THRILL ME: THE LEOPOLD & LOEB STORY A Musical Thriller

(Photo By Andy Rogow)

Relationships can be murder. THRILL ME: THE LEOPOLD & LOEB STORY is a two-character musical drama that is based on the chilling true story of the legendary duo of Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold, who committed one of the most infamous and heinous crimes of the twentieth century - the senseless murder of a young boy. Focusing on their obsessive relationship and utilizing Leopold's 1958 parole hearing as a framework, THRILL ME explores 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."

Thrill Me has been a Drama Desk Award Nominee for both Best Musical and Best Music Score and had long successful runs in both London and Korea where it is playing in it's fifth year. Thrill Me just recently opened in Japan to rave reviews.

The production is directed by Rising Action's newly appointed Artistic Director Andy Rogow, the former Artistic Director of the Hollywood Playhouse where he was nominated for the Carobnell Award for his direction of the musical Fiddler on the Roof. He is also a past President of the Theatre League of South Florida. Most recently he directed all three installments of Steve Solomon's "My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish and I'm in Therapy". 

Three time Carbonell Award winner Eric Alsford music directs this dark and thrilling musical. 

Christopher Michaels appears as Nathan Leopold, a young man sexually obsessed with the very charming, very cool Richard Loeb played by Bryan C. Ortega. Michaels received rave reviews for his performance as Emory in Rising Action's acclaimed production of The Boys in the Band and appeared again this past season in Grey Gardens adding to his long list of acting credits throughout Florida. Ortega, a former three year member of the Vanderbilt Opera Theatre, is making his Florida theatrical debut with this production of Thrill Me. 

The New York Times said of the original production,
"Stephen Dolginoff's pocket musical about the Leopold and Loeb murder case lands like a well-placed punch, arresting and a bit breathtaking. Others have told the tale in plays and films, but there is something brazenly satisfying about Mr. Dolginoff's rendition. It's a reminder that evil often looks and sounds beautiful. Credit the lean approach to the storytelling."

The Performance Schedule:

Fridays and Saturdays - 8:00 p.m.

Sundays - 7:00 p.m. 

The Show will be performed at

Rising Action Theatre, 1480 SW 9th Ave. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 

Individual Shows: $35.00

DINNER and SHOW Packages(at either OLD HEIDELBERG or TROPICS RESTAURANT): $60.00 

For Tickets: www.risingactiontheatre.com     

or call 800-595-4849 or 954-561-2225  

FALL IN LOVE TODAY!  ADOPT A PET FROM YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER

Currently spending his time between New York and Florida, Beau was born to a theatrical family in Brooklyn. He studied drama at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute and at HB Studios. He studied theater singing with Julia Sperratore and Helen Gallagher. Beau later taught drama at the Lincoln Center Square for the Arts. It was at this time Beau began working with the Theater Development Fund and helped found New York's famed HALF PRICE TICKET BOOTH. Early in his career, Beau was screen tested and contracted for Warner Brothers. He co-hosted, an early cable variety series on Manhattan's Teleprompter channel. At this time he directed the Johnny Specca musical, SEX IS..? at the Lincoln Center Library Theater. Beau has performed Off-Broadway in FAT FELL DOWN, The Comic Strip Theater's LITTLE LULU AND THE INVISIBLE INK and WILL THE REAL ZOOPERMAN PLEASE STAND UP. Around the country he has delighted audiences with his performances in ANYTHING GOES, THE APPLE TREE, GUYS & DOLLS, and HELLZAPOPPIN! He sang for New York audiences at such cabarets as The Duplex and Upstairs at the Downstairs. He has had numerous television appearances but is most proud to have been a winning contestant on the game shows JACKPOT and THE $20,000 PYRAMID.

More Articles by This Author...