Lincoln-Way East Students Make Return To Stage With 'Sweeney Todd'

FRANKFORT, IL — It's been two years since students at Lincoln-Way East High School have been able to put on a live musical for an audience, but that is about to change with the school's upcoming production of "Sweeney Todd."

Opening night is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, with additional showtimes at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. All shows will be at Lincoln-Way East High School, 201 Colorado Ave. in Frankfort.

Around 85 cast members and crew have been working for the past four months on the Tony Award-winning musical. And they are excited to get back on the stage.

"It's pretty impressive and pretty fun to see everybody's first time back on the stage has become this big event," said Lincoln-Way East senior Joseph Kotze, who plays the lead character of Sweeney Todd. "We've made a really good product to reintroduce live musical theater at Lincoln-Way East."

Catherine Podlesak, a senior who plays Mrs. Lovett, said she feels "almost like a freshman again" as she gets ready to take the stage.

"I guess it's bittersweet because I'm very excited for the show, but also sad because it'll be my last one," Podlesak said.

One of the production's actual freshman, Rachel Bacon, who plays Tobias Ragg, said she has learned some valuable lessons from the seniors in the play.

"They're incredible. They've been such great role models," Bacon said.

But it's not just the students who are excited about being able to perform "Sweeney Todd." Choir Director Hanna Samawi said that although the early stages of putting together a production can be stressful and chaotic, the end result is "a well-oiled machine."

"It really is such a magical experience to watch those six months fly by into one very short weekend," Samawi said.

Stage director Gina Vitucci said she stays "on alert" until the final curtain drop.

"When it's finally over, then I think I just absorb it, take it all in," Vitucci said. "I really appreciate, I enjoy watching the performances."

Lincoln-Way East offers a brief description of the musical for those who are not familiar with it:

An infamous tale, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to nineteenth century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which, he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett's luck sharply shifts when Todd's thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up... and the carnage has only just begun!

Helping direct "Sweeney Todd," in addition to Vitucci and Samawi, are Ann Kotze, music director, and Michael Teare, pit director.

Tickets for "Sweeney Todd" are now on sale and can be purchased by following this link.