Musical Thriller ‘Sweeney Todd’ Comes to Campus

10/07/2009 

Broadway's diabolical musical thriller, "Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," will be presented by the Performing Arts Department for six shows at the Dowd Fine Arts Center Theatre beginning Oct 23. This acclaimed musical, with book by Hugh Wheeler and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, won all the major awards in 1979 and has been revived on Broadway twice since then.

"Sweeney Todd" has been produced by both theatre and opera companies around the world and was turned into a powerful film by director Tim Burton in 2008 starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman.

Performances are at 8 p.m. on Oct. 23, 24, 30 and 31 with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. Tickets are on sale at Jodi's Hallmark Shop on Main Street, Cortland, and at the door before each performance.

Prices are $16 for general public, $14 for senior citizens and SUNY faculty and staff and $7 for all students. Because of the subject matter and the graphic violence involved in the tale of Sweeney Todd, the musical is recommended for mature audiences only.

This production is partially funded by The Cortland Fund and the Cortland College Foundation. More information about the musical and this season's other events can be found at www.cortland.edu/performingarts.

Victorian London is in the shadow of the Industrial Revolution as the barber Todd (Doug Robbins) sets out to get revenge for the wrongs done to him by the corrupt Judge Turpin (Skylar Winter). In the process, Todd loses his reason and goes on a killing spree, the victims turned into meat pies for public sale by the crafty Mrs. Lovett (Rebecca Rozzoni). Among the other characters involved in the thriller are the judge's innocent ward Johanna (Kara Howard), the sailor Anthony (Anthony Festa) who loves her, the villainous henchman called the Beadle (John McAvaney), the greedy Italian barber Pirelli (Tim Fuchs), his abused assistant Toby (Ryan McDonald), and the prophetic old Beggar Woman (Kimberly Moore).

The Cortland production is directed and choreographed by Kevin Halpin with musical direction by Richard Montgomery, sets by Howard Lindh, lighting by Joel Pape, costumes by Mark Reynolds and technical direction by Preston Marye.


More News

The Driver Era to close out Spring Fling

The Driver Era to close out Spring Fling

The band concludes a Coachella-themed week of fun at SUNY Cortland.


Cortland earns SUNY’s Shared Governance Award

Cortland earns SUNY’s Shared Governance Award

The system-wide honor recognizes collaboration between Faculty Senate and campus leadership.


Chinese politics scholar to speak

Chinese politics scholar to speak

China’s focus on Tibetan religious customs as a power wedge is talk topic on March 20.


The Big Event Returns April 21

The Big Event Returns April 21

Cortland's student-run community cleanup has potential as a statewide model.


Student shares mental health research nationally

Student shares mental health research nationally

Kyla Young presented her original findings at a rescue service providers conference.


‘Harvest Week!’ culminates ‘Food’ series

‘Harvest Week!’ culminates ‘Food’ series

Topping the week of April 8-12's activities is a talk by the ‘Braiding Sweetgrass' author.


Physics and art departments host eclipse viewing  

Physics and art departments host eclipse viewing  

A rare solar phenomenon will unite the worlds of physics and art on campus. 


Vote for Blaze in SUNY's Mascot Madness!

Vote for Blaze in SUNY's Mascot Madness!

Cortland's mascot needs your vote to advance past the annual popularity tournament's second round.


Prizes offered for student opinions

Prizes offered for student opinions

Undergraduates have until April 5 to complete SUNY’s Student Satisfaction Survey.


Three students earn SUNY Chancellor’s Awards

Three students earn SUNY Chancellor’s Awards

The seniors will receive the prestigious student honor at an April 11 ceremony in Albany.