Assassins is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman, based on an idea by Charles Gilbert, Jr. It uses the premise of a murderous carnival game to produce a revue-style portrayal of men and women who attempted (successfully or otherwise) to assassinate Presidents of the United States. The music varies to reflect the popular music of the eras depicted.

The musical first opened Off-Broadway in 1990, and the 2004 Broadway production won five Tony Awards.

As a panelist at producer Stuart Ostrow's Musical Theater Lab, Sondheim read a script by playwright Charles Gilbert. Sondheim asked Gilbert for permission to use his idea. Gilbert consented and offered to write the book; but Sondheim declined, having already had collaborator John Weidman in mind. Weidman had written the book for Pacific Overtures and would work with Sondheim again on Road Show.^[1]

Assassins opened Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons on December 18, 1990, and closed on February 16, 1991 after 73 performances. Directed by Jerry Zaks the cast included Victor Garber, Terrence Mann, Patrick Cassidy, Debra Monk, Greg Germann, and Annie Golden. According to the Los Angeles Times, "The show has been sold out since previews began, reflecting the strong appeal of Sondheim's work among the theater crowd."^[2] Frank Rich in his New York Times review wrote "Assassins will have to fire with sharper aim and fewer blanks if it is to shoot to kill."^[3][4]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassins_%28musical%29

Darkly humorous take on America's sick gun-crazed society & history of political assassination. 

Everybody's got the right to be happy,
Don't be mad, life's not as bad as it seems,
If you keep your goal in sight, you can climb to any height,
Everybody's got the right to their dreams.
Everybody's got the right to be different.
If you wanna be different.
Even though at times they go to extremes.
Anybody can prevail, everybody's free to fail,
No one can be put in jail for their dreams.
Free country!
Means that you've got the choice,
Be a scholar! Make a dollar!
Free country!
Means that you get a voice,
Scream and holler! Grab 'em by the collar!
Free country!
Means you get to connect!
That's it! Means the right to expect that you'll have an effect.
That you're gonna connect! Connect! Connect! Connect!
Everybody's got the right to some sunshine!
Not the sun, but maybe one of it's beams.
One of it's beams!
Rich man, poor man, black or white.
Everybody gets a bite, everybody just hold onto your dreams.
Everybody's got the right....to their dreams.......(gunshots!)

[PROPRIETOR]
Hey, pal- feelin' blue?
Don't know what to do?
Hey, pal - I mean you-
Yeah. C'mere and kill a president.

No job? Cupboard bare?
One room, no one there?
Hey, pal, don't despair-
You wanna shoot a president?
C'mon and shoot a president...

Some guys
Think they can be winners.
First prize often goes to rank beginners.

[CZOLGOSZ]
How much?

[PROPRIETOR]
Four-fifty. Ivor Johnson. .32. Rubber handle. Owls stamped on the sides.

[CZOLGOSZ]
All right, give me.

[PROPRIETOR]
Hey, kid, failed your test?
Dream girl unimpressed?
Show her you're the best
If you can shoot a president-

You can get the prize
With the big blue eyes,
Skinny little thighs
And those big blue eyes...

Everybody's
Got the right
To be happy.
Don't stay mad,
Life's not as bad
As it seems.

If you keep your
Goal in sight,
You can climb to
Any height.
Everybody's
Got the right
To their dreams...

[HINCKLEY]
Deal

[CZOLGOSZ]
Mister-

[HINCKLEY]
I said "deal"

[CZOLGOSZ]
You. Wait your turn.

[HINCKLEY]
It is my turn.

[CZOLGOSZ]
I was here first-

[PROPRIETOR]
Watch it now, no violence!

[PROPRIETOR]
Hey, fella,
Feel like you're a failure?
Bailiff on your tail? Your
Wife run off for good?
Hey, fella, fell misunderstood?
C'mere and kill a president...

[GUITEAU]
Okay!

[ZANGARA]
Marron...

[PROPRIETOR]
What's-a wrong, boy?
Boss-a treat you crummy?
Trouble with your tummy?
This-a bring you some relief.
Here, give
Some hail-a to da chief-

[ZANGARA]
You gimme prize-

[PROPRIETOR]
Anything you want.

[ZANGARA]
I want prize. You gimme prize!

[PROPRIETOR]
Only eight bucks. Cheap for "anything you want."

Everybody's
Got the right
To be different
Even though
At times they go
To extremes.
Aim for what you
want a lot-
Everybody
Gets a shot.
Everybody's
Got a right
To their dreams-

Yo, baby!
Looking for a thrill?
The Ferris Wheel is that way.
No, baby,
This requires skill-
Okay, you want to give it a try...
Jeez, lady-!
Give the guy some room!
The bumper cars are that way..
Please, lady-
Don't forget that guns can go boom...

[PROPRIETOR]
Hey, gang,
Look who's here.
There's our
Pioneer.
Hey, chief.
Loud and clear:

[BOOTH]
Everybody's
Got the right
To be happy.
Say, "Enough!"
It's not as tough
As it seems.

Don't be scared
You won't prevail,
Everybody's
Free to fail,
No one can be put in jail
For their dreams.

Free country-!

[PROPRIETOR]
-Means your dreams can come true:

[BOOTH]
Be a scholar-

[PROPRIETOR]
Make a dollar-

[BOOTH, PROPRIETOR]
Free country-!

[BOOTH]
-Means they'll listen to you:

[PROPRIETOR]
Scream and holler-

[BOOTH]
Grab 'em by the collar!

[BOOTH, PROPRIETOR]
Free country-!

[BOOTH]
-Means you don't have to sit-

[PROPRIETOR]
That's it!

[BOOTH]
-And put up with the sh!t.

[ASSASSINS]
Everybody's
Got the right
To some sun shine-

[BOOTH]
Everybody...

[ASSASSINS]
Not the sun
But maybe one
Of its beams.
One of its beams.

[ALL]
Rich man, poor man
Black or white,
pick your apple,
Take a bite,
Everybody
Just hold tight
To your dreams.
Everybody's
Got the right
To their dreams...