Hawaii Opera Theatre presents Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd

Honolulu, Hawaii – Hawaii Opera Theatre’s (HOT) 2014-15 Opera Season comes to a close in bloody fashion with Sweeney Todd.  With multiple productions on Broadway and a Hollywood Blockbuster adaptation starring Johnny Depp, Sondheim’s classic has inspired a wide range of audiences.

On the gritty streets of London, a man who calls himself Sweeney Todd sets foot in England for the first time in 15 years.  Years earlier, Todd, aka Benjamin Barker, was wrongly accused of a crime and sentenced to an Australian penal colony, forced to leave his wife and daughter behind.  When he finally returns to London, he has one thing on his mind: revenge.  Armed with a straight razor and parading as one of the city’s finest barbers, Todd finds himself in cahoots with a woman named Mrs. Lovett, a local baker who lusts after Todd, and is willing to help him extract vengeance.

Will Todd’s thirst for blood lead him to the authorities or will he carve himself a new life as London’s most ruthless killer?

Peter Kendall Clark and Buffy Baggott lead a stellar cast as Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett.  The two previously shared the stage in a production of Sweeney Todd at St. Petersburg Opera with performances that were lauded by the Tampa Bay Times: “This cast has a Mrs. Lovett and a Sweeney Todd who not only sang gorgeously but also displayed the dramatic range and comic timing to turn the blackness of the tale into something transcendent.”

Joining Clark and Baggott on center stage are Hawaii born Jamie Offenbach (Judge Turpin) and University of Hawaii Professor Rachel Schutz (Johanna Barker), who were both last seen in HOT’s opera in a warehouse, Siren Song. Rounding out the talented cast are Jesse Blumberg (Anthony Hope), Michele Sexton (Beggar Woman), Luke Grooms (Beadle Bamford), Kyle Erdos-Knapp (Tobias Ragg), and John Easterlin (Adolfo Pirelli).  

Conductor Adam Turner makes his HOT debut. Stage Director Karen Tiller, who returns to HOT to lead the Artistic Team, joined by Choreographer Minou Allemand. 

Sweeney Todd will be performed at the Blaisdell Concert Hall on April 24, 26, & 28.  Tickets to Sweeney Todd start at $29 and can be purchased by contacting the HOT Box Office at (808) 596-7858 or online at www.HawaiiOpera.org. 

HOT Opera Preview

Apr 15, 2015 / 10:00am / Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Museum of Art

Attend a special Opera Preview at the Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Museum of Art, featuring background on the opera and a Q&A session with the cast and Artistic Team of Sweeney Todd.

HOT Opera for Everyone (OFE)

Apr 22, 2015 / 7:00pm / Blaisdell Concert Hall

Held during the Final Dress Rehearsal of each opera, this popular program offered by the HOT Education Team provides teachers & parents with the opportunity to share opera with their students & children for just $7.  For more information, contact the Hawaii Opera Theatre Education Department at (808) 596-7372. 

HOT Tuesday

March 21, 2015 / 5:30pm – 10:00pm / Honolulu Club & Blaidell Concert Hall

Started during the 2013-2014 Opera Season with Turandot, these HOT events have quickly grown into a fabulous party & performance experience, gaining new patrons with each event.

Kick off the evening at the Honolulu Club for a party, which includes drinks, food, live music, and free parking, followed by a night at the opera during the final performance of Sweeney Todd on April 28, 2015 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall (7:00pm)!

All this, just $40!

Tickets online at HOTTUESDAY.eventbrite.com.

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