“Never the Sinner” by John Logan

Chicago, May 21, 1924. Nathan Leopold Jr., age eighteen, and Robert Loeb, age nineteen, killed fourteen-year-old Bobby Franks. They were quickly apprehended when Leopold’s glasses were found near the corpse. Clarence Darrow defended them, pleading eloquently against capital punishment. Why would wealthy young men murder an innocent boy? What demons lurked behind Loeb’s flashing good looks? Behind Leopold’s saturnine intellect? This exquisite Off-Broadway hit explores the complex relationship between these two who longed to create a private world of fevered intellect and romantic passion. The author suggests that, given twists of fate and character, Leopold or Loeb could be anyone who has loved too much, had a broken heart, wanted to prove everlasting devotion, or looked at a loved one and thought, “I’d die for you…I’d kill for you.” This is a love story set to themes of crime and punishment, the press, the times, humanism, Nietzsche’s philosophy, and the end of the jazz age.

Starring three members of the Axial Theatre Ensemble: Pat McGuinness, Bruce Apar, and Youlim Nam; visiting Axial artist Albi Gorn; Tom Ryan and Michael M. Alva of the Michael Howard Conservatory, and guest artist Najah Imani Muhammad.

Directed by Axial Artistic Director Cady McClain. Produced by McClain, Axial Ensemble Member Dan Walworth, and Axial Board Members Steven Williford and Amanda Quinn Olivar.

Showtimes are:

Nov 10th, 11th, 12th at 8PM and Sunday, Nov 13th at 3PM

Nov 17th, 18th, 19th at 8PM and Sunday, Nov 20th at 11AM

Please visit www.axialtheatre.org for more information

Sponsor Message