Sweeney Todd presented by esō theatricals

Blood, lots of blood. Diverse cast and crew of esō theatricals unique, international, collaborative production of Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street hopes to attract an equally diverse Budapest audience.

Through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) esō theatricals will stage three performances of Sweeney Todd, 16-18 September featuring Hungarian actor and Megasztár finallist, Tamás Pál in the lead role. The international cast features Hungarian Dóra Stróbel in the role of the dubious Mrs Lovett. Attila Bardóczy plays the obsessive Judge Turpin while the role of Anthony Hope will be performed by US-based Chris Hunter. Playing the part of the young Johanna is Viktória Pászthy. Completing the principal cast, we have Brazilian Nicole Chufi as Tobias Ragg, Italian Mario Cossu as The Beadle, Canadian Antoinette Fekete as the Beggar Woman, and Hungarian András Balázs as Adolfo Pirelli.

‘An infamous tale, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to 19th century London seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravished 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!’ (MtiShows.com)

The international production is led by American/Hungarian director Peter Schueller, who is keen to give the audience an experience to remember: ’In this production, we will attempt to create an immersive experience in which the audience feels present and included in a real world. We want them to experience visceral emotional reactions through vividly realistic portrayals of characters while stark contrasts in visual and emotional aspects occur on stage.’

[learn_more caption=”About eso theatricals”] esō theatricals is a non-profit (egyesület) English language theatre company that welcomes expatriate and local actors and audiences. Both its community theatre and professional productions aim to integrate participants of diverse backgrounds through creative, inspiring and culturally interactive performances. esō theatricals follows up its ‘highly entertaining’ (budapesttimes.hu/2016/05/06/broadway-comes-to-budapest/) musical debut with a semi-professional production of this world-renowned show. Visit www.esotheatricals.com or www.facebook.com/esotheatricals for more detailed information about the cast and crew of Sweeney Todd and esō theatricals, including updates on future productions and how to donate.[/learn_more]

Working alongside Schueller for this production is Musical Director, Geoffrey Pope, who is flying in from his creative home of Los Angeles, South-African Lighting Designer, Izak Furstenberg, Hungarian Costume and Scene Art Designer Nikolett Konkoly (a final year Scenography student at the Arts University Bournemouth, UK), and Props Master András Maracskó.

[learn_more caption=”More inormations”] About Peter Schueller –
American/Hungarian director, Peter Schueller, is the Founder and Artistic Director of esō theatricals. Trained in classical vocal performance at the University of Southern California before branching out into musical theater, Schueller has performed as Tony in West Side Story, Frederic in Pirates of Penzance, and was awarded Best Actor in a Musical by stagescenela.com for his portrayal of Bobby Child in Crazy for You. About Geoffrey Pope – Los-Angeles-based Geoffrey Pope has been recognized through numerous appointments and commissions as a conductor and composer. He has been universally praised for his ‘energy and flair’ (Boston Classical Review), conducting a ‘warm and expressive rendering of Britten’s complicated score’ (Boston Musical Intelligencer). As a composer, Pope has enjoyed performances by various ensembles and individuals worldwide, including performances in Prague, Budapest, and Leipzig and locations across the United States. About Izak Furstenberg – South African Lighting Designer, Izak Furstenberg, holds a National Diploma in Performing Arts Technology from Pretoria Technicon, South Africa, and has lit all genres of television over the past 18 years. About Tamás Pál – Tamás Pál, a 2005 finalist in the second series of the Hungarian hit music talent show, Megasztár, has performed in the famous Hungarian musical Képzelt riport, Shakespeare’s Midsummer-Night’s Dream, Some Like it Hot, Fame, Made in Hungária, and Lionel Bart’s Oliver! When not on stage, he can be heard in the dubbed versions of such feature films as The Princess and the Frog, John Rambo, The Muppets Movie, Inception, Frozen, and The Book of Life. About Dóra Stróbel Dóra – Stróbel has previously performed in Dance of the Vampires as Magda and Sarah, Rudolf, Mozart, Fame, We Will Rock You, Elisabeth, Houdini, Isadora and Covershow in Budapest, and in Vienna, Dance of the Vampires and Jesus Christ Superstar. She can be heard on the soundtracks of Made in Hungária (achieving Gold album status), Dance of the Vampires (Budapest), Dance of the Vampires (Vienna), Jesus Christ Superstar (Vienna). She studied acting, singing, and dancing at the school of the Budapest Operetta Theater. About Attila Bardóczy – Highlights of Attila Bardóczy’s illustrious career include playing Maurice in The Beauty and the Beast both at the Budapest Operetta Theater and in Dresden/Mannheim, Don Pedro in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Max in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s iconic The Sound of Music at the Városmajori Szabadtéri Színpad, Peron in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita at the Agria Summer Games and abroad in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Holland. Other productions and roles include A Balkon at the Művészetek Palotája, the title role in Mozart! at the Budapest Operetta Theater, and Count Orlofsky in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus in Japan. Main feature film dubbing roles include Meki in South Park, Rocca in Stingers and Captain McCrea in WALL-E. Attila is also a passionate chansonnier, having once won the award for ‘Best Foreign Performer’ at an international chanson contest in Paris. About Chris Hunter – US-based Chris Hunter is coming from the USA on a performance grant from UCLA to play the part of Anthony Hope, a role he has previously performed, as well as leading roles in The Phantom of the Opera, The Fantasticks, and La Bohéme. About Viktória Pászthy – Viktória Pászthy studied acting, singing and dancing at the studio of the Madách Theatre. Her first stage appearance was in Abigél at the Budapest Operetta Theater. Ms. Pászthy has been seen in many stage productions in Hungary including Mártírok, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sztarcsinálók, Godspell, and Hello, Dolly! She has also appeared on screen in Az utolsó betyár and Kincsem.. Pászthy is currently a member of the Magyar Lovas Színház. [/learn_more]

Performance schedule

Date: 2016 September 16, 17 at 19:00 and September 18 at 14:30

Venue: IBS Színpad, H-1021 Budapest, Tárogató út 2-4.

Facebook event HERE.

Tickets: 3000 HUF available at the door, at jegy.hu or at esotheatricals.com

In English with Hungarian surtitles.

Source: esotheatricals.com