Music and Lyrics Stephen Sondheim
Book by Hugh Wheeler
Directed by William Goldsmith
Music Direction by Stephanie Stephens & Jeff Hamm

Performed by Columbus Children's Theatre’s Summer Pre-Professional Company 

Read the Dispatch's review of Sweeney Todd!

Listen as WOSU Theater Critic Joy Reilly talks with
Columbus Children’s Theatre Artistic Director Bill Goldsmith
 about the production of "Sweeney Todd."

Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s chilling, suspenseful, heart-pounding masterpiece of murderous barber-ism and culinary crime tells the infamous tale of the unjustly exiled barber who returns to 19th century London seeking revenge against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. Hell-bent on revenge, the legendary demon barber takes up with his enterprising neighbor in a delicious plot to slice their way through England’s upper crust. Justice will be served-along with lush melody, audacious humor and bloody good thrills.

His thirst for blood soon expands to include his unfortunate customers, and the resourceful proprietress of the pie shop downstairs soon has the people of London lining up in droves with her mysterious new meat pie recipe! Sophisticated, macabre, visceral and uncompromising, “Sweeney Todd” nevertheless has a great sense of fun, mixing intense drama with howlingly funny moments of dark humor: audiences find themselves laughing hysterically one moment and gasping in surprise the next.

"A staggering theater spectacle and more fun than a graveyard on the night of the annual skeleton's ball...
So joy to the world, dear children! Sweeney Todd is here to enrich your nightmares."
 - Daily News

"There is more of artistic energy, creative personality and plain excitement than in a dozen average musicals."
 - New York Times" 

This show is recommended for mature audiences, ages 13 and older.
 

See Tomorrow’s Stars Today! Columbus Children's Theatre (CCT) normally produces theatre for young audiences. This summer production of Sweeney Todd performed by the CCT Pre-Professional Company is the only annual exception. The CCT Pre-Professional Company is comprised of students ages 16-21 most of whom are pursuing theatre as a career. Each year CCT offers the opportunity for young adults to work on a major musical -- with adult themes - which challenges them and provides the opportunity to stretch their talent. The actors come from all over Central Ohio to participate and the talent is extraordinary. This company has toured to the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland three times and has performed in the Avignon Festival in France. CCT is proud to note that many actors from the summer company have gone on to perform on Broadway, in National Tours, and on Television. Join us to see our future stars in one of Sondheim's greatest musicals.
Photos from CCT's 1994 production of "Sweeney Todd"