Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim | Book by Hugh Wheeler
Directed by George Contini
Assistant Directed by Ali Tallman
University of Georgia Theatre

Music Direction  |  Rachel Townes
Scenic Design  |  Michelle Gersten
Lighting Design  |  Mark Stater
Costume Design  |  Ivan Ingermann
Stage Management  |  Allison Kelly, assisted by Brooke Friedman & Livy Colomb
Dramaturgy  |  Ali Tallman
Choreography  |  Dr. Lisa Fusillo
Cross-Promotional Marketing Campaign | Ali Tallman

Cast | Isaiah Feken, Katherine Butcher, Christopher Sapp, Stephanie Bacastow, Washington Isaac Holmes, Larry Cox Jr., Jeffery Marano, Jake Berne, Sarah Stratton, Jared Jones, Eric Baylot, Amelia Merriman, Luke J. Morgan, Bryan Perez, Jordan Richey, Julianne Whitehead, Melanie Sheahan

Didn’t somebody once say “revenge is served best as a dish”? We’ve all fantasized about revenge on those who have wronged us. Sweeney Todd is a predecessor to Freddie and Jason; a warning and a reminder - do we all have a Sweeney lurking somewhere inside us? ​Are you on the menu? Or are you serving it up? This grisly dark comedy musical tells the story of a London barber returning to the city that destroyed his family and stole his life. Sweeney Todd vows to take revenge on the judge and corrupt citizens of the city by any means necessary. Teaming up with Mrs. Lovett, the flirtatious owner of a failing pie shop, the duo concoct the perfect plan: to murder his customers - and use them as the secret ingredient for wildly popular meat pies.

Ali established a partnership between University Theatre and local business Pouch Pies of Athens to create “Eat Locals” - a cross-promotional campaign that ran alongside the show. Pouch Pies crafted a menu of specialty, Sweeney Todd-themed pies which they sold both in their restaurant during the show's run and in the theater lobby before performances. The smell of the pies wafting through the theater added a multi-sensory layer to the audience experience. Selections ranged from The General Pie (with his Privates), The Shepherd's Pie (with Actual Shepherd), The Piety Pie (we've learnt how to serve our fellow man), The One That Got Away (Vegetarian, if people make you sick), and more. The pies were introduced to the public in a launch event at Pouch, with sneak peek performances from the cast. Theatre patrons who brought their ticket stubs to Pouch Pies received a discount at the restaurant, while Pouch patrons who purchased a Sweeney Todd Pie received a voucher for a discount on tickets at the theater.

"blood will be spilt and the smell of pies will fill the air... Rich and theatrical, dark and severe.. The harmonizing was angelic, the lighting demonic and the final scream accompanied by a percussive crash left the audiences whistling in delight." - The Red & Black