Sondheim, LuPone & Cerveris Sign CDs on Jan. 31 Release Date

By: Jan. 26, 2006
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In celebration of the release of the Sweeney Todd revival's cast recording, legendary composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim (in a rare public appearance), stars Patti LuPone, Michael Cerveris, and cast members of the show will sign copies of the new Nonesuch cast recording on January 31st, the day that the two-disc recording hits stores. They will appear on the stage of the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, (230 W. 49 Street), where Sweeney Todd is playing, from 10 PM to 12 AM. The event is open to the public.

The Sweeney Todd recording, produced by Tommy Krasker for Nonesuch Records, is a 2 CD-set that includes 90-minutes of music and 92-page booklet, complete with slip cover. The CD will be on sale at the theater the evening of January 31st.

With music and lyrics by Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler, the razor-wielding show centers on a barber who seeks revenge upon the man who defiled his wife and stole his daughter. Sweeney hides his crimes with the help of the crafty Mrs. Lovett, who bakes "the worst pies in London" . The production features Tony Award-winner Cerveris (Assassins, Titanic) in the title role, Tony Award-winner LuPone Anything Goes, Evita) as Mrs. Lovett, Ben Magnuson as Anthony, Donna Lynne Champlin (By Jeeves) as Pirelli, Mark Jacoby (Show Boat) as Judge Turpin, John Arbo (Good Vibrations) as Jonas Fogg, Diana DiMarzio as the Beggar Woman, Manoel Felciano (Brooklyn) as Tobias Ragg, Alexander Gemignani (Assassins) as The Beadle, and Lauren Molina as Johanna. As it was at its smash run at London's Watermill Theatre (and later at the West End's New Ambassador Theatre), the high-concept, minimalist production is helmed and designed by John Doyle, who staged the show with the performers playing instruments, as well as with such accoutrements as nine chairs, a ladder and a white coffin.

Sweeney Todd also features music supervision by Sarah Travis (in addition to the new orchestrations), music direction by David Loud, lighting by Richard G. Jones, and sound by Dan Moses Schreier. To generally rave reviews, Sweeney Todd opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 W. 48th St.) on Thursday, November 3 following preview performances from Monday, October 3. Fidelity Investments, Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, The Ambassador Theatre Group and Maidstone Productions are the show's producers.

The original Broadway production of Sweeney Todd opened at the Uris Theatre on March 1, 1979 with Angela Lansbury, Len Cariou and Victor Garber as stars. The ingeniously-staged production, which was the last of director Hal Prince's five great 70's collaborations with Stephen Sondheim, received 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical. A simplified production starring Bob Gunton and Beth Fowler ran at the Circle in the Square Theatre in 1989, and was dubbed Teeny Todd. A film version, directed by Sam Mendes, is currently in the works.

The new Sweeney Todd cast recording is also available now on iTunes for $19.90.

 Tickets for Sweeney Todd can be ordered by calling (212) 239-6200 or at the show's website, www.sweeneytoddonbroadway.com. For more information on the cast recording, visit www.nonesuch.com.

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