Josh Groban traded his razor for a tiny desk as the cast of Broadway's Sweeney Todd visited NPR's Washington D.C. offices for a Tiny Desk Concert. Watch above as Groban, Annaleigh Ashford, and the company sing four songs from the Stephen Sondheim score, including "My Friends," "By the Sea," "Johanna (Act II)," and "A Little Priest."
The production features Jonathan Tunick's full, 26-piece orchestration for the first time on Broadway since the 1979 original production, with music supervision by three-time Tony winner Alex Lacamoire. In the markedly smaller NPR offices, Lacamoire leads a nine-piece ensemble, playing a reduced orchestration (also by Tunick) originally made for a 1994 London revival at The National Theatre.
This performance is also notable because, aside from the Tony Awards, the Sweeney Todd cast has not performed any of the musical's material outside of the theatre (though we would have loved seeing Sweeney glower during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade). It's also convenient timing because Groban and Ashford will depart the show January 14. The pair is set to be succeeded by Tony winners Aaron Tveit and Sutton Foster beginning February 9, 2024.
The revival continues at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, where it began performances last February. Directed by Thomas Kail, the production was nominated for eight 2023 Tony Awards, and won Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Natasha Katz) and Best Sound Design of a Musical (Nevin Steinberg). A cast album was released in September.
The company also features Tony Award winner and Laurence Olivier Award nominee Ruthie Ann Miles (The King and I) as Beggar Woman, Daniel Yearwood (Hamilton) as Anthony, Maria Bilbao (On Your Feet!) as Johanna, Jamie Jackson (The Last Ship) as Judge Turpin, John Rapson (Les Misérables) as Beadle Bamford, and Nicholas Christopher (Hamilton) as Pirelli. Heartstopper star Joe Locke will join the company as Toby beginning January 31, 2024.
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.
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
