‘Sweeney Todd’ set for Reno

Nevada Opera will present Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd,” a musical opera, on Sept. 28 and 30 at the Pioneer Center in Reno.Subtitled “The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” the production is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 and there is a matinee at 2 p.m. Sept. 30.Gary Simpson, Metropolitan Opera baritone, will recreate one of his favorite roles as Sweeney Todd. Reno’s own Cami Thompson, who now operates from the Bay Area, will return to play Mrs. Lovett, a role she has played on several occasions.Thompson appeared in Carson City with the Reno Jazz Orchestra at the close of Jazz & Beyond in August, performing in the open-air amphitheater between the State Capitol building and the Legislative Building.In Reno, the Pioneer Center production will feature the Virtual Theater Design of director Joachim Schamberger, which brings together film and stage to offer an audience experience melding live performers with the celluloid.Tickets, which are available through www.PioneerCenter.com, cost $80, $60, $45 and $30. For seniors or students with valid student identification cards discounts are available. Sondheim did the music and lyrics, Hugh Wheeler the libretto for the musical thriller based on the 1973 play of the same name done by Christopher Bond. It is a revenge tale based in 19th century England.