Thomas Matthew Crooks and Sondheim's "Assasins"

I think copyright law would exclude it from happening, but I would really like to see a revision to Sondheim's "Assassins" that includes a song for, and the character of Thomas Matthew Crooks. 

I think the song could be called, "Shooting an Elephant" (google it...) and could incorporate quotes from Crooks' writing re: Orwell's essay, as well as explore questions of how Crooks might have been historically viewed had he been successful in assassinating Trump? Had Crooks been successful, would we ever have known of what America might have been spared? 

I think the inclusion of Crooks as a character in the show would add resonance and an alternate perspective to Sondheim's lyric for Booth, "Let them cry, 'dirty traitor' they will understand it later. The country is not what it was."

Short of using a Ouija Board, I don't know how we're going to get a Stephen Sondheim song about Thomas Matthew Crooks

Yes, every response is true. Still, I think the idea of including Crooks as a character in Assassins is interesting.

For me, I'm particularly interested in what an author or composer might write about a character who's historical perception may be radically changed based on their success or failure; especially as told from the first-person perspective of the assassin. 

Crooks' story differs from the other characters in Assassins because of how an audience feels about Trump as president/intended victim, as well as the history that has transpired because of Crooks' failure. That's what make Crooks' history unique, and Assassins is an existing vehicle where his story would fit in.

It's not as relevant to me whether/not it's "do-able" to revise Assassins. I also feel that if a song were written for Crooks, it wouldn't have to be written by Sondheim. If it could be done, the character of Crooks would be an interesting addition to the show.

I actually don’t think the show needs to be updated, it’s quite powerful that the themes of the show continue and can extrapolate to events that hadn’t (and haven’t) even happened yet. 

binau said: "I actually don’t think the show needs to be updated, it’s quite powerful that the themes of the show continue and can extrapolate to events that hadn’t (and haven’t) even happened yet."

Apropos of this, I can't be the only one who has watched a performance of "Something Just Broke" and thought that this is not at all how I would react if I woke up to a certain huge piece of news.

Kad said: "Frankly, I’m just glad Sondheim hasn’t had to experience the last couple years."

Don’t be dramatic: He lived through much worse, including the first Trump term. I’m also sure he’d be delighted about the renaissance since his death. 

Updated On: 8/5/25 at 11:17 PM

chrishuyen said: "I find the thought experiment interesting [...], especially as a bookend/foil to Booth."

Thank you for introducing the phrase "thought experiment" into the conversation. I appreciate how it helps to clarify where I was trying to go with this thread. :)

kdogg36 said: "Play Esq. said: "He lived through much worse, including the first Trump term."

The first Trump term was not "much worse"; on the contrary, his second term is much, much worse. Back then, it was possible to see his presidencyas a weird aberration in American history, and Trump ended upfumbling around and barely getting anything done for four years. This time around, everyone who voted for him knew what they were doing, and he has beenmuch better prepared to wreak his hatred and bigotry on our world.

If we are to have any kind of future, we are going to need a comprehensive de-Trumpification in American culture just as Germany had a de-Nazification after World War II. I personally don't feel I have any kind of livable future unless this happens sooner rather than later."

I agree with you.