Asolo Rep Announces SWEENEY TODD Casting

Asolo Repertory Theatre proudly continues its 60th season with SWEENEY TODD: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It will be directed and choreographed by Peter Rothstein, who helmed the theatre's critically acclaimed 2018 production of Ragtime. Featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, a book by Hugh Wheeler and from an adaptation by Christopher Bond, this musical masterwork and global phenomenon previews May 1 - 3, opens May 4 and runs through June 1 in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

Revenge and romance abound in this enduring tale set on the seedy streets of 19th century London. Wrongfully imprisoned barber Sweeney Todd will stop at nothing to avenge the death of his wife and win back the love of his daughter. With the help of eccentric meat pie shop owner Mrs. Lovett, his merciless plan for vengeance unfolds with grisly consequences. Featuring brilliant wit, diabolical humor and extraordinary music, this thrilling theatrical treat is Sondheim at his very best.

"We could not be more thrilled to present a world-class production of SWEENEY TODD, one of Stephen Sondheim's most celebrated masterpieces, directed by the brilliant Peter Rothstein," said Asolo Rep Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards. "Filled with intrigue, suspense and one of the most powerful scores of all time, SWEENEY TODD is going to be a jaw-dropping theatrical experience."

Broadway veteran Allen Fitzpatrick (Sweeney Todd) leads the cast as the vehement barber. His Broadway credits include Les Misérables, 42nd Street, Memphis, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Sweet Smell of Success, and Damn Yankees. He received an Emmy for Stephen Sondheim's Passion (Live from Lincoln Center). He previously portrayed Sweeney at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre and Goodspeed Opera House. Sally Wingert (Mrs. Lovett) has performed in more than 90 productions at the Guthrie Theater, where she was most recently seen in Noises Off. She appeared in La Bête with Mark Rylance on Broadway and London's West End. She has performed at ART, Yale Rep, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and more.

Elizabeth Hawkinson (Johanna) previously played the role at Theater Latté Da, where she also recently played Paquette in Candide and Countess Charlotte in A Little Night Music. James Ramlet (Judge Turpin) recently made his off-Broadway debut in the Theater Latté Da production of All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914. He has also been seen at the Guthrie Theater, American Repertory Theater, Children's Theatre Company and History Theatre. Perry Sherman (Anthony Hope) has appeared on Broadway in Fun Home, in the National Tours of Next to Normal and Spring Awakening and in Les Misérables in Toronto.

The cast features David Darrow (Tobias Ragg) and Benjamin Dutcher (Jonas Fogg), who both appeared in Ragtime at Asolo Rep. It also includes Colin Anderson (Beadle Bamford), Sarah Ochs (Beggar Woman), and Evan Tyler Wilson (Adolfo Pirelli).
Director and Choreographer Peter Rothstein is the Founding Artistic Director of Theater Latté Da, a Twin Cities-based company dedicated to new and adventurous musical theater. His work has also been seen at the Guthrie Theater, the Children's Theater Company, Minnesota Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Utah Shakespeare Festival and Seattle's 5th Avenue Theater. He is the creator of All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914. Peter was named the 2015 Minnesota Artist of the Year from the Star Tribune, and has been awarded grants and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Theatre Communications Group, the Minnesota State Arts Board and the McKnight Foundation.

"SWEENEY TODD is one of the greatest works in the American theatre," said Peter Rothstein. "I first directed this production for Theater Latté Da in Minneapolis a few years ago, and I am thrilled to reunite this design team to re-imagine it at the glorious Asolo Repertory Theatre."

SWEENEY TODD premiered on Broadway in 1979 and was nominated for 9 Tony Awards, winning 8, including Best Musical. It was adapted into a 2007 feature film, starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.

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