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Stann Gwynn as
Sweeney Todd |
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Ann Benson as Mrs. Lovett |
Sweeney Todd features Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and Book by Hugh Wheeler.
Workshop Theatre and sponsor Don Alcorn invite you to take a dark and bloody walk down Fleet Street starting March 7, 2008, with the new production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The book for this production was written by Hugh Wheeler from an adaptation by Christopher Bond. The character of Sweeney Todd has been around since 14th century French legends and later was the bloody hero of cheap British ballads in the early 19th century. There is speculation that the character of Sweeney may have been based on a real French or English figure not unlike Jack the Ripper.
With music direction by Tom Beard, the production features a great cross-section of Columbia's finest singing actors. Serving up the worst pies in London will be Stann Gwynn as The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Ann Benson as Mrs. Lovett. Gwynn and Benson are no strangers to Sondheim's music, having performed in A Little Night Music for Opera at USC in 2006. Joining them are Kevin Bush as Anthony Hope, Lauren Tolcher as Johanna, David Chervney as Judge Turpin, Daniel Gainey as Tobias, Angela Powers as the Beggar Woman, Rusty Sox as the Beadle, Brian Parker as Pirelli, Hunter Boyle as Fogg, and a dozen enthusiastic singing actors from area high schools, USC, Columbia College, as well as the greater Midlands area.
Tom Beard, last seen in Workshop’s production of The Full Monty, has assembled an orchestra of skilled musicians who give life to Sondheim’s rich and multi-layered score. If you’ve seen the movie and missed the chorus, or seen the latest version on tour and missed the fullness of scenery and costumes, come to Workshop to see and hear the richness of Sondheim’s genius. If you experienced Workshop's 1984 production of Sweeney Todd, then you remember the swing of emotions as revenge, love, greed, lust and madness come to life.
Ellen Douglas Schlaefer (who recently directed I Am My Own Wife for Workshop) is joined by Sandra Dickson, costume designer; Randy Strange, scenic designer; Barry Sparks, lighting designer; Paula Peterson, prop coordinator; Pam Johnson, graphics designer; and Jacqueline Finklea, stage manager.
DATES: March 7-8, 11-16, 18-22, 2008
CURTAIN TIME: Curtain at 8:00 p.m., except for the 3:00 p.m. matinee on March 16
TICKETS: $20 for adults; $18 for seniors/military; $14 for students; $10 for ages 10-12 (Special rates available for groups of 15 or more attending on a weeknight. Call the Box Office for details.)
BOX OFFICE: Tickets go on sale to members Feb. 27-29. Tickets go on sale to non-members March 3. For additional information,
call the Box Office at 799-6551. Hours are noon - 5:30 p.m.
Mondays through Fridays. (Online orders occur in real time 24 hours a day after the initial start time.) To learn more about online reservations, click here.
SEATING: To view a seating chart, click
here.
