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Attend the tale of "Sweeney Todd鈥� from Oct. 18-20 at , which features an array of OHIO faces from current students and employees to alumni among the cast, crew and orchestra. In this major production, students from OHIO鈥檚 Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts are getting the opportunity to build their skills in various capacities while working directly within the community.

One of these faces is two-time alumna Samantha Pelham, who portrays Mrs. Lovett. Pelham, who is also the public relations and communication strategist at OHIO, has been participating in the Athens community theater scene since 2019 and is grateful for the amount of opportunities offered in this area both for the community and for students trying to grow their craft.

鈥淲e are so lucky to have such exceptional organizations in this area, like Stuart鈥檚 Opera House, that offers programming that can get people of all backgrounds and interests involved and connected,鈥� Pelham said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 invigorating as a community member and alum to get to work alongside current students and see all they bring to the table, as well as the relationships and experiences they鈥檙e going to take away.鈥�

One of those students is Jaimon Lovins, a junior studying interdisciplinary arts and the actor playing Tobias in the upcoming production. 

鈥淢y favorite part of the rehearsal process has been the overwhelming positivity that has been within the cast this entire process,鈥� Lovins said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just been a joy to work with everyone.鈥�

Along with the lessons he has learned working on the show and the connections formed with alumni, Lovins has enjoyed the chance to interact with other, current OHIO students.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a source of connection with those people, to get that extra experience and time in my day to have a reason to vibe together鈥ith people who I wouldn鈥檛 usually know within my sphere,鈥� Lovins said.

Katherine Soltis is a junior studying acting and is a featured vocalist in the ensemble of the show, a group of characters which she believes 鈥渄rives the story along.鈥� Soltis has also enjoyed working with the group of actors working on 鈥淪weeney Todd.鈥� 

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鈥淚t鈥檚 good to work with people that are not going into the acting industry鈥eople who are adults in the working world that still do theater and鈥ove it and do it because they鈥檙e passionate about it,鈥� Soltis said.  

Another OHIO alum and adjunct professor in the School of Music working on the show is its director and conductor, Devin Sudman, who has worked at Stuart鈥檚 Opera House since 2015 and has served as Education Director since 2021. In the School of Music he directs OHIO's Bella Voce choir.

鈥淪ince 2015, I have always relied on 51社区, especially for musicians鈥o give them experiential learning opportunities, job opportunities and also to add another skill to their arsenal,鈥� Sudman said.

One of these OHIO musicians is Adeline Collins, a fifth-year student studying double bass performance and music therapy. Collins is playing double bass in the band of her fourth show at Stuart鈥檚, an experience she has returned to many times for good reason.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a really good energy when we are all working together and that鈥檚 something really enjoyable 鈥� it makes it easier to do what you want to do and be artistically free and meld with the rest of the group,鈥� Collins said.

In a group comprised of both community members and OHIO affiliates, Collins has found the benefits of having the experience as a student and enjoys witnessing the combination of talents in the company.

鈥淥ne of the biggest things I noticed my first rehearsal with the people over at Stuart鈥檚鈥as the level of mutual respect that went on, which, especially when you鈥檙e freelancing as a student, can be really hard,鈥� Collins said.

In addition to these cross-community collaborations, Sudman considers Stuart鈥檚 to be 鈥渟o lucky鈥� that the School of Theater is willing to rent and loan props, costumes and sets to the opera house. For example, approximately 70% of the costumes for 鈥淪weeney Todd鈥� are borrowed from the School of Theater.

鈥淐ollaboration is key,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 do anything here at Stuart鈥檚 in a silo, we definitely figure out our community partners, our key interests and we make it all happen together.鈥�

One of the core conceptual collaborations within this particular production is between the show itself and its venue.

鈥淥n the first of day of rehearsal, Devin told us to think of the story in a cyclical theme and that we were a cast that has been stuck in the opera house forced to retell this story over and over again,鈥� Pelham added. 鈥溾€here鈥檚 so much history in the space itself and interesting connections you can make within this show that performing it in this venue feels almost haunting.鈥�

Sudman described this cyclical theme as a curse that resulted from no one in the show learning their lessons after allowing their basic and most inhuman hungers motivate them. This theme of hunger is the 鈥渄riving mechanic鈥� of this production, from the people on the street stricken by famine to the bloodthirsty titular character.

鈥淪he (Mrs. Lovett) has this hunger, this lust for the character of Sweeney and for a better life overall,鈥� Pelham said. 鈥淪he wants security and a life she never had with this man and she鈥檚 willing to do pretty much anything to get it.鈥�

This characterization of Mrs. Lovett is part of why Pelham considers her to be one of the most complex and challenging characters to portray, a journey which is just as rewarding as it is difficult.

鈥淢y favorite part is definitely the process,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 learning who this character is, working with your fellow castmates to define your relationships with them and then being able to sing this score.鈥�

The score of 鈥淪weeney Todd鈥� is one of Stephen Sondheim鈥檚 most challenging works to perform, a sentiment echoed by all three members of the company; Lovins has to manage eleven key changes between two songs alone. However, the intricacy of the music is well worth the challenges.

鈥淟ook at what the driving motivations for these characters are and appreciate the little details within the music that amplify those wants 鈥� it鈥檚 found throughout the entire show,鈥� Pelham advised prospective audience members.

Soltis has also found joy within the challenges of the score.

鈥溾€橲weeney Todd鈥� is hard,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a hard show to learn鈥t was definitely challenging, but I like being challenged so I thought the music process was really fun.鈥�

Sudman has made it a 鈥減ersonal mission鈥� to introduce current OHIO students to the opportunities provided by Stuart鈥檚 Opera House, from summer internships to performing opportunities throughout the year in order to help them 鈥渇ind what their thing is in the realm of music and performing arts.鈥�

Lovins provides a firsthand account of this mission, describing his work with Stuart鈥檚 Opera House as 鈥渁 wonderfully academically challenging experience.鈥�

鈥淪weeney Todd鈥� is one of the heavier shows in musical theater and audience members are advised to consider the content warnings of the show before attending but are also encouraged not to shy away from the themes it presents.

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to bring this story to our community, even though it鈥檚 not the most positive or uplifting show,鈥� Sudman said. 鈥�... I think for where we are in the world right now and the lessons that we need to learn collectively as a society, this story really puts that in our faces and asks us: are we the problem?鈥�

For more information and to purchase tickets visit .