James Verderamo spent ten years in the U.S. Air Force before trading his uniform for a stage career. Now the Wilmington native is back in the First State playing the title role in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at the Milton Theatre, and he stopped by our live Good Morning Delaware show to talk with Ivan and Ashley about the journey.
Who Is James Verderamo?
James Verderamo grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, and caught the theater bug early. He performed in school productions at Red Lion and appeared on local stages with the Wilmington Drama League, the Milburn Stone Theatre, and the University of Delaware’s Harrington Theatre Arts Company.
Today he is a New York City–based actor who trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and has worked in regional theater, Off-Broadway productions, and film. His role in Milton marks his professional theater debut in his home state after 12 years away.
From Air Force Service to a Career in Acting
Before acting became his full-time path, Verderamo served ten years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force as an aviator, instructor, and linguist, with assignments around the world. On Good Morning Delaware, he walked Ivan and Ashley through what it took to leave a decade of military service behind and start over in a completely different profession.
It is a story that will resonate with any veteran, career changer, or Delawarean who has wondered whether it is too late to chase something new. His answer, judging by where he is standing now, is no.
James Verderamo in Sweeney Todd at the Milton Theatre
Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd is one of musical theater’s most demanding and darkly thrilling shows, and the title role is a dream part for many performers. Verderamo told MyChesCo that, like most bass-baritones in the industry, it is a role he has always hoped to play one day.
In the interview, James Verderamo talks about stepping into the role of Sweeney Todd, performing for a home-state audience, and what his career change has taught him. Watch the full segment above to hear it in his own words.
Why Sweeney Todd Is a Must-See Musical
With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler, Sweeney Todd premiered on Broadway in 1979 and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The story follows a barber who returns to Victorian London seeking revenge on the judge who wrongly sent him away, and teams up with pie-shop owner Mrs. Lovett in one of theater’s most famously grim partnerships.
The score is packed with soaring, complex numbers that push singers to their limits, which is exactly why the lead role is so prized among bass-baritones. Seeing a Delaware-raised performer take it on at a local venue like the Milton Theatre is a rare opportunity for theater fans in the state.
Sweeney Todd Show and Ticket Information
- Show: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
- Starring: James Verderamo as Sweeney Todd
- Venue: Milton Theatre, 110 Union Street, Milton, DE 19968
- Runs through: Sunday, October 11, 2026
- Tickets: Available at MiltonTheatre.com
With only a handful of performances left, now is the time to catch one of the biggest community theater productions in Sussex County this fall.
Watch More Good Morning Delaware Interviews
Good Morning Delaware features live conversations with the people, artists, and organizations that make our state special. Catch more stories from the local arts scene in DETV Arts, read about Delaware’s rising arts scene, and subscribe to DETV on YouTube so you never miss an episode.
Have you ever made a major career change, or thought about pursuing something completely different? Tell us in the comments below.
