Kaye to Step in for LuPone in Sweeney Todd, June 20-25

While Patti LuPone is on vacation, Judy Kaye will hawk the worst pies in London as Sweeney Todd's tuba-playing Mrs. Lovett.

Tony Award-winner Kaye will step into the role for eight performances from June 20th through 25th.

Sweeney Todd was recently named Best Musical Revival by the Outer Critics Circle and Drama League, and received a special New York Drama Critics Circle Award. The production is nominated for 6 Tony Awards and 9 Drama Desk Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, Best Actor (Michael Cerveris), Best Actress (LuPone), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Manoel Felciano) and Best Director (John Doyle).

Produced by Thomas Viertel, Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, and the Ambassador Theatre Group, Adam Kenwright & Tulchin/Bartner/Bagert, Sweeney Todd opened on Thursday, November 3, 2005, at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49 Street). the 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. The high-concept production, originally a London hit, is helmed and designed by Doyle, who staged the show with the performers playing instruments, as well as wit such accoutrements as nine chairs, a ladder and a white coffin.

Sweeney Todd features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Hugh Wheeler from an adaptation by Christopher Bond. The production features music supervision and orchestrations by Sarah Travis. The ten member ensemble includes: Cerveris (Sweeney Todd), Mark Jacoby (Judge Turpin), Donna Lynne Champlin (Pirelli), Felciano (Tobias), Alexander Gemignani (The Beadle), John Arbo (Jonas Fogg), Diana DiMarzio (Beggar Woman), Benjamin Magnuson (Anthony), and Lauren Molina (Johanna).

Kaye, who is currently Tony-nominated for her recent work as a tone-deaf society matron in Souvenir, won a Tony Award for her performance in The Phantom of the Opera, and has also been nominated for her work in Mamma Mia!. In addition to many Off-Broadway and regional credits, she has appeared on Broadway in Ragtime, Oh, Brother!, The Moony Shapiro Songbook, On the Twentieth Century  and Grease.

Tickets are available at the Eugene O'Neill Box Office or at Telecharge.com/ (212) 239-6200. The performance schedule is: Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm, Wednesday & Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 2pm.

Tickets for Sweeney Todd can be ordered by calling (212) 239-6200 or at the show's website, www.sweeneytoddonbroadway.com.