Sweeney Todd
by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler
Empress Theatre, 2023
Directed by Andrew Jefferies
Music Directed by Travis Clark
Choreographed by Heather McDonald
Stage Managed by Kayla Rydalch
Scenic Design by Melissa Holm
Props Design by Justina Spencer
Costume Design by Rebecca Fenton
Hair & Wig Design by Cheryl Cripps
Lighting Design by Sylas Fordham
Sound Design by Aaron Eatchel
Sweeney Todd is often produced in Utah, but rarely do productions explore the emotional depths of these characters and make Todd's descent into madness and revenge a sympathetic one.
This production utilized the symbolism of cages, the constant presence of the rich and destitute sides of London, and a Todd defined most by his grief to help the audience see that Sweeney Todd is more than a character. He's an entity. He's a representation of what can become of people who are targeted by the legal system, rejected by society, and left alone in their suffering. And the musical as a whole is a warning that we all have the capacity to become or create him.