Great Lakes Theater’s Sweeney Todd Serves Steampunk and Sinister Sweets
Liam Cutwater · November 3, 2026
Great Lakes Theater’s Sweeney Todd brings steampunk style and culinary chaos to Playhouse Square in Cleveland. Expect sinister laughs and meat pies galore.
Cleveland—grab your goggles and your appetite for theatrics. Great Lakes Theater’s Sweeney Todd just landed at Playhouse Square, and they’re slicing into Sondheim’s dark musical with a wickedly good steampunk style. Forget Broadway’s buttoned-up Victorians: this is a feast for the eyes and ears Cleveland didn’t know it craved.
Steampunk Style with Cleveland Grit
Director Victoria Bussert swaps foggy London for a deliciously dystopian, gear-spun vision. Three towering cogs loom ominously over the stage, and every inch of Trad A Burns’ set screams with iron railings, rivets, and enough pipework to make your local industrial museum weep.
- Gothic-meets-industrial aesthetic
- Leather, corsets, and more buckles than a Lakewood thrift shop
- Steamy fog, metallic makeup, Victorian grandeur
It’s pure Cleveland DIY spirit—if the West Side Market ever goes full cosplay, this is it.
What’s Cooking: Sweeney and Lovett’s Killer Recipe
This version puts the "meat" back in meat pies. Mark Bedard’s Sweeney Todd is brooding, bald, and more intimidating than your ex’s father. Beside him, Jillian Kates as Mrs. Lovett is a tornado of red curls, mad mischief, and questionable culinary choices. Their duet, "A Little Priest," mixes murder and comedy in a way only Clevelanders could appreciate.
- Mark Bedard: clean-cut, steely, and deeply wounded
- Jillian Kates: energetic, hilarious, hard to peel your eyes off
- On-stage chemistry that sizzles (even when they’re talking human pie)
The Show’s Musical Cast Delivers
From high-society horror to street-level schemes, the supporting cast brings Sondheim’s complex score to life. Ana Lauren Rodriguez (Johanna) stuns with vocal heights, while Ethan Flanagan (Anthony) brings charm (and a sailor’s swagger). Sean Patrick Doyle’s over-the-top Pirelli and the adorable, earnest Tobias (Tate Cinti) add comic relief and a dose of heart.
- Judge Turpin: Matthew Wright as the blustering villain
- Adolfo Pirelli: Dramatic, crowd-pleasing, slightly unhinged
- Standouts: Jessie Cope Miller (Beggar Woman), Ricky Moyer (Beadle Bamford)
Why It Matters for Cleveland’s Food and Arts Scene
Sure, Sweeney Todd is about vengeance, tragedy, and, fine, some light cannibalism. But Great Lakes Theater elevates the culinary horrors into a visual—and metaphorical—smorgasbord. Mrs. Lovett’s crumbling bakery gets a second life thanks to Sweeney’s “fresh” ingredients, a sly wink to the lengths Cleveland foodies go for the perfect fusion dish.
- Local creatives: Lighting, costume, and sound designed by CLE’s best
- Steampunk themes mesh with the city’s industrial history
- A celebration of reinvention, resilience, and risky taste (sound familiar?)
How to Attend Great Lakes Theater’s Sweeney Todd
The show runs through mid-November at Playhouse Square. If you dig dark humor, epic music, or thought the last Warehouse District pop-up was too tame, you need to go.
- Location: Playhouse Square, Cleveland
- Tickets: Available online or at the box office
- Dress code: Optional goggles and mustaches, but at least wear black
The Bottom Line: Get Your (Meat) Pie Fix While You Can
Cleveland’s theater scene just cooked up one of its boldest, most atmospheric shows of the year. Whether you’re a Sondheim devotee or just here for the culinary carnage, Great Lakes Theater’s Sweeney Todd is must-see mayhem. Grab tickets, bring your sense of adventure, and watch out for the pies!