The axeman cometh

Willie W. Judson Jr. and Sheron Hardy are featured in Matthew LaChiusa's "Axeman's Jazz," which opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11 at Rust Belt Books on Allen Street in Buffalo.

From 1917 to 1919, a series of bizarre axe murders shocked New Orleans. Then in March of 1919, a letter was sent to "The Times Picayune," informing the citizens and police that if the city played jazz all night, they would be spared from the axe.

Local playwright Matthew LaChiusa's "Axeman's Jazz" centers on this notorious case in New Orlean's history. The first production of LaChiusa's American Repertory Theatre of Western New York's first season opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11 at Rust Belt Books, 202 Allen St., Buffalo.

With no suspects in sight, the police were baffled by the case and the denizens hid in fear as many claimed the killer was a demon. The city obliged the axeman's request to play jazz for one full night and shortly after the killings stopped and the axeman never returned to New Orleans. "Axeman's Jazz" centers upon how the lives of hoodoo "doctor" Jaquinne and a city detective, Talbot, are affected by the killings and how they, and those close to them, come to terms with their lives and the hereafter.

The production features Willie W. Judson Jr., Sheron Hardy, Thomas LaChiusa, Hugh Davis and Jennifer Arroyo. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Jan. 11 and 12, 18 and 19, and Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 24 through 26 at Rust Belt Books. Tickets are $10, and are available by calling 884-4858. For more information, visit www.artofwny.org.