Sweeney Todd

It’s just another day in 19th Century England, and Benjamin Barker has returned home. The only thing is, it has been 15 years since the once fresh-faced barber has been home to see his family. He was unjustly sentenced to prison on trumped up charges by the corrupt Judge Turpin, who had his leering eyes on the barber’s beautiful wife. Upon his arrival to the pie shop – where he and his family once lived above – his old friend and confidant Mrs. Lovett unravels the events of the past decade. She explains about the seduction of his wife by the Judge, which led her to take her own life. And to sharpen that pain of his loss, she breaks the news that the Judge adopted his daughter and is raising her as his own. Barker vows revenge for these atrocities and turns to the tools and skills with which he’ll exact his plan: a razor and a barber chair. While the ensuing events are unfortunate for some, others – including Mrs. Lovett, her struggling pie shop and her customers – quickly prosper from the body count.

Based on a Victorian Penny dreadful, this Stephen Sondheim masterpiece has been nominated for Tony Awards in 3 different decades. The original 1979 production was nominated for 9 Tony Awards, bringing home 8 including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. The 1990 revival saw 4 more Tony nominations, while in 2006, the New York production received 6 Tony nods.

Some critics call Sweeney Todd Sondheim’s most perfect score, filled with ravishing beauty. Others have described it as a pitch-black comedy filled with thrills and terrors, while others have heralded it as one of the single greatest achievements of American musical theater in the last 50 years. Decide for yourself and experience Paramount Theatre’s Sweeney Todd.

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