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a dark, disturbing, psychosexual thriller merging musical theatre and true crime
THRILL ME:
THE LEOPOLD & LOEB STORY
press
"Under Michaels' astute direction, which leaves room for comic relief, and intimacy director Nicole Perry’s expert guidance, the pair of actors assume positions that communicate their characters’ relationship to each other at given times. During a particularly heated exchange, the performers stand practically nose to nose and Loeb roughly handles Leopold. During another scene, the men are intensely and lengthily kissing each other. When Leopold senses a peaceful moment, he starts to smile or lean into Loeb to become intimate with him. However, at the last second, Loeb moves away or turns his expression to one of disapproval or anger. Also, at times, Loeb stands atop a structure such as a bench. This can symbolize how highly the character thinks of himself."
- FLORIDA THEATER ON STAGE
"Legends tend to grow with age. For this production, Island City Stage’s artistic director Andy Rogow tapped into our area’s own theatrical roots. He commissioned former local favorite turned successful NYC theater director and producer, Christopher Michaels, to direct the play. Michaels had starred as Nathan Leopold in Thrill Me’s South Florida regional premiere 12 years ago, a play Rogow himself directed. The two-man show places an incredible burden in the form of nonstop acting and singing upon its two leads. Who better to direct these characters than a multi-talented drama alumnus who’d lived through the experience himself?
The play’s tempo is often fast and furious, at times violently so, and there wasn’t a single misstep. For this we can thank the expertise of director Michaels."
- THE FRONT ROW CENTER
book, music, lyrics | STEPHEN DOLGINOFF
creative team
director | CHRISTOPHER MICHAELS
music director | ERIC ALSFORD
intimacy/violence coordinator | NICOLE PERRY
scenic/lighting design | ARDEAN LANDHUIS
costume design | W. EMIL WHITE
sound design | DAVID HART
production photographer | MATTHEW TIPPINS
cast
nathan leopold | KEVIN VELOZ
richard loeb | DYLAN GOIKE
venue
ISLAND CITY STAGE
2304 N. Dixie Hwy, Wilton Manors, FL 33305
dates
september 3rd - august 4th | 2023
synopsis
Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story is a two-character musical drama that recounts the chilling true story of the legendary duo who committed one of the most infamous and heinous crimes of the twentieth century. Focusing on their obsessive relationship and utilizing Leopold’s 1958 parole hearing as a framework, Thrill Me reveals the series of events in 1924 Chicago that led about-to-be law students Leopold and Loeb to be forever remembered as “the thrill killers.”
Nathan Leopold was passionate about Richard Loeb, who was passionate about crime and excitement. They created a secret agreement to satisfy each other’s needs. Soon Richard convinced Nathan that they embodied Nietzsche’s idea of the “Superman” and were above society. Then he drew him into his plan to lure a young boy to his death just to prove they could get away with it. But soon their perfect crime unraveled due to a careless mistake. Or was it so careless?
This entirely sold-out run was a turning point for the theater company which saw an unprecedented spike in season subscriptions.