Sweeney Todd
JULY 16 – 22
MUNY PREMIERE!
The Broadway legend and American musical masterpiece makes its Muny debut. Set in 19th century London, Sweeney Todd has captivated audiences around the world with its dark wit and haunting tale of love. Considered to be one of composer Stephen Sondheim’s greatest showpieces, this eight-time Tony Award-winning thriller features hair-raising favorites, including “The Worst Pies in London,” “A Little Priest” and “Johanna.”
Sponsored by
Supporting Show Sponsors
Book by Hugh Wheeler
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
From an Adaptation by Christopher Bond
Cast
Ben Davis
Sweeney Todd
Muny: 1776, Guys and Dolls, Jesus Christ Superstar, Oklahoma!; Spamalot and South Pacific. Tony Honor (Ensemble) for his work in Baz Luhrmann’s Broadway production of La Bohème (Marcello). NYC: Lady in the Dark (NY City Center Encores!), Call Me Madam opposite Carmen Cusack, Dear Evan Hansen, Violet, A Little Night Music, Les Misérables and Thoroughly Modern Millie. National tour: The Sound of Music and Spamalot. Other favorites include Kiss Me, Kate for the BBC at London’s Royal Albert Hall and Kurt Weill’s Knickerbocker Holiday opposite Kelli O’Hara and Victor Garber at Lincoln Center (recorded live) and in concert opposite Ms. O’Hara with Ted Sperling. TV/Film: NBC’s Annie Live!; Chicago Fire, Law & Order: SVU; Woman in the Window, Boogie, The Magic Flute (directed by Kenneth Branagh), A Hand of Bridge, Blue Bloods, 30 Rock and Numb3rs. Concerts: Philly Pops, RTÉ Orchestra, Tanglewood, Caramoor and many others.
Carmen Cusack
Mrs. Lovett
Broadway: Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s Bright Star (Tony Award nomination), Flying Over Sunset (Clare Boothe Luce). Streaming/Film: Facebook series, Sorry For Your Loss (recurring opposite Janet McTeer and Elizabeth Olsen), TriStar’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (opposite Tom Hanks). Cusack studied opera at the University of North Texas, which gave her its first honorary baccalaureate degree in 2018.
Robert Cuccioli
Judge Turpin
Muny: 42nd Street. Broadway: Jekyll & Hyde (Tony Award nomination, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, FANY and Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Awards), Les Misérables and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. Some favorite off-Broadway credits include A Touch of the Poet, The White Devil, Caesar and Cleopatra (Caesar), And the World Goes ‘Round (Outer Critics Circle Award), Rothschild & Sons (London’s Offie nomination), Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris and White Guy on The Bus. Robert has performed at such notable regional theatres as The Guthrie, Paper Mill Playhouse, The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Shakespeare Theatre Company (Lorenzaccio, Helen Hayes nomination), McCarter Theatre Center, George Street Playhouse, Ford’s Theatre (1776, Helen Hayes nomination). Television: The Sinner, Elementary, White Collar, Sliders, Baywatch, Guiding Light. Film: Celebrity, The Stranger, The Rest of Us, Impossible Monsters, Columbus on Trial.
Jake Boyd
Anthony Hope
recently played Maxie Boswell in the new world premiere musical Becoming Nancy at The Alliance Theatre. Broadway: Rock of Ages, Wicked. National tour: Wicked (Fiyero). Off-Broadway: Sweeney Todd (Anthony, Barrow Street), The Last Smoker in America (Jimmy, Westside). Regional: Be More Chill (Jake, Original Cast, Two River), Carrie (Revival, Original Cast, MCC), Bull Durham (Jimmy, Alliance). TV: The Sound of Music Live!; Law and Order: SVU; Blue Bloods, Are We There Yet?; 30 Rock, Jessica Jones, The Tap (pilot).
Lincoln Clauss
Tobias Ragg
is thrilled to be making his Muny debut! Regional: Fly (La Jolla Playhouse), Burn All Night (American Repertory Theater), Evocation to Visible Appearance (Actors Theatre of Louisville/Humana Festival of New American Plays), Peter Pan (Laguna Playhouse). New York: Bat Out of Hell: The Musical (NY City Center). Recently starred as Evan Blake/Wolf Spider on the second season of Batwoman (CW). Proud alum of Ball State University.
Rounding Out The Company
Rounding out the company are Ensemble members Lee H. Alexander, Nick Berninger, Leah Berry, Patrick Blindauer, Brandon S. Chu, Rheaume Crenshaw, Steve Czarnecki, J.D. Daw, Delaney Guyer, Michelle Beth Herman, Omega Jones, Beth Kirkpatrick, Debby Lennon, Jonelle Margallo, Jacqueline Petroccia, Tim Quartier, Grant James Reynolds, Liz Shivener, Nicklaus Smith, Cecilia Snow, Veronica Stern, April Strelinger, Price Waldman and Andy Zapata. The company will also be joined by the Muny Kid and Teen youth ensembles.
Creative Team
Rob Ruggiero
Director
The Muny: 1776, Gypsy (starring Beth Leavel), The Music Man, Oklahoma!; Hello, Dolly!; South Pacific and The King and I. He has also directed many award-winning productions at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, including Follies, Sunday in the Park with George, Take Me Out and Evita. His work has been seen at regional theatres around the country. Broadway: High (starring Kathleen Turner) and Looped (starring Valerie Harper). Off-Broadway, he conceived and directed Make Me a Song (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations). Rob also recently directed a new version of A Grand Night for Singing at Goodspeed Musicals where he is a frequent collaborator. He is the Producing Artistic Director at TheaterWorks Hartford, where he has been affiliated for 29 years.
Jessica Hartman
Associate Director and Musical Staging
The Muny: Footloose, Annie, All Shook Up, Mamma Mia!; Hairspray and Seussical. Broadway: Lysistrata Jones (Associate Choreographer), The Boy from Oz starring Hugh Jackman (Assistant Choreographer/Dance Captain/Swing). Off-Broadway: Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play! (Choreographer, New Victory Theater). Other credits include: Rock of Ages (Director/Choreographer), A Chorus Line, Memphis, Mamma Mia!; How to Succeed… (Choreographer/TUTS), Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (Kennedy Center), Norwegian Creative Studios (Choreographer), Disney Junior’s Dance Party (Associate Show Director/Choreographer), Universal Studios/The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Associate). Upcoming: An animated special for HBO Max/Mo Willems and Pigeon national tour. Hartman is the Artistic Director of Broadway Theatre Connection and a proud member of SDC. JessHartman.com
James Moore
Music Director
The Muny: 1776, Gypsy, The Music Man, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, Hello, Dolly!; West Side Story, Meet Me In St. Louis, The Producers. Broadway: Miss Saigon, On the Town, Gigi, Follies, South Pacific, Ragtime, Steel Pier, Company. National tours: The Producers, Kiss Me, Kate; Crazy for You, And the World Goes ‘Round. Encores! Off Center: Road Show. The Kennedy Center: The Music Man starring Norm Lewis and Jessie Mueller, Camelot starring Brian Stokes Mitchell, My Fair Lady starring Jonathan Pryce, Mame starring Christine Baranski. Recordings: On the Town, Follies. Mr. Moore serves as Music Supervisor for the United States touring productions of Les Misérables. He holds Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in vocal performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.