Porchlight Music Theatre's SWEENEY TODD Begins Tonight

Porchlight Music Theatre's mainstage 20th Anniversary Season of Sondheim commences with Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler, direction by Porchlight Managing Director Michael Weber with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck, today, October 3 - November 9 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

Previews are Friday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Opening/press night is Tuesday, Oct, 7 at 7:30 p.m. The regular run schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There is an added matinee performance Thursday, Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. NOTE: *There are no Thursday 7:30 p.m. performances October 9 and November 6. Tickets are $35 for preview performances, $50 for the opening night performance and reception, $39 for Thursday performances and $45 for all other performances. Subscriptions to the entire 20th Anniversary Season, including Sweeney Todd, the first production of the season, Sondheim on Sondheim and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum are currently on sale as well as single tickets for the entire season. To purchase subscriptions or single tickets visit porchlightmusictheatre.org or call 773.777.9884. Groups of ten or more may receive discounts on tickets purchased via Group Theater Tix at 312.423.6612 or grouptheatertix.com.

One of Sondheim's most beloved pieces, based on the Victorian era serial, this Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical is a spine-chilling masterpiece of obsession, retribution and culinary curiosity telling the tale of London barber Benjamin Barker (Porchlight Artistic Associate David Girolmo). Torn from his family and exiled for 15 years on a miscarriage of justice, Barker returns home to a city as corrupt as when he left. Hell-bent on revenge after learning the agonizing fate of his wife and daughter, he assumes the guise of Sweeney Todd and takes up his razors to dish out a brutal recipe of justice with the help of infatuated and enterprising meat pie-maker Nellie Lovett (Porchlight Artistic Associate Rebecca Finnegan). Sweeney Todd is the latest collaboration between multi-Jeff Award-winners Michael Weber and Doug Peck who, together, brought Pal Joey and Assassins to the Porchlight stage, both productions being nominated for the Best Production - Musical Equity Jeff Award.

"Sweeney Todd is a seminal work in the canon of Sondheim, Doug Peck and I are so honored to be able to, again, collaborate on one of this master's works within the intimate confines of Porchlight Music Theatre," said Weber. "This chilling piece is a heart pounding and musically soaring thrill ride and we are delighted to bring a new vision for this lauded classic to Chicago audiences."

Rebecca Finnegan returns to the role of "Nellie Lovett," for which she won the Jeff Award as Best Actress in a Musical in 2005. Jeff Award-winning actor David Girolmo essays the role of "Sweeney Todd" for the first time in his lauded career. The full cast includes: Kelli Harrington (The Beggar Woman), Stephanie Stockstill (Johanna), Brian Acker (Anthony Hope), Edward J. MacLennan (Judge Turpin), Matthias Austin (Beadle Bamford), Kevin Webb (Adolfo Pirelli) and Miles Blim (Tobias Ragg). The Ensemble features: Pablo Barajas, Ben Barker, Caron Buinis, Javier Ferreira, Johann George, Rachel Klippel, Matt McNabb, Sierra Naomi, Andy Robinson and Porchlight Artistic Associate Christin Boulette.

The Artistic/Production Staff includes: Porchlight Artistic Associates Julie Eberhardt (assistant director), Jeff Kmiec (scenic design), Bill Morey (costume design), Jenna Moran (sound design), Dina DiCostanzo (dance and movement), Aaron Shapiro (production management), and guests Greg Hofmann and Jess Goings (lighting design), Christopher Tisone (properties design) and Julia Zayas-Melendez (stage manager).

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