Great Lakes Theater’s ‘Sweeney Todd’ runs through Nov. 8 with steampunk design and $17 tickets

The production of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” runs through November 8, 2026, at the Hanna Theatre in Cleveland. Tickets for the show range from $17 to $115. The venue is located at 2067 E 14th St.

The play is based on a 1979 musical adaptation of a story by Christopher Bond. It features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, a book by Hugh Wheeler, and orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. The plot centers on Benjamin Barker, a barber exiled by a corrupt judge, who returns to London as Sweeney Todd to seek revenge.

Director Victoria Bussert sets the story in a steampunk-inspired London. This aesthetic combines Victorian elegance with steam-powered engineering. The design reflects a retrofuture where technology is built from riveted metal and pipes. This visual choice aligns with the show's themes of anti-authoritarianism and industrial machinery.

Trad A Burns designed the set and lighting. The stage features three massive cogs, a raised playing space, and railings adorned with pipe-laden filigree. Burns also controls the lighting, which uses theatrical fog and haze to create a gritty atmosphere. Nick Lynch-Voris created the hair and wig designs, which include metallic eyeshadow and soot-like makeup.

Costumes were designed by Tesia Dugan Benson. The wardrobe includes Victorian top hats, corsets, and skirts, accented with straps, buckles, rivets, fishnets, and goggles. Sound designer Patrick John Kiernan uses a steam whistle to mimic chilling screams. A seven-piece ensemble led by music director Matthew Webb backs the cast on stage.

Mark Bedard portrays Sweeney Todd with a shaved head, a look that contrasts with previous film versions. Jillian Kates plays Mrs. Lovett, characterized by red curls and energetic movement. Matthew Wright plays Judge Turpin, while Ana Lauren Rodriguez plays Johanna and Ethan Flanagan plays Anthony. Sean Patrick Doyle plays the rival barber Adolfo Pirelli, and Tate Cinti plays Tobias Ragg.

Jessie Cope Miller plays the Beggar Woman, and Ricky Moyer plays Beadle Bamford. The cast performs Sondheim’s complex score. The production is currently running at the Hanna Theatre. Interested parties can visit www.greatlakestheater.org or call (216) 241-6000 to purchase tickets.