Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the villain of the Victorian penny dreadful serial "The String of Pearls" (1846–47). The tale became a staple of Victorian melodrama and London urban legend, and has been retold many times since, most notably in the Tony award–winning by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler. Claims that Sweeney Todd was a historical person are strongly disputed by scholars, although possible legendary prototypes exist. In the original version of the tale, Todd is a barber who dispatches his victims by pulling a lever as they sit in his barber chair.
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