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The annual summer collaboration between the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the award-winning New Jersey Youth Theatre undertakes its most ambitious production yet with a retelling of Stephen Sondheim's macabre, Tony Award-winning musical thriller, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. In this Summer Musical Program, talented young actors and musicians from across the state learn what it takes to mount a Broadway-level production, from acting, singing and dancing to playing in the orchestra and behind the scenes work, all at no cost to them.

Humor with reign supreme as this new production of the classic tells the suspenseful, razor-sharp story of barber Benjamin Barker (aka Sweeney Todd), who returns to grimy 19th-century London vowing to extract bloody revenge for his false imprisonment with the help of immoral baker Mrs. Lovett. Their twisted strategy: Sweeney will murder his victims in his barber chair and Mrs. Lovett will turn them into the tastiest meat pies in London. Johnny Depp starred in the film version.

NJPAC performances are scheduled for July 17-26 and at Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan July 31-August 9.

The NJPAC/NJYT production of Sweeney Todd features a multi-cultural cast of 30 talented New Jersey actors, ages 15 to 22 years old. The principal cast includes: Kevin Melendez of West New York as Sweeney Todd (John Adams in the NJYT production of 1776); Jaclyn Ingoglia of North Caldwell as Mrs. Lovett (Adelaide in the NJYT production of Guys and Dolls), Eryn LeCroy of Belle Mead as Johanna; Stephen Mir of Bloomfield as Anthony; Adam Bashian of Wyckoff as Judge Turpin; Christopher Georgetti of Nutley as Beadle; Kirk Geritano of Edison as Pirelli, Carey Gsell of Glen Ridge as Tobias and Lori Tishfield of Freehold as Beggar Woman/Lucy.

"Our young performers thrive each time we challenge them. Sweeney Todd is the most demanding production we have undertaken in our eighteen years, but I feel confident that the cast and musicians will meet the vocal and dramatic challenges head on and deliver remarkable performances" says Cynthia Meryl, Artistic Director and co-founder of New Jersey Youth Theatre. The Sweeney Todd cast will be accompanied by an orchestra of experienced student musicians and seasoned professionals.

Cynthia Meryl directs the production, with musical direction by Ilene Greenbaum and choreography by Assistant Director Sherry Alban.

Sandra Bowie, Vice President of Arts Education at NJPAC, said of the production, "We look forward to collaborating with NJYT each summer because of the high level of training the program offers to young artists from all over New Jersey, regardless of a student's financial situation. ‘'Undertaking Sondheim is a real challenge, but one from which the students, from cast to orchestra to crew, will learn valuable lessons under the capable and professional hands of staff from NJPAC and NJYT."