Anything new on the rumored Groban-lead Sweeney?

[OuttaTowner]

Posted: 7/28/22 at 5:35pm

Anything new on dates, theater and co-stars (Ashford as Lovett)?

[Observation]

Posted: 7/28/22 at 6:03pm

I know it's a long shot... but Jinx Monsoon as Mrs. Lovett would get me to the theater so damn fast.

[InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve]

Posted: 7/28/22 at 6:42pm

Ashford is Ms L, Tommy Kail, the Lunt, with a full symphonic orchestra.  Everything already signed.  100% happening.  This season. 

Updated On: 7/28/22 at 06:42 PM

[BwayLover5]

Posted: 7/28/22 at 7:59pm

Is it rumored to be this fall / winter or after the new year?

[InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve]

Posted: 7/28/22 at 8:32pm

I’d bet the fall but idk for 100% certain.

 

[InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve]

Posted: 7/28/22 at 8:34pm

Groban was first going to be doing a long gesticulating Sammi Cannold Man Of La Mancha and then this just suddenly appeared about six months ago. 

Updated On: 7/28/22 at 08:34 PM

[BJR]

Posted: 7/28/22 at 8:38pm

InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve said: "Groban was first going to be doing a long gesticulating Sammi Cannold Man Of La Mancha and then this just suddenly appeared about six months ago."

come again?

[InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve]

Posted: 7/28/22 at 9:33pm

BJR said: "InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve said: "Groban was first going to be doing a long gesticulating Sammi Cannold Man Of La Mancha and then this just suddenly appeared about six months ago."

come again?"

Groban was first going to be doing a long gesticulating Sammi Cannold Man Of La Mancha and then this just suddenly appeared about six months ago. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/28/22 at 9:36pm

Wish I could have been in the room where they pulled these two random names out of a hat and then pulled out the name of a random musical to put them in. That’s honestly the only way I can imagine this came together. 

[sit&dither]

Posted: 7/28/22 at 10:51pm

Any idea of the staging plans?  With a full orchestra, are they going to skimp on the set and give us more of a concert version?

[InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve]

Posted: 7/28/22 at 10:58pm

sit&dither said: "Any idea of the staging plans? With a full orchestra, are they going to skimp on the set and give us more of a concert version?"

Production is monumentally expensive.

 I’d expect it to be pretty big in all areas.  

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/28/22 at 11:13pm

2 big Sondheim revivals in one season. yes please. I'm still not a fan of the director Ashford (She's great, but just not what I want from this, I can already see her performance in my head much the way I felt about Beanie). But I love a big production. 

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 7/29/22 at 12:00am

Fall like october? Cuz If I can make a trip to see both Into the Woods and Sweeney, I'll have to go back to NY this year!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/29/22 at 12:08am

InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve said: "gesticulating"

<Eulalie Shinn voice> I think they mean gestating.

Ashford has managed to surprise me at every turn, so I'll keep an open mind about her Lovett. While there are dozens of women-of-a-certain-age who could play it, this could work with her.

Re: the "monumentally expensive" production: Will it cost more than MUSIC MAN's $24 million? By "symphonic orchestra" are we talking 50 pieces, or 20-30? (the latter is my guess, with perhaps some clever sound design and synth augmentation of the strings.)

[binau]

Posted: 7/29/22 at 3:01am

I will try to keep an open mind with Ashford and sorry to be over dramatic while I clutch my pearls and say a prayer with my hand held to the OBC Sweeney CD but it makes me almost want to cry to think about the missed opportunities. For me she made the Sunday revival Dot far less affecting than it should have been and it’s one of my favourite shows and I thought an amazing production. Heck, we even had Carolee Carmello do great in the role off Broadway and recent Tony nominee Carmen Cusack just did the role regionally. She is following PATTI LUPONE. Is Ashford REALLY the best they could find?
 

