Assassins
James played John Hinckley (the guy who tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981) in Stephen's Sondheim's musical "Assassins". It played at the Sheffield Crucible Theatre from March 9th - April 1st 2006.
James performed a lovely ballad entitled "Unworthy Of Your Love" which you can hear by clicking the song. The soundclip is taken from the Original Broadway Cast Recording.
Show Info for Those Not Familiar with Assassins
This musical, with a book by John Weidman, explores the history of presidential assassination in America, from John Wilkes Booth to John Hinckley, Jr. Assassins climaxes in a surreal sequence where the assassins convince Lee Harvey Oswald that his act is the only way he will connect -- with them, with history, and with the world.
Photos of James as John Hinckley
Information on John Hinckley
Hinckley shot U.S. president Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981 as Reagan departed the Washington (D.C.) Hilton Hotel after making a speech. Reagan was severely wounded, as were his press secretary James Brady, police officer Thomas Delahanty, and Secret Service agent Timothy J. McCarthy. Hinckley was subdued and arrested on the spot. Investigators discovered that Hinckley was obsessed with actress Jodie Foster and had been trying to impress her. (Foster had starred with Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver, a 1977 movie about a crazed loner stalking a presidential candidate. Hinckley had reportedly seen the movie more than a dozen times.) Hinckley was tried for the crime in 1982 and found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was placed in St. Elizabeths psychiatric hospital in Washington, D.C., where he remains indefinitely. In 1999 Hinckley was allowed the right to supervised visits outside the grounds of the hospital. In 2000 he was allowed unsupervised visits, but this right was revoked after a book about Foster was found hidden in his room. In December 2003 he was allowed to have unsupervised visits with his parents, outside the hospital grounds.
Information taken from Who 2