Sweeney Todd to Make Broadway Return Fall 2005

Steven Baruch, Thomas Viertel, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel; and Ambassador Theatre Group, Adam Kenwright & Maidstone Productions will present the musical SWEENEY TODD, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street on Broadway this fall, 2005 at a theatre to be announced. Preview performances will begin in late September with a mid-October opening scheduled. The production will feature direction by John Doyle and musical direction and arrangements by Sarah Travis, both of whom will recreate their work from the London production. Casting will be announced shortly.

This production arrives on Broadway from a highly successful London engagement originally staged by the Watermill Theatre which opened at the Trafalgar on July 27, 2004 to wide critical acclaim. That run ended on October 9, 2004 to prepare for a subsequent West End transfer to the New Ambassadors Theatre where it opened on October 13, 2004 and finished its limited engagement on February 5, 2005.

This exciting and innovative new production of Stephen Sondheim's and Hugh Wheeler's musical masterpiece features a multi-talented musical instrument-playing cast. Upon opening, the Evening Standard raved; "A spectacular and razor sharp production that bristles with invention…the show opens your mind to a hugely innovative production." And in the Independent, the critic cheered; "A triumphant new angle on a musical masterpiece."

SWEENEY TODD is based on the 19th century legend of a London barber, who is driven to crime when a malevolent judge takes his wife and child from him. His plan for revenge includes a cut-throat partnership with Mrs. Lovett, an enterprising businesswomen, who is soon producing the tastiest meat pies in London.

The original production of SWEENEY TODD opened on Broadway at the Uris Theatre (now the Gershwin) on March 1, 1979 in a production directed by Harold Prince. The musical won 8 1979 Tony Awards including Best Musical of the year.

Subsequent major productions of SWEENEY TODD include Harold Prince's 1980 London production at the Theatre Royal Drury lane, Susan H. Schulman's 1989 Broadway production at Circle In The Square and Declan Donnellan's 1993 production at The National Theatre in London.

This production will mark the first time SWEENEY TODD has been seen on Broadway in over 16 years.