I have seen some of my fav performances ever in Sondheim NYC revivals (eg Bernadette in Night Music and Follies; Lansbury and Stritch in Night Music; Lenk and LuPone in Company; Jake in SITPWG; Donna Murphy in Encores Whistle; Raul in Company filming etc). The kind of performances that help you get to sleep when life or this world ****ing sucks because it reminds you what the good parts of ‘being alive’ are. The first opportunity to see the show that got me into musicals and Sondheim on Broadway and this is the best they could do? The first Sweeney revival since Sondheim died and this is the best they could do? I have been waiting almost 15 years for Bernadette to do the role, and fine she is probably too old now but that speaks to the kind of level needed for this role. In the nytimes 2000 Frank rich Sondheim article Sondheim was asked what his fav male and female performances were in his shows and he listed Bernadette in Sunday, Lansbury in Sweeney and Ethel Merman in Gypsy. This is the level that she is taking on right now so she and the director better know what they are bringing to the table. If this Sweeney disappoints I fully expect Gypsy to be the next show on the gallows to compete a trilogy of tolerable but uninspiring Sondheim performances. Because this is the problem really, yes Ashford is actually a good singer and a good actor but it’s not good enough to be good - you need that one in a million quality that people like Bernadette, LuPone, Lansbury, Donna, Marin, Audra, Stritch bring. When you are taking on the best role in the best show by the best composer in the best musical theatre district that has been performed by the best in the past you had better be ready to bring it!!!
 

 

 

Updated On: 7/29/22 at 03:01 AM

[JasonC3]

Posted: 7/29/22 at 5:25am

Struggling to envision Ashford in this role, but I thought she was great in Sunday (particularly as Marie) and I'm not generally a fan of her work.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 7/29/22 at 8:03am

I am *wet* from this rumor. I need so badly for it to be true.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 7/29/22 at 8:31am

Like many here, I’m not thrilled with this casting (including Groban) but there’s nothing quite like Sweeney with a full orchestra and chorus. I’ll give anyone the benefit of the doubt if those two elements are present. 
 

Any discussion/gossip about supporting cast?

[willep]

Posted: 7/29/22 at 8:37am

Love how people are just ready to believe anything from an anonymous poster on an internet board whose other inside info was that the TOFT Company filming was for Netflix.

I’d love a big revival of Sweeney, but I’ll wait for something more concrete before I give this any weight.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 7/29/22 at 8:54am

willep said: "Love how people are just ready to believe anything from an anonymous poster on an internet board whose other inside info was that the TOFT Company filming was for Netflix.

I’d love a big revival of Sweeney, but I’ll wait for something more concrete before I give this any weight."

I’m pretty sure what they said was that there were plans for a possible Netflix recording that fell through, not that the TOFT recording was for Netflix.

Regardless, they’re not the first person to mention this revival. I’ve heard it from others on this board, as well as from friends with reliable insider knowledge. This was the first I was hearing that it’s going into the Lunt, however, so that’s new to me.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 7/29/22 at 9:14am

I'd love to see a Groban Man of La Mancha revival, even if it's not on Broadway. I was literally just thinking yesterday that Man of La Mancha would be great for Encores.

[InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve]

Posted: 7/29/22 at 9:17am

willep said: "Love how people are just ready to believe anything from an anonymous poster on an internet board whose other inside info was that the TOFT Company filming was for Netflix.

I’d love a big revival of Sweeney, but I’ll wait for something more concrete before I give this any weight."

I could care less what you think lol  When I made a dummy account and announced beanie was fanny a year ago... when I broke that news... SEVEN of you old kooks messaged me cursing me and out telling me how wrong I was lol.

This isn't even new tea.  I broke this to my friend a six or so months ago who then came and broke this here... you're just behind on the times haha!


I'll see you at the Lunt this season, babes.

 

Updated On: 7/29/22 at 09:17 AM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 7/29/22 at 9:21am

In case it matters to anyone, @troynow also said Sweeney is going to the Lunt. 

[InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve]

Posted: 7/29/22 at 9:38am

JBroadway said: "I'd love to see a Groban Man of La Mancha revival, even if it's not on Broadway. I was literally just thinking yesterday that Man of La Mancha would be great for Encores."

I wish Groban was doing Sammi’s Man of La Mancha and Raul Esparza and Amber Grey were doing Sweeney (with either Bartlett directing or Daniel Fish directing a totally re-imagined production).  It feels like we’re getting the most boring choice for director and title star (I actually think Ashford is going to surprise a lot of people and be the VIP of the production) 

Updated On: 7/29/22 at 09:38 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/29/22 at 10:21am

Christ almighty, you disgusting creature why did you have to put the idea of Amber as Lovett in my brain. That’s all I’ll ever want, now along with Raul’s Sweeney.