Muir Musical Ensemble Presents “Sweeney Todd” April 11-13 at UC San Diego

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The University of California, San Diego’s annual Muir Musical returns this year with a production of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” This chilling tale of a man wrongly accused and seeking revenge through the guise of a barber shop will bring together students from all six colleges for a full-scale Broadway show by the Muir Musical Ensemble. A tradition for over two decades, the musical will run at 8 p.m. from April 11-13 on the UC San Diego campus and is open to the public.

More than 80 undergraduates make up the cast and crew for the campus’s only student-run production. The musical is open to students of all areas of study, offering both theatre majors and those with no prior experience the opportunity to sing, act, design costumes, perform in the orchestra and construct lighting systems while gaining valuable skills in project management, leadership, public speaking and creative expression.

Hanah Yendler, a senior at UC San Diego studying economics and history, is the lead makeup artist for this year’s production. Her interest in theater began in middle and high school, where she developed her skills in designing hair and makeup. “I love makeup because of its transformative process,” Yendler said. “It really helps the actor get into character, from the crippling old age of the Witch from ‘Into the Woods,’ to the iconic green skin of Elphaba in ‘Wicked,’ and now the pale face, deep shadows and bloodshot eyes of Benjamin Barker in ‘Sweeney Todd.’”

Yendler was excited to discover that despite her choice to major in the social sciences, she could continue to develop her skills in theater production through the Muir Musical. “In my sophomore year, I found the Muir Musical which I love because it is accessible to non-theatre major students,” said Yendler. “It has always been an extremely collaborative and easy process, with the students working really well together to generate something that they feel passionate about.”

This year will mark the 20th performance produced by the Muir Musical Ensemble, a program designed to foster a spirit of community on campus and bring together students from all backgrounds.

“This experience provides students the opportunity to be creative, work collaboratively and gain essential leadership skills while learning about theatre production,” said Patricia Mahaffey, Muir College dean of Student Affairs. “The musical brings together students from all majors in this unique production that grows more impressive each year.”

Previous performances have included “Cabaret,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat,” “RENT” and “The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” The musical is funded by the Muir College Provost Fund, UC San Diego Parents Innovation Fund, Muir College Council, UC San Diego’s Associated Students, founding Provost John L. Stewart’s Humanities Fund, UCSD Alumni, Council of Provosts and all six colleges.

“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” will run at 8 p.m., April 11-13 at the Mandeville Auditorium on the UC San Diego campus. General admission tickets are $15; faculty and staff, $12; and students, $10. Tickets are available through the UC San Diego Box Office. For more information about the production, visit the Muir Musical website.