The County College of Morris (CCM) production of Stephen Sondheim’s dark musical Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, will thrill audiences from November 7 to 10, at the Dragonetti Auditorium, Student Community Center. Set in the underbelly of London during the Victorian era, Sweeney Todd is directed by Professor Marielaine Mammon, chairperson of the Department of Music, Dance and Performing Arts, and choreographed by Colleen McArdle. Musical direction is provided by Matthew Swiss.
The dreadful tale of barber Benjamin Barker (aka) Sweeney Todd (played by Matthew Delavan of Madison), assisted by pie shop owner Mrs. Lovett (played by Corrie Down of West Milford) who has the “best pies in London” depicts Barker’s revenge on Judge Turpin (played by Mark Carovale of Wharton), who wrongly sentenced Barker to life in prison. Their grotesque plan results in deadly consequences.
During the performances, patrons have the opportunity to purchase meat pies created by students in the Hospitality and Culinary Arts department headed by Professor Mark Cosgrove. “Although the ingredients will not be the same as Mrs. Lovett’s pies, CCM does have delicious meat, chicken and vegetarian pies,” said Cosgrove.
“The Music, Dance and Performing Arts department is delighted to collaborate with the Culinary department,” remarked Mammon. “It is a perfect way to serve the audience with a tongue-in-cheek reference to the show and a perfect season to perform Sweeney Todd.”
Mammon continued, “The caliber of students at CCM is first rate. Our students took a difficult Sondheim score to deliver phenomenal performances that depict the struggles of the “have nots” with the “haves” during the height of the industrial revolution. Audiences will be wowed by the talent on stage.”
Rounding out the cast, who all have fateful tales to tell, are Joanna (played by Anna Hill of Dover), Anthony Hope (played by Thomas Nevill of Randolph), Beadle (played by Vincent C. Means Jr. of Netcong), Beggar Woman (played by Noelle Cappuzzo of Roxbury), Adolfo Pirelli (played by John Deluca of Netcong), Tobias Ragg (played by Joshua Laudor of Flanders) and Jonas Fogg (played by Daniel Gardner of Parsippany).
CCM’s Sweeney Todd runs from Wednesday through Saturday, November 7-10, at 7:30 p.m., along with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for CCM students, alumni, children under 12 and seniors 62 and over. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.ccm.edu/sweeney-todd/
CCM is located at 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph, NJ. Patrons are asked to park in Lot 6.