The Chinese version of the U.S. musical “Murder Ballad” will soon be staged at Guangming Culture and Art Center.

“Murder Ballad” is an original sung-through musical conceived by Jonathan Larson Award winner and two-time Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Julia Jordan. She also wrote the book and some lyrics for the musical along with noted indie singer/songwriter Juliana Nash.

The title is taken from the phrase “murder ballad,” a type of song that describes the details of a crime, from the murderer to the motive to the act itself. Jordan, initially a playwright, was interested in taking her idea of a murderous love triangle and turning it into a rock musical. She approached Nash, who had never written a musical before, and was inspired by the dark narrative qualities of the music.

The story follows a woman named Sara who dates a wild and dangerous bartender named Tom. Soon, she tires of his crazy life and leaves him for Michael who is a student and lives a more relaxed life. Sara and Michael get married and have a daughter named Frankie. Her home life begins but it is not all that she thinks it is going to be. Soon, she begins to long for her past life with Tom and all of the excitement.

Tom and Sara begin to have an affair. Still unable to make up her mind, Sara then wants to go back to her life with Michael and her daughter. Angry at Sara’s indecisiveness, Tom demands that she stays with him. Michael also finds out the affair. Tom is infuriated and wants to kill Michael and Frankie so that he can have Sara all to himself. As Tom threatens her family, Sara decides to protect her family.

With a combination of rock and jazz, “Murder Ballad” premiered at the Manhattan Theater Club’s The Studio at Stage II in 2012. Following the sold-out run, the musical transferred Off-Broadway to the Union Square Theater in 2013.

“Murder Ballad” earned an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical and a Drama League Award nomination for Outstanding Production of a Musical. It was also nominated for five Lucille Lortel awards.

New York Post praised it as “a solid, well-crafted effort that revarnishes the old love triangle premise,” and further commented “Juliana Nash’s muscular-yet-melodic score uses rock better than most musicals.”

Time: 8 p.m., June 6

Tickets: 80-680 yuan

Booking: WeChat account “GuangmingArtCenter”

Venue: Guangming Culture and Art Center, Guanguang Road, Guangming District (光明区观光路光明文化艺术中心)

Metro: Line 6 to Fenghuang Town Station (凤凰城站), Exit B

(SD News)