With just over a month to go before the curtain rises in the auditorium for this spring musical’s performances of “”Sweeney Todd,” the cast and crew are frantically working to get everything done in time.
This past week, the cast and directorial team of “Sweeney Todd” were able to see a reward for their work as they completed their first run through of Act One.
Freshman Tucker Chandler, who plays Antony in this spring’s production, believes that the run through really showed how talented and hardworking the cast is.
“I feel this is one of the most talented groups I’ve worked with,” he said. “While a few portions of Act 1 could definitely be ironed out, I’m super proud of the work and dedication these people are pouring into their craft.”
While the cast was running the show in the auditorium, the crew was scattered around campus working on different set pieces, props and costumes.
Freshman Lucy Tallman, one of six props crew members, spent the last week crafting the most infamous prop in the entire show: pies.
“We’ve made 50 pies for the production,” she said. “It’s been a very productive week for us. Currently, we’re finalizing Ms. Lovett’s good and bad pies at the moment, and they’ll be show-ready any day now.”
Downstairs in the auditorium, the costume crew was hard at work, doing fittings and starting to touch up on costumes.
Costume, hair and makeup head Cameron Struble says while the costumes for “Sweeney Todd” are complex, due to the time period of the show, the theater company is under great guidance.
“The costume department run by our own alumni costume designer Isabell Rodriguez has already started fittings for ‘Sweeney Todd,’” she said. “‘Sweeney’ is full of intricate period clothes that embody the complexity of all its characters. All costumes were rented by CSUN’s costume department under the advice of Amanda Cleveland-Davey.”
Overall, this week of “Sweeney Todd” rehearsal taught the cast how hard work truly pays off. Hopefully, the cast and crew carry this mantra into the final half of the rehearsal processes.
