BWW TV: Signature Theatre Presents SWEENEY TODD

By: Mar. 25, 2010
Get Access To Every Broadway Story

Unlock access to every one of the hundreds of articles published daily on BroadwayWorld by logging in with one click.




Existing user? Just click login.

video
Click Here to Play the Video!play

The Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre, nationally known for its interpretation of Stephen Sondheim musicals, celebrates its 20th anniversary season by presenting Sondheim's most popular musical SWEENEY TODD, directed by Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer. The new production runs in the 276-seat MAX Theater through April 4, 2010. Click the video to watch a preview of the production!

Recently made into a film with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, Sweeney Todd is Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece - a story of obsession and revenge, full of gothic gore, lush songs, and romantic melodrama. It's a grand musical that has all the stuff of a classic horror story-betrayal, madness, and murder-bloody yet mesmerizing. When Benjamin Barker, alias Sweeney Todd, returns to London after years of wrongful imprisonment, he vows to take revenge on the man who destroyed his life. Meeting Mrs. Lovett, the proprietor of a meat pie shop, he learns of the suicide of his wife and the abduction of his daughter, and his descent into madness begins.

The musical thriller stars two of Washington's leading actors: Edward Gero, hailed for his interpretation of great Shakespearean roles, performing the tour de force role of Sweeney Todd, and as the wily, amoral Mrs. Lovett, Sherri L. Edelen, a Helen-Hayes winner praised for her deft touch with comedy.

Director Schaeffer stated, "When trying to pick which Sondheim musical would be featured in our 20th anniversary season, I had many titles floating in my head. Looking back over Signature's history, I thought it would be wonderful to rediscover the music that started in all here- Sweeney Todd. It was our first musical and began our long history with Sondheim productions, and Signature's connection to Stephen Sondheim. I wanted to find two great Washington actors to take on Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett and do an entirely new production in our beautiful new theater facility. It is the perfect fit for our 20th anniversary celebration"

The cast of 18 includes Gregory Maheu as Sweeney's friend, the young, naïve sailor Anthony, who falls in love with Sweeney's daughter Johanna, played by Signature favorite Erin Driscoll. The corrupt Judge Turpin is played by Chris Van Cleave and his right-hand man, Beadle Bamford, is Chris Sizemore. The simple boy Tobias is performed by Sam Ludwig and the blackmailing ItalIan Barber Pirelli is played by Michael Bunce. Channez McQuay is the mad Beggar Woman. The Ensemble is Jean Cantrell (who performed in the 10th anniversary production), Matt Conner, Sean Maurice Lynch, Kevin McAllister, Katie McManus, Chris Mueller, Russell Sunday, Hannah Willman, and Weslie Woodley.

Working with Eric Schaeffer on the creative team are Scenic Designer James Kronzer, Costumer Designer Kathleen Geldard, Lighting Designer Chris Lee, and Sound Designer Matt Rowe. Musical staging is by Matthew Gardiner, orchestration is by Zak Sandler, and music direction is by Jon Kalbfleisch.

TICKETS

Tickets for Sweeney Todd range from $52 - $76 and are available by calling Ticketmaster at (703) 573-SEAT (7328) or visiting www.signature-theatre.org. Group discounts are available for parties of ten or more by contacting carlj@signature-theatre.org.

PERFORMANCE DATES
Performances of Sweeney Todd run through April 4, 2010. Show times are Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 pm, Thursday and Friday at 8:00 pm, Saturday at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sunday at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. There is no Sweeney Todd performance on Saturday, February 13 at 2:00 pm

ABOUT Signature Theatre

Recipient of the 2009 Regional Theatre Tony Award®, Signature Theatre is a non-profit professional theater company dedicated to producing contemporary musicals and plays, reinventing classic musicals, and developing new work. Under the leadership of co-founder and Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer and Managing Director Maggie Boland, Signature has presented 26 world premiere productions and is renowned for combining Broadway-quality productions with intimate playing spaces. In addition to the finest talent from the DC metropolitan area and New York, Signature has been a home to such theater luminaries as John Kander and Fred Ebb, Cameron Mackintosh, Terrence McNally, and the company's signature composer, Stephen Sondheim. Since its founding in 1989, Signature has been nominated for 276 Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in the professional theater and has been honored with 69 Helen Hayes Awards, including Outstanding Musical in 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009, and Outstanding Play in 1999.

For more information, visit http://www.signature-theatre.org

 



Videos