Musical theater fans seeking a spooky event to thrill and chill this fall don't have to look far.
Just in time for Halloween, Duke faculty and students are joining together for a production of "Sweeney Todd," the story of a barber who brings new meaning to the term "a close shave."
The show runs from Oct. 23 through Nov. 2 at the Reynolds Theater in Duke's Bryan Center.
In the musical, Todd notoriously does away with his customers with a flick of the razor before having his lover serve up their remains in homemade meat pies. Based on a book by Hugh Wheeler, the story was recently made into a movie starring Johnny Depp as the "demon barber of Fleet Street," and was a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical in 1979.
For theater studies professor John Clum, it's now or never to see one of his dreams come true.
"The theater studies department has been talking for years about working with the student musical organization Hoof ‘n' Horn, and finally it's happening," says Clum, who is teaching his last semester on campus before a pre-retirement leave. "This fall I'll be directing Sweeney Todd as my 65th Duke production and swan song, and Hoof ‘n' Horn will be co-producing with us."
In addition to Clum, visiting professor Leonard Cruz in the dance department is choreographing the show and George Lam, a doctoral candidate in the music department, is serving as musical director. Lam's group, the Duke New Music Ensemble, will perform in the theater's orchestra pit.
Barber Dave Fowler from the Duke Barber Shop was also enlisted to help teach performers the subtleties of wielding a straight razor.
With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the score is notably complex and difficult, but Clum and Lam are confident they have found students with the chops to pull off the performance.
"We had to have students who knew musical technique," Clum says. "This music is far more sophisticated than most musicals. We had more than 50 [students] come to auditions, and in addition to upperclassmen, we met many freshmen who brought excellent skills with them to Duke. Our cast is a really talented and spirited group."
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Sweeney Todd Oct. 23 - Nov. 2 Reynolds Theater, Bryan Center Information: 684-4444; tickets.duke.edu