.png)
Diabolical comedy, stunning terror, razor-sharp wit and extraordinary, soaring music. A Noise Within presents Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, the dark, brooding, yet sharply comic story of love, revenge and meat pies by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler that has become a modern classic. With ANW co-artistic director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott at the helm alongside music director Rod Bagheri, performances begin February 17 and continue at the company’s Pasadena home through March 17. Previews begin February 11.
Savor the macabre madness as a murderous barber, hungry for revenge for his lost family, strikes a partnership with a beastly baker in this eight-time Tony Award-winning masterpiece that will leave audiences gasping with fear and delight. Sweeney’s thirst for blood soon causes the bodies to start piling up — and lucky Mrs. Lovett finds the perfect new ingredient for her meat pies.
“Sweeney Todd is Shakespearean in scope, and that’s what we do best at A Noise Within,” says Rodriguez-Elliott. “We tell epic stories in an intimate space, up close and personal, in a way that brings the humanity and the truth of the piece to the forefront. Our space presents a unique opportunity to access the play the way Sondheim originally envisioned it — as an intimate chamber musical.”
Fans of the company can look forward to seeing A Noise Within co-artistic director Geoff Elliott in the bloodthirsty title role, with resident artists Cassandra Marie Murphy as Mrs. Lovett; Jeremy Rabb as lecherous Judge Turpin; and Kasey Mahaffy as con man Adolfo Pirelli. Also starring are Joanna A. Jones as Turpin’s ward Johanna; James Everts as Johanna’s idealistic suitor, Anthony Hope; Harrison White as the pompous Beadle Bamford; Amber Liekhus as a deranged beggar woman who harbors a dark, surprising secret; and Josey Montana McCoy as the young barber’s apprentice, Tobias.
The creative team includes scenic designer François-Pierre Couture; lighting designer Ken Booth; sound designer Jeff Gardner; costume designer Angela Balogh Calin; wig and makeup designer Tony Valdés; properties designer Stephen Taylor; dialect coach Andrea Odinov; and dramaturg Dr. Miranda Johnson–Haddad. The production stage manager is Angela Sonner, with Mikayla Bettner assisting.
A Noise Within has been called “an oasis for those who love classic stories” by the Los Angeles Times and is a leading regional producer based in Pasadena, California. Under the leadership of Elliott and Rodriguez-Elliott, the award-winning resident theater company is honored to represent the entire community at its state-of-the-art, 324-seat performance space. In addition to producing world-class performances of classic theater, the organization runs robust education programs with the goal of inspiring diverse audiences of all ages. ANW is committed to anti-racist policies and practices across the entirety of the organization. By interpreting its mission to fully engage audiences through community and artist-centered work in multiple creative disciplines, ANW is striving to be a theater that better serves the entire community. A Noise Within’s 2023-24 Season is presented by the S. Mark Taper Foundation.
Performances of Sweeney Todd take place February 17 through March 17 on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 p.m. (no 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Feb. 17; dark Thursday, Feb. 29). Four preview performances take place on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m.; Wednesday, Feb. 14 and Thursday, Feb. 15 each at 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m.
The preview on Thursday, Feb. 15 will be sensory–friendly, with a handout providing advance warning and a discreetly-placed lantern offering visual indication of upcoming abrupt or intense moments of lighting, sound or on-stage action. Post–performance conversations will take place every Friday (except the preview) and on Sunday, Feb. 25.
In addition, nine student matinees will take place on weekday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Interested educators should email education@anoisewithin.org.
Tickets start at $29. Student tickets start at $18. Tickets to the previews on Wednesday, Feb. 14 and Thursday, Feb. 15 will be Pay What You Choose, with tickets starting at $10 (available online beginning at 12 p.m. the Monday prior to that performance). Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.
A Noise Within is located at 3352 E Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107. Sweeney Todd is recommended for ages 14 and up. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (626) 356–3100 or go to www.anoisewithin.org.
