ECU brings thrills to campus with ‘Sweeney Todd’

Prepare to step onto Fleet Street as East Carolina University’s School of Theatre and Dance presents its highly anticipated production of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.”

ECU’s rendition of “Sweeney Todd” brings a chilling story of a revengeful barber.

Set against the dark backdrop of Victorian London, the musical follows the vengeful barber Sweeney Todd and his accomplice Mrs. Lovett, whose sinister plans unfold through pies, revenge and haunting melodies composed by Stephen Sondheim.

ECU’s rendition brings this chilling story to life with dynamic performances from student actors and their dedicated production team, including director Bryan Conger and stage manager Courtney Rasor.

Conger said he wanted to bring “Sweeney Todd” to ECU as he saw it as the perfect opportunity for the SOTD to collaborate with the School of Music. The production features several students from the SOM, with additional behind-the-scenes support from the school.

ECU’s production of “Sweeney Todd” features one-of-a-kind elements including a chorus master, a professional orchestra and an iconic but challenging prop. “Most musicals don’t have a chorus master as they are usually reserved for opera, but due to the chorus being so big and complex, Dr. Daniel Shirley, director of ECU’s Opera Theater, stepped in and took on that role,” Conger said.

Rasor credits the SOM as being instrumental in helping find professional orchestra members. “It is the most incredible thing to work with a professional orchestra in a university setting as it doesn’t necessarily happen often,” she said.

Students, faculty and staff in ECU’s School of Theatre and Dance collaborated with the School of Music to produce “Sweeney Todd.”

“Sweeney Todd” is well known for its iconic barber chair, where Sweeney disposes of people by pulling a lever and dumping them into the depths of Mrs. Lovett’s bakery. Rasor oversees making sure the chair is safe for all cast members. “I’m in charge of making sure the chair has been tested and that it’s safe. It’s my responsibility to make sure they’re comfortable with it and if they’re not, I have to figure out how to make them comfortable,” she said.

Conger revealed that he tries to not look at past productions of “Sweeney Todd” as he always wants to treat a play like the first time it’s being performed, but he shared what he always tries to do with his audiences, “I want an audience to be entertained and to see the world through a different lens. I want to try to leave the audience with questions instead of answers.”

Rasor said she is ecstatic for the public to watch this production featuring their talented cast and crew. “All of the cast members and everyone working on this production has created a community of really hardworking people who are trying to do something cool and creative, and I love that about our cast and crew,” she said.

“Sweeney Todd” will be performed in the McGinnis Theatre at 7:30 p.m. nightly, Wednesday through Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Ticket information is available on the ECU Arts website.

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