Sweeney Todd

History of the Show: The tale of Sweeney Todd has a long and complex backstory. Supposedly, the story has a basis in historical fact; nevertheless, no direct evidence of a factual “demon barber” exists. The oldest known reference to a purported killer barber whose victims were served as meals to unsuspecting patrons is in the 17th century diary of Pehr Lindestrom. The character evolved over the next 200 years until he became the recognizable Sweeney Todd in the 1846 penny dreadful, The String of Pearls: a Domestic Romance or The Sailor’s Gift. Most of the familiar characters and plot points appear, but Todd’s central motivation is personal gain instead of revenge. Despite its grizzly subject, the story remained popular, being retold by various authors until in 1970 Christopher Bond adapted George Didbin Pitt’s version into the stage play, Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Bond introduced the notion of Todd being a victim of a social system ruled by people with money and positions of power making him more sympathetic to the audience. In 1974, Steven Sondheim saw a production of Bond’s play and became convinced that it could be turned into a musical, so he bought the rights. Harold Prince was asked to direct, and he brought on Hugh Wheeler to write the book. Sweeney Todd originally opened on March 1, 1979 to rave reviews, and the rest is history.

Performed March 17-19, 2023

Cast

Sweeney Todd

Dylan Tallardy '25

Mrs. Lovett

Kendyll Gaccione '23

Anthony Hope/Visitor

Dominick Lombard '23

Johanna Barker/Visitor

Amy White '25

Judge Turpin/Doctor

Eric Towne '23

Beadle Bamford/Chief Orderly

Kelsey Gabriele '23

Tobias Ragg/Mental Patient

Natalie Francese '26

Adolfo Pirelli/Mental Patient

Cadence O’Neil '24

Beggar Woman/Mental Patient

Sadie Howell '26

Jonas Fogg/Mental Patient

Hope Spaulding-Tefft '25

Bird Seller/Mental Patient

Felicity Orlando '26

Ensemble (Mental Patients, Orderlies, Lunatics and Londoners)

Nicholas Allario '25

Alex Pendola '25

Avery Rojas '25

Wren Tetlow

Alaina Tripp '24

Isabella Thrasher '24

Josiah Vargas '24

Crew

Director (Pirelli Scenes)

Dominick Lombard '23

Choreographer

Kelsey Gabriele '23

Stage Manager

Caitlyn Pucci '24

Set Dressing Designer

Kendall Chisholm '23

Additional Set Dressing

John Tedeschi

Costume Coordinator

Marianne Mirando

Costume Construction

Susan Ljumberg

Kathy Tallardy

Makeup Designer/Coordinator

Kristal Francese

Hair and Makeup

Carlie

Alayna

Justine

Additional Set Construction

Daniel McKenna

Andrew Patty

Property Construction

Nancy Chambers

Tara Asselin

Judge Turpin Portrait Painted by

Kelsey Gabriele '23

Poster Designer

Kendyll Gaccione '23

Print Materials Coordinator

Christopher Kelley

Technical Coordinator

Thomas Albamonti

Special Effects

Schane Tallardy

House Manager

Melissa Tallardy

Lightboard Operator

Cyprus Weaver '24

Soundboard Operator

Brandon Tallardy

Set Designed and Constructed by

Schane Tallardy

Special Musical Consultant/Director

Andrew Howell

Directed by

Ryan D. Zemanek, M.Ed.

Westerly Stagedogs Present

SWEENEY TODD SCHOOL EDITION

The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

A Musical Thriller

Music and Lyrics by

Book by

STEPHEN SONDHEIM &

HUGH WHEELER

From an Adaptation by

CHRISTOPHER BOND

Originally Directed On Broadway by HAROLD PRINCE

Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick

Originally Produced on Broadway by Richard Barr.

Charles Woodward. Robert Fryer. Mary Lea Johnson. Martin Richards

In Association with Dean and Judy Manos

SWEENEY TODD SCHOOL EDITION

Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

www.mtishows.com

Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited

Special Thanks To

The Colonial Theater

The United Theater

The Chorus of Westerly

Westerly Schools Administration and Staff

Westerly High School Administration and Staff

and especially

The parents and families of all of the cast and crew

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