened. Excellent play! I highly highly recommend it. You have to see it! I want to go back and bring other friends to experience this.
I loved this show. The Theater was a great black box setting. Being so close to the characters lets you appreciate thier talent even more. Im so glad I had the chance to see this. The drive from Orange County was well worth it.
The two performers were excellent. Nick DeGruccio is a great director and made good use of the venue and stark set. A very unusual story for a musical. If you don't like sugary sweet mindless musicals, you ought to love this.
The dark subject matter makes this a very interesting adventure. Be prepared for a little bit of depression upon leaving the theater. The performances are great. The music is sound. But... It's hard to watch what these disturbed men did to "amuse" themselves.
Comparing this show to drame across the street, Leopold and Loeb, this version has more passion. In a time where the boyes were in love but that love never dared say its name, one can understand (but not justify) why arson and homosexuality would "THRILL" the boys. Lets face it, back then the penalty for both crimes was about the same. Perhaps I am defending what they did, but i am not. I just see it from another perspective. I could accept everything except the murder. It was a truly hidious crime and unforegivable. But these murderous "high school sweethearts" and their smouldering passion were intriguing none-the-less.
Comparing this show to drame across the street, Leopold and Loeb, this version has more passion. In a time where the boyes were in love but that love never dared say its name, one can understand (but not justify) why arson and homosexuality would "THRILL" the boys. Lets face it, back then the penalty for both crimes was about the same. Perhaps I am defending what they did, but i am not. I just see it from another perspective. I could accept everything except the murder. It was a truly hidious crime and unforegivable. But these murderous "high school sweethearts" and their smouldering passion were intriguing none-the-less.
This is my second time seeing this very amazing show. This time I brought friends. We all walk out of the theater, totally depressed at the subject matter, but thrilled at the care and talent of the cast and crew. I can't say enough about this production. It Rocks...!
sick, twisted, uncomfortable - what theatre should be. direction - especially the movement - was incredible. two leads - too talented.
This was a home-run. We got the tix at half price thanks to Goldstar and the show was great! The acting/singing was terrific, and the story was compelling. The theater was small and cozy - not a bad seat in the house (general admission). I am really glad we went!
Great show.. I really enjoy it...
I normally don't like musicals but I really enjoyed this. I love how the songs progressed the story. I would definitely recommend this event.
Actors were top notch, good range in singing as well. It was like being a voyeur to the life of these two devious young men. I very much enjoyed, could see it again. Would love to see it on the big screen as well.
Not knowing to much about the show going into it, I was entertained with the actual story and plot. The staging was simple and worked well with this venue and story. Noticing the headshots going into the theatre there is only 2 characters in the play, not really a problem, not really a strength either. The biggest obstacle in the show was the acting. It's a case of good and weak. The "Nathan" character is good with a strong voice, but would be great if he had a stronger co-star. Some of his choices though, could be direction, were a little to generic and repetitive. The other character, "Richard" was dissappointing. Hardly living up to a dominating, sauve, charming, and manipulative man. Instead you are just left with a bitchy attitude and anger that comes out of nowhere. Maybe it is a case of a wrong casting choice. The direction seemed to be focusing on the blatant and the broad rather then subtleness. Costumes should have fit the performers better. Being a period piece and only 2 major costumes they could have went the extra step to really 'wow' us. Especially since the characters come from wealthy families and could have added to the sex appeal of them. The lighting and sound were fine. It was a preview and the two men know the track of the show well as well as the lines and songs. It is a case of a show that is ok that could be great.
I thought the show was boring. Tedious. The characters were whiny and unsympathetic. The music was okay, but there weren't any show-stopping numbers. The actors aren't strong singers: and this is a musical! I started looking at my watch about halfway through. Had there been an act break, I would have left then.
We loved it, loved it, loved it though the audience was mainly males, we did not feel out of place at all (two females).
the subject matter is certainly INTERESTING and a BOLD choice for a musical. while the 2 actors were good, both spoken and sung, there was only a fair amount of CHEMISTRY between them; and if you're only USING 2 characters, there needs to be LOTS of chemistry, not just WORDS and INTENTIONS.
the MUSIC was fairly monotonous; not much difference in the sound/treatment of the songs and they all had pretty much the same emotional level/range. the piano accompaniment could've used some SPICE as well. every time something DIRE or DRAMATIC occurred or was impending, the BASS KEYS started rumbling ominously. remember: there is also TENSION and FOREBODING and IMPACT in the HIGHER RANGE of the keyboard as well.
the SHOW itself may be better than xhibited here, but mostly this production made me want to check out the OTHER leopold & loeb show up the street.
