Sondheim Grants Approval for Michael Ball & Imelda Staunton Led SWEENEY TODD for Broadway

The West-End production of SWEENEY TODD, starring Michael Ball as Sweeney Todd and Imelda Staunton as Mrs. Lovett on March 20, at the Adelphi Theatre, following its sell-out success at the Chichester Festival Theatre to rave reviews. 

Now, Baz Bamigboye of the UK Daily Mail has revealed that "Stephen Sondheim has given director Jonathan Kent’s Chichester Festival Theatre production of Sweeney Todd (with Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton delivering the stage performances of their lives) his seal of approval. He’d love the two stars to take the deliciously grisly musical to Broadway when they complete their run at the Adelphi Theatre.

There’s no official word this will happen yet, because both actors have crazy schedules, but it would be fantastic if they did manage to cross the Atlantic with this Sweeney."

The show was last seen on Broadway in a production directed by John Doyle in 2006 that ran for 349 performances and 35 previews starring Patti LuPone as Mrs. Lovett and Michael Cerveris in the title role.  

Combining a brutal sensibility with elements of English music hall, the production offers a fascinating portrait of a man driven to madness by injustice. Sweeney Todd is directed by Jonathan Kent, designed by Anthony Ward and choreographed by Denni Sayers with lighting design by Mark Henderson. The Musical Director is Nicholas Skilbeck, with orchestration by Jonathan Tunick and sound design by Paul Groothuis.

The cast includes: John Bowe, Peter Polycarpou, Robert Burt, Gillian Kirkpatrick, Lucy May Barker, Luke Brady, James McConville, and Simeon Truby. The ensemble includes: Valda Aviks, Will Barratt, Josie Benson, Emily Bull, John Coates, Daniel Graham, Robine Landi, Tim Morgan, Aoife Nally, Adam Pearce, Wendy Somerville, Kerry Washington and Annabelle Williams.

Read all the reviews here on BWW