The linked article does not support the definitive language used for the thread title. Instead it merely reports an unnamed source and social media rumblings, pretty much what the ample posts on this topic in the Sweeney thread have already addressed.
It's the gossip page for f@cks sake, reporting on, well... GOSSIP... from here and (Probably) Sweaty .
Good God, I hope it's wrong. (No offense to either actor, I just feel like they are both so incredibly wrong for the roles.)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
While it's understandable that some sniff at the veracity of Page Six, I can confirm this is true. I heard it directly from someone involved in the show over the weekend. Official announcement will be made in the coming days. What else I've heard is that it will be a short run for both and plans to keep the show running after they finish their engagement are still up in the air.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
I like Aaron Tveit just fine, but find him to be a bit bland even though he has a lovely voice. Sutton Foster is great when she's cast in the right role (loved her in Anything Goes and Sweet Charity). However, I strongly feel this casting is just so wrong. I didn't particularly love either Groban or Ashford either, though. I think my problem may be that I'm just not fully on board with Thomas Kail's vision for this revival.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
AC126748 said: "While it's understandable that some sniff at the veracity of Page Six, I can confirm this is true. I heard it directly from someone involved in the show over the weekend. Official announcement will be made in the coming days. What else I've heard is that it will be a short run for both and plans to keep the show running after they finish their engagement are still up in the air."
It could make good business sense if it is a limited run with these stars, and then they are able to get another set of stars for another limited run.
The more I think about the comment in the other thread about Michel Williams as Mrs. Lovett...wow if she were willing...
Foster wouldn't be my first pick, but I can see how she fits the Ashford interpretation of the character. Tveit though... what? Can he even hit the low notes that Sweeney needs to sing?
Jordan Catalano said: "“No clue but it’ll be exciting to find out. And going from “Mattress” to “Sweeney”, it’s gonna be a good year for our Sutton."
If this is true, I wonder if she's withdrawing from Mattress? Annaleigh's last performance is January 14th and Mattress is supposed to run until February 4th. And I just can't imagine Sweeney going 4 weeks without a name (unless they have something else planned for that break in between).
Announcement is tomorrow, they start in February, and in the interim the roles will be played by Nicholas Christopher & Paul Jordan Jensen as Sweeney and Jeanna De Waal & Delaney Westfall as Mrs. Lovett.
This casting has been discussed for the past 2 weeks on the existing Sweeney thread, and someone already said the announcement was coming tomorrow, so not sure why this needed an awkwardly-titled new thread ahead of the official announcement, but B22 can't seem to help themself.
I must say I finding these castings… strange. I personally would have much rather Bernadette Peters (!) or Lea Salonga taking on Mrs Lovett. And someone like Hugh Panaro or Norm Lewis (who was phenomenal) reprising.
Theatrefanboy1 said: "I must say I finding these castings… strange. I personally would have much rather Bernadette Peters (!) or Lea Salonga taking on Mrs Lovett. And someone like Hugh Panaro or Norm Lewis (who was phenomenal) reprising."
Oh a Lea Salonga/Norm Lewis combo sounds absolutely thrilling! This other rumored casting not so much for me.
poto19882023 said: "Announcement is tomorrow, they start in February, and in the interim the roles will be played by Nicholas Christopher & Paul Jordan Jensen as Sweeney and Jeanna De Waal & Delaney Westfall as Mrs. Lovett."
This is hilarious you act like you're part of their casting team. What's wrong with waiting for the official announcement? Do you have a problem with waiting?
hearthemsing22 said: "poto19882023 said: "Announcement is tomorrow, they start in February, and in the interim the roles will be played by Nicholas Christopher & Paul Jordan Jensen as Sweeney and Jeanna De Waal & Delaney Westfall as Mrs. Lovett."
This is hilarious you act like you're part of their casting team. What's wrong with waiting for the official announcement? Do you have a problem with waiting?"
Just sharing what I was told. My apologies. I’m fine with waiting just naturally excited for the news to come out officially. Guess it won’t be long now.
If you want a specific source the cast announcement being tomorrow comes from the box office - hesitant to share the source for the info about the interim cast just in case but I trust them and it only came up when Delaney went on for Lovett on Saturday and discussion was had about her ever going on again when this person said she’d have those dates in January.
hearthemsing22 said: "poto19882023 said: "Announcement is tomorrow, they start in February, and in the interim the roles will be played by Nicholas Christopher & Paul Jordan Jensen as Sweeney and Jeanna De Waal & Delaney Westfall as Mrs. Lovett."
This is hilarious you act like you're part of their casting team. What's wrong with waiting for the official announcement? Do you have a problem with waiting?"
Maybe I’ve misunderstood the ask but isn’t it for our benefit that people apparently leak this info? It’s the cycle of how rumors on this board work haha. I agree people sometimes get a little kick out of being the first one to share if that’s what you mean (I think people get a kick out of even being the first person to post a review thread lol). But <Tracie Bennett in Here We Are>does it matterrrrrr?
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
I think it's funny that people can't see Aaron in the role. Maybe you should look up the definition of what acting is and realize that they are trained for alllll different kinds of things. Sutton and Aaron are both Broadway royalty with great attendance records, and this production is lucky to have them. I don't love the lack of diversity with the two main roles, but not all shows are obligated to do that to please people who value such things.
Norm Lewis (who was phenomenal) reprising.
Norm Lewis is a brilliant talent, and he will always be the BEST Sweeney, Harold Hill, Phantom, Caiaphas, Specialist, and Javert that I have ever seen.