Photo by Nigel Parry

Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris

Michael Cerveris (Sweeney Todd) and Patti LuPone (Mrs Lovett) lead a ten member cast in the upcoming Broadway production of Sondheim's musical thriller Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, opening at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on the 3 Nov 2005, following previews from the 3 Oct 2005.

Rounding out the ten member cast are: John Arbo (Jonas Fogg), Donna Lynne Champlin (Pirelli), Diana DiMarzio (Beggar Woman), Manoel Felciano (Tobias Ragg), Alexander Gemignani (The Beadle), Mark Jacoby (Judge Turpin), Benjamin Magnuson (Anthony Hope), Lauren Molina (Johanna).

Sweeney Todd has music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler from an adaptation by Christopher Bond. The production will feature direction by John Doyle and musical direction and arrangements by Sarah Travis, both of whom will recreate their work from the London production.

This production arrives on Broadway from a highly successful London engagement originally staged by the Watermill Theatre which opened at the Trafalgar on the 27 Jul 2004 to wide critical acclaim. That run ended on the 9 Oct 2004 to prepare for a subsequent West End transfer to the New Ambassadors Theatre where it opened on the 13 Oct 2004 and finished its limited engagement on the 5 Feb 2005.

This innovative new production of Stephen Sondheim's and Hugh Wheeler's musical features a multi-talented musical instrument-playing cast. Upon opening, the Evening Standard raved; "A spectacular and razor sharp production that bristles with invention…the show opens your mind to a hugely innovative production." And in the Independent, the critic cheered; "A triumphant new angle on a musical masterpiece."

(Click here to read www.londontheatre.co.uk, our sister site, review of the London Production.)

Sweeney Todd is based on the 19th century legend of a London barber, who is driven to crime when a malevolent judge takes his wife and child from him. His plan for revenge includes a cut-throat partnership with Mrs. Lovett, an enterprising businesswomen, who is soon producing the tastiest meat pies in London.

The original production of Sweeney Todd opened on Broadway at the Uris Theatre (now the Gershwin) on the 1 Mar 1979 in a production directed by Harold Prince. The musical won 8 1979 Tony Awards including Best Musical of the year.

Subsequent major productions of Sweeney Todd include Harold Prince's 1980 London production at the Theatre Royal Drury lane, Susan H. Schulman's 1989 Broadway production at Circle In The Square and Declan Donnellan's 1993 production at the National Theatre in London.

This production will mark the first time Sweeney Todd has been seen on Broadway in over 16 years.

(For more information click here)

Biogaphies:

Michael Cerveris (Sweeney Todd) Broadway: Assassins (Tony Award), The Who's Tommy (Tony Award nomination, Theatre World Award, Grammy for Original Cast Album), Titanic: The Musical. London West End: Hedwig and the Angry Inch (also Off-Broadway and Los Angeles, Garland Award). Off-Broadway: Wintertime (2nd Stage and McCarter), Fifth of July (Signature), Total Eclipse (West Side Arts), Abingdon Square (premiere), The Games with Meredith Monk and Ping Chong (BAM). Duncan Sheik's Spring Awakening and Sondheim's Passion for Live from Lincoln Center on PBS.

Patti LuPone (Mrs. Lovett) has appeared in all four productions of the Ravinia Festival's celebration of the works of Stephen Sondheim. She starred as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd (which she also performed with the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and on the Emmy Award-winning PBS Great Performances telecast), Desiree in A Little Night Music, Fosca opposite Michael Cerveris in Passion, which she also performed at Lincoln Center Theater's American Songbook Series (and for Great Performances on PBS which just received an Emmy Award nomination) as well as in last summer's Sunday in the Park with George, also with Michael Cerveris. In August she will return for her fifth summer to once again star opposite Mr. Cerveris in Anyone Can Whistle. Earlier this year, she starred in the title role in Marc Blitzstein's Regina, a musical adaptation of Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes at the Kennedy Center and returned to Carnegie Hall to perform her third solo concert, The Lady with the Torch.

John Arbo (Jonas Fogg) was a voice major at Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Metropolitan Opera tenor Gabor Carelli. He toured and recorded for 7 years as the baritone with the New York Vocal Arts Ensemble - a classical vocal quartet - including appearances at the Kennedy Center, Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall and other important venues in Europe and the Americas. He has been the bassist for Les Paul, Woody Herman, Liza Minnelli and presently Tony Danza, and has had the bass chair at several B'way shows including Cyrano, Miss Saigon, 42nd St., and Good Vibrations.

Donna Lynne Champlin (Pirelli). Broadway: Hollywood Arms, James Joyce's The Dead (Mary Jane), By Jeeves (Honoria), Encores! Bloomer Girl (Daisy). Off-Broadway: May in Carnegie Hall's Very Warm for May (John McGlinn conducting), Harold and Maude (Papermill), Reunion, Stars in Your Eyes, First Lady Suite, My Life With Albertine. National tours: Jolson (Ruby Keeler).

Diana Dimarzio (Beggar Woman) plays the clarinet and performs in concerts around the country. On her 2001 self-titled CD she sings Sondheim's "There Won't Be Trumpets" from Anyone Can Whistle. She was awarded a grant by the National Italian American Foundation to produce her concert entitled Music of the Italian Cinema, which she debuted at Symphony Space in October of 2004. Her theatrical credits include Side By Side By Sondheim, Evita, Showboat, Desert Song, A Christmas Carol and a national tour of Man of La Mancha, in which she was featured as Aldonza opposite Jack Jones and Ron Holgate.

Manoel Felciano (Tobias Ragg) recently appeared Off Broadway in Shockheaded Peter. Broadway: Brooklyn, the Musical; Cabaret; Jesus Christ Superstar. NY credits: NYSF production of Much Ado About Nothing. National tour: Whistle Down the Wind, Saturday Night Fever.

Alexander Gemignani (The Beadle). Broadway: John Hinckley in Roundabout's Tony-winning production of Assassins (2004 Theatre World Award). Off-Broadway: Brian in Avenue Q (Vineyard Theatre) Sorry, Wrong Number (Drama League). Recipient of the Best Performer Award for The Trapped Family Singers (2003 NY Fringe Festival). Regional: Bandleader and understudy for John C. Reilly in Marty (Huntington Theatre).

Mark Jacoby (Judge Turpin). Broadway: Man of La Mancha; Ragtime; Showboat (Tony, Outer Critics and Joseph Jefferson Award nominations); The Phantom of the Opera; Grand Hotel; Sweet Charity (Theatre World Award). Off-Broadway: Enter the Guardsmen (Drama Desk nomination). National tour: The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Regional: The Visit (Goodman Theatre, world premiere); Camelot (St. Louis MUNY); Nine (Chicago premiere, Joseph Jefferson Award); On the Twentieth Century (Goodspeed Opera House, Connecticut Drama Critics Award); Robert and Elizabeth (Paper Mill Playhouse inaugural production).

Benjamin Magnuson (Anthony Hope), a trained cellist, received a BFA in Musical Theater in the spring of '05 from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music.

Lauren Molina (Johanna). New York stage credits include the York Theatre Company's Musicals in Mufti presentation of Henry, Sweet Henry and Meet Me in St. Louis at the 45th Street Theatre. Other theatrical credits include Fiddler on the Roof, Marvin's Room, Man of La Mancha, Once Upon a Mattress, Patience and Saving Anne (in which she played the title character of Anne Frank).