The Tale of Sweeney Todd character of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, originated in an 1846–47 penny dreadful entitled "The String of Pearls". In 1847, George Dibdin Pitt adapted the story for a stage melodrama. A directed by George King was the first screen version. Christopher Bond's 1973 stage adaptation was musicalized by Stephen Sondheim in 1979. Schlesinger's film is a dramatic departure from the previous narratives. It dispenses with all the characters except Todd and Lovett, adds the plotline involving the missing diamonds, and offers a completely different reason for Todd's murder spree. The Victorian era locales were filmed in Dublin,
Todd London (professor) Todd London (professor) Todd London is the Executive Director at the University of Washington School of Drama. London currently holds the Floyd U. Jones Family Endowed Chair in Drama. London holds an MFA in Directing from Boston University and a PhD in Literary Studies from American University. He served as Artistic Director of New Dramatists in New York for 18 seasons. He is also a writer and theatre historian. He has authored, co-authored, or edited more than fifteen books. Todd London is a frequent speaker at artistic conferences and gatherings throughout the world. He has taught at the University of