‘Sweeney Todd’ Serves Up Sweet, Sinful Revenge

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 3, 2014) — University of Kentucky Opera Theatre lives up to its tradition of presenting some of Broadway's most popular hits again this fall as it presents a new production of Stephen Sondheim’s maniacal masterpiece "Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: A Musical Thriller." The dark musical comedy will haunt the Lexington Opera House stage Oct. 4-12.

From Broadway and West End stages, to the big screen featuring Johnny Depp, to its most recent presentation on PBS with a Lincoln Center cast featuring Bryn Terfel and Academy Award winner Emma Thompson, "Sweeney Todd" is known for seizing audiences' attention with its story full of murder, mayhem and revenge. Set in 19th century England, the musical explores the life of Benjamin Barker, alias Sweeney Todd, who returns to London after serving 15 years on trumped-up charges.

Stage director Richard Gammon has assembled a creative team that helps bring light to the dark comedy in a fantastical new production. Gammon is a graduate of the New England Conservatory and currently is the stage director for Ash Lawn Opera’s Young Artist Program. He previously worked in Kentucky when he directed the 2010 production of "Much Ado About Nothing" for the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, in Louisville. Rounding out Gammon's team are assistant director and choreographer Cassey Kikuchi Kivnick, set designer Carolyn Mraz, lighting designer Tanya Harper and costume designer Susan Dudley Wigglesworth.

“Richard Gammon has directed an innovative, creative and spectacular new production," said UK Opera Theatre Executive Director Everett McCorvey, producer for the show. "While the show is a dark comedy, Richard has really focused on the comedy aspect, and the truth and life in each of the characters.”

Bringing "Sweeney Todd" to "life" is a double cast of talented UK students including: Thomas Gunther and Matthew Turner as Sweeney Todd; Holly Dodson and Rachel Snyder as Mrs. Lovett; Christopher Baker as Judge Turpin; Peter LaPrade and Zackery Morris as Anthony Hope; Gabrielle Barker and Mary Catherine Wright as Johanna; Andrew Miller and Wesley Hammond as Tobias Ragg; Brittany Jones and Kathrin Thawley as Beggar Woman; Joshua Randall Price and Brock Terry as Beadle Bamford; and Jonathan Parham as Adolfo Pirelli.

Under the baton of John Nardolillo, 36 UK Symphony Orchestra members perform one of Sondheim’s most intricate scores. Performances will also be conducted by Lucía Marín and Jan Pellant, doctoral candidates and UK Symphony Orchestra assistant conductors.

Performances of "Sweeney Todd" take the stage 7:30 p.m., Oct. 4 and 8-11, and 2 p.m., Oct. 5, 11 and 12. Tickets range in price from $40.50 to $76.50, with student tickets available for $20.50. To purchase tickets in advance, contact the box office at 859-233-3535, visit www.ticketmaster.com or purchase in person at the Lexington Center Box Office. Tickets may be purchased at the Lexington Opera House 90 minutes before each performance.

For more information contact Patrick Joel Martin, marketing coordinator for UK Opera Theatre, at 859-257-4590.

UK Opera Theatre is one of a select group of U.S. opera training programs recommended by the Richard Tucker Music Foundation. The Tucker Foundation is a nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to the support and advancement of the careers of talented American opera singers by bringing opera into the community and heightening appreciation for opera by supporting music education enrichment programs.

The UK School of Music at the UK College of Fine Arts has garnered a national reputation for high-caliber education in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as music education, composition, and theory and music history.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu