“Sweeney Todd”: The Berkshires’ Barber of Barrington for 2010

The first snows of the winter haven’t fallen yet – at least, not here at Nippertown.com headquarters – but plenty of local arts organizations are already focused squarely on their upcoming summer season of offerings.

The Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Mass. is first out of the box with the announcement that the centerpiece musicial of their 2010 summer season will be “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” the winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Opening on Thursday, June 17, the production will celebrate the 80th birthday of the musical’s composer Stephen Soundheim. The show will run through Saturday, July 17.

The Barrington Stage Co. production will be directed by Julianne Boyd and will star Jeff McCarthy, who has previous graced the Barrington Stage in performances of “Follies” and “Mack and Mabel.” In addition’s McCarthy has starred on Broadway as Billy Flynn in the revival of “Chicago,” Officer Lockstock in the original production of “Urinetown,” and Beast in the original production of “Beauty and the Beast.”

Special discounts are available on tickets purchased before the end of the year.

It’s going to be a bloody good time!