The role of Sweeney Todd is Groban’s first musical performance in over 12 years. Fans of the musician have been dying to see him return to his musical roots since he released his first studio album, the self-titled Josh Groban, back in 2001, after his appearance on Star Search in 2000. The actor and singer have been working mainly in television, with roles in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, the rebooted The Office, and the mini-series C.B. Strike.
In 2011, Groban starred in his own NBC show, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, playing himself. He also released two albums appearing in the series, Illuminations and Stages.
The Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street will open up at the Circle in the Square Theatre on Monday, March 5, 2019.
Fans will be able to catch Groban in his one-
Despite the gory content, there is a message at the story’s heart.
Groban expressed his excitement to get the chance to take on the challenge of starring in the Broadway musical: “It’s an honor to be in the chair, and I’m going to try to do right by Mr. Sondheim. I will try to do right by Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett and deliver as powerful performance for you as I can.”
Sweeney Todd’s Cast And Crew
The revival also stars Tony-winning actress Jayne Houdyshell, who will play the role of Mrs. Lovett’s landlady, the Beggar Woman; Emma Thompson as the Beggar Woman’s daughter, Optical Pond; and Tony Award winners Brynn Cartelli, who will play Johanna; and Tony Shalhoub, who will play the judge.
Jeremy Herrin will direct the musical, arriving on Broadway next fall.
Unlike many musicals, Sweeney Todd will not hold a pre-Broadway tryout at an out-of-town venue. The musical will begin performances in March at the Barbican Centre in London whereas, the Broadway production will officially open in November at the newly renovated Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.
The movie will be Groban’s second Broadway leading role; his first was in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 in 2016, for which he received a Tony nomination.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sweeney Todd hasn’t been performed on Broadway since 2005, when Michael Cerveris and Patti Lupone starred and the cast performed without an orchestra. Since 1979, Sweeney Todd hasn’t utilized a full orchestra; however, this will change for the revival.
The show will take place at the newly-renovated Hollywood Pantages Theatre, where the production will run from March 1 to April 28.
Groban’s Reaction
Groban announced the news by sharing a teaser clip for the concert on Instagram, with the title of the musical splashing across the screen in what appears to be blood. He merely scribbled “Attend The Tale” as his caption.
One of Stephen Sondheim’s most well-known works is Sweeney Todd, set in the 1800s and centers on a murderer who works as a barber in London. After its debut in 1979, it won the composer Tony for best original composition and seven more Tonys.
Director Thomas Kail, who earned a Tony for directing Hamilton, will again collaborate with producer Jeffrey Seller on Sweeney Todd.
“This program is chock-full of awesomely spooky fun. It is penny-dreadful, Grand Guignol, “The pop artist, who previously gave the musical character Sweeney as his dog’s name, announced his participation in the play to The New York Times. “This is obviously a ridiculous and horrific narrative, but there is also a fantastic back story to this guy that makes the part even more horrifying since this was a civilized, kind man who has led to this,” the author said.
When was Sweeney Todd movie released?
The movie “Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street” was released in the United States on December 21, 2007. It also received four Golden Globe nominations at the January 2008 65th Golden Globe Awards, winning two the same night.
Who was the main lead of the movie?
Johnny Depp was the main lead as the man himself Sweeney Todd/Benjamin Barker followed by Helena Bonham Carter as his accomplice Mrs. Lovett who was pregnant at that time.
