Tony Award® winner Aaron Tveit stars in the title role with Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as Mrs. Lovett through May 5 only. Directed by Tony Award winner Thomas Kail (Hamilton) and choreographed by Olivier Award winner Steven Hoggett (Once, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street has been hailed as a New York Times Critic’s Pick, “a triumphant, must-see production” (Chicago Tribune), and “a riveting revival with big laughs, serious scares, and a thunderous 26-piece orchestra” (Entertainment Weekly).
Groban impressively acquits himself as an actor (the vocals were never in question) but is directed, as is the rest of the cast, to play the role as a rational one. Sweeney’s yearslong, one-track minded pursuit to avenge his wife is not a scorched-earth nihilism towards humanity, but a logical solution to an irksome problem. Mrs. Lovett’s idea to throw everyone around her into the grinder is borne, not out of desperation, but simply savvy. Ashford’s trademark quirkiness and appeal, typically a winning formula, don’t help the production’s need for grit. Only Jamie Jackson (as Judge Turpin) and Ruthie Ann Miles (as the Beggar Woman), are allowed to gaze deeply into the melodramatic abyss of their characters, really exploring the depravity that underscores the ghastly, cynical plot. These choices don’t stop the show from working (Sondheim and Wheeler’s craftsmanship is unsinkable), but do defang what should be a blood-curdling night of theatre.
Ladies and gentlemen, dinner is served. Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s 1979 Sweeney Todd may well be the greatest of all Broadway musicals: an epic combination of disparate ingredients—horror and humor, cynicism and sentiment, melodrama and sophisticated wit—with a central core of grounded, meaty humanity. But while the show’s quality is baked into the writing, portion sizes in recent years have varied. Sweeney Todd’s scope makes it expensive to stage; its 1989 and 2005 Broadway revivals (and the immersive 2017 Off Broadway incarnation) presented the show with greatly reduced casts and orchestrations. Not so for the thrilling version now playing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, directed by Hamilton’s Thomas Kail: This production features a 26-piece orchestra and cast of 25 led by Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford. It’s a feast for the ears.
Digital Lottery:
Price: $30
Where: https://lottery.broadwaydirect.com/show/sweeney-todd-ny/
When: Lottery entries for each performance will be accepted starting 9AM the day prior to the performance until 3PM the day prior to the performance.
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Tickets are subject to availability.
General Rush:
Price: $49
Where: Lunt-Fontanne box office
When: Rush tickets are available at the box office on the day of the show when the box office opens.
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Subject to availability.
Standing Room Tickets:
Price: $40
Where: Lunt-Fontanne Box Office
Limit: Two per customer
Restrictions: Available day of performance only when the performance is sold out.
1979 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
1980 | West End |
London Production West End |
1980 | US Tour |
1st National Tour US Tour |
1982 | US Tour |
2nd National Tour US Tour |
1982 | Regional (UK) |
Regional Revival Regional (UK) |
1984 | Regional (US) |
Houston Grand Opera Production Regional (US) |
1984 | Off-Broadway |
New York City Opera Production Off-Broadway |
1984 | Regional (US) |
Regional Revival Regional (US) |
1985 | London Fringe |
London Revival London Fringe |
1989 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Off-Broadway Revival Off-Broadway |
1989 | Broadway |
Broadway Transfer Broadway |
1992 | Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
Paper Mill Production Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
1993 | Regional (UK) |
Royal National Theatre Production Regional (UK) |
1996 | Regional (US) |
Goodspeed Production Regional (US) |
1996 | Regional (UK) |
London Revival Regional (UK) |
1999 | Regional (US) |
Reprise! Concert Regional (US) |
2000 | London Fringe |
London Concert London Fringe |
2000 | Off-Broadway |
New York Concert Off-Broadway |
2002 | Regional (US) |
Sondheim Festival Production Regional (US) |
2002 | Regional (US) |
Regional Production Regional (US) |
2004 | Off-Broadway |
New York City Opera Production Off-Broadway |
2004 | London Fringe |
London Revival London Fringe |
2004 | West End |
West End Transfer West End |
2005 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
2006 | UK Tour |
National Tour UK Tour |
2007 | US Tour |
US Tour |
2012 | West End |
Chichester Festival Theatre Production West End |
2023 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | BroadwayWorld Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Sweeney Todd |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Direction of a Musical | Thomas Kail |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical | Annaleigh Ashford |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical | Natasha Katz |
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Sweeney Todd |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Annaleigh Ashford |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Josh Groban |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Direction of a Musical | Thomas Kail |
2023 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) | Natasha Katz |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street |
2023 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Scenic Design (Play or Musical) | Mimi Lien |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | Josh Groban |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Annaleigh Ashford |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Steven Hoggett |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Natasha Katz |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | Ruthie Ann Miles |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Sweeney Todd |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Mimi Lien |
2023 | Tony Awards | Best Sound Design of a Musical | Nevin Steinberg |
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