Bobby Franks

In Chicago, 1924, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb each receive life, plus 99 years, for the despicable murder and kidnapping of 14-year-old Bobby Franks.

The annual Chicago tradition marking the anniversary of the death of famed Chicago attorney Clarence Darrow will mark the 95th anniversary of the Leopold-Loeb murder case, which raised profound and disturbing questions about social class, criminal psychology, morality, justice, and mercy that are still relevant and thought-provoking today.

Like a lot of writer John Logan's works NEVER THE SINNER explores the darker side of humanity. It was his first play, but you wouldn't know it by the intensity it spawns as its tale unfolds. The New Jewish Theatre is presenting a taut production of this piece which focuses our attention on Leopold and Loeb, the teenage purveyors of the 'crime of the century' in the early 1920's. It's a well crafted and dramatic show that only breaks the palpable tension that's been building in the air for an intermission about half way through it. What makes this story particularly timely, in my estimation, is that these two 'kids' became enamored with Nietzche's idea of there being 'supermen' who are above the law due to their supposed superiority. That's a drastic simplification of the concept as a whole, but the point is that we can still see this type of thinking in the current world we live in. This is a show that's definitely worthy of your time and attention.

Little Theatre of Manchester's popular script-in-hand play-reading series, begins on March 14, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. with a reading of John Logan's dramatization of the 1920's Leopold and Loeb crime and trial, NEVER THE SINNER.

As the New Jewish Theatre continues its 20th Season with John Logan's Never the Sinner fromMarch 16 - April 2, we bring to the stage a uniquely chilling love story between two brilliant and privileged young men as they are tried for what became known in 1924 as the "crime of the century."  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 2016-17 season marks the 20th anniversary of the New Jewish Theatre (NJT), a truly significant milestone for a small professional theatre.

Chicago, May 21,1924. Nathan Leopold Jr., age 18, and Richard Loeb, age 19, killed 14 year old Bobby Franks and we're 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 philosophy and the end of the jazz age.

If Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb are indeed 'Super men' as the two principle characters claim throughout the Short North Stage's production of THRILL ME: THE STORY OF LEOPOLD AND LOEB, the whole world is in trouble.

The production has several aces up its sleeve, the first being John Logan's script. Logan-the scribe behind the plays Red and I'll Eat You Last, films Gladiator, The Aviator, Sweeney Todd, Hugo, and Skyfall, and the T.V. show Penny Dreadful-is easily one of the greatest contemporary writers in any medium. His gift for creating edge-of-your-seat pacing, engrossing and flawed characters, and witty dialogue shows through in Never the Sinner, Logan's 1985 work and first play.

Chicago, May 21,1924. Nathan Leopold Jr., age 18, and Richard Loeb, age 19, killed 14 year old Bobby Franks and were quickly apprehend­ed when Leopold's glasses were found near the corpse.

Chicago, May 21,1924. Nathan Leopold Jr., age 18, and Richard Loeb, age 19, killed 14 year old Bobby Franks and were quickly apprehend­ed when Leopold's glasses were found near the corpse.

What If? Productions presents chilling musical THRILL ME: THE LEOPOLD AND LOEB STORY in Threshold Repertory's intimate black box theater in downtown Charleston.

NEW YORK, NY - Fig Tree Books, a new publishing house focusing on literary fiction exploring the diverse American Jewish experience, announced its inaugural list for the spring 2015 season.

Musicals have come from various sources. There has been the tale of an illiterate flower girl who was transformed into a proper woman (MY FAIR LADY), a Biblical Jewish youth who became a leader in Egypt (JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT), a prince who kept searching for his corner of the sky until he realized that it was right where he was (PIPPIN), and a big nosed sassy New York girl who transformed herself into a famous vaudeville star (FUNNY GIRL).

The sordid tale of Leopold and Loeb is the subject of NEVER THE SINNER now receiving a strong production at 1st Stage in Tysons. Directed by Jeremy Skidmore, the play is carefully crafted and is a winning blend of theatrical bravura, sexual tension, calculating criminals, and period flair. Stephen Russell Murray and Alex Mandell also give tour-de-force performances.

The story of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb has been written about and filmed on a few separate occasions, most notably with Alfred Hitchcock's version of Patrick Hamilton's play, Rope (shot in single film reel length takes as an added novelty), and with Meyer Levin's more fictionalized account Compulsion, which was also made into a noteworthy movie. Of course, there were many others that co-opted the ideas present in their terrible tale, but playwright/composer Stephen Dolginoff's THRILL ME: THE LEOPOLD AND LOEB STORY, just may be the most potent, presenting their saga as a 'pocket musical' that's harrowing, haunting and disturbing all at the same time.

Mauckingbird Theatre Company will present John Logan's remarkable crime drama, Never the Sinner: The Leopold and Loeb Story, directed by Mauckingbird Artistic Director Peter Reynolds. The company's fourth production follows Mauckingbird's lesbian adaptation of Hedda Gabler (2009) and the critically acclaimed all-male versions of The Misanthrope (2008) and Shakespeare's R & J (2008).

Mauckingbird Theatre Company will present John Logan's remarkable crime drama, Never the Sinner: The Leopold and Loeb Story, directed by Mauckingbird Artistic Director Peter Reynolds. The company's fourth production follows Mauckingbird's lesbian adaptation of Hedda Gabler (2009) and the critically acclaimed all-male versions of The Misanthrope (2008) and Shakespeare's R & J (2008).

Mauckingbird Theatre Company will present John Logan's remarkable crime drama, Never the Sinner: The Leopold and Loeb Story, directed by Mauckingbird Artistic Director Peter Reynolds. The company's fourth production follows Mauckingbird's lesbian adaptation of Hedda Gabler (2009) and the critically acclaimed all-male versions of The Misanthrope (2008) and Shakespeare's R & J (2008).

Mauckingbird Theatre Company will present John Logan's remarkable crime drama, Never the Sinner: The Leopold and Loeb Story, directed by Mauckingbird Artistic Director Peter Reynolds. The company's fourth production follows Mauckingbird's lesbian adaptation of Hedda Gabler (2009) and the critically acclaimed all-male versions of The Misanthrope (2008) and Shakespeare's R & J (2008).