Josh Groban, a 2023 Tony nominee for his performance in the title role of the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Sweeney Todd, is currently out of the hit, Tony-nominated production at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre following a positive test for COVID-19.
The actor posted on Instagram, "Well, after avoiding it for a good long stretch, I’m bummed to say this mystery illness is in fact Covid. Tested positive today and will be resting hard to get well and back on stage ASAP. If you have tickets, I assure you the show is in brilliant hands with @nikriz and I’m grateful to him and the entire cast. I’ll see you again very soon!" Groban also explained that he had started feeling unwell last Wednesday August 16. He did the show because he had tested negative for COVID-19. He had continued to feel unwell and called out August 17. He tested positive on August 18.
During his absence, Groban's role will be played by Nicholas Christopher. A return date for Groban has yet to be announced.
The Broadway cast also includes Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford as
Mrs. Lovett, Tony winner Ruthie Ann Miles (The King and I) as Beggar Woman, Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things) as Tobias, Maria Bilbao (On Your Feet!) as Johanna, Jamie Jackson (The Last Ship) as Judge Turpin, John Rapson (Les Misérables) as Beadle Bamford, Nicholas Christopher (Hamilton) as Pirelli, and Daniel Yearwood (Hamilton) as Anthony.
READ: Josh Groban Knows He's Not Your Typical Pick for Sweeney Todd
The ensemble includes Galyana Castillo, Jonathan Christopher, Taeler Cyrus, Timothy Hughes, Paul-Jordan Jansen, Alicia Kaori, Raymond J. Lee, Patricia Phillips, Samantha Pollino, Lexi Rabadi, Nathan Salstone, Kristie Dale Sanders, Stephen Tewksbury, Daniel Torres, Felix Torrez-Ponce, and DeLaney Westfall.
Rounding out the company are swings Dwayne Cooper, Kyrie Courter, Michael Kuhn, Megan Ort, Mia Pinero, and Hennessy Winkler; and standby Jeanna De Waal.
Based on the Christopher Bond play of the same name, Sweeney Todd centers on its titular barber who seeks revenge on a corrupt judge and turns to murder, with neighbor and accomplice Mrs. Lovett ultimately discovering they can dispose of the evidence by serving up the most unsettling meat pies to the people of London.
The production features choreography by Steven Hoggett, scenic design
by Mimi Lien, costume design by Emilio Sosa, lighting design by Natasha
Katz, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, special effects design by Jeremy
Chernick, and wig, hair, and make-up design by J. Jared Janas. Casting
is by The Telsey Office, and Baseline Theatrical's Nick Lugo and James
Hickey serve as general managers. Cody Renard Richard is production
stage manager.
Visit SweeneyToddBroadway.com.
Annaleigh Ashford and Josh Groban in Sweeney Todd
Ruthie Ann Miles in Sweeney Todd
Jordan Fisher and Maria Bilbao in Sweeney Todd
Gaten Matarazzo, Annaleigh Ashford, Alicia Kaori, DeLaney Westfall, and Kristie Dale Sanders in Sweeney Todd
Nicholas Christopher and cast in Sweeney Todd
Jamie Jackson and John Rapson in Sweeney Todd
Annaleigh Ashford in Sweeney Todd
Josh Groban in Sweeney Todd
Gaten Matarazzo, Annaleigh Ashford, Josh Groban, Nathan Salstone, and cast of Sweeney Todd
Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford in Sweeney Todd
Josh Groban, Annaleigh Ashford, and cast of Sweeney Todd
