| Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (July 18, 2016) — Jackie Maxwell concludes her 14-year tenure as the Shaw Festival’s Artistic Director with Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – A Musical Thriller, by legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim. Previews of her production of this compelling musical thriller, with its unusual take on the notion of “eat or be eaten”, began its limited run July 17 – with additional matinees already added for October 18 and 19.
Judith Bowden’s set and costumes, based on striking images of industrial London, and lighting design by Alan Brodie create a visually haunting continuum between the dimly lit ambiance of 19th-century and contemporary London. Musical director Paul Sportelli conducts the brilliantly complex musical score and sound design by John Lott completes the Fleet Street soundscape. Valerie Moore’s choreography interprets and re-imagines the movement of this world.
Exiled for 15 years from family and foe, Sweeney Todd (Benedict Campbell) – a barber by trade – returns to London with the assistance of young sailor Anthony Hope (Jeff Irving). Unbeknowst to them, they are about to become inextricably linked in a tale of love and vengeance with Johanna (Kristi Frank), a beautiful girl, under the care of a corrupt judge (Marcus Nance), who sings through her barred window; a beggar woman with a mysterious secret (Patty Jamieson) and Mrs. Lovett (Corrine Koslo), an irrepressible pie-maker, who puts Sweeney on an irrevocable road to revenge.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street also features the talents of Kyle Blair as Adolfo Pirelli, Andrew Broderick as Tobias Ragg and Jay Turvey as The Beadle, with David Ball, Jahlen Barnes, Tess Benger, Starr Domingue, Aaron Ferguson, Charlie Gallant, Billy Lake, Emily Lukasik, Robert Markus, Julain Molnar, Jacqueline Thair, Kelly Wong and Jenny L. Wright.
Sweeney Todd is on stage at the Festival Theatre (10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake) from July 17 to October 19 (opening July 30).
This Shaw Festival production is generously sponsored by TD Bank Group.
Cast (in alphabetical order):
David Ball
Jahlen Barnes
Tess Benger
Kyle Blair
Andrew Broderick
Benedict Campbell
Starr Domingue
Aaron Ferguson
Kristi Frank
Charlie Gallant
Jeff Irving
Patty Jamieson
Corrine Koslo
Billy Lake
Emily Lukasik
Robert Markus
Julain Molnar
Marcus Nance
Jacqueline Thair
Jay Turvey
Kelly Wong
Jenny L. Wright |
Ensemble
Ensemble
Ensemble
Adolfo Pirelli
Tobias Ragg
Sweeney Todd
Ensemble
Ensemble
Johanna
Ensemble
Anthony Hope
Beggar Woman
Mrs. Lovett
Ensemble
Ensemble
Ensemble
Ensemble
Judge Turpin
Ensemble
The Beadle
Jonas Fogg
Ensemble |
Creative & Production:
Jackie Maxwell
Paul Sportelli
Valerie Moore
Judith Bowden
Alan Brodie
John Lott
John Stead
Alison Peddie
Annie McWhinnie |
Director
Musical Director
Choreographer
Designer
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Fight Director
Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager |
About Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – A Musical Thriller
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler
From an adaptation by Christopher Bond
Originally directed on Broadway by Harold Prince
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Originally produced on Broadway by Richard Barr, Charles Woodward, Robert Fryer, Mary Lea Johnson and Martin Richards
In association with Dean and Judy Manos
The Shaw Festival’s 2016 season is on stage April 9 through October 30. The playbill features Alice in Wonderland, A Woman of No Importance, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Uncle Vanya, “Master Harold” …and the Boys, The Adventures of the Black Girl in Her Search for God, Our Town, Mrs Warren’s Profession, Engaged, and The Dance of Death. Tickets for the Shaw Festival’s 2016 Season are available through the Box Office at 1-800-511-7429 or online at www.shawfest.com.
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