Civic Theatre stages ‘Sweeney Todd’

It’s a two-nights-only benefit performance staged “in concert,” which means it’s not a fully staged musical.

Yet it may be one of the Spokane Civic Theatre’s most anticipated productions of the season. In fact, director Yvonne A.K. Johnson said she’s as proud of “Sweeney Todd” as she has been of anything in her four-year tenure at the Civic.

The production will certainly be impressive in sheer size. The stage will be packed with 30 performers and 18 musicians. They will perform all of Stephen Sondheim’s brilliant songs in a concert-style setting that will put the focus on the music.

The title character – the demon barber of Fleet Street – will be sung by Max Mendez, one of the region’s top baritones. Darnelle Preston plays Mrs. Lovett, who cooks up an appalling scheme to help the murderous barber get rid of his victims.

Other main roles will be sung by Russell Seaton, Andrea Dawson, Robby French, Marianne McLaughlin, Randel Wagner, Scott Miller, Nick Fichter and Gavin Smith. A large chorus will help fill out the sound. Carolyn Jess serves as the musical director and Michael Muzatko will be the conductor.

These in-concert musical benefit shows have become a successful tradition at the Civic over the last three years. Last year, the theater produced an in-concert version of “Into the Woods” and before that it was “Evita” and “Jekyll & Hyde.” This production will raise money to refurbish the cramped orchestra pit on the Civic stage.