“Sweeney Todd” is a horror musical written by Stephen Sondheim. “Sweeney” follows the titular barber, Sweeney Todd, who lost his wife, Lucy, and child, Johanna, to the corrupt Judge Turpin. He then goes on a long quest for revenge, meeting various characters like Mrs. Lovett and Tobias and killing any poor soul who dares to step into his barbershop.

For “Sweeney,” the cast consists of 35 students, but combined with the onstage crew, backstage crew and the pit, there’s a total of 73. Those who are part of the musical have had to attend more than 200 hours of after-school rehearsals for the past three months.

The musical, which runs Jan. 22-24, will be the school edition, meaning it’s suitable for kids ages 12 and up. It is a bloodless Sweeney Todd, with the violence dialed down.

For theater director Brandi Perkins, choosing “Sweeney Todd” for the musical felt like the next step after already doing “The Little Mermaid” and “Barnum,” which were lighter and less serious musicals. Perkins said that the students were due for something a bit darker and more serious and with a name that people would immediately recognize.

“I really loved watching the students grow,” Perkins said. “Hearing them at their first musical rehearsal and hearing them the first time they sing with the pit, and then every day, like where they are today versus where they even were on Monday. They grow every day, and it’s such a pleasure to watch them do what they love and be really good at it.”

The fine arts directors involved with the musical all work together, which helps lessen the load of the musical from Perkins’s shoulders. Orchestra director Evan Farmer directed the pit, including orchestra and band students. Assistant director Courtney Neuwirth managed the tech theater students. Choir director Christine Donley helped with the singing aspects of the play, while Perkins was able to focus on the actors.

“We all really like each other,” Perkins said. “We’re all friends outside of the musical and work, and so it’s always a pleasure to work with them and see how talented they are. I don’t always get to see the choir direct the choir or the orchestra direct the orchestra, so it’s nice.”