You know, we have a lot of reasons to be thankful by way of London. Afternoon tea. Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of The Color Purple. Tony Award Winner Cynthia Erivo. And now, an immersive Off-Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd.
Wait, it gets better.
The Barrow Street Theatre will be transformed into a replica of Harrington’s Pie and Mash Shop and more importantly, will house Norm Lewis as the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Tooting Arts Club’s interpretation of Sondheim & Wheeler’s Sweeney Todd will begin previews February 14, 2017 and will open March 1 with Jeremy Secomb and Siobhan McCarthy reprising their roles from the critically acclaimed West End run. Lewis joins the company April 11, alongside Tony nominee, Carolee Carmello, as Mrs. Lovett.
Sweeney Todd debuted on Broadway Feb. 6, 1979 and starred Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury. Telling the grim revenge of a barber unjustly imprisoned, Sweeney Todd was brought back to Broadway in 1989 and to film in 2007.
However it was the 2005 Broadway revival starring Tony Award winners Michael Cerveris (Fun Home, Assassins) and Patti Lupone (Gypsy, Evita), that completely snatched my wig. Under the direction of John Doyle (The Color Purple), this industrial and barebones take on the tuner was set in the halls of an asylum and left the story telling and music playing to 9 characters sitting on 8 chairs.
12 years later, Director Bill Buckhurst brings new blood to the tale of Sweeney Todd. If there’s a move to Broadway, perhaps Norm Lewis will make another Broadway first— Broadway’s first Black Sweeney Todd.
For ticket information click HERE.