SWEENEY TODD Slashes Into New Jersey 10/29-31

4th Wall Theatre in Bloomfield, NJ just closed their first play of the season earlier this month, but that didn't stop them from turning around to present Sweeney Todd in concert on October 29, 30, and 31st at 8:00 pm. The wonderful musical thriller with book by Hugh Wheeler and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim tells the story of Benjamin Barker, a man unjustly sent to prison by a lecherous judge and who vows revenge - not only for that cruel punishment, but for the devastating consequences suffered by his wife and daughter. When he returns to reopen his barber shop as Sweeney Todd, he "shaved the faces of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard of again."

4th Wall artistic director Gregory Allen says "We have wanted to tackle this show for so long and everything just aligned for us to do it over Halloween weekend. Preferring to think outside the box, while saving on production costs during these economically uncertain times, we chose to present it as a concert - with non-traditional casting - so that the story and music can truly be the stars and not be overshadowed by how well the barber chair works and the amount of fake blood that is used."

Director Kate Swan from Broadway's Beauty & The Beast has staged the concert so that audiences can revel in the masterpiece that is Sweeney Todd. "The cast and music director have worked hard to make this score sound tremendous in almost a chamber music sort of way. It is wonderful to watch the ensemble take on all of the secondary roles and then step back into the ensemble again to comment on Sweeney's actions. The concert-style staging will assist in telling this story simply yet powerfully. I hope that the audience will gain a new appreciation of the mastery of Sondheim's work."

The musical director is Lisa LeMay who has played in the Broadway pit for The Little Mermaid as well as the Reprise LA Concert series. The cast is headed by Xavier Rice, most recently seen in the Off-Broadway showcase of The Hole and Erin Edelle, who has just returned from the National Tour of The Drowsy Chaperone. Other performers include Stu Scheer, James Lopez, Tracy Espiritu, Chris Cantalupo, Mandy Feiler, Tom Waltz, Jason Tamashausky, Jeff Dopson, Jodi-Freeman-Maloy, Lenny Gallo, Terri Gorgone, Rich Maloy and Cindy Summers.

4th Wall Dramaturge, Paul Puccio, who is an associate editor for The Sondheim Review says, "Tim Burton's recent film version may have introduced a new generation to both the Victorian legend of the murderous barber and Sondheim and Wheeler's telling of the story, but there is always a great satisfaction in returning to the stage version. A concert staging will give audiences a chance to listen more closely to the score, to seek out those musical clues that identify characters and link elements of the plot, and to appreciate the story-telling that takes place in the music as well as the lyrics."

Sweeney Todd is presented for three nights only: Oct 29-31 at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $18 ($15 for students and seniors). 973-748-9008 ext 279 or online at www.4thwalltheatre.org. 4th Wall Theatre is in residence at the Westminster Arts Center on the corner of Franklin & Fremont Streets in Bloomfield, NJ.

Photo Caption: Xavier Rice & Erin Edelle in Sweeney Todd at 4th Wall Theatre.
Photo by Tom Schopper

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