Sondheim 101

OLLI Fall Semester 2018 • Alan Teasley, Instructor

Class 6 • Sweeney Todd

Today’s Focus: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barbert of Fleet Street (1979)

& Merrily We Roll Along (1981)

The Musicals of Sondheim & Prince

1970: Company

1971: Follies

1973: A Little Night Music

1976: Pacific Overtures

1979: Sweeny Todd—The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

1981: Merrily We Roll Along

The Impact of Sweeney Todd

Broadway: The American Musical (Directed by Michael Kantor,

PBS, 2004)

(6 minutes)

Sweeney Todd—The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979): Creative Team

Director: Harold Prince

Score: Stephen Sondheim

Book: Hugh Wheeler (based on a play by Christopher Bond)

Dance & Movement: Larry Fuller

Scenic Design: Eugene Lee

Costumes: Frannie Lee

Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick

Ran for 557 performances

Sweeney Todd (1979): Original Cast

Sweeney Todd (Len Cariou)

Mrs. Lovett (Angela Lansbury)

Anthony Hope (Victor Garber)

Johanna (Sarah Rice)

Tobias Ragg (Ken Jennings)

Judge Turpin (Edmund Lyndeck)

The Beadle (Jack Eric Williams)

Pirelli (Joaquín Romaguera)

Sweeney Todd Won 8 Tony Awards (1979) Out of 9 Nominations

Best Musical

Book of a Musical: Hugh Wheeler

Score: Stephen Sondheim

Actress: Angela Lansbury

Actor: Len Cariou

Scenic Design: Eugene Lee

Costume Design: Frannie Lee

Direction of a Musical: Harold Prince

Also Nominated for Lighting Design (Len Billington)

Sweeney Todd (2005 Broadway Revival)

Sweeney Todd (Michael Cerveris)

Mrs. Lovett (Patti LuPone)

Anthony (Benjamin Magnuson)

Johanna (Lauren Molina)

Tobias (Manoel Felciano)

Judge Turpin (Mark Jacoby)

Pirelli (Donna Lynne Champlin)

The Beadle (Alexander Gemignani)Director: John Doyle

Other Sweeneys & Mrs. Lovetts

Imelda Staunton & Michael Ball (London, 2012)

Other Sweeneys & Mrs. Lovetts

Emma Thompson & Bryn Terfel (NY Philharmonic Concert, 2014)

Other Sweeneys & Mrs. Lovetts

Stephanie Blythe & Brian Mulligan (San Francisco Opera, 2015)

Other Sweeneys & Mrs. Lovetts

Carolee Carmello & Norm Lewis (Off Broadway “Pie Shop” Revival, 2017)

Tim Burton’s Film of Sweeney Todd (2007)

Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp)

Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter)

Anthony (Jamie Campbell Bower)

Johanna (Jayne Wisener)

Toby (Edward Sanders)

Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman)

Pirelli (Sacha Baron Cohen)

The Beadle (Timothy Spall)(Movie Trailer: 2:25)

Today’s Performance

First National Tour, 1980-81

Recorded in Los Angeles

Televised on The Entertainment Channel (A&E) and later on PBS

Key Cast Changes from OBC: George Hearn (Sweeney) Chris Groenendaal (Anthony) Betsy Joslyn (Johanna)

Merrily We Roll Along (1981): Creative Team

Director: Harold Prince

Score: Stephen Sondheim

Book: George Furth (from play by George Kaufman and Moss Hart)

Choreography: Larry Fuller

Scenic Design: Eugene Lee

Costumes: Judith Dolan

Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick

Ran for 16 performances

Merrily We Roll Along (1981): Original Cast

Charley Kringas (Lonny Price)

Franklin Shepard (Jim Walton)

Mary Flynn (Ann Morrison)

Ensemble members:

Sally Klein

Jason Alexander

Liz Calloway

Tonya Pinkins

Giancarlo Esposito

“My Only Autobiographical

Song”

(Song 2: “Opening Doors” from Merrily We Roll Along)

Six by Sondheim (Directed by James Lapine,

HBO, 2014)

(5 minutes) Reflections on Today’s Class