Trip Cullman (Lonely, I'm Not; Assistance; A Small Fire) directs the new musical that will receive public presentations July 27-29. The Vassar & New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theater season is presented on the Vassar College campus in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Murder Ballad has musical direction by Justin Levine, choreography by Doug Varone and sound design by Leon Rothenberg. Former Talking to Animals front woman Nash composed the music. Jordan is the playwright of Tatjana in Color and Sarah, Plain and Tall.

Breaker (Passing Strange, Shrek: The Musical) and Swenson (Hair, Priscilla Queen of the Desert) are joined by Dee Roscioli (Wicked) and Rebecca Naomi Jones (American Idiot, Passing Strange). The band includes Thomas Juliano (lead guitar), Josh Myers (bass) and Seth Faulk (drums).

Here's how it's billed: "A love triangle gone wrong, Murder Ballad centers on Sara, an Upper West Side mom who seems to have it all, but whose downtown past lingers enticingly and dangerously in front of her. Created by composer Juliana Nash, front-woman for the '90s indie rock band Talking to Animals and award-winning playwright Julia Jordan, this sexy, explosive, newSound rock musical explores the complications of love, the compromises we make, and the small betrayals that can ultimately undo us."

For tickets, phone (845) 437-5599 or visit Powerhouse.Vassar.edu.