PRESCOTT — “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” is set to take the Prescott High School stage March 28-30, bringing a genre of musical not often shown by high school students.

“Sweeney Todd is a classic musical by Stephen Sondheim, who is one of the great American musical theater composers,” Director Thomas Speltz said. “It’s a musical thriller about a revenge-filled barber seeking revenge on the people that have wronged him in his past. It’s a dark comedy with lots of fun twists and turns, great music.”

Speltz said “Sweeney Todd” is a special musical because there are not as many dark musicals that have massive popularity. The goal is to both give people a great show, but also improve the performers’ skill sets.

“It is a challenging piece, and our theater department is here to sort of push these kids and allow them to grow as musicians and as actors,” Speltz said. “Every year when we choose musicals, we sort of try to push the bar a little bit further forward, going for content that is both technically challenging and also emotionally challenging.”

The musical is one that has been turned down by some high school drama departments in the past for its content (including River Falls), and other schools have rejected the idea of their students performing it. Speltz said Prescott is taking things head-on, giving a PG-13 recommendation to attendees for on-stage violence and some language.

“I am interested in bringing sort of the more obscure to the stage as opposed to just doing what’s popular for the sake of doing it because it’s popular,” Speltz said. “Yes, other schools have chosen not to do it because of its content, but I’m not really afraid of the content and it’s all just human experience.”

Speltz said theater is special because it is a shared experience between the performers and the audience. He said unlike film, the only people who will see the rendition of the musical are the people who were there to experience it live.

“Theater is important and art is important,” Speltz said. “You are supporting a growing high school theater program that has recently won several awards. You are supporting these students who many of which are pursuing theater as their career once they move on from high school, and you are supporting the school district.”

With ticket prices at $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors online, Speltz said it is one of the better deals to go see a theater production in the area. Tickets will be available online or at the door of the event, with a link to purchase at www.onthestage.tickets/show/prescott-high-school/. Show times are March 28 at 7 p.m., March 29 at 7 p.m. and March 30 at 2 p.m at the Performing Arts Center at Prescott High School. It is a two-and-a-half-hour musical with one intermission.

A lot of work has gone into the musical dating all the way back to the summer. Rehearsals started in December and they have practiced every weeknight for 13 weeks. Speltz mentioned the amount of hard work that has gone in between cast, crew and professionals helping out. Some of the on-stage fighting is choreographed by a specialized fight choreographer from the Twin Cities, providing the students an opportunity to learn an acting trait that many cannot in high school.

“It really does take a village to make a piece of theater happen,” Speltz said.

Cast list (make separate box)

Sweeney Todd: Cooper Langer

Mrs. Lovett: Eliott Cook

Anthony Hope: Maverick Drew

Johanna: Kyra Dix

Tobias Ragg: Sophie Perez  

Judge Turpin: Will Markert

The Beadle: Abby Stubbe

Beggar Woman: Zoe Anthony

Adolfo Pirelli: Will Markert

Jonas Fogg: Syrenna Taylor

Bird Seller: Jessica Benjamin

Ensemble

Ella Brantner, Max Dearborn, Lee Harvey, Alyssa Kaeder, Cambell Kittleson, Logan Lubich, Ruby Magee, Cayden Riley, Eli Rohl, Emme Schulte, Allie Tibayan, Savannah Whiting

Adult Production Team

Director & Production Designer: Thomas Speltz

Music Director: Brittany Kamrath

Choreographer: Caitlin Sparks

Lighting Designer: Cara Johnson

Fight Choreographer: Annie Enneking  

Production Manager: Abby Mattimiro

Scenic Construction: John Rigg

Costume Coordinator: Allison Cornish

Sound Technician: Joe Cincoski