I was a teen when I watched the 1982 production of Sweeney Todd starring George Hearn and Angela Lansbury on a scratchy VHS. It instantly became one of my favorite musicals.

Years later, I got the concert DVD starring George Hearn and Patti LuPone. Great performances captured with better sound & video quality than before.

The story is packed with visuals. A film version was inevitable. When the movie dropped — directed by Tim Burton, no less — I was beyond excited. I watched it in theater multiple times.

Finally, more than a decade after watching that VHS tape in Drama class, I saw Sweeney Todd live! Opening night. Played by the New York Philharmonic, starring Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson. An amazing amount of talent took the stage.

It’s fun seeing how different each version is while staying true to the original story and lyrics. They all shine in their own way. I’m looking forward to the next one.