STILL, congratulations to everybody involved for getting it ON.
The Hudson Backstage is the largest stage of the Hudson Theatres. It has played host to a variety of productions, including Broadway-bound Reefer Madness (Best Production Award, LADCC), the multiple award-winning The Master and Margarita, and smash hits The Diva is Dismissed (5 major awards including NAACP) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, written by and starring N... More
Thrill Me, a chilling new musical drama, tells the tale of the original "thrill killers," Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb. Both geniuses and born into wealthy families, Nathan and Richard became close friends as teenagers. Richard, a believer in Nietzsche’s "Superman" teachings, drew excitement from committing increasingly more dangerous crimes just to prove that he could get away with it. Nathan, obsessed with Richard's affections, helped him commit those crimes in exchange for sex and secrecy. When petty crimes became boring, they planned the "perfect" murder of a young schoolboy. A simple mistake caused the infallible plan to unravel, throwing them into the media spotlight in 1924 Chicago's "trial of the century." But was that "simple" mistake truly innocent? Thrill Me is a spellbinding musical cat-and-mouse game between two young men addicted to getting exactly what they want from each other, no matter the consequences.
Book, music and lyrics by Stephen Dolginoff
Directed by Nick DeGruccio
Musical direction by Michael Paternostro
Starring Stewart W. Calhoun as Nathan Leopold and Alex Schemmer as Richard Loeb
Thrill Me premiered in New York City at the Midtown International Theater Festival in 2003. The run was extended and all performances were sold out for the festival engagement. Thrill Me had its Off-Broadway premiere on May 16, 2005, at the York Theatre Company. It was critically acclaimed, with the New York Times calling it "arresting, breathtaking and brazenly satisfying." The limited run and was extended three times (with Dolginoff taking over the role of "Leopold" a few weeks into the run), finally closing on August 21, 2005. Thrill Me received an ASCAP Award for the score and was nominated for Drama Desk Awards for Best Musical (Broadway or Off) and Best Music score, and was also nominated for an Outer Critic's Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical. Since the New York version, Thrill Me has had more than 20 productions in cities such as Chicago, Dallas, Orlando, Orange County, Cincinnati, Melbourne Australia, Boston, Richmond, Philadelphia, Sioux City, Nashville, and a current long-running production in Seoul, South Korea translated into Korean. Dolginoff re-created his role of "Leopold" in productions in Tampa, Seattle and Buffalo.
Stephen Dolginoff (Book, Music & Lyrics) received Drama Desk Award nominations for Best Musical and Best Music Score, an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Best Off-Broadway Musical and won an ASCAP Music Award for the New York production of Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story at the York Theatre Company. Now published by Dramatists Play Service, with a cast album on OC Records, Thrill Me has been produced in cities all over the world, and was also featured on the PBS national broadcast of the Drama Desk Awards. Stephen also wrote and composed One Foot Out The Door (Backstage Bistro Award-Outstanding Book, Music & Lyrics), Journey To The Center Of The Earth (MAC Award nomination) and Most Men Are, which have all been produced in New York, Toronto, Boston, Kansas City and St. Louis, and released as cast albums. He contributed music to the lyrics of Kenward Elmslie for the Off-Broadway revue Lingoland, and wrote music & lyrics for the Canadian television series "Fanatical." He was commissioned to write and compose producer Pierre Cossette’s planned Broadway musical The Body Ventura, and is currently writing the musical Panic, the story behind Orson Welles’ infamous “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast, which will open in the Fall of 2008.
Nick DeGruccio (Director) is the recipient of the LA Ovation Award for Direction of both a Play and a Musical. Nick most recently directed the LA premieres of Zanna, Don’t! at West Coast Ensemble (2007 LA Ovation Nomination for Direction and Production); Bad Apples, a world premiere play for the Rubicon Theatre Company; and Beehive at the El Portal Theatre, which was nominated for five 2006 LA Drama Critic’s Circle Awards (including Direction) and two 2007 LA Ovation Awards. Nick also directed the LA Premiere of Side Show, which received eight LA Ovation Nominations including Direction and was voted one of the Top 10 Plays of 2002 by the Los Angeles Times. Nick directed 1776 at Performance Riverside which won five LA Ovation Awards including Best Musical and Best Direction. He also directed The Laramie Project for the Laguna Playhouse having directed the LA Premiere at the Colony Theatre, which received three LA Ovation Awards for Best Play, Best Direction, and Best Ensemble.
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