Show week June 2nd – 6th 2009

Sweeney Todd - The demon barber of Fleet Street - Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Directed by James Dowson
Musical Director Tommy Thomas

Sondheim’s thrilling, operatic musical is an absorbing and spectacular tale of love, murder and obsession set in the harsh underworld of Victorian London. Darkly comic at times and truly absorbing throughout, this stylish production offers a rare chance to perform in one of Sondheim’s most dramatic, demanding and rewarding works.

About the production…

This is a really exciting, challenging musical, which will stretch Festival Players and further cement our reputation for tackling extremely rewarding shows. The production will be presented on a single, representational set and places great emphasis on the underlying obsessions that drive the story. As in life, the comedic moments such as Mrs Lovett’s ‘Worst Pies in London’ and Pirelli’s ‘Miracle Elixir’ and ‘Contest’ songs will add the hugely important light and shade along with Anthony and Johanna’s growing love and romantic duets. However, the production does not shy away from the darkness and grisly reality of Sweeney Todd’s revenge and Mrs Lovett’s resourceful and tasty concoctions! Stylised and theatrical, this production needs total involvement from all on stage with great acting and singing throughout. In return, this promises to be one of our most memorable and engaging productions for both audience and performers.

Cast (playing ages given as an indication, only)

Sweeney Todd

Hugely dramatic and exciting central role. The ‘victim’ who turns mass murderer in his revenge against society!
Late 30s/40s+ Bass-Baritone

Mrs Lovett

Resourceful, cheery, chatty, amoral, and enamoured of Sweeney Todd. Also holds much of the comedy and pathos in the story. Mid/late 30s+. Contralto

Anthony Hope

Young, naïve sailor befriended by Todd and desperately in love with Johanna. Romantic and sincere with some of the best love-songs. 20s Tenor/Light Baritone

Johanna Barker

Todd's daughter but now claimed by Judge Turpin as his ‘ward’ and the unwilling focus of his desire. Maybe ‘fragile’ after years of seclusion Late teen/20s. Soprano

Tobias Ragg

A simple young lad who works first for Pirelli, then for Mrs. Lovett. Never trusts Todd. Key character in the demise of Todd. Early/mid teens. Tenor

Judge Turpin

A corrupt and depraved official. An upholder of justice who twists the system to serve his own sexual obsessions.
(NOTE: The self-flagellation song will not be included) 40s upwards Bass

Beadle Bamford

Turpin's cunning right-hand man and accomplice to his crimes. 40s/50s High Tenor

Beggar Woman

A deranged pauper with a filthy tongue whose cries go unheeded. More importantly, the wife of Sweeney Todd. In this production, a sad obsessive creature – rather than a screaming lunatic! Late 30s/40s Mezzo-soprano

Adolfo Pirelli

A flambouyant, comic faux-Italian and flashy barber who attempts to blackmail Todd and ends up as his first victim! 30s/40s High Tenor

Chorus

In this production, the chorus are key to the show’s success and atmosphere. They will be our main contact with the audience – they are the storytellers who introduce and comment on the action with relish and macabre fascination. They create the grim and squalid atmosphere of Fleet Street and enact the dramatic group scenes at the Judge’s home and in the lunatic asylum. There is little dance choreography as the main emphasis is in the singing of the spectacular ensemble numbers. All ages. Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone and Bass

The songs

A number of versions are currently available on cd and on-line at YouTube, if you’d like to refresh your memory of any of the songs. A concert version is also on-line in 16 segments starting at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR1z0yW_ELc&feature=related
Just paste into your browser if you want to listen to the show before the preview night or auditions.

Auditions

Festival Players actively encourages talented new performers to join in our productions. Auditions for ALL parts, therefore, are completely open to both previous performers with Festival Players and those who wish to audition for the first time.

Preview night: 7.30pm Tuesday 2nd Dec 2008 CASTLE END MISSION, St Peter’s Street, Cambridge

An informal evening to meet the production team, introduce the music, sing some of the ensemble pieces and find out everything you need to know about the production before you decide to audition!

The Chorus audition pieces will be sung through plus, for fun, the following two extracts:-
25 Fogg's asylum 4-38 131,132,133
27 Searching (part 1) 33-47 138

Audition dates (at The Castle Hill Mission, St Peter’s Street, Cambridge)

From 10.00 am on Saturday 6th December 2008
From 7.30pm on Tuesday 9th December 2008

Audition process

Auditions for both principals and chorus will be held individually and will focus on the singing scope and performance style required for each part and the acting skills required to maintain the dramatic content for each character. The auditions will, therefore, include:

• Extracts from each character’s songs and/or chorus sections
• A short section of dialogue/monologue from the script

Hints for auditioning
1. Audition pieces may be sung using the copy. Your voice and character interpretation are the important factors.

2. If the extremes of range, high or low, are not quite achievable, that does not preclude you from being considered for the role.

3. All acting audition pieces are solo speeches (rather than dialogue scenes) and can be read. You are free to choose how you wish to perform them (moving, standing, seated).

Please book your audition time during the preview evening or contact James Dowson on 01223 514629 to arrange an audition time.

Booking your audition

Detailed information on individual audition pieces will be given out when auditions are booked. Please book your audition time during the preview evening or contact James Dowson on 01223 514629 to arrange an audition.

NOTE: If it is necessary to arrange call-back auditions, these will be done on an individual basis and will aim to be scheduled during the week following the main auditions.

Rehearsal process

The essential foundations for this production will be the singing and the individual characterisation. Initial rehearsals will therefore concentrate on getting the songs established and understanding the performance style for each character, both in the songs and acting. As we work through the rehearsal process, these elements will be brought together so that the songs and acting are linked effectively for the final production.

Rehearsals will take place in Cambridge from 2nd March 2009, on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings (except when Bank Holidays etc move them along in the week). During March we plan to rehearse principals on Monday and/or Thursday evenings and the chorus on Tuesday evenings. In April, principals will continue to rehearse on Mondays and chorus on Tuesdays but both groups will need to be available, if called, for the Thursday rehearsal. In May, we will need all the cast available for rehearsals on any of the three evenings so that we can pull the show together. It is therefore essential that you notify us of any commitment which may restrict your availability on these evenings during the audition period.

For any further information about the production and/or the audition process please email the director, James Dowson, on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .