College of Lake County presents ‘Sweeney Todd’
Stephen Sondheim’s chilling musical, “Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” will be staged July 20-29 by the College of Lake County departments of theater, music and dance. It features a cast of 44 and a professional orchestra of 18.
This Tony Award-winning thriller has been hailed as a musical masterpiece. It tells the tale of an unjustly-accused man transformed by grief into the murderous Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
After 15 years in exile, Benjamin Barker returns to London under the new identity of Sweeney Todd, seeking to punish those who took away his beloved family. Sweeney and his enterprising accomplice, Mrs. Lovett, cook up a shocking plan packed full of sweet revenge and dark humor.
The show is based on a version of “Sweeney Todd” by Christopher Bond. Music and lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim, and the book is by Hugh Wheeler. The CLC production is being directed by Craig Rich, with musical direction by Jean Hersey, orchestral direction by Paul Hefner and choreography by Lamaiya Lancaster.
Rich said audiences are in for a theatrical and musical treat with “Sweeney Todd.”
“People are so passionate about Stephen Sondheim, and many consider his work to be the pinnacle of contemporary musical theater,” Rich said.
“I’ve always respected the richness and complexity of Sondheim, but absolutely fell in love with his work the first time I staged it. I directed ‘A Little Night Music’ about 10 years ago at Western Illinois University and have been a devoted Sondheim fan ever since.
“We are extremely excited and honored to be presenting ‘Sweeney Todd’ at CLC this summer. The score is breathtaking. The story is full of thrills and chills, romance and suspense, comedy and tragedy. ‘Sweeney Todd’ is brilliant in every way. Our very talented cast, orchestra and production team have been working long hours to make this a theatrical event not to be missed,” Rich said.
“Sweeney Todd” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. July 20, 21, 27 and 28, and 2 p.m. July 22 and 29 in the Mainstage Theatre of the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts on the CLC Grayslake campus, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake.
David Lundholm of Waukegan, who performs the title role, works as a costume designer and performer at Six Flags Great America, where he says he has played Dracula in the park’s annual Fright Fest “close to 1,000 times.”
Lundholm has 30 years of theater experience, including professional roles at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, the Apple Tree Theatre in Highland Park and Drury Lane South in Evergreen Park. He has also performed at theme parks in Georgia and Tennessee in addition to Six Flags in Gurnee. This is his first show at College of Lake County.
“This is definitely a ‘bucket list’ moment for me,” Lundholm said. “It is a show/role I have wanted to play since I was a teenager, listening to the original cast recording on cassette tape. This role is arguably one of Sondheim’s most difficult male roles. “
Kelley Combs of Mundelein plays the scheming Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney Todd’s landlady.
“I have wanted to play the role of Mrs. Lovett since I saw my sister as Johanna in ‘Sweeney Todd’ when she was 16,” Combs said.
“The show is very challenging, but the creative team and the cast have been great. I have learned so much about music and performance from Jean Hersey. Craig Rich has helped me grow as a performer by allowing me the autonomy to discover who Mrs. Lovett is and also by providing great insight when I am struggling to find her.”
Tickets are $16 for general admission; $13 for CLC students, seniors and JLC subscribers. An opening night special ticket price of $10 will be offered for Friday, July 20, to all CLC students, staff and alumni. Prices include a $1 per ticket JLC facility fee. Box Office Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Order tickets by calling the JLC Box Office at (847) 543-2300 or online at www.clcillinois.edu/tickets.
Note: This production contains mature themes, including sexuality and violence, and is not appropriate for children ages 12 and younger. For more information, contact director Craig Rich at crich@clcillinois.edu or (847) 543-2567.