‘Sweeney Todd’ Musical Is ‘Creepy,’ ‘Magnificent’

Noblesville Director

Brings Big Show to

Westfield Playhouse

By: Betsy Reason

Andrea Odle can’t think of a better way to bring in the spooky season than “Sweeney Todd.”

She’s directing the musical, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” which opens tonight at Basile Westfield Playhouse.

“‘Sweeney Todd’ is completely different than most musicals. It provides a dark comedy view where most musicals are either dramatic or upbeat and full of sunshine,” said the Noblesville resident, whose show continues weekends through Oct. 1.

The storyline: Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to 19th century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up… and the carnage has only just begun.

It’s Odle’s second time directing for Main Street Productions at the Westfield venue. Her first show was “White Christmas” musical, a massive undertaking in itself.

So what would make her determined to do another big show?

“I enjoyed the challenge ‘White Christmas’ brought and wanted another show that would put butts in the seats and grab the patrons’ attention for the rest of Westfield’s upcoming season,” Odle said.

The major difference in the two musicals is the dancing and choreography. “White Christmas” required tap dancing and heavily choreographed company dance numbers. “Sweeney” is more strategic placement “and fancy blocking, as I call it,” she said.

“Sweeney Todd” was on Odle’s bucket list to direct because of the depth of the characters.

“Yes, Sweeney is out for revenge, but his heart was broken and his drive to rectify his horrible situation is admirable.”

The production’s music and lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim.

“The music is especially challenging,” she said. “Sondheim, at times, has a wonderful way with words. In other instances, his words make absolutely no sense. But we love them because the music is so captivating.”

Challenges of the show?

“The No. 1 challenge of the show — other than the insane musicality — is the set,” Odle said. “This set is two stories and very elaborate. We need to have a trap door in the second story for Todd’s victims to descend. We also need to allow the audience to step into the world of 1860s London.”

Directing the show “was certainly a labor of love,” Odle said. “I’ve enjoyed working on this masterpiece for the past eight weeks.”

“Sweeney Todd” is a dark comedy, horror-musical.

“The eerie factor is the most intriguing part of the production,” Odle said. “The music lends itself to being dark and creepy, so that helps. The fantastic lighting effects that (2022 Noblesville High School grad) Clay Howard expertly designed pulls the audience into Sweeney Todd’s world and holds them there until the end.”

The show attracted many to the auditions.

“We had almost 70 enormously talented musicians audition for ‘Sweeney Todd.”

She said, “The show is not done too often because of its immense undertaking, so I think people flock to it when it is offered.”

What else?

Odle said, “When I first received the honor of being chosen to direct ‘Sweeney,’ there were three phone calls I made.”

First, she called set designer Jay Ganz. “In my humble opinion, he is one of the best set designers in the business. We spoke for a moment, and he put our vision to paper. It is exactly what I saw in my head.”

“Two: I needed someone to build it. Someone that that would not give up until it was perfect and would put their heart and soul into the structure. Keeping everyone safe and accepting change orders with grand and the words ‘yes, dear.’ Mason Odle, my husband.”

“Third: I needed a magnificent artist that would transform wood into whatever we needed it to be. Every surface of that stage has been painted to create the multidimensional feeling of the dirty streets of London. Amber Shatto is an exceptional artist, and I couldn’t have done this without her.”

Costuming was “especially tough due to the sheer volume.” Costumer Karen Webster-Cones was in charge of coming up with more than 100 costumes for the show.

Hair and makeup were crafted by Tessa Gibbons, and the props, all 50 of them, were crafted by the talented Haley Wright. Odle said, “I truly believe that girl could make anything.”

Lastly, she said, “My right hand and stage manager Dwayne Lewis took our masterpiece and made it his own. I could not have done any of this without him. If we needed anything, props, set pieces, muscle, an extra, he was there.”    

-Betsy Reason writes about people, places and things in Hamilton County. Reach The Times Editor Betsy Reason at [email protected].

Want TO GO?

What: Main Street Productions Inc. presents “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” a dark-comedy, horror-musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and directed by Noblesville’s Andrea Odle.

When: Opens tonight and continues through Oct. 1. Show times: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays.

Where: Basile Westfield Playhouse, 220 N. Union St., Westfield.

How much: $19 for adults, $17 for students with ID and ages 62 and older, and free for active military and veterans with ID.

What else: Season tickets are $70 for adults, $62 for ages 62 and older.

How to buy tickets: www.westfieldplayhouse.org

Where to call for tickets or information: 317-402-3341.

MEET THE CAST

Sweeney Todd, Mike Lipphardt, Noblesville; Mrs. Lovett, Claire Slaven, Indianapolis; Anthony Hope, Nate Moore, Kokomo; Johanna Barker, Lizzie Schultz, Noblesville; Tobias Ragg, Alex Bast, Indianapolis; Judge Turpin, John Parks Whitaker, Westfield; The Beadle, Bailey Hunt, Noblesville; Beggar Woman, Tessa Gibbons, Noblesville; Adolfo Pirelli, Chris Ritchie, Indianapolis; Jonas Fogg, Ensemble, Aidan Morris, Lawrence/Geist; Ensemble, Brynn Lee and  Cassidy Maymon of Carmel, Claire Couture of Castleon, Dezi Dagey of Tipton, Grant Bowen, Jake Hobbs of Lawrence, Jericho Franke of Fishers, Laura Hicks, Laura Wertz of Noblesville, Lindsay Herr of Lebanon, Lucas Bowley, Molly Lewis of Kokomo, Tanner Brunson of Noblesville.

MEET THE CREW

Producer, Ka’Lena Cuevas, Fishers; Director, Andrea Odle, Noblesville; Assistant Director/Choreographer, Amber Shatto, Indianapolis; Musical Director, Laura Hicks, Pendleton; Assistant Musical Director, Kata Ewigleben; Vocal Captain, Chris Ritchie; Student Director and Sound Operator, Clay Howard, Noblesville;  Stage Manager, Dwayne Lewis, Westfield; Set Designer, Jay Ganz, Fishers; Set Construction Lead, Mason Odle, Noblesville; Set Construction, Mason Odle, JB Scoble, Amber Shatto, Fred Margison of Speedway, Tom Riddle of Indianapolis, Jacob Spencer, Xavier Lewis, Dwayne Lewis, Claire Slaven, Molly Lewis, Lindsey Herr, Rylee Odle of Noblesville; Sound Operator, Rob Stokes; Lighting Designer, Sue Kuehnhold; Lighting Operator, J Herold of Noblesville; Costumes, Karen Webster-Cones, Indianapolis; Properties, Haley Wright, Broad Ripple; Hair and Makeup, Tessa Gibbons.