Composer

:

Stephen Sondheim

Genre

:

Musical Theatre

Style

:

Musical Theater

Compose Date

:

1979

Average_duration

:

99:29

Movement_count

:

29

Movement ....

Sweeney Todd is a musical thriller composed by Stephen Sondheim, with a book by Hugh Wheeler. The musical is based on the 1973 play of the same name by Christopher Bond. The plot revolves around a barber named Sweeney Todd, who returns to London after being wrongfully imprisoned for 15 years. He seeks revenge against the corrupt judge who sentenced him and his wife, who was taken from him. Todd teams up with a pie shop owner, Mrs. Lovett, and together they devise a plan to kill their customers and use their bodies as filling for her pies. The musical was composed in 1979 and premiered on Broadway in 1979. It was directed by Harold Prince and starred Len Cariou as Sweeney Todd and Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Lovett. The show was a critical and commercial success, winning eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The musical is divided into two acts, with each act consisting of several musical numbers. The first act introduces the characters and sets up the plot, while the second act focuses on the consequences of their actions. The music is characterized by its complex harmonies and intricate lyrics, with Sondheim's signature style of using multiple melodies and rhythms simultaneously. The show's most famous songs include "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," "Johanna," "Not While I'm Around," and "A Little Priest." The music is dark and haunting, reflecting the show's themes of revenge, murder, and madness. Sweeney Todd has been revived numerous times on Broadway and in the West End, with notable productions including the 2005 Broadway revival starring Michael Cerveris and Patti LuPone, and the 2012 London revival starring Imelda Staunton and Michael Ball. Overall, Sweeney Todd is a masterpiece of musical theatre, with its intricate music, complex characters, and dark themes. It remains one of Sondheim's most beloved works and a favorite among theatre fans.

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