Jeffrey Seller announces North American tour of Sweeney Todd
In an exciting US announcement from acclaimed producer Jeffrey Seller, the North American stage is set to be thrilled with the upcoming tour of the Broadway revival, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, planned to kick off in early spring 2025.
Currently captivating audiences at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, the distinguished Broadway rendition stars the likes of Annaleigh Ashford as Mrs. Lovett and Josh Groban in the titular role of Sweeney Todd. This production, an electrifying reincarnation under the directorial guidance of Thomas Kail, made its debut performance on February 26, following which it officially opened on March 26.
The noteworthy revival has earned the honour of eight Tony Award nominations, covering categories such as Best Revival of a Musical, with individual nods to Ashford, Groban, and Ruthie Ann Miles for her standout performance as the Beggar Woman.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a dark, thrilling musical with a book by Hugh Wheeler and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The musical tells the tragic, suspenseful, and somewhat macabre tale of Benjamin Barker, a skilled barber living in 19th-century London.
The story begins with Barker being falsely charged and exiled by the corrupt Judge Turpin, who harbors lustful intentions toward Barker’s beautiful wife, Lucy. Years later, Barker returns to London under the pseudonym Sweeney Todd, only to find that his wife had poisoned herself after being raped by Turpin, and his daughter, Johanna, is Turpin’s ward.
Consumed by a vengeful rage, Todd opens a barber shop above Mrs. Lovett’s struggling meat pie shop. Together, they embark on a murderous rampage with Todd slashing the throats of customers and Lovett disposing of the bodies by baking them into pies. Their actions turn her shop into the most popular eatery in London.
Todd’s ultimate goal, however, is to exact revenge on Judge Turpin, who still seeks to marry Johanna. Todd’s fixation on revenge leads to a series of tragic events, culminating in a shocking finale filled with ironic twists.
This musical, while stark and sometimes horrific, is a commentary on revenge, power, corruption, and how those obsessions can lead to one’s downfall. It’s also known for its complex music and layered lyrics by Sondheim, who won a Tony Award for Best Original Score for the piece.
The forthcoming tour, showcasing Jonathan Tunick’s original orchestrations, is scheduled to span two theatrical seasons, from 2024 to 2025 and from 2025 to 2026.
