Theo Ubique's SWEENEY TODD to Transform No Exit Cafe Into 'Mrs. Lovett's Pie Shop'

Theo Ubique will be producing SWEENEY TODD in place of the previously announced FINIAN'S RAINBOW this coming Spring, according to the company's Artistic Director, Fred Anzevino.

Anzevino says, "We've always wanted to do SWEENEY in the No Exit Cafe, but were unable to get the rights. When rights recently became available we jumped at this, our last chance to do it before we leave the No Exit Café for our new location in Evanston after the end of this season. We'll transform the space into 'Mrs. Lovett's Pie Shop' and serve meat pies on our dinner menu."

A vegetarian option will also be offered for the faint of heart, given the musical's story of a serial killing barber whose victims are baked into the meat pies sold by his lover, Mrs. Lovett.

SWEENEY TODD has become a bloody, worldwide success since being awarded eight Tony Awards, (including Best Musical), for its Broadway premiere. Stephen Sondheim's and Hugh Wheeler's tasty, thrilling, theatrical treat has simultaneously shocked, awed and delighted audiences across the world in venues as large as the world's great opera houses and occasionally - as small as the 55-seat No Exit Café.

Sweeney Todd, a barber unjustly convicted of a crime, escapes from prison in Australia and returns to his former home in nineteenth century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett's luck sharply shifts when Todd's thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up... and the carnage has only just begun!

Production dates and team remained unchanged from those previously announced for FINIAN'S RAINBOW, with a March 12, 2018 opening following previews from March 9-11. SWEENEY TODD will close on April 29, 2018. Anzevino will be stage director and Jeremy Ramey will be music director. Casting and further production team members will be announced later.

Theo Ubique's 2017-18 also includes A NEW BRAIN, which opened on September 18 to rave reviews and will close on October 29. All remaining seats for the run are sold out. The season will continue with ALTAR BOYZ - a mock concert by a fictitious Christian boy band including singers namEd Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Abraham (he's Jewish). One of off-Broadway's longest-running musicals, ALTAR BOYZ gently parodies both boy bands and Christian pop music through a score of comic and tuneful songs. It will open to the press on December 4, following previews from December 1, and play through the holiday season up until January 14, 2018. Courtney Crouse, director of Theo's A Marvin Hamlisch SONGBOOK and HONKY TONK ANGELS, will direct. Jeremy Ramey is music director and Sawyer Smith is choreographer.

The company's last production in the No Exit Café before moving to its new home on Howard Street in Evanston in fall 2018 will be a cabaret called LAST CALL AT NO EXIT, saluting their many hits in that Glenwood Avenue venue. Since their first production at No Exit - 2004's A Kurt Weill REVIEW: SONGS OF DARKNESS OF LIGHT - the company has won acclaim and fans for its mountings of musicals like CABARET, CHESS, MAN OF LA MANCHA, EVITA, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and RENT; and for revues saluting songwriters like Harold Arlen, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Jule Styne and Marvin Hamlisch. This farewell revue will bring back memories for long-time Theo Ubique fans and will run from June 15 - July 22, 2018.

All performances will be staged in the intimate No Exit Café., 6970 N. Glenwood Avenue in Rogers Park. Tickets for ALTAR BOYZ will be on sale soon at www.theo-u.org. Tickets for SWEENEY TODD and LAST CALL AT NO EXIT will be available at later dates.

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IF YOU GO:

SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by Hugh Wheeler
Directed by Fred Anzevino
Musical Direction by Jeremy Ramey

March 9 - April 29, 2018
Press Opening Monday, March 12, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Curtain Times: Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm; Sundays at 7:00 pm.

Ticket prices previews March 9-11: All seats $20.00
Ticket prices regular run: Thursdays and Sundays $34.00, Fridays and Saturdays $39.00
$5.00 discount on regular run prices for seniors and students
Dinner (optional) is $25.00. Reservations required
Performances will be held at the No Exit Café located at 6970 N Glenwood Ave.
Student Rush All Season Long!
(All unsold tickets are $20 at the door with college ID. Tickets will be sold on site, cash only, at curtain. First come, first served, subject to availability.)

More information at www.theo-u.com or by phone at 800-595-4849.

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