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Adara Huls is the infamous axe murderess Lizzie Borden in Theatre of Dare’s production of Lizzie, opening January 31 at the theater in Kitty Hawk. Rachel Saddlemire photo

Courtesy Theatre of Dare

Shown, from left, are Kelsey Thompson (Bridget Sullivan), Brandy Hayes (Emma Borden), Adara Huls (Lizzie Borden) and Elise Rumschlag (Alice Russell). Rachel Saddlemire photo

Courtesy Theatre of Dare

Adara Huls is the infamous axe murderess Lizzie Borden in Theatre of Dare’s production of Lizzie, opening January 31 at the theater in Kitty Hawk. Rachel Saddlemire photo

Shown, from left, are Kelsey Thompson (Bridget Sullivan), Brandy Hayes (Emma Borden), Adara Huls (Lizzie Borden) and Elise Rumschlag (Alice Russell). Rachel Saddlemire photo

Courtesy Theatre of Dare

Musical based on the 1892 Lizzie Borden case kicks off January 31

Nearly everyone has heard the infamous Lizzie Borden quatrain:

“Lizzie Borden took an axe/and gave her mother forty whacks/When she saw what she had done/she gave her father forty-one.”

But is it true? And if so, why did she do it? What led to it?

Those are the questions pondered in Theatre of Dare’s musical Lizzie, which runs from January 31 to February 9 at the group’s theater in Kitty Hawk.

And those questions are pondered with raw, intense and soaring rock music.

“The music really takes center stage in this show,” said director Mike Mazza. “It blends effortlessly with the story being told, and with a live band in the wings and four amazing voices on stage, you can feel the themes of repression and rebellion coming through.”

The musical brings to life Lizzie Borden (Adara Huls), her sister Emma (Brandy Hayes), friend and neighbor Alice (Elise Rumschlag) and housekeeper Bridget (Kelsey Thompson), exploring the relationships and circumstances that contributed to the murders of Lizzie’s father and stepmother in 1892.

“All four of these women are being held back by society in some way, and are all struggling to break free of those constraints,” said Huls, last seen on stage as starlet Janet Van de Graff in last year’s Drowsy Chaperone. “In that way, I think it will speak to a lot of our experiences, even in today’s world.”

The musical is not so much a “whodunit” as a “whydunit” and makes no bones about who it supposes committed the double murder. But Lizzie explores this historic and sensational true crime case in spectacular and ferocious fashion, a feast for both the eyes and ears.

“And true crime never sounded so good,” noted a Theatre of Dare news release.

“Lizzie” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on January 31 and February 1, 6, 7 and 8 with matinees February 2 and 9 at 2 p.m. All performances will be at Theatre of Dare in Kitty Hawk, located at 3848 N. Croatan Highway. Tickets are available online at theatreofdareobx.com and at the door, subject to availability. “This show is rated ‘R’ for language, violence and sexual themes,” stated the release.

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