Just 30 minutes outside of New York City, Grace Ahearn ’27 grew up with Broadway practically in her backyard. The New Jersey native and nursing major got her first taste of theater with Wicked, and while the spectacle pulled her in, it was what was happening behind the scenes that stuck with her in the long run.
“I was like, ‘Wow, how’d they do all that?’ It’s so incredible how people do that eight times a week and put on such phenomenal shows each night. Whenever I go to a show now, I’ll say, ‘That was really interesting, I would love to know how they did that process,’” said Ahearn.
Fortunately, she was able to experience firsthand how to put on a show at Endicott.
Her path into stage management at the College started with a simple yes. During her first semester, a friend texted her about an assistant stage manager opening with Spotlight (Endicott’s drama club), and she decided to jump in.
Now a junior, that journey has led her to her latest role as stage manager for Endicott’s Mainstage production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
In this role, Ahearn helps keep the production running smoothly, coordinating between the cast, crew, and creative team while managing rehearsals and communication across the show.
For Sweeney Todd, that work is especially complex. The performance is packed with technical elements, from staged violence to intricate set pieces and fast-paced scene transitions, all of which require precise timing and coordination. With so many moving parts happening at once, Ahearn plays a key role in making sure every cue, effect, and shift happens seamlessly.
“It’s such a dark and complex tale that we are telling. My first time watching it, I was blown away by the entire story. It’s devastating. It’s powerful. It’s really a true tale about so many different things,” said Ahearn.
Sweeney Todd is an eerie musical thriller with a book by Hugh Wheeler and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, based on a 19th-century legend. The story follows a vengeful barber who murders his customers, while his accomplice, Mrs. Lovett, uses the bodies to bake into her meat pies. Premiering on Broadway in 1979, the show is known for its blend of dark humor, a complex score, and themes of revenge, injustice, and obsession.
“I’m a horror fan and have directed two horror films of my own. The world of Sweeney lends itself to a darker tone that I love exploring,” said Kyle Gregory, director of the show and adjunct professor at Endicott. “It’s a musical about revenge, and one of the questions it asks is, ‘how far is one willing to go to avenge the loss of their family?’”
Gregory’s production leans into the show’s intensity through a highly stylized lens. Rather than the world simply unfolding around Sweeney, the story is shaped by his perspective, with everything happening to him and through him. The ensemble often sings directly to Sweeney, intensifying his unraveling and pushing him further down his path.
The production also introduces six additional ensemble members who serve as “shadows” or “angels of death,” ever-present figures who help move the story forward, adding depth and atmosphere without altering the original material.
“These shadows represent the darkness that may be around us at all times. They are a looming presence. Ultimately, the world is drab and colorless. A giant nightmare,” said Gregory.
Beyond its visual and thematic intensity, the production is also shaped by Stephen Sondheim’s famously complex score, which demands precision, stamina, and deep collaboration across the cast and crew. Bringing that score to life is a 16-piece orchestra, adding power to every moment of the production.
“The music in this show draws on classical idioms and makes them musical theater. There is the famous “Dies Irae” melody, which has been a symbol of the devil in music since the days of Gregorian chant,” said Rebecca Kenneally, Chair of Performing Arts. “It’s so engaging because it makes you feel unsettled and off kilter right along with the story.”
Added Kenneally: “With all the talk of the challenge and complexity, it’s easy to think it might be hard to follow or absorb—but that’s the genius of it. It’s singable, catchy, funny, and riveting. You will be entertained in ways you have never been before.”
While the show is rooted in an ominous tone, light and humor emerge through certain characters and scenes. The character of Mrs. Lovett, in particular, is unexpectedly funny, bringing a quirky, offbeat energy that adds levity even in the most unsettling moments.
“The best humor comes from commitment to character. The more committed the actors are to character, the funnier the bits. The funnier the bits, the darker it gets—juxtaposing humor and horror that way. It all balances itself in a sick and twisted way,” said Kenneally.
That balance is also reflected in the show’s more hopeful characters, who offer moments of sincerity amid the chaos. Anthony Hope (no pun intended), played by digital media major Ryan Abbott ’26, is a young sailor who falls in love with Sweeney Todd’s daughter, Johanna.
“He’s yearning for something more. In the first song, you are introduced to him, and he says that he’s sailed the world, but there’s no place like London. Even though it’s a dark and gritty London, he still is able to see the beauty of it, and just how much it means to him,” said Abbott.
That sense of perspective and appreciation mirrors Abbott’s own experience at Endicott. Having been in multiple productions throughout his time at the Nest, he has built close relationships with many of his fellow cast members.
“It’s really amazing how we’ve made this performing arts community so tight-knit, but also open for anyone and everyone to join,” said Abbott. “You don’t have to be a performing arts major. You can be a business major, a nursing major, or an environmental science major: any and all people are welcome.”
Now a senior, Sweeney Todd marks Abbott’s final production. As he takes the stage one last time, he hopes audiences embrace both the darkness and humor of the show, finding moments of enjoyment within its complex story.
Gregory agrees as well.
“Our cast, our designers, and our team have been working extremely hard to bring this nightmare to life. I truly feel the team has been building something special, and if our audience leaves the theater feeling and thinking, “that was disturbingly awesome,” or “that was a beautiful nightmare,” we have done our jobs and justice for this piece,” he said.
Want to see Sweeney Todd? Tickets are on sale now for April 8, 9, 10, 11 (2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.), and 12.
Photo courtesy of Madison Durfee of Madison Noel Photography.