Remember ? Well, the Netflix documentary has been made into a musical – yes, really!
You may remember the award-winning series which was based on the real case and true events of Steven Avery.
The show became a global phenomenon as it told Steven’s story after he was given a life sentence in 2007, after being convicted of killing photographer Teresa Halbach two years prior.
Despite being found guilty, he and his lawyers have continued to fight for his innocence, with nephew and supposed co-conspirator Brendan Dassey also in prison for the crime.
Now, the events are to be brought to the stage as a comedy/drama musical, which will play at the Cowbarn at Underbelly’s Bristo Square from August 3-29, 2022.
Created by and starring Bafta-winning comedy writer Phil Mealey – known for co-creating Early Doors and co-writing episodes of the beloved The Royle Family – the show highlights the many flaws, biases and inconsistencies that contributed to both of Steven’s convictions and that exist in the justice system today.
Making A Murderer: The Musical, which proudly supports The Innocence Project, follows his conviction, exoneration, and subsequent re-arrest for murder in his hometown of Manitowoc.
The production is set to take audiences on an emotional and eye-opening journey into the life and story of the man and his family’s fight for freedom, after the TV series left viewers enthralled.
People all over the world streamed the show on Netflix, and it has helped shine a light on the injustices and failings of what many believe to be a broken system.
The full cast has also been announced for the musical, which will make its world premiere at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Taking centre stage as Steven will be Matt Bond (Little Shop of Horrors), with Amanda Beveridge (High Road) as Ma Avery.
Nicky Filshie (Mary Poppins, South Pacific) will play Steven’s attorney Kathleen Zellner, Gillian Hardie (Kinky Boots, Blood Brothers) will be Betsy, and Phil Mealey (Early Doors, Sunshine) takes on the role of Ken Kratz.
That’s not all, as Jennifer McKinnon-Magee plays Pammy, and Dean Makowski-Clayton (Ordinary Days) plays Brendan Dassey.
Produced by Alison Hallisey, Making A Murderer: The Musical by Phil Mealey will be directed by Christian Durham (Zorro, Breaking the Code) with set and costume design by Gregor Donnelly (Stones in His Pockets, Broken Wings), and musical direction by Rob Owen.
Speaking about the musical, creator Phil said: ‘When I watched the documentary, like many others, I was outraged at the way the system seemed stacked against Steven and his nephew Brendan.
‘As a writer, I saw so many astonishing twists and turns and intriguing characters that if this were written as an original story no-one would believe it was plausible.’
He added that ‘drama has the ability to tackle sensitive, real-life subjects and, in this case, consider the impact of crime on the victims and their families’, meanwhile, music ‘serves as a powerful cue to emotions, memories and feelings that cannot be communicated through words alone’.
‘Our intention is to highlight and parody the inconsistencies in the case where people with power have not used that power fairly or effectively. Compassion and empathy must extend to all those who are victims of a flawed system so that they receive the justice that they truly deserve.’
