"Raise your razor high, Sweeney…"
A murderous barber…a slatternly “meat” pie shop owner…a half-crazed beggar woman…a corrupt judge… sounds like the formula for a modern, big city front page headline; but, alas, no: these are are the 19th century characters who populate Stephen Sondheim’s melodramatic musical thriller, Sweeney Todd, which will be presented by The Theatre Company (an Ozark Arts Council mem-ber organization), at the historic Lyric Theater in downtown Harrison. Composer/lyricist Sondheim, along with librettist Hugh Wheeler, has comprised a fascinating musical dealing both with class structure and corruption within the judicial system of 19th century London. Based on a version of the popular English melodrama, Sweeney Todd, by British playwright Christopher Bond, the show is set within the Fleet Street district of 19th century London.
With such memorable songs as “A Little Priest,” “By the Sea,” “Pretty Women,” and “Not While I’m Around,” Sweeney Todd is a typical Sondheim production with wonderful, but 
challenging songs, a lot of twists and turns, and a fascinating storyline. Audiences will be fascinated to see this wonderful musical come to life on the Lyric stage. With themes of love, loyalty, but most of all revenge, Sondheim will have everyone asking the following questions: Will Sweeney get his revenge? Will Mrs Lovetts finally get her man, Sweeney? Will Anthony find Johanna? Will justice come to Judge Turpin and Beadle Bamford? These will be the questions audiences will need to see the play to get answered. With a lot of twists and turns, Sweeney Todd will keep audiences on the edge of their seat trying to guess what will come next.
A feature film adaptation of Sweeney Todd was released in 2007 with Tim Burton as director. It starred Johnny Depp as Todd (Depp received
an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe award for his performance), Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett, Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin, and Sacha Baron Cohen as Signor Pirelli. The film received high acclaim from critics and theatregoers and also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy.
Playing the title role of Sweeney Todd will be Theatre Company veteran Cameron Carlton. Cameron was quoted as saying, “This has been the most demanding role of my life. Trying to enter the mindset of a tortured barber isn’t easy at all. Sweeney’s emotions are so deep and complex that I’ve actually scared myself at times during rehearsal, but when that happens, I know we’re doing it right! With Sweeney being my first lead role in a musical, I just hope to do his character and his creator proud.”
Playing opposite Cameron will be another Theatre Company veteran Julianna Stefanski, playing the role of Mrs Lovetts. When asked about the play, Ms Stefanski was quoted as saying, “This is one of the most challenging and rewarding plays I’ve ever been in, and I believe this story will resonate with everyone who sees it.”
Other notable characters will be Bill Edwards playing Judge Turpin, Clark Middleton playing Beadle Bamford, Jeremie Reynolds playing Anthony Hope, Hannah Whorton playing Johanna Barker, Roz Slavik playing Crazy Beggar Woman, Clint Jones playing rival barber Pirelli, David Stewart playing Tobias, and Rob Thomason playing the asylum keeper Jonas Fogg. Rounding out the cast will be a group of Theatre Company veterans, along with some new faces to the Lyric Stage: Arthur Jones, Judah Case, Jerome Tauer, Trevor Martin, Patty Whorton, Jeanette Fitton, Lisa Forney, Jesseanne Queer, Eva Graddy, Kaci Larson, Emily Johnson,
Annemarie Eaton, Beth Olson, Abigail Kops, Emily Kops, Caitlin Speak, McKenna Stephens, Debbie Waters, and Olivia Cash. Orchestra will be directed by Bob Johnson, with long-time Theatre Company pianist Dicksie Milburn tickling the ivories.
The production will be co-directed by Cameron Carlton and Bill Edwards with assistance by Jamie Taylor. Katie Stefanski has been tapped as the Production Assistant, and Technical Director will be long-time Theatre Company “techie” Tony Grimes.
Sweeney Todd opened on Broadway at the Uris Theatre on March 1, 1979. It was immediately hailed as a masterpiece of the American musical stage. It starred Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Lovett), Len Cariou (Todd) and Victor Garber (Anthony). It was directed by Harold Prince, who moved an entire Rhode Island iron foundry onto the stage of the Uris Theatre (now the Gershwin Theatre) and shaped the melodrama into an allegory on social structure and revenge. The production was nominated for 9 Tony Awards, winning 8, including Best Musical. Sweeney Todd closed on June 29, 1980 after 557 performances and 19 previews.
A feature film adaptation of Sweeney Todd, jointly produced by DreamWorks and Warner Bros., was released on 
December 21, 2007. Tim Burton directed from a screenplay 
by John Logan. It stars Johnny Depp as Todd and Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett. The film received high acclaim from critics and theatregoers and also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy.
Sweeney Todd will be performed at the Lyric Theater in downtown Harrison on Saturday, March 24th, Sunday, March 25th, Saturday, March 31st, and conclude on Sunday, April 1st. Show times will be at 7:30PM on the Saturday dates, and a 2PM matinee on the Sunday performances. Ticket prices are as follows: $10 for adults; $8 for OAC members, Senior Adults, and Students; $5.00 for children under 12 years of age. Due to the content of the play, parental guidance is strongly suggested.
Sweeney Todd is presented with permission by Music Theatre International.
