USU Opera Takes on the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

LOGAN — The USU Opera performs Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, the tale of an unjustly exiled barber who seeks vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and assaulted his young wife. The musical plays in the Utah Theatre April 13-15 at 7:30 p.m. and April 16 at 4 p.m.

Sweeney Todd is guest directed by Michael Shipley, assistant professor of acting, voice, and speech in the Caine College of the Arts, with musical director Dallas Aksoy, director of opera in the CCA. The musical will be performed in collaboration with a student pit orchestra.

“I like to get student input on what pieces they’d like to perform, and this piece was suggested by some cast members and received enthusiastic support,” Aksoy said. “I’ve not yet produced a Sondheim work during my tenure at USU and felt that this would be a great learning experience for the students.”

The USU Opera Theatre is the CCA’s performing dramatic musical ensemble. Under the direction of Dallas Aksoy, engaging productions of opera, operetta, and musical theater provide developing singers the opportunity to acquire and refine the skills that singing actors need to be successful, versatile performers and multi-faceted pedagogues.

“As USU Opera productions are housed in the Music Department, we have to look for outside support when it comes to mounting staged works,” Aksoy said. “I love working with faculty from the Department of Theatre Arts and try to engage them in our productions whenever possible so our students can benefit from their expertise to have better acting training and pre-professional experiences on stage.”

Aksoy said that vocal performance majors need to learn how to be expressive, dynamic actors as much as they need musical training to be competitive future performers or teachers, and the way they get that training in their degree program is through USU Opera.

“I’m very grateful Michael was available and excited to work with us on this production and have seen how much his involvement benefitted our students,” Aksoy said.

Aksoy also expressed gratitude for Dennis Hassan, professor of scene design in the CCA, nothing that he always helps the shows look amazing and provides students with opportunities to learn more about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into theatrical costume and scenic design.

“I look forward to more future collaborations with both Dennis and Michael in future years,” Aksoy said.

Tickets for Sweeney Todd are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and youth ages 8-17, and free for USU students with ID. Content advisory: murder, violence, voyeurism, blood, self-harm. For more information and tickets to the performance, contact the CCA Box Office in room L101 of the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s campus, call 435-797-8022, or go online to cca.usu.edu.