Sweeney Todd » Orange Live

Amity’s Sweeney Todd Earns 13 Nominations for CT High School Musical Awards

Tickets Are Still Available For Tonight and Tomorrow – Don’t Miss It!

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Apr 122013

Max and Nicole as Anthony and the Beggar woman.

If you haven’t seen Amity High School’s production of Sweeney Todd yet, you’re in luck!

There are 22 seats left for tonight’s performance and 51 remaining for closing night tomorrow.

I attended the show last night with my friend, fellow local news editor Betina Thiel and once again, I was “slayed” by the incredible talent on stage.

Last night the audience was in for a treat, although his understudy was VERY good, we were honored to see the show with the multi talented Peter Charney in a role he was born to play, that of Tobias — if you go tonight or tomorrow, you will see what I mean. Peter is a senior this year, so this is the last time we’ll see him perform in an Amity Spring Musical.

I am left breathless by the strong, beautiful soprano voices floating through the air like “magic” every time Alida Ballou, Shaylen Harger and Nicole Simon open their mouths. And to know that we have THREE sophomores in the principal cast who will be with Amity for another two years.

Put on your coat NOW and head up to Amity. Don’t miss Sweeney Todd. Everything about this show is nothing short of amazing.

The Cast:

The Amity Creative Theater production of Sweeney Todd features a multi-talented cast of more than forty Amity actors, ages 14 to 18 years old. The principal cast includes sophomore Kevin Durkee of Orange as Sweeney Todd; Junior Alida Ballou of Bethany as Mrs. Lovett; Junior Shaylen Harger of Orange as Johanna; Sophomore Max Karsanow of Woodbridge as Anthony; Junior James Ottaviano of Bethany as Judge Turpin; Sophomore Kahari Blue of Bethany as the Beadle; Senior Ted McNulty of Bethany as Pirelli; Senior Peter Charney of Bethany as Tobias and Junior Nicole Simon of Woodbridge as the Beggar Woman.

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Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” Opens at Amity on Friday

Amity High School, Around Town, Home, Latest News, School News No Responses »

Apr 032013

The Amity Creative Theater still has tickets for its annual Spring Musical Production of Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

When the unjustly imprisoned Sweeney Todd returns to London, he vows revenge upon those who framed him. Working as a barber and joining forces with Mrs. Lovett, they both serve their customers in wicked ways. Enjoy this award winning musical by Stephen Sondheim.

The show will take place on April 5th, 6th ,11th ,12th, and 13th @ 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.amitytheaterdepartment.com or by calling 203-392-2019. All seats are reserved and cost $17.00

More humorous than the recent film version starring Johnny Depp, this production of the Tony Award winning classic musical tells the suspenseful, razor-sharp story of barber Benjamin Barker (aka Sweeney Todd), who returns to grimy 19th century London vowing to extract revenge for his false imprisonment with the help of immoral baker Mrs. Lovett. Their twisted strategy: Sweeney will murder his victims in his barber chair and Mrs. Lovett will turn them into the tastiest meat pies in London.

“Our talented performers seem to thrive on our raising the bar. Sweeney Todd is the most musically demanding production we have undertaken in our twelve years directing high school students, but I feel confident that the cast and musicians will meet the vocal and dramatic challenges head on and deliver remarkable performances,” said Rob Kennedy, director and theater arts teacher at Amity.

The Sweeney Todd cast will be accompanied by an award winning thirty-piece orchestra of experienced student musicians led by conductor Phil Dolan of the Amity Music Department.

Rob Kennedy co-directs the production along with his multi-talented wife Andrea Kennedy, with musical direction by Peter Randazzo, costumes by Julie Chevan and lighting by Dan Hassenmayer. Past ACT musical productions include: Legally Blonde the Musical, Chicago, Les Miserables, Rent and Grease.

The Amity High School Theater Department has been awarded two Moss Hart Awards from the New England Theater Conference for Best High School production in New England and seven Connecticut High School Musical Theater Awards.

Last year Amity was a national finalist in the American High School Theater Festival and traveled to Scotland England to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This April the theater students along with the music students will travel to Walt Disney World to perform on a Disney stage as part of the Disney Performing Arts On Stage program.

The show takes place on the campus of Amity High School at the John J. Brady Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets and information are available online at www.amitytheaterdepartment.com or by calling our box office at 203-392-2019. Tickets are $17 and all seats are reserved.

Show Dates: Friday, April 5th @ 7:30 pm Saturday, April 6th @ 7:30 pm, Thursday April 11th @7:30, Friday April 12th @7:30 and Saturday April 13th @7:30.

***Although there is no strong language in this production of Sweeney Todd, it is not recommended for young children.

See these previous posts on Orangectlive.com
http://www.orangectlive.com/2013/03/11/wwrs-rob-kennedy-talks-about-sweeney-todd/
http://www.orangectlive.com/2013/03/28/as-i-see-it-sweeney-todd-in-rehearsal/
http://www.orangectlive.com/2013/04/01/another-amazing-production-first-in-years-not-sold-out/

Originally published April 2 at 11:06 a.m.

