Once or twice a year, I see a show so good I have to see it again and bring more people. Even less frequently, there’s a show that eclipses those rare few. It started in the spring of 2019 when two productions struck gold: Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Theatre Latté Da and Minneapolis Musical Theatre’s Be More Chill. Faithful readers will know those were the experiences that directly led to the creation of The Stages of MN later that year. Another example was Interstate: The Musical, a show tragically cut short by COVID.

Now, we can add to that list of productions that bypass “must-see” status and move directly into the pantheon of all-time favorites: Lizzie: The Rock Musical. This is the high we theater junkies chase. When every element, from music and lighting to performance and design, collides at the intersection of awe and adrenaline. I left the theater after opening night absolutely buzzing and immediately began plotting how to see it again. That’s no small feat for me. But where there’s a will, there’s a way.

You may not know what to expect from a musical about the infamous Lizzie Borden, who was acquitted in 1892 of the axe murders of her father and stepmother. Open Eye Theatre’s program describes it as a “Victorian punk homage” to the notorious figure, and that fits perfectly. It’s important to understand that this is a fictionalized retelling of the true-crime story, inspired in part by the childhood rhyme:

Lizzie Borden took an axe
Gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
Gave her father forty-one.

The musical assumes Lizzie’s guilt, suggesting her father’s “affection” may have crossed unsettling boundaries. It also explores a romantic relationship between Lizzie and her friend Alice Russell—what Lord Alfred Douglas once called “the love that dare not speak its name.” Amid all the blood and thunder, it’s the softer songs between Lizzie and Alice that linger. Numbers like “Maybe Someday,” “Will You Stay,” and the haunting “Will You Lie?” (which I immediately sought out on Apple Music afterward) offer moments of tenderness, grace, and humanity that deepen the tragedy.

Lux Mortenson plays Lizzie in a ferocious, no-prisoners performance, they slay every moment and every song. Their chemistry with Stages of MN favorite Grace Hillmyer as Alice is electric: their scenes are tender, tentative, and deeply moving. Mortenson’s powerhouse energy drives the show like a drumbeat, while Hillmyer’s quiet strength and lyrical vulnerability provide the emotional melody. Abilene Olson as Lizzie’s sister Emma and Marley Ritchie as the family’s servant Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan complete the quartet with precision and presence. It’s nearly impossible to imagine anyone else in these roles. This cast is so perfectly aligned that future productions will inevitably pale in comparison, another reason I’m already planning to see it again.

Helping elevate Lizzie to such heights is Joel Sass, who serves as both director and set designer. Open Eye Theatre consistently delivers exceptional design work, and Sass’s set is no exception. Michael Murnane’s lighting design adds striking atmosphere, while Amanda Weis’s music direction ensures a tight, thunderous sound from the band. Samantha Haddow’s costumes beautifully balance period detail with punk rock attitude. The result is a production that’s a full sensory feast, sights, sounds, and emotion working in perfect harmony.

Lizzie: The Rock Musical runs through November 2 at Open Eye Theatre. Opening weekend is already sold out, and the rest are sure to follow. So get your tickets now at openeyetheatre.org/lizzie-the-rock-musical.

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