Sweeney Todd | Idaho Shakespeare Festival

Stephen Sondheim’s chilling, heart-pounding masterpiece continues at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival in a production built for the open-air stage. This rare musical thriller tells the infamous tale of Sweeney Todd, the unjustly exiled barber who returns to 19th-century London consumed by revenge — and the enterprising Mrs. Lovett, who finds a, shall we say, resourceful use for his handiwork in her struggling pie shop. Sondheim’s sophisticated, breathtaking score collides with visceral drama and the deliciously dark humor of Hugh Wheeler’s book, leaving you laughing hysterically one moment and gasping in surprise the next. Directed by Victoria Bussert, this is a centerpiece of ISF’s milestone 50th anniversary season — and August is your last chance to catch it before it closes.

There’s no better place to take it in than ISF’s beloved outdoor amphitheater in the Barber Valley, where nature and theater blend seamlessly under the summer sky. Pack a picnic, grab a glass of wine, and settle into the terraced seating or bring a blanket for the lawn. It’s a quintessential Boise summer tradition — and one of the best nights out the Treasure Valley has to offer.