: Nicole Simon and Kevin Durkee (Sweeney Todd) during Monday Night’s rehearsal.

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Another Amazing Production, First In Years Not Sold Out

Amity High School, Around Town, Home, Latest News, School News No Responses »

Apr 012013

This is the view from onstage, don’t let the actors see empty seats at the upcoming performances.

The Amity Theater Department has been working tirelessly for 5 months on its production of the award winning Sweeney Todd, which is performed by High Schools across the country every year.

From the time they learn what play has been chosen when they start the school year, the actors and actresses devote their lives to learning about the characters, giving the best performance he or she can during the auditions and then putting in hours and hours of time after school learning and perfecting songs and dance numbers.

Under the leadership of Rob and Andrea Kennedy, Amity theater students have entertained and amazed sold out audiences for nearly all of their shows from “Grease” to “Rent” to “Les Miserables” to “Chicago” and “Legally Blonde.”

Numerous actors and actresses from Amity as well as the Orchestra have been nominated for the Connecticut High School Musical Awards over the years. They’ve always made us proud.

Two Lead actors from Amity have gone on to the National High School Musical Awards in New York.

Sweeney Todd is known as the “Musical of all Musicals,” so why on earth four days before opening night is it not SOLD OUT?

This Friday, opening night, there are still 72 tickets left.

Saturday, night 2, usually a hot night for Amity’s musical productions has 104 available seats. This is unheard of.

Even more upsetting is that April 11, a Thursday night, also traditionally sold out at least 3 weeks in advance has a mind boggling 263 open seats.

On Friday, April 12, there are about 144 tickets remaining, and closing night is comparable.

So, what happened? Director Rob Kennedy said there was one unfortunate incident, a work of fiction, that unnecessarily shed a negative light on the play and as was the author’s goal, brought a lot of attention to his story.

Sadly, this hard working cast, crew, musicians and directors are the ones who are paying for that individual’s moment of glory.

Amity residents can still turn this around for the Amity Theater Department, go online and buy tickets.

Opening Night is at 90%; Saturday April 6 is at 88%; Thursday, April 11 is at 68%; the final two nights are both at 81 %. For all the hardworking kids and adults involved in this production, lets work to get them all to 100%.

: Nicole Simon and Kevin Durkee (Sweeney Todd) during Monday Night’s rehearsal.

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As I See It: Sweeney Todd In Rehearsal

Amity High School, Around Town, Home, Latest News, School News No Responses »

Mar 282013

Sitting in on the rehearsal for Sweeney Todd at Amity High School Wednesday night, I was pleasantly surprised by how wonderful and catchy the songs are.

This is one musical that I was completely unfamiliar with, just as I was clueless about Les Miserables back in 2010. I haven’t seen the entire play yet, just bits and pieces, a song here, a scene there, but I think once it’s all together it’s going to be wonderful.

The Orchestra was in place last night and rehearsal was a bit intense with the cast having to sing certain big numbers for the first time with the live orchestra.
With only 9 days before opening night, it was time to get serious and get it right as soon as possible.

This show has several extraordinary sopranos, including Shaylen Harger, whose parents, Gary and Barbie, of Orange, are both amazing singers. Also Nicole Simon who wowed us with teased hair, and the line “I was in the shower” in last year’s Legally Blonde, really shows off her high octave ability. And Alida Ballou, who played one of Elle’s giddy BFFs in Legally Blonde takes on a more adult role in Sweeney where she can really show off her voice.

Traditionally by this time, all shows would be nearly sold out, but unfortunately, a fabricated story that got blown out of proportion put a dark cloud over this production and there are still plenty of seats remaining in the left and right sections on all five nights.

The entire cast, crew and orchestra have been working hard since November on this production and it is sure to amaze all theater goers as past Amity productions have.

“That story really hurt our ticket sales,” said Director Rob Kennedy.

The show will take place on April 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th, and 13th @ 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.amitytheaterdepartment.com or by calling 203-392-2019. All seats are reserved and cost $17.00

If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, I encourage you to visit the performing arts website at www.amitytheaterdepartment.com soon, choose your seats and pay for them online before it’s too late and witness another Amity High School musical gem.

Picture Gallery

As I See It: Sweeney Todd In Rehearsal

This is what the actors see when they are onstage, don't let them see empty seats.

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WWRS?: Rob Kennedy Talks About Sweeney Todd

Amity High School, Around Town, Home, Latest News, Meetings, Today's Events 1 Response »

Mar 112013

One parent voices concerns about the subject matter of a high school play.

One individual composes a sensationalized story leading others to think there’s a posse going after the Amity Theater Department.

