The theatre and cinema program at Missouri Western State University will conclude the 2012-2013 Theatre Season “A Year of the Tony” with Stephen Sondheim’s musical thriller “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” April 11-14 in the Potter Hall Theater. Performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 11-13, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 14. Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for Missouri Western faculty and staff and $8 for students. Tickets are available online at mwsutix.com, by phone at 816-271-4452, or in person at the Potter Hall Theater Box Office. The production is directed by Tee Quillin, assistant professor of theatre and cinema. Dr. Susan Carter, associate professor of music and associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is music director.
“Sweeney Todd,” with book by Hugh Wheeler and music and lyrics by Sondheim based on a play by Christopher Bond, won the 1979 Tony Award for Best Musical. The rare instance of a musical thriller, this 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.
Cast members include:
Sweeney Todd: Ray Johnson, of St. Joseph
Anthony: Daniel Brooks, junior music major from Kearney, Mo.
Johanna: Adrienne Collins, junior vocal music major from St. Joseph
Judge Turpin: Ian Fast, senior music major from Mendon, Ill.
Beadle Bamford: Erik Burns-Sprung, sophomore theatre and cinema major from Kansas City, Mo.
Mrs. Lovett: Alex Richards, junior speech and theatre education major from Gallatin, Mo.
Beggar Woman/Lucy: Xan Kellogg, senior chemistry major from St. Joseph
Tobias: Jacob Mills, sophomore music major from St. Joseph
Pirelli: Sebastian Smith, senior theatre and cinema major from Kansas City, Mo.
Ensemble: Derek Thompson, senior vocal music major from Omaha, Neb.; Gabriel Barton, freshman graphic design major from St. Joseph; Don Lillie, assistant professor of theatre; Jeff Jones, junior theatre and cinema major from St. Joseph; Kayla Mertz, sophomore music education major from Smithville, Mo.; Lauryn Roberts, senior health and exercise science major from Faucett, Mo.; Megan Render, freshman criminal justice major from St. Joseph; Lauren Bergman, freshman music major from St. Joseph; Sarah Waters, senior music major from St. Joseph; Nerissa Lee, sophomore theatre and cinema major from Kansas City, Mo.; Sarah Adamek, junior music major from Dearborn, Mo.; Thomas Delgado, freshman criminal justice major from Kearney Mo.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.
—end—