SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a libretto by Hugh Wheeler, will be presented by STAGE DOOR CONSERVATORY on Thursday, Fridaty, Saturday and Sunday, August 9, 10, 11 and 12
at the PERFORMING ARTS CENTER at EL CERRITO HIGH SCHOOL at 540 ASHBURY AVENUE in El Cerrito.
Directed by SIMON KAPLAN, with musical direction by MARK SUMNER, choreography by GENEVIEVE ANDREAESSEN, costuming by ANIDA WEYL and set design by CARRIE MULLEN, with licensing by MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL, our production will be sure to excite theater lovers.
Based on the 1973 play SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET by Christopher Bond, the musical is a sophisticated, complex play with many interesting and memorable characters. Our production will be professionally mounted, featuring a cast of 24 young actors guided by a production staff of highly skilled theater artists and educators.
A rare example of a musical thriller, Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s chilling, suspenseful, heart-pounding masterpiece of murderous barber-ism and culinary crime tells the infamous tale of the unjustly exiled barber who returns to 19th century London seeking revenge against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. His thirst for blood soon expands to include his unfortunate customers, and the resourceful proprietress of the pie shop downstairs soon has the people of London lining up in droves with her mysterious new meat pie recipe!
Sophisticated, macabre, visceral and uncompromising, SWEENEY TODD is surprising entertaining, blending intense drama with hilariously comedic dark humor: audiences find themselves laughing hysterically one moment and gasping in surprise and horror the next. At the show’s core is a challenging score of epic proportion with two tour de force roles in Sweeney and his comic female accomplice, Mrs. Lovett.
OUR CAST
SWEENEY TODD: Darius Lack
MRS. LOVETT: Haley Slamon
TOBY: Laurel Schweidel
JOHANNA: Megan McKiernan
ANTHONY: Zach Hansen
JUDGE TURPIN: Miguel Gamalinda
BEGGAR WOMAN: Brianna Turnbull
PIRELLI: Rosie Shaw
BEADLE: Marina Shethar
JONAS FOGG: Chris Ber
BIRDSELLER: Olivia Eggers
COMPANY:
Kamaile Alnas-Benson
Chris Ber
Grace Creech
Hailey Dalhaus
Mekayla Dalhaus
Olivia Eggers
Blue Kesler
Aya Newman
Alison Radkey
Catelaya Sazo
Marina Shethar
Evan Streshinsky
Julia Tello
ABOUT TEENS ON STAGE
The past six years, TEENS ON STAGE has presented LES MISERABLES, CHICAGO, ANYTHING GOES, URINETOWN, GREASE and GYPSY, drawing audiences of as many as 450 persons per performance.
During the six weeks preceding our production, we will guide our cast through an intensive rehearsal process as they prepare to perform in our play. They will receive instruction in acting and vocal and dance technique and character development, as well as costuming and stage craft and production. In addition to participating in the workshops and classes that are featured as a regular part of our program, each actor will also receive both individualized attention to support his or her continuing development as a performer and the support and mentorship of their fellow cast members. In addition to providing an exemplary performance experience, TEENS ON STAGE offers a uniquely supportive environment for learning. As we guide our performers artistically, we help them develop and reply upon one another as an ensemble, fostering a spirit of not only esprit d’ corps, but strong bonds of personal and artistic friendship.