Sweeney todd: Original Broadway Production 1979 Jessica Elkins 2016

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street 19 Previews (Began February 6th, 1979) Opened March 1st, 1979 Closed June 29th, 1980 557 total performances Uris Theatre (later named George Gershwin)

CAST Sweeney Todd: Len Cariou Mrs. Lovett: Angela Lansbury Anthony Hope: Victor Garber Tobias Ragg: Ken Jennings Judge Turpin: Edmund Lyndeck Beggar Woman: Merle Louise Johanna: Sarah Rice Pirelli: Joaquin Romaguera The Beadle: Jack Eric Williams Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury Sarah Rice

TECH Director- Harold Prince Choreographer- Larry Fuller Harold “Hal” Prince TECH Director- Harold Prince Choreographer- Larry Fuller Scene Design- Eugene Lee Costuming- Franne Lee Lighting- Ken Billington

AWARDS *Denotes win Tony Nominations: Best Musical* Best Book of a Musical* Best Original Score* Best Performance by a Leading Actor- Len Cariou (Sweeney Todd)* Best Performance by a Leading Actress- Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Lovett)* Best Direction- Harold Prince* Best Scenic Design- Eugene Lee* Best Costume Design-Franne Lee* Best Lighting Design-Ken Billington

AWARDS *Denotes win Drama Desk Nominations: Outstanding Musical* Outstanding Book of a Musical* Outstanding Lyrics* Outstanding Music* Outstanding Actor- Len Cariou (Sweeney Todd)* Outstanding Actress- Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Lovett)* Outstanding Featured Actor- Ken Jennings (Tobias Ragg) * Outstanding Featured Actress- Merle Louise (Beggar Woman)* Outstanding Choreography- Larry Fuller Outstanding Director- Harold Prince* Outstanding Set Design- Eugene Lee Outstanding Costume Design- Franne Lee Outstanding Lighting Design- Ken Billington Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Lovett) and Ken Jennings (Tobias)

Eugene Lee Set DEsign Eugene Lee’s sketch of his design, stripped down to its basic structural elements. Lights were positioned behind the glass paneled roof to add ability to add to subtle shifts within the production Implemented catwalks and lots of ‘gritty wood’ and metal materials to create the feel of a run down factory

Review #1: Richard Eder (New York Times, March 2, 1979) “The musical and dramatic achievements of Stephen Sondheim's black and bloody "Sweeney Todd" are so numerous and so clamorous that they trample and jam each other… doing themselves some harm in the process.” “Mr. Cariou is to some degree the prisoner of his anguish…deranged visionary doesn't give him much variety. He is such a strong actor, and such a fine singer, though...” “Angela Lansbury has more opportunities as Mrs. Lovett, and she makes towering use of them." “His [Sondheim’s] score is extraordinary.” “There is... no serious social message in Sweeney; and at the end… the point is unproven.” Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Eder

Review #2: Walter Kerr (New York Times, March 11, 1979) “I am afraid that what "Sweeney Todd" most wants to be is impressive.” “The Stephen Sondheim music and lyrics are, peculiarly, rather prettier than usual.” “The story, as told, leaves us restive and unabsorbed.” “Though Mr. Cariou is somewhat limited by the fixed mask of his face… he can sustain a long musical line boldly.”

Review #3: Robert Berkvist (New York Times, February 25,1979) “Mr. Sondheim says he is helpless to define the attractions of any particular property.” “Mr. Sondheim says that "Sweeney Todd" marks the first time he has "sort of dragged" Mr. Prince into sharing his vision of a show.” “…they [Prince and Sondheim] have encouraged theatergoers to expect the unexpected.” “One man's meat pie is another man's person -- hardly the usual stuff of musical comedy, one would think.” Sondheim because Berkvist isn’t important enough for a picture

https://youtu.be/gqapHRAqnfk

Works Cited Angela Lansbury in the Theatre. Digital image. Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2016. Berkvist, Robert. "Stephen Sondheim Takes a Stab at Grand Guignol." New York Times. N.p., 25 Feb. 1979. Web. 20 Oct. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/07/19/specials/sondheim-guignol.html>. By Age 26, Prince Felt Ready to Try His Wings as a Producer. In Partnership with Fellow Abbott Protégé Robert E. Griffith, He Acquired the Rights to a Popular Novel, 7 1/2 Cents, a Comic Depiction of a Strike in a Pajama Factory. The Novice. "Harold Prince Biography." -- Academy of Achievement. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2016. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2016. <http://www.trbimg.com/img-54715951/turbine/la-me-richard-eder-20141123>. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2016. <http://www.walterkerrtheatre.com/images/misc/tl_polaroid_walter_kerr.png>. Eder, Richard. "Stage: Introducing 'Sweeney Todd'" N.p., n.d. Web. <https://www.nytimes.com/books/9Sa8/07/19/specials/sondheim-todd.html>. "The George Gershwin Theatre." Broadway Scene. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2016. Jones, Kenneth. "Kiss Me! Sweeney Todd's Sarah Rice Sings of Love, With Paul Jackel, Feb. 14 | Playbill." Playbill. N.p., 13 Feb. 2003. Web. 13 Oct. 2016. Kerr, Walter. New York Times 11 Mar. 1979: n. pag. Web. 19 Oct. 2016. League, The Broadway. "IBDB.com." Sweeney Todd – Broadway Musical – Original. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2016. "A Love for Set Design." 'David Stark Sketchbook' N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2016. @playbill. Sweeney Todd @ Uris Theatre | Playbill. Digital image. Playbill. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2016. Rigsbee, Valerie. "Sweeney Todd." Broadway Musical Home -. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2016. "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Original Broadway Production, 1979) | BlueGobo." Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Original Broadway Production, 1979) | BlueGobo. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2016. "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2016. WALTER KERR. Digital image. Walter Kerr, Pulitzer Winning Critic Showing A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.