Every fall, the high school drama program puts on an extravagant musical production. This year, Sweeney Todd will be performed on November 9,10, and 11.

​

The musical Sweeney Todd is based on the 1973 play, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street by Christopher Bond. The musical tells the tale of a man named Benjamin Barker who attempts to exact revenge upon Evil Judge Turpin. Turpin had Barker deported from England on account of a crime he didn’t commit in an attempt to lure Barker’s wife, Lucy, towards him. When Barker reenters the country under the fake name Sweeney Todd, he assumes the occupation of a barber. Todd, however, kills many of his customers and gives their bodies to Mrs. Lovett, a woman who owns a meat pie shop. She then uses them to make the meat pies she sells in her shop.

​

This show is more gruesome than past productions put on by the high school. The required age to view the show is thirteen. Even with the age restriction, people who are sensitive to blood or violence should consider whether or not they can handle the show before seeing it.

​

For many students in the high school, this will be the darkest musical that they have seen put on by the high school. But, in fact, the high school has put on dark and gruesome shows before, most recently Chicago in 2010.

​

“We used to do this thing where we would put on a more adult show, then a more kid friendly show. We haven’t really strayed from this even though people think we have. Grease’s script, which we did in 2015, is even a little dark even though the music is fun and bubbly. What Risso has to go through is heavy stuff,” said director Stephen Wrobleski.

​

Despite the darker themes of this show, the production is still considered a comedy. Jack Grossi ’18, who plays the lead role of Sweeney Todd, was actually attracted the his role for this exact reason.

​

“Sweeney Todd is the type of character that has all these nuances and details to his personality that make him a really interesting person,” Grossi said.

​

For his senior year, Grossi expressed that he wanted to take on a bigger role.

​

“I have always had the more comedic, supporting characters in fall musicals. I had always known what I could do and stuck to that. But now it’s senior year, and I wanted to go for the lead. It just so happened that it was a great character,” Grossi said.

​

Grossi and fellow cast member Jackie Scholl ’19, who will play Mrs. Lovett, both agree that part of what makes the characters of Sweeney Todd so interesting is the role they play in being both the drama and the comedic relief in the musical.

​

“Mrs. Lovett is a huge source of comedic relief in the musical, and I think that is part of what intrigued me to her,” Scholl added.

​

“Mrs. Lovett is a quirky, middle to older aged woman who owns a meat pie shop. The thing that carries her through the show is her devotion to Sweeney Todd. She is a very interesting character,” Scholl said.

​

Wrobleski said, “Its very funny. It’s definitely a dark comedy, but it’s funny. And i think that’s part of what makes it so beloved. People love the comedy within the piece itself.”

​

Wrobleski presented the idea to Dr. Kevin McDonald, the vocal director, Mr. Steve Scott, the band director, Mr. Brian McManimon, the stagecraft director, Parents’ of Performing Arts (POPS) representative Darlene Howland, and former performing arts director Sabrina Quintana last spring.

​

The material is challenging for audiences, but also for singers.

​

“This is a very difficult score to sing as a show. Stephen Sondheim wrote it, and he had a very big influence on the art. It is very fun to work with one of his pieces, but very difficult,” Wrobleski said.

​

“The music is harder for this show, but it is rewarding. When you come into rehearsal and do well, it feels awesome,” Grossi said.

McDonald agree with this notion. “The music for Sweeney Todd is exceptionally difficult and by far the most advanced show we have undertaken at the high school.”

​

The show did not only prove difficult for actors and musicians, but also the tech crew. Tech crew members play an instrumental role in the creation of the set and special effects. For this show, Rey Hill ’19 is one of the stage managers.

​

“The tech has been a little bit different because the set is basically just one stationary unit rather than a lot of moving pieces like Beauty and the Beast,” Hill said.

​

As to what the audience can look forward to seeing in the tech aspect of the show, Hill said, “There's a lot more special effects. Sweeney Todd spins his customers around in his chair, and then drops them down a chute. We have had to figure out the chair and chute, and the blood effect. I’ve been working a lot on the blood special effects.”

​

“I am really excited for the audience to be blown away. Although the set is really minimal, the special effects are really cool, the leads are all amazing, the ensemble is fantastic. They are going to be blown away,” said Hill.