ATTEND THE TALE OF SWEENEY TODD:
Presented by Cleveland State University Department of Theatre and Dance
November 3-13, 2022
Allen Theatre Mainstage, Playhouse Square
Directed by Russ Borski & Holly Holsinger

American Sign Language (ASL) Supported Performance Thursday, November 10, 2022 - ASL Interpreters will be present to sign along with the show.

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS $15.00
Discount Promo Codes:
STUCSU - $5.00 CSU Student (w/ID)
ALUCSU - $5.00 CSU Alum
FAC - $5.00 CSU Faculty/Staff (w/ID)
1SEN - $10.00 Seniors 65+
NST - $8.00 Non-CSU student (w/School ID)
ASL - $5.00 Sign Language Performance (Nov. 10, 2022 only)
GRP - $5.00 Groups of 10

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A Deep Dive Into the World of CSU's SWEENEY TODD:
by Lucie Vonau - Junior Theatre and Communications double major

"Sondheim’s musical thriller “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street” is Cleveland State University’s upcoming production, opening Nov. 3 in the Allen Theatre in Playhouse Square.

Co-directed by Professor Russ Borski and Theatre Department Chair and Associate Professor Holly Holsinger, the infamous tale tells the story of an unjustly exiled barber. Sweeney Todd has only one goal in mind: to take revenge on Judge Turpin, who condemned him for a crime he did not commit, destroying his family at the same time. Back in London, he regains possession of his barber shop and gets closer to Mrs. Lovett, who runs the pie shop located below his business.

Holsinger defines “Sweeney Todd” as “ugly in a beautiful way, it is a horror story that has the pursuit of justice driving it.”

Equity Actor Eugene Sumlin is cast in the title role of Sweeney Todd. Sumlin previously worked with the department as a director for the musical “She Loves Me,” presented last semester. “This musical is very difficult. The last time I did it, I was 19 and things have changed. I’m very different now at 46, things aren’t as easy, but some things are easier. It’s never too late to grow. I’m very humbled to work here with CSU students,” says Sumlin.

Ensemble member, Mrs. Lovett’s understudy, and dialect coach Kierstan Conway is “impressed by the level of professionalism and the high standards of this production.” Conway previously worked on “Sweeney Todd” four years ago in a community theatre and testifies about the upgrading that the standards in this production have contributed to her as an actor.

After a year of shutdown, the Theatre Department adapted to the situation and proposed live productions on Zoom. As classes and theatre became in person again last year, the department successfully returned to the stage.

“It’s time for us to come together and do theatre,” says Holsinger. The cast of 20 actors is a celebration for the department who can finally reunite as a large group. “If you don’t see any theatre this year except for one production, it should be this one,” adds Holsinger.

The show will have eight presentations over two weekends from Nov. 3 to Nov. 13. According to Playhouse Square’s website, general admission tickets are $15. For CSU students, alumni, faculty and staff, tickets are $5 with discount promo codes. Thursday, Nov. 10 will be the American Sign Language (ASL) supported performance with American Sign Language interpreters available to sign along with the show (ASL tickets are also $5 with code)."