This collaboration of CCM Musical Theatre and Opera students can’t be missed!
“Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd” this week at CCM. CCM Musical Theatre and Opera students opened their production of Sweeney Todd at the Corbett Auditorium, playing through April 19, 2026. Join CCM students in London as the chaos of Fleet Street erupts onto the stage.
The Story
Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd combines revenge, murder and a touch of comedy; creating a frightfully good evening at the theater.
Sweeney Todd (Harrison Hancock), an exiled barber formerly known as Benjamin Barker, returns to London seeking vengeance against the lecherous Judge Turpin (Will Ryan) who framed him, ruined his wife, and took their daughter, Johanna (Maya Sharma), as his ward. The road to revenge leads Todd back to Fleet Street where he reunites with Mrs. Lovett (Claire Strong), a proprietress of a failing pie shop. It is above this pie shop where Todd reopens his barbershop under his new name and quickly soars to the top as London’s best shave. Revenge soon turns these close shaves into murder as Todd seeks revenge for his lost family.
Performances from One Group of Leads
Harrison Hancock portrayal of the “demon barber” is powerful and full of deep pain. Hancock’s robust and dramatic voice captivates audiences from his first note. Hancock delivers a strong voice capable of handling the intense emotional range of Todd.
The emotional intensity we receive from Hancock is met with the comedic range of Claire Strong as Mrs. Lovett. Strong pulls a hilarity into Mrs. Lovett’s chaotic world that allows audiences breaks from the deep emotional rollercoaster of the shows strongest plot. Strong’s vocal control allows for a raucous, raspy sound shifting between comedic belt and tender moments. Strong is an opera student, and she brings raw quality to the songs of Mrs. Lovett that connect with the audience more than a traditional take on the vocal part.
The young lovers of this story, Johanna (Maya Sharma) the lost daughter of Todd and ward of Judge Turpin and Anthony (Nick Gundrum) a young sailor who saves Todd at sea bring a sweet naivety to the complex chaos of Sweeney Todd. Gundrum wows audiences with his rendition of Johanna. The cock-eyed optimism of the young lad gives Todd, and audiences, a glimpse of what he used to be before Judge Turpin stole everything.
More Standouts in Sweeney Todd
One of the standout performances in this production comes from Chloe Lezotte as the Beggar Woman. Known for her deranged, streetwise demeanor this character requires one of the most athletic performances of the production. Lezotte delivers haunting vocal lines and frantic melodic shifts that depict the insanity and trauma this character has endured. Lezotte’s ability to jump from ragged musical theatre character singing to operatic qualities brings a depth to the character that matches her inner battle. The Beggar Woman battles between who she was and who she has become. Lezotte tackles this role fearlessly and ups the ante for all characters in this production.
Another stand out performance is given by Jack Keller as The Beadle. Keller jumps headfirst into this role. He brings a quality to The Beadle that gives the character a slimy, snakelike feeling to not only his personality but his physicality as well. This combined with the unique vocal abilities and comedic timing created a larger-than-life character that stole the show during many scenes.
J. Perry’s portrayal of young Tobias Ragg is nothing less than stellar. While this character can be hard to capture as it sometimes portrayed younger, Perry brings an authenticity that draws audiences in. The plucky naivety of Perry makes Tobias’ gullibility believable. This combined with the incredible vocal skills of Perry creates a character that is sure to become an audience favorite.
Solid Collaboration Between Two World-Class Programs
Through CCM’s interdepartmental collaboration, audiences are given two extraordinary casts for Sweeney Todd. It is evident that the Artistic team took special care to fully integrate both the Musical Theatre and Opera departments to create two diverse casts that feature each department in different lead roles. At 8 p.m. on April 16; 2 p.m. on April 18 and 2 p.m. on April 19 audiences will see: Anargha Pal as Sweeney Todd, Peyton Kern as Mrs. Lovett, Jack Hicks as Anthony Hope, and Zoë Meier-Juhlin as Johanna. The rest of the cast remains the same.
The programs built at CCM have quickly become some of the most sought-after Arts programs in the country. The talent that CCM pulls from all over the world can be seen through the large number of students being spotlighted in lead roles. While Sondheim shows are notoriously difficult, these well-trained performers barely break a sweat. The consistency in quality productions at CCM is what keeps audiences coming back year after year to experience some of the best performers in the country, right from their own backyard.
Design and Production Team
The set of this production takes inspiration from Fleet Street creating a gritty, industrial representation of 19th century London. CCM’s set, designed by Mark Halpin, showcases a three story building that allows actors to create multiple spaces throughout the production.
A unique moment added by lighting designer Jules Cabrera is the use of onstage lights operated by actors. This upward lighting cast larger than life shadows of each character onto the backdrop. This shadow puppet effect helps highlight the depravity of certain characters and brings a sense of doom to key moments in the show.
The key members to creating such a well-oiled production are Director Vincent DeGeorge, Music Director Ian Axness, and Choreographer Brandon Kelly. This trio creates an entire universe on just one stage. The melding of Opera and Musical Theatre comes together seamlessly to create an evening of Art that draws audiences from all walks of life.
Tickets to Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd runs through April 19th, 2026, at the Corbett Auditorium.
Purchase tickets at the box office or online at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music | Ticketing – Sweeney Todd (Musical Theatre + Opera)
