PHOTO CALL: Sweeney Todd, with Mark Jacoby, at Sacramento Music Circus

By Matthew Blank
July 24, 2008

For the third production of its 2008 Music Circus season California Musical Theatre is presenting Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Tony Award-winning Sweeney Todd.

Staged in the round by Glenn Casale, the classic musical thriller of barber-ism and culinary crime began its eight-performance run July 22 at downtown Sacramento's Wells Fargo Pavilion.

A pair of Tony nominees lead the cast. Taking on the title role is Broadway veteran Mark Jacoby, Tony-nominated for his turn as Gaylord Ravenal in the 1995 revival of Show Boat. The leading man's other Broadway credits include Father in the original cast of Ragtime, Padre in the 2002 revival of Man of La Mancha and the title role in Phantom of the Opera. He was most recently seen as Judge Turpin in the minimalist John Doyle-directed revival of Sweeney.

Mary Gordon Murray plays Mrs. Lovett. Previously seen on The Great White Way in Footloose, Into the Woods and I Love My Wife, she received a Tony nomination for her performance as Belle in Little Me.

Also featured are August Emerson as Tobias, Michael G. Hawkins (a veteran of over a dozen Music Circus productions) as Judge Turpin, Heather Lee (Tessie Tura in the 2003 Gypsy revival) as the Beggar Woman, Kevin McMahon as Pirelli, Roland Rusinek (Phantom of the Opera) as The Beadle, Carolann M. Sanita (Maria in Music Circus' West Side Story) as Johanna and Max von Essen (Les Misérables, Jesus Christ Superstar) as Anthony Hope.

Philip Michael Baskerville, Dan Debenport, Michael Dotson, Claybourne Elder, Keith Fortner, Pega Kadkhodaian, Christy Morton, Joël René, Brett Rigby, Natalie Ross, Christine Rowan, Joseph Sark, Stacey Scotte and Maurice Whitfield round out the ensemble.

Sacramento's jam-packed summer season will continue with productions of Swing! (July 29-Aug. 3), My Fair Lady (Aug. 5-10), Evita (Aug. 12-17) and Hairspray (Aug. 19-28).

Tickets and information may be found at www.SacramentoMusicCircus.com

Here is a look at the production, which concludes its run July 27:

"These are my friends..." Mark Jacoby as Sweeney Todd and Mary Gordon Murray as Mrs. Lovett

"At last, my right arm is complete again!" Mark Jacoby as Sweeney Todd and Mary Gordon Murray as Mrs. Lovett

August Emerson as Tobias		Max von Essen as Anthony and Carolann M. Sanita as Johanna

Carolann M. Sanita as Johanna and Max von Essen as Anthony

Kevin McMahon as Pirelli and Mark Jacoby as Sweeney

Carolann M. Sanita as Johanna and Michael G. Hawkins as Judge Turpin

Mark Jacoby as Sweeney and Michael G. Hawkins as Judge Turpin		Heather Lee as the Beggar Woman and Mark Jacoby as Sweeney

"By the Sea" Mark Jacoby as Sweeney Todd and Mary Gordon Murray as Mrs. Lovett

Photos by Charr Crail