These Iconic Performers Have Taken on the Lead Roles in SWEENEY TODD

Sweeney Todd is back on Broadway! The musical, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler, first premiered on Broadway in 1979, and since then has had countless runs all over the world, with many actors you know and love taking on the iconic roles of Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett.

The revival is directed by Thomas Kail, and is now playing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway!

Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford are the latest stars to portray these coveted roles, but did you know about all of these others? Check out our list of just a few of the iconic actors to star in Sweeney Todd over the years!

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Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury

The original production of Sweeney Todd premiered on Broadway on March 1, 1979, and closed on June 29, 1980. Directed by Hal Prince and choreographed by Larry Fuller, the cast was led by Len Cariou as Sweeney Todd and Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Lovett.

Sweeney Todd was nominated for nine Tony Awards, winning eight including Best Musical. Carious and Lansbury also won Tony Awards and Drama Desk Awards for their respective roles.

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George Hearn and Dorothy Louden

George Hearn replaced Cariou in the original Broadway production of Sweeney Todd on March 4, 1980, alongside Dorothy Loudon as Mrs. Lovett

Later that year, Hearn led the first national U.S. tour of Sweeney Todd, kicking off on October 24, 1980, in Washington, D.C. The tour ended in August 1981 in Los Angeles, California. Hearn was joined by original cast member Angela Lansbury for this run.

The touring production of Sweeney was filmed during the Los Angeles engagement and broadcast on The Entertainment Channel on September 12, 1982. The performance was later repeated on Showtime and PBS and was released on home video through Turner Home Entertainment, and on DVD from Warner Home Video. The taped production was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards in 1985, winning three including Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (for George Hearn).

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Michael Cerveris and Patti LuPone

A version of the 2004 West End production of Sweeney Todd, directed by John Doyle, transferred to Broadway in 2005, opening on November 3 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. This production was notable because the cast all played their own instruments, as had been done in London.

The cast was led by Michael Cerveris in the title role, alongside Patti LuPone as Mrs. Lovett. Cerveris accompanied himself on guitar, with LuPone playing tuba and percussion.

The production ran for 349 performances and 35 previews, and was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning two, including Best Direction of a Musical and Best Orchestrations.

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Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton

Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton starred in a new production of Sweeney Todd in the UK in 2011. The show played at The Chichester Festival Theatre, running from September 24 to November 5, 2011.

This production was notably set in the 1930s instead of 1846 and restored the song "Johanna (Mea Culpa)" which is often cut from productions of the musical.

This version of Sweeney Todd transferred to the Adelphi Theatre in the West End in 2012 for a limited run from March 10 to September 22, 2012. The show received six Laurence Olivier Award nominations of which it won the three: Best Musical Revival, Best Actor in a Musical for Ball and Best Actress in a Musical for Staunton.

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Brian Stokes Mitchell and Christine Baranski

Sweeney Todd was performed in 2002 as part of the Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration.

Starring Brian Stokes Mitchell as Sweeney Todd, Christine Baranski as Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney Todd ran from May 10, 2002, through June 30, 2002, at the Eisenhower Theatre.

It was directed by Christopher Ashley with choreography by Daniel Pelzig.

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Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter

A feature film adaptation of Sweeney Todd, directed by Tim Burton with a screenplay by John Logan, was released on December 21, 2007.

Notably, the film stars Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd, alongside Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett.

Depp received an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe Award for his performance. The film also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.

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Carolee Carmello and Norm Lewis/Hugh Panaro

In 2017, Sweeney Todd was revived off-Broadway, based on the Tooting Arts Club production of the show which ran at Harrington's Pie Shop in Tooting, London in October and November 2014. The production transformed the Barrow Street Theatre into a working re-creation of Harrington's pie shop. Previews began February 14, 2017, before officially opening night on March 1.

The opening night cast featured Jeremy Secomb as Sweeney Todd and Siobhan McCarthy as Mrs. Lovett, and in April 2017, they were replaced by Norm Lewis and Carolee Carmello, respectively.

After Norm Lewis left, he was replaced by Hugh Panaro and then in February 2018, Panaro and Carmello were replaced by Thom Sema and Sally Ann Triplett.

The production was extended and closed on August 26, 2018.

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Lea Salonga

In 2019, Sweeney Todd came to the Philippines, produced by Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group and directed by Bobby Garcia with musical direction by Gerard Salonga.

The production was led by Jett Pangan as Sweeney Todd and Lea Salonga as Mrs. Lovett. The production debuted in October at The Theater at Solaire.