From TOLEDO REPERTOIRE THEATRE
The Toledo Repertoire Theatre will produce the school edition of eight-time Tony-award winning musical, “Sweeney Todd,” running Au. 14 through Aug. 16 under the direction of Whitmer High School Theatre Director Andrea Schreiner.
The musical will be presented at the 10th Street Stage, 16 10th St., Toledo on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Saturday, and Sunday, at 2 p.m. For tickets,visit The Toledo Repertoire Theatre’s website at www.toledorep.org or call the Rep’s box office at 419-243-9277
Set in nineteenth-century London, unjustly exiled barber Sweeney Todd returns seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett and her pie shop, above which he opens a new barber practice. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s bloodthirsty appetite for revenge inspires a new ingredient for her meat pies that has all of London lining up in droves… and the carnage has only just begun!
This special school edition has been adapted to maintain the dark wit and grand scope as the original production. “I’m excited to direct ‘Sweeney Todd’for the Teen Rep production because it is rewarding to see kids have the opportunity to do an edgy Sondheim show!” said director Andrea Schreiner. “This show means a lot to me because I get to collaborate with kids from many different schools who are incredibly talented and creative!”
“The show has incredible music and the characters are larger than life; chilling and endearing, yet still somewhat relatable,” said University of Toledo student Joseph Schreiner who plays the principal role of Sweeney Todd. “It’s a really unique show — it’s scary, but thrilling.”
Working directly with Stephen Sondheim to honor the original score and lyrics, few lyrical and key changes were implemented to facilitate youth productions. “Stephen Sondheim’s music revolutionized the way people hear musicals,” said Schreiner. “The role of Sweeney is a dream role of mine, and I’m excited for people to see me bring it to life.”
“It’s great for horror fans,” saif Mylee Strock of Sylvania Southview High School, “it’s a great story, it’s a dark show, and it has a dark eerie vibe to it.”
Strock, who plays the Beggar Woman, has high praise for her fellow castmates, “I’m very excited to play a crazy person, and I’m very excited to be a part of such a great and talented cast.”
The production features a talented cast of local actors aged 14 through 19 from various high schools and universities in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.
Cast members are:
- Sweeney Todd – Joseph Schreiner (University of Toledo)
- Mrs. Lovett — Rebecca Lanham (Owens Community College)
- Anthony Hope — Colin Thaler (Sylvania Southview High School)
- Johanna — Avery Cox (Whitmer High School)
- Beggar Woman (Lucy) — Mylee Strock (Sylvania Southview High School)
- Judge Turpin — Noah Mills (University of Toledo)
- The Beadle – -George Schreiner (University of Toledo)
- Tobias — Louie Olah (Ottawa Hills High School)
- Pirelli — Israel Soto (Bowling Green State University)
- Fogg — Hannah Flaherty (University of Toledo)
- Ensemble — Riley Buchanan (Eastern Michigan University), Jordan Buchanan (Eastern Michigan University), Lillyana Frank (Whitmer High School), Paige Hess (Toledo School for the Arts), Tosin Johnson (University of Toledo), Paige Kauffman (University of Toledo), Lizzie Kingman (Sylvan Elementary), Felix Mathias (University of Toledo), Gideon Mathias (Whitmer High School), Julia McCarty (Northview High School), Juno Olah (Bowling Green State University), Dayton Snyder (Whitmer High School), Molly Zuccarell (University of Toledo)
Creative team includes:
- Director: Andrea Schreiner
- Stage Manager: Ren Clifford
- Assistant Stage Manager: Lance Saleh
- Vocal Director: Lena Miller
- Choreographer: Michael Kidney
- Assistant Vocal Director: Dawn Kingman
