Turtle Creek Chorale & Uptown Players Collaborate to present “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”

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TURTLE CREEK CHORALE & UPTOWN PLAYERS COLLABORATE TO PRESENT BROADWAY THRILLER SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET

DALLAS, April 8, 2014 – Following the smashing success of last spring’s production of Ragtime, Turtle Creek Chorale (TCC), Dallas’ award-winning men’s chorus, and the critically acclaimed Uptown Players are thrilled to collaborate again to present a concert version of Stephen Sondheim’s SWEENEY TODD: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street April 24-26 at Dallas City Performance Hall (2520 Flora Street, Dallas). Tickets range $39-54 and are available at www.TurtleCreek.org.

Turtle Creek Chorale and Uptown Players join forces with a combined cast of over 150 actors, singers, and members of the TCC for a concert version of SWEENEY TODD, the chilling Broadway musical thriller and 2005 Tony Awards winner for Best Direction and Orchestration. This musical collaboration celebrates the best artistic talents of these two organizations: the powerful sound of TCC coupled with the innovative acting of Uptown Players.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler, this musical thriller tells the story of Benjamin Barker, aka SWEENEY TODD, who returns to London after 15 years of false imprisonment. Aided and abetted by the pie-shop owner, Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney sets out to avenge the wrongs done to him and his family. The haunting sounds of this musical include “No Place Like London,” “God That’s Good,” “Joanna” and “Worst Pies in London” and is not to be missed!

SWEENEY TODD will be directed by Michael Serrecchia with musical direction by TCC’s Artistic Director Trey Jacobs. “The juxtaposition of the macabre with intense humor throughout creates a very compelling story. The wall of sound created by the ensemble is just incredible, and once again Michael (Serrecchia) breathes such life into this concert production with ingenious staging that is sure to captivate audiences,” commented Jacobs.

An all-star cast joins Turtle Creek Chorale:

Sweeney Todd – Brian Mathis

Mrs. Lovett – Jenny Thurman

Anthony Hope – John Campione

Joanna – Kristen Lassiter

Judge Turpin – Tom DeWester

Beadle Bamford – Jay Gardner

Beggar Woman – Susan Riley

Adolfo Pirelli – Peter DiCesare

Tobias Ragg – Jacob Barnes

Tickets are available by calling 214-526-3214 or purchase online at www.TurtleCreek.org.

ABOUT TURTLE CREEK CHORALE

Turtle Creek Chorale (TCC) is currently enjoying its 34th season as a landmark all-male chorus. With over 175 dues-paying volunteer singing and associate members, TCC presents a full concert series at the Meyerson Symphony Center and Dallas City Performance Hall. While our programs cover a wide range of musical styles, the Chorale’s core message combines laughter, tears, and inspiration so that each of us may celebrate the human spirit as well as points of unity. Using choral music as our instrument, TCC creates extraordinary musical experiences for all and enhances the cultural lives of our members and audiences through numerous community outreach concerts, free ticket programs, service events, and our annual Partners in Harmony concert. We remain committed to creating meaningful, synergistic collaborations with other local arts groups, promoting harmony in our community, and building bridges.

ABOUT UPTOWN PLAYERS

Now in its thirteenth season, Uptown Players has gathered a dedicated following with an annual audience base of over 15,000 patrons. The response from the community and critics has been remarkable, including more than 25 Leon Rabin Awards from the Dallas Theatre League, hundreds of “The Column” Awards and 20 Theatre Critics Forum Awards in its first 12 seasons.
In recent years, its productions of Next To Normal and The Producers have made top 10 lists in The Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Voice, TheaterJones, and The Column online. Uptown Players has also been named the Best Theatre Company by the Dallas Voice Readers Awards, and the Dallas Observer, and has appeared on the WFAA-A list and Best of Big D – D Magazine. Uptown Players has been featured on Good Morning Texas and with Ron Corning on Daybreak on WFAA. Uptown Players is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, presenting plays and musicals that challenge audiences artistically, build cultural bridges, and strive to create greater positive public awareness and acceptance through the performing arts. There is no other theater group with this unique mission in the Dallas area.

TREY JACOBS, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Trey Jacobs has been named the Artistic Director for the Turtle Creek Chorale after serving for six months in the Interim Conductor post. Before arriving in Dallas, Mr. Jacobs was Assistant Professor and Director of Choral Activities for four years at Eastern Michigan University. While at Eastern Michigan University his choirs performed at the Michigan A.C.D.A Convention and for the Michigan Music Educators Conference. In July 2011, he was the high school choral conductor for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan.

MICHAEL SERRECCHIA, DIRECTOR

Michael has earned his living in the theatre for the past 40 years with 18 of those years on Broadway in such shows as; “Seesaw”, “The Rothchilds”, “Sing Happy”, and “A Chorus Line” (Theatre World Award, Drama Desk Award) to name a few. Feature films include “Jeremy”, “Annie” (the first one) and TV guest appearances on several soap operas like “All My Children” and “As the World Turns”.  Michael toured the world as Chita Rivera’s dance partner in “Chita Plus Two” for four years (Mac Award). Local directing highlights include working with Theatre Three, ICT Mainstage, Theatre Arlington, WaterTower Theatre and Contemporary Theatre of Dallas. Currently, Michael is working with KD Studio Conservatory of Film and Dramatic Arts as Director of the Musical Theatre Degree Program and also with La Paloma Films.

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Media Contact: Nina Koch
nina@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191