NewsBryn Terfel and Emma Thompson Begin Performances in Sweeney Todd at London Coliseum TonightBryn Terfel and Emma Thompson reprise the roles they performed in a semi-staged production of Sweeney Todd, produced by the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center last year, at the London Coliseum beginning March 30. Directed by Lonny Price and with orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, opening is March 31 for a run through April 12 only.
By
Mark Shenton
March 30, 2015
They are joined by Philip Quast as Judge Turpin (also reprising the role he gave at Lincoln Center), John Owen-Jones as Pirrelli, Matthew Seadon-Young as Anthony Hope, Katie Hall as Johanna Barker, Jack North as Tobias Ragg, Alex Gaumond as Beadle Bamford and Rosalie Craig as Beggar Woman.
The ensemble comprises Madeleine Harland, Lydia Gerrard, Leah Penston, Frankie Jenna, Verity Quade, Susannah Van den Berg, Anna O’Byrne, Molly Lynch, Emily Bull, Gaia Wise, Alexandra Grierson, Vicki Lee Taylor, Katie Kerr, Ffion Emyr, Nancy Hill, Edd Campbell Bird, Alastair Brookshaw, Kane Oliver Parry, Scott Cripps, John Barr, Aaron Lee Lambert, Gary Tushaw, Ashley Robinson, Jeff Nicholson, Joseph Prouse, Gavin James, Marc Akinfolarin, Jacob Chapman, Ian Caddick and Adam Vaughan.
The ENO orchestra, conducted by David Charles Abell, appears onstage alongside the cast. The production is co-produced by English National Opera and the GradeLinnit Company in the first of a new long-term partnership to bring musicals to the opera house.
In a press statement, Terfel commented, "Emma and I had a great time performing together in New York and the role itself is such a pleasure to play. So I'm really looking forward to working with Emma and ENO to bring the barber to life again in London's largest theatre."
0
of
Sweeney Todd in Concert, With Emma Thompson, Bryn Terfel, Philip Quast, Audra McDonald, Erin Mackey, Christian Borle and More
The Welsh bass-baritone has previously sung the title role in Sweeney Todd at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2002 and London's Royal Festival Hall in 2007. He has performed in all the great opera houses in the world, and is especially recognized for his portrayals of Wotan in Wagner's Ring Cycle, which he has most recently performed at The Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House, and the title roles in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and Verdi's Falstaff.
In a press statement, Thompson commented, "I can't believe I am being given the opportunity to perform this extraordinary piece once again - this time with the ENO orchestra. And of course to sing with such a talent as Bryn is as good as it ever gets."
Thompson returns to the London stage for the first time in 25 years to play Mrs. Lovett. She last performed in the West End in 1989 in Look Back In Anger, directed by Judi Dench. Other London stage roles include Sally in Me and My Girl at the Adelphi Theatre. Her films include "Howard's End," "Saving Mr. Banks," "The Tall Guy," "Henry V," "Dead Again," "Peter's Friends," "Much Ado About Nothing," "The Remains of the Day," "In the Name of the Father," "Junior," "Carrington," "The Winter Guest," "Primary Colors," "Wit," "Angels in America," "Imagining Argentina," "Love Actually," numerous "Harry Potter" films and the "Nanny McPhee" films, for which she also wrote the screenplays and served as executive producer.
Director Lonny Price has a long professional association with Stephen Sondheim. He directed the stage and film versions of the New York Philharmonic’s production of Sondheim's Company starring Neil Patrick Harris, Patti LuPone and Stephen Colbert. His other Philharmonic collaborations include the stage and film versions of Sondheim: The Birthday Concert! for which he received a 2011 Emmy Award, and the Live from Lincoln Center broadcasts of Camelot, Candide and Sweeney Todd. In addition he directed the Emmy Award–winning production of Sondheim's Passion starring Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald and Michael Cerveris, which was broadcast on Live From Lincoln Center, and he won an Emmy for his 2001 production of Sweeney Todd with the San Francisco Symphony.
To book tickets, contact the box office on 020 7845 9300, or visit www.eno.org.
Created and performed by Sydney-based comedian and visual artist Sam Kissajukian, the show comes to New York directly from a sold-out engagement at Edinburgh Fringe Festival
From classics like Les Misérables to current shows like The Outsiders, now you can place your favorite Playbill covers wherever your theatre kid heart desires.