Coastal Carolina University’s Department of Music will present “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert” on Thursday, Sept. 12, and Friday, Sept. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Wheelwright Auditorium.

In this musical thriller, acclaimed Metropolitan Opera baritone Louis Otey will play the role of Sweeney Todd, a man who returns from 15 years’ unjust imprisonment to find his wife reported dead and his daughter under the care of the judge who imprisoned him.  Aiding him in plotting his revenge, his landlord and piemaker, Mrs. Lovett (played by Ann Benson, CCU faculty member and New York City opera star), knows of a particularly delicious way to dispose of Judge Turpin’s (Stann Gwynn) body.  CCU music professor David Bankston stages this concert version with musical direction by Steven Gross.

In the lead-up to the production, CCU’s Cultural Arts Program will host a blood drive on Tuesday, Sept. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.in front of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration, and a food drive benefiting the Lowcountry Food Bank in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts and Wheelwright Auditorium from Sept. 3 to 13.  Those who donate blood or canned meats and proteins will receive a $3 discount on ticket prices.  Discounts are also avaialble at the Horry County Branch of the Lowcountry Foodbank at 200 Broadway Street near downtown Myrtle Beach. 

Tickets for the event range from $15 to $20 for general admission.  Teens, CCU and HGTC alumni, OLLI members and senior citizens receive a $5 discount, and children’s tickets are $5.  Seating is limited and reserved. To purchase tickets, visit or call the Wheelwright Box Office at 843-349-ARTS (2787) or visit coastal.edu/culturalarts.  Wheelwright Auditorium is located on the Conway campus at 108 Spadoni Park Circle.

For more information on these events, contact Alli Crandell at 843-349-5099 or acrandell@coastal.edu. 

*Additionally, check out this article on how you can help the production and the Lowcountry Food Bank.*