Groban & Ashford in SWEENEY TODD On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 6

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/5/23 at 1:44pm

It's got to be something his agent negotiated. For some people, "understudy" is a "dirty word" (hence the use of "cover," etc.), and Christopher and/or his agent didn't want to use that term since he has moved "beyond" that. It's pretty silly.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/5/23 at 1:54pm

Keep in mind the Nick Chris language used in the press release might not be the official title for Broadway.

It’s not out of the ordinary to have 3 covers for a demanding principal role during Covid times, especially if they want to be sure the show always goes on without cancellation. Gives everyone some better peace of mind and puts less strain on the other covers.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/5/23 at 1:55pm

Once this show opens, it's playing 7 shows a week. That may be why there is no alternate for Josh as some people wondered about. 

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 1/5/23 at 3:38pm

I'll be very curious to see if Josh Groban is that big of a draw to make sense out of a 7 show week with a Sondheim show about murder and cannibalism. Only time will tell. 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 1/5/23 at 3:57pm

Raymond J. Lee will be covering Pirelli and Beadle.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 1/5/23 at 4:17pm

Bill Snibson said: "I'll be very curious to see if Josh Groban is that big of a draw to make sense out of a 7 show week with a Sondheim show about murder and cannibalism. Only time will tell."

Obviously anecdotal, but looking at the tickets on sale currently, it is selling really well. And that's without any real advertisement. Once they start dropping pro shots, I have a feeling this will be a very hot ticket, at least for as long as Groban is in the show.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 1/5/23 at 9:27pm

[Robbie2]

Posted: 1/5/23 at 9:28pm

Robbie2 said: ""

[Robbie2]

Posted: 1/5/23 at 9:29pm

Robbie2 said: "Robbie2 said: ""

"

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/5/23 at 9:41pm

Bill Snibson said: "I'll be very curious to see if Josh Groban is that big of a draw to make sense out of a 7 show week with a Sondheim show about murder and cannibalism. Only time will tell."

 

I just don't understand the purpose of doing only 7 shows? Add an 8th performance with the standbys going on and make it somewhat affordable to see.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/5/23 at 10:22pm

ACL2006 said: "Bill Snibson said: "I'll be very curious to see if Josh Groban is that big of a draw to make sense out of a 7 show week with a Sondheim show about murder and cannibalism. Only time will tell."



I just don't understand the purpose of doing only 7 shows? Add an 8th performance with the standbys going on and make it somewhat affordable to see."


Although Sweeney Todd is beloved by musical theatre nerds like many of us here, this revival is probably mostly happening because Josh Groban wanted to do it and had the power to make it happen (just like with Great Comet). I have a feeling he’s calling a lot of the shots, and (understandably) had concerns about doing such a taxing role eight times a week, and was not willing to share the role a la Bette Midler in Hello Dolly. I have a feeling though that after the Tony Awards, they will add an 8th show and Nicolas Christopher will be bumped up to “alternate.” I agree there are enough Sondheim lovers out there who don’t care about Josh Groban to fill the theatre at least once a week.

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 1/6/23 at 12:19am

It actually reminds me of the "Sunset Blvd" revival with Glenn Close where they only did 7 shows a week and were always pulling in over a million dollars. I guess when it works it works. 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 1/6/23 at 2:30am

I believe Hennessy Winkler will be the first trans-man on Broadway?

 

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 1/6/23 at 9:01am

So happy for Dwayne Cooper! (aka Milan from Rupaul's Drag Race).

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/6/23 at 9:47am

Odd they are going from 8 performances in previews to 7 performances post-opening. I was hoping that Nicholas Christopher would get a scheduled performance as Sweeney, as I'd really like to see him.

[JasonC3]

Posted: 1/6/23 at 10:20am

It will be interesting to see how sales perform over time. 

While certainly not apples-apples in terms of casting, the 2005 Doyle revival looks like it did fairly well during the first half of its run and then dropped quite a bit in the second half. 

The fact that it ran for 349 performances isn't bad though. FWIW, I loved it and saw it three times.  Cerveris remains one of my favorite Sweeneys.

[tacotheatrelover]

Posted: 1/6/23 at 9:07pm

Hennesy Winkler is in this!? Welp... my wallet is now dead :/

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/6/23 at 9:42pm

JasonC3 said: "It will be interesting to see how sales perform over time. While certainly not apples-apples in terms of casting, the 2005 Doyle revival looks like it did fairly well during the first half of its run and then dropped quite a bit in the second half. The fact that it ran for 349 performances isn't bad though."

That revival recouped in 19 weeks. An extreme rarity –– then and now –– for a Sondheim musical. The Kail production will be much bigger & more expensive.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 1/7/23 at 1:47pm

[Robbie2]

Posted: 1/7/23 at 1:47pm

Robbie2 said: ""

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 1/7/23 at 3:38pm

I would love them to do actor/character banners on the exterior like they did for Addams Family.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/7/23 at 6:31pm

Am I misremembering, or did Groban have some spotty attendance in GREAT COMET (aside from pre-scheduled outs)? For some reason that sticks in my mind but I could be thinking of something else.

It may be that performances are added later after assessing stamina in previews. Maybe Groban does 8 perfs every other week, for example. Or maybe they add a standby performance. Or maybe they do none of that.

I do wonder how much Tony strategy could factor in there. If the standby ends up being "better" than the principal in the court of public opinion. (i.e. Donna did not start doing Tuesday nights at Dolly until post-Tonys, but that show was a very unique situation).

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 1/7/23 at 7:24pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Am I misremembering, or did Groban have some spotty attendance in GREAT COMET (aside from pre-scheduled outs)? For some reason that sticks in my mind but I could be thinking of something else."

I can’t speak for his entire run but when I went he was unfortunately out. Since we had already paid to get into the city, we decided to see the show anyway. 

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 1/8/23 at 5:54pm

I feel like I haven’t seen anyone discussing this??

 

“The revival will feature Jonathan Tunick's full, 26-piece orchestration for the first time on Broadway since the original production, under the baton of three-time Tony winner Alex Lacamoire.”

https://playbill.com/article/cast-complete-for-broadway-revival-of-sweeney-todd-starring-josh-groban-and-annaleigh-ashford
 

 

The music is going to sound INCREDIBLE! 

 

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 1/8/23 at 6:08pm

Luminaire2 said: "I feel like I haven’t seen anyone discussing this??



“The revival will feature Jonathan Tunick's full, 26-piece orchestration for the first time on Broadway since the original production, under the baton of three-time Tony winnerAlex Lacamoire.”

https://playbill.com/article/cast-complete-for-broadway-revival-of-sweeney-todd-starring-josh-groban-and-annaleigh-ashford




The music is going to sound INCREDIBLE!

"

It's been discussed at length in the original Groban-Sweeney thread :)