Chelmsford High Grad Shayan Sobhian Returns To The Stage This Weekend

NORWELL, MA —Chelmsford High alumnus Shayan Sobhian is going back to where it all began —a stage in Massachusetts.

On Friday, the 2013 CHS grad will begin a 10-day run as the young sailor Anthony Hope in the Company Theatre's production of the Stephen Sondheim musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."

The play will run Oct. 7-23 at the theater, located at 30 Accord Park Dr. in Norwell. There will be 7:30 p.m. performances on Oct. 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22, and 3 p.m. matinees on Oct. 9, 16 and 23.

This will be Sobhian's debut performance at the Company Theatre —where his wife Sally currently is the assistant director of another production —and Sobian's first musical in nine years.

In recent years, Sobhian, who lives in Cohasset, has been making a name for himself on the small screen. He played Behrad Terazi in the CW series "DC's Legends of Tomorrow," which recently ended its seven-year run, and he played James the Greater in the streaming series "The Chosen."

Sobhian told Metrmag.com that he is not only excited to return to the stage, but enthusiastic about doing so in a musical created by Sondheim, the legendary composer and lyricist who died last November.

"Just to be able to say that I have done a Sondheim musical is an actor's dream, because it is like being in your own kind of musical marathon," Sobhian told Metromag.com. "I missed being on stage. But here I am — working hard to pull this off, back into singing lessons, being diligent about warm-ups and all of this is getting me back into 'theater shape,' so to speak."

Lauren Cochran, the theater director of the Fine and Performing Arts Department at CHS, said Sobhian was heavily involved in theater in high school. But it almost didn't happen.

"A reason why teaching arts in school is so important. Shay landed in an acting class not as a choice, but it was his third choice for an elective," Cochran told Patch. "After taking the class, he got hooked. He performed all four years in both musical and festival plays, also playing Peter Pan in a children's play."

Before long, Cochran said she realized the school had a real talent in Sobhian.

"I knew he had talent, especially when he played the lead role junior year in 'Jekyll & Hyde,'" Cochran said.

Cochran added: "Shay is a force to be reckoned with. There are a few students over the years to whom I've suggested going into the field (of acting). I do not make this suggestion lightly as it is a grueling and difficult, though rewarding at times, industry. Shay always shone on stage, and I would be surprised if he didn't land another series or film soon."

Cohran also said that Sobhian is expected to perform at a November fundraiser in Chelmsford, though she did not have final details on that event.

Sobhian recently told the Patriot-Ledger about the important role Cochran played in his career.

"(The artistic directors at the Company Theatre) reminded me of being back at Chelmsford High with my theater teacher Lauren Cochran — a talented actor and director in her own right, and an amazing mentor who encouraged me to pursue a professional acting career," Sobhian said.

Tickets to see Sobhian in "Sweeney Todd" at the Company Theatre are available on the theater's website or by calling the Box Office at 781-871-2787. Tickets are $20 and $48, with premium seating at $56.