The American School of Doha (ASD) High School recently produced Sweeney Todd, by Stephen Sondheim. Like previous productions by the Performing Arts Department, Sweeney Todd lived up to the high expectations of amazing performances put on by this group of talented students and teachers with high attendance at all three shows.
Sweeney Todd is set on Fleet Street in Victorian London during the industrial Revolution, and features the story of a Mr. Benjamin Barker, who changes his name to Sweeney Todd and return home. The play was first performed in 1970, based on Christopher Bond’s melodrama. In 1974 Stephen Sondheim saw the play on the West End in London, and created the musical version.
Directed by Patricia Sands (HS Drama Instructor), this production featured 50 plus talented students who put in hours of rehearsal time over three months. Starring Sen Huang as Sweeney Todd, and Deana Taheri as Mrs. Lovett, the entire cast worked to produce a complex and dark climactic end. Stephanie Gravelle (Musical Director and HS Choral Instructor) offered the insight, “Sweeney Todd is not a high school musical. College students and professionals struggle with this score. Every single person involved in the show grew as a musician working on this music. Every day there were new challenges and new triumphs. I am incredibly proud of the cast for their performance of such sophisticated music.”
Patricia Sands has directed over 100 productions during her career and states, “this was definitely one of the top productions I have worked on in an overseas school.” She continued, “we had great singers, an excellent orchestra, a wonderful set, beautiful and purposeful lighting/effects, and an excellent production staff which included including a costumer, technical people, music team, set and props team, hair and makeup, and choreographer.” The shows that are produced by the ASD Performing Arts Department feature an entire team of sound and experienced professionals leading the students. Congratulations to ASD High School on “Sweeney Todd.”
