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| Monmouth College Presents "Sweeney Todd" to Benefit Orpheum Theatre |
The Orpheum Theatre and Monmouth College Department of Theater Arts will present a production of the smash Broadway hit and recent major motion picture release, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. All proceeds from the April 9 concert benefit the Orpheum Theatre and its capital improvement efforts.
"Assistant professor Janeve West and I had been discussing a potential second collaboration between the Orpheum and Monmouth College," said Orpheum president, Kate Francis. "To my delight, I took a subsequent call from Janeve expecting to iron-out the financial and contractual details of the production only to be asked if it would be 'okay' if the Monmouth College theater department donated their expenses and staged the production as a fundraiser for the Orpheum. Needless to say, I said, 'Yes!'"
The Orpheum Theatre's most recent collaboration with Monmouth College was last year's Our American Cousin, most famously recognized as the play at which President Lincoln was assassinated. The Orpheum Theatre and Monmouth College co-presented Our American Cousin as part of the Orpheum's 2009 Red Carpet Series and in conjunction with the Lincoln Bicentennial. The partnership was well-received by more than 800 patrons and proved to be the most financially successful event for the Orpheum's 2009 Red Carpet Series.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street tells the tragic tale of Benjamin Barker who is falsely imprisoned for life by a judge who desires Barker's wife, Lucy. Lucy eventually poisons herself in despair and the judge sets his sights on Barker's daughter, Johanna. Barker escapes from jail and returns to London disguised as barber Sweeney Todd to exact revenge against the judge. Todd opens a shop above Mrs. Lovett's bakery and begins indiscriminately murdering all those whom he believes have wronged him or society.
Sweeney Todd the musical won several Tony and Drama Desk awards and the 2007 film adaptation starring Jonny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter also received three Oscar, four Golden Globe and two British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) nominations. The musical is scheduled for a 2011 revival in London.
The Monmouth College theater department will present a concert version of Sweeney Todd featuring musical highlights including, "Worst Pies in London," "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," and "Not While I'm Around." Singers will sport costumes, incorporate props and some semi-staging of major scenes. The orchestra - most frequently stuffed away in the orchestra pit for a large-scale production - will be seated on stage as well. Monmouth College will present the fully-staged musical at the Wells Theater April 23-25.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street will be presented Friday, April 9 at 7:30 pm. The production is underwritten, in part, by an anonymous contributor ensuring all proceeds from ticket sales directly benefit the Orpheum Theatre. Adult tickets start at $15 and students (college and under) are $3.50. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Orpheum box office 250 East Main St., by phone 309-342-2299, or on-line at www.theorpheum.org.
(Orpheum Theatre) |
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| 03 13 10 by Newsroom |
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