Yes, Sweeney Todd murders people in his barber chair, but will the Amity Stage flow with blood? – No

Yes, People are the main ingredient in pies sold to townspeople. but will the smell of burning flesh fill the auditorium? – No

Will there be hundreds of angry people with picket signs demanding that the show NOT go on? – highly unlikely.

Robert Kennedy was summoned by the Amity Board of Education prior to its monthly meeting, and by the Superintendent at the end of the school day.

We spoke to Kennedy this afternoon to see what he had to say about his choice of musicals for Amity.

HERE is a video of his candid responses.

WWRS (what would Rob say)? Now you know.

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One Month To Go: Sweeney Todd Is Selling Out Quickly

Amity High School, Around Town, Home, Latest News, School News, Today's Events No Responses »

Mar 052013

Nicole Simon and Kevin Durkee (Sweeney Todd) during Monday Night’s rehearsal.

The Amity Creative Theater announces that tickets are now on sale for its annual Spring Musical Production of Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

The show will take place on April 5th, 6th ,11th ,12th, and 13th @ 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.amitytheaterdepartment.com or by calling 203-392-2019. All seats are reserved and cost $17.00 Tickets will sell out quickly so buy yours today!

The Sweeney Todd cast will be accompanied by an award winning thirty-piece orchestra of experienced student musicians led by conductor Phil Dolan of the Amity Music Department.

The show takes place on the campus of Amity High School at the John J. Brady Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets and information are available online at www.amitytheaterdepartment.com or by calling our box office at 203-392-2019. Tickets are $17 and all seats are reserved.

Show Dates: Friday, April 5th @ 7:30 pm Saturday, April 6th @ 7:30 pm, Thursday April 11th @7:30, Friday April 12th @7:30 and Saturday April 13th @7:30.

***Although there is no strong language in this production of Sweeney Todd, it is not recommended for young children.

Picture Gallery

One Month To Go: Sweeney Todd Is Selling Out Quickly

Nicole Simon and Kevin Durkee (Sweeney Todd) during Monday Night's rehearsal.
these are the kind of stage parents that you want.

Originally published Feb. 15, 2013 at 1:23 p.m.

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Don’t Miss Out! Tickets On Sale Tomorrow for Amity’s Musical “Sweeney Todd”

Amity High School, Around Town, Home, Latest News No Responses »

Feb 142013

Get Your Tickets Early

Amity High School is pleased to announce that tickets for its spring musical production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street will go on sale Friday February 15 at noon.

More humorous than the recent film version starring Johnny Depp, this production of the Tony Award winning classic musical tells the suspenseful, razor-sharp story of barber Benjamin Barker (aka Sweeney Todd), who returns to grimy 19^th century London vowing to extract revenge for his false imprisonment with the help of immoral baker Mrs. Lovett. Their twisted strategy: Sweeney will murder his victims in his barber chair and Mrs. Lovett will turn them into the tastiest meat pies in London.

The Amity Creative Theater production of Sweeney Todd features a multi-talented cast of over forty Amity actors, ages 14 to 18 years old. The principal cast includes sophomore Kevin Durkee of Orange as Sweeney Todd; Junior Alida Ballou of Bethany as Mrs. Lovett; Junior Shaylen Harger of Orange as Johanna; Sophomore Max Karsanow of Woodbridge as Anthony; Junior James Ottaviano of Bethany as Judge Turpin; Sophomore Kahari Blue of Bethany as the Beadle; Senior Ted McNulty of Bethany as Pirelli; Senior Peter Charney of Bethany as Tobias and Junior Nicole Simon of Woodbridge as the Beggar Woman.

“Our talented performers seem to thrive on our raising the bar. Sweeney Todd is the most musically demanding production we have undertaken in our twelve years directing high school students, but I feel confident that the cast and musicians will meet the vocal and dramatic challenges head on and deliver remarkable performances,” said Rob Kennedy, director and theater arts teacher at Amity.

The Sweeney Todd cast will be accompanied by an award winning thirty-piece orchestra of experienced student musicians led by conductor Phil Dolan of the Amity Music Department.

Rob Kennedy co-directs the production along with his multi-talented wife Andrea Kennedy, with musical direction by Peter Randazzo, costumes by Julie Chevan and lighting by Dan Hassenmayer. Past ACT musical productions include: Legally Blonde the Musical, Chicago, Les Miserables, Rent and Grease.

The show takes place on the campus of Amity High School at the John J. Brady Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets and information are available online at www.amitytheaterdepartment.com or by calling our box office at 203-397-2019. Tickets are $17 and all seats are reserved.

Show Dates: Friday, April 5th @ 7:30 pm Saturday, April 6th @ 7:30 pm, Thursday April 11^th @7:30, Friday April 12^th @7:30 and Saturday April 13^th @7:30.

***Although there is no strong language in this production of Sweeney Todd, it is not recommended for young children.

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