Today's New York Daily News reports that pop-icon Cyndi Lauper, whose long been rumored to want to try her hand at Broadway "blew the producers away" at an audition for Mrs. Lovett in the upcoming revival of Sweeney Todd. There is no word yet on any other casting possibilities, or on when any casting will be announced.
A revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd is set to open on Broadway in mid-October, with preview performances beginning in late September. 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 July 27, 2004 to wide critical acclaim. That run ended on
October 9, 2004 to prepare for a subsequent West End transfer to the New
Ambassadors Theatre where it opened on October 13, 2004 and finished its
limited engagement on February 5, 2005.
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 March 1, 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.