The life of the infamous 'Bonnie and Clyde' brought to the stage

TEMECULA – In the depths of the Depression, a young couple finds a chilling way to support themselves in "Bonnie and Clyde." This sexy and thrilling show, which earned a Tony Award nomination in 2012 for Best Original Score, and Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Music, Outstanding Lyrics and Outstanding Musical, runs Oct. 11-27 at The Old Town Temecula Community Theater.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays. The teen cast will perform Oct. 25-27. Purchase tickets at (866) 653-8696 or http://www.temeculatheater.org.

The story of true-life thieves and murderers, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow might seem like an unusual topic for a musical, but artistic director Brittany Campbell said she thinks it's a tale worth telling musically.

"I always love looking at history from as many viewpoints as possible, and telling the infamous story of Bonnie and Clyde through a musical allows the audience to see another side. It'll make them think and want to know more about these outlaws all the while they are being entertained," Campbell said. "This version of the story helps to tell a story of their humanity, and the boundaries that push people past their breaking points."

From a musical standpoint, Bonnie and Clyde has great, powerful music and is really a showcase for the talent involved. The score blends blues, gospel and rockabilly sounds, and with a live orchestra conducted by Scott Merrin and piano played by the show's musical director, Rachel Bailey, the audience will be laughing, crying and tapping their toes.

Shannon Murphy will play Bonnie Parker and Brandon Gonzalez will play Clyde Barrow. The audience will be transported to a world where the hopes and dreams of two mislead lovers change the landscape of an entire community and country.

The standout ensemble also includes: Jaylen Baham as Ted Hinton, Gavin Powell as Buck Barrow and Erin Metz as Blanche Barrow. Director Eric Ruiter chose actors who bring top-notch talent and energy to this musical.

"It is wonderful seeing such a diverse and enthusiastic cast tell this story," Campbell said.

As Robin Kouri, who will be playing Gov. Ferguson and Cumie Barrow, said, "The talent in Temecula is outstanding."

The audience will be "blown away by how these people were brought to life," Joseph Arreola, the show's producer and teen cast director, said.

Get tickets at (866) 653-8696 and http://www.temeculatheater.org.

Submitted by Old Town Temecula Community Theater.