7 Days Of THE LORD & THE MASTER: Day #6 - SWEENEY TODD

By: Jun. 11, 2014
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Today we continue a special spotlight series highlighting the spectacular entertainment set to be presented this coming Monday, June 16, at Joe's Pub, THE LORD & THE MASTER: BROADWAYWORLD.COM SINGS THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER & STEPHEN SONDHEIM, tickets available here, with a tribute to SWEENEY TODD.

No Place Like London

"There's a hole in the world like a great black pit / And it's filled with people who are filled with sh*t / And the vermin of the world inhabit it / But not for long," menacingly sings the title character in Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's bracing and brilliant musical thriller SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET near the start of the sordid, bloody tale. Centering on the sad story of a barber who is wrongly accused of a crime and sent away to a prison camp for over a decade only to return to his home of London and find his wife and daughter otherwise inclined - albeit against their will - undoubtedly SWEENEY TODD is a thrilling and wholly unique entry in the musical theatre canon and many rightly cite it as the crowning masterpiece of the master himself, Stephen Sondheim.

A sweeping score, packed to the brim with inventiveness and overflowing with melody, mayhem and complexity, SWEENEY TODD is one of the most daring and original musicals of all time and boasts a wide range of musical material quite unlike anything else from Sondheim's pen - or anyone else's, for that matter. From the instant earworm of the yarn-spinning "The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd" that begins and ends the operatic horror show, through to the lilting loveliness of "Green Finch And Linnet Bird" to the overwhelming romance of "Johanna" to the trio of unforgettable showpieces for Sweeney Todd himself - the elegiac "My Friends", the blistering "Epiphany" and the delectable duet with Mrs. Lovett that closes Act I, "A Little Priest" - SWEENEY TODD is a rich feast fit for a king (and queen) and solid proof of Sondheim's mastery of the musical form. And, all of that is without even mentioning the score's biggest breakout out, "Not While I'm Around", which was recently featured on FOX's hit musical dramedy series GLEE, as a matter of fact (as were a handful of other Sondheim gems in the "Bash" episode of Season Five).

With an announced, Sondheim-approved heavy metal take on the score coming up in a regional production later this year, as well as intriguing takes on the material from a wide range of accomplished artists ranging from the aforementioned GLEE players Darren Criss and Lea Michele through to rock icon Dee Snider's snarling version of the title tune all the way to Johnny Depp in the 2007 feature film adaptation directed by Tim Burton, SWEENEY TODD shows ample room for interpretation as far as its musical glories go, as well.

Speaking of the SWEENEY TODD film, BroadwayWorld is proud to boast that the sensational and memorable Beggar Woman from the film, Laura Michelle Kelly, will be playing a prominent part in the proceedings of THE LORD & THE MASTER on Monday, of course, too!

Tickets for THE LORD & THE MASTER: BROADWAYWORLD.COM SINGS ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER & STEPHEN SONDHEIM are available here.

Let's look at some of the most memorable SWEENEY TODD-related moments from over the years as we look ahead to THE LORD & THE MASTER next week.

First, view the entire original touring production of SWEENEY TODD starring Angela Lansbury and George Hearn.

Next, check out Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris in the hit revival.

Now, check out the trailer for the feature film adaptation featuring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Laura Michelle Kelly.

Also, see Laura Michelle Kelly plead for mercy in the film.

Plus, hear Dee Snider's rocking take on "The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd".

So, what makes SWEENEY TODD such an enduring classic in the musical theatre canon despite its horror roots? Furthermore, what song from the score would you like to hear most in THE LORD & THE MASTER? With a score this strong, any selection is a recipe for success, especially with real-life musical theatre superstars delectably delivering them!

Tickets for THE LORD & THE MASTER: BROADWAYWORLD.COM SINGS ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER & STEPHEN SONDHEIM are available here.


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