Character guide
Charles Guiteau
from Assassins
Charles Guiteau, who assassinated President James Garfield in 1881, is portrayed as a cheerfully deranged office seeker in Assassins, Stephen Sondheim's 2004 musical.
- Show
- Assassins
- Broadway premiere
- 2004
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- Stephen Sondheim
Who is Charles Guiteau?
Guiteau is written as flamboyantly, almost gleefully delusional, convinced that killing Garfield will earn him gratitude and a diplomatic appointment rather than a death sentence. His unshakeable, sunny optimism in the face of his own execution is played for both dark comedy and genuine unease.
His section of the show culminates in his walk to the gallows, which he performs as a dance, cheerfully rehearsing a cakewalk step by step even as the noose approaches, embodying the show's blend of showbiz glee and horror.
Guiteau's role in Assassins
Guiteau is a supporting role built around a single showstopping sequence, The Ballad of Guiteau, which combines a jaunty cakewalk rhythm with gallows humor as he climbs the scaffold steps. The part requires strong comic timing, agile movement, and the ability to sustain manic cheerfulness without losing the character's underlying menace.
Because the number is so theatrically bold, it is frequently singled out in reviews and cast recordings as one of the show's most memorable set pieces, and actors playing Guiteau are often remembered specifically for that sequence.
Charles Guiteau: frequently asked questions
What show is Charles Guiteau from?
Charles Guiteau is a supporting character in Assassins, which opened on Broadway in 2004.
Is Charles Guiteau a lead or supporting role?
Guiteau is a supporting role, built around the showstopping number The Ballad of Guiteau.
Who wrote the music for Assassins?
Stephen Sondheim composed the music and lyrics for Assassins.
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