Aaron Tveit, Sutton Foster will next star in ‘Sweeney Todd’ — Page 2

Sutton Ross said: "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."



Aaron is a very talented performer. I’ve just seen no evidence, as of yet, that he’s anything other than a high-belting pop tenor, when the role of Sweeney requires a legit bass-baritone timbre and vocal range. Are they going to raise the keys for him? This is nothing against him whatsoever, but I think people here are right to question the (likely) casting based upon our current knowledge of his capabilities as a singer. I wouldn’t cast Patrick Page as Judas in JCS just because he’s a terrific singer and actor.

Updated On: 10/30/23 at 02:49 PM

Aaron is a very talented performer. I’ve just seen no evidence, as of yet, that he’s anything other than a high-belting pop tenor, when the role of Sweeney requires a legit bass-baritone timbre and vocal range. Are they going to raise the keys for him? This is nothing against him whatsoever, but I think people here are right to question the (likely) casting based upon our current knowledge of his capacities as a singers. I wouldn’t cast Patrick Page as Judas in JCS just because he’s a terrific singer and actor.

Great comment and I see your points. If he is actually cast, I don't think they would give him the job if he couldn't sing the score. And I would cast Patrick in any role possible, but I do understand what you're saying. Someone who is completely miscast in a show and can't sing the score is a real bummer. We've only seen that once in recent history and it obviously did not end well for them.

musikman said: "Aaron is a very talented performer. I’ve just seen no evidence, as of yet, that he’s anything other than a high-belting pop tenor, when the role of Sweeney requires a legit bass-baritone timbre and vocal range. Are they going to raise the keys for him? "

They'd definitely need to raise the keys

imeldasturn said: "musikman said: "Aaron is a very talented performer. I’ve just seen no evidence, as of yet, that he’s anything other than a high-belting pop tenor, when the role of Sweeney requires a legit bass-baritone timbre and vocal range. Are they going to raise the keys for him?"

They'd definitely need to raise the keys"

I'm sorry but were you in the room when he auditioned for this? Do you have proof that he can't sing it? Just because we haven't seen this from Aaron in the past hardly means he can't do i

I know this board is full of opinions and it's fine to complain... but also, can't we celebrate that two primary theater stars are taking over the leads in a Sondheim show? Let's at least give them a chance to prove themselves before we complain on and on about it in multiple threads.

HenryTDobson said: "I'm sorry but were you in the room when he auditioned for this? Do you have proof that he can't sing it? Just because we haven't seen this from Aaron in the past hardly means he can't do i

I know this board is full of opinions and it's fine to complain... but also, can't we celebrate that two primary theater stars are taking over the leads in a Sondheim show? Let's at least give them a chance to prove themselves before we complain on and on about it in multiple threads."

Pretty people are only reacting to the fact that this is decidedly uninspired casting at best, complete miscasting at worst. Every thread on this board pontificates about performances before they happen. It is quite literally a DISCUSSION board.

I'd say that he's an odd choice given his acting ability in addition to his vocal range, but maybe I'll be surprised. I was one of the rare few who actually found Josh's performance satisfying.

HenryTDobson said: "imeldasturn said: "musikman said: "Aaron is a very talented performer. I’ve just seen no evidence, as of yet, that he’s anything other than a high-belting pop tenor, when the role of Sweeney requires a legit bass-baritone timbre and vocal range. Are they going to raise the keys for him?"

They'd definitely need to raise the keys"

I'm sorry but were you in the room when he auditioned for this? Do you have proof that he can't sing it? Just because we haven't seen this from Aaron in the past hardly means he can't do i

I know this board is full of opinions and it's fine to complain... but also, can't we celebrate that two primary theater stars are taking over the leads in a Sondheim show? Let's at least give them a chance to prove themselves before we complain on and on about it in multiple threads."

People on this board have been going to theatre since the cold war and yet have managed to learn nothing about music at all. One does not become a baritone if he's a (high) tenor, it's not a matter of talent but of voice register. The role as written goes too low for him in a way he could not sing 7 or 8 times a week. Keys are changed for roles often enough, there is no shame in that.

pmensky said: "ACL2006 said: "Tveit is an odd choice because of his high vocal range. Can he sing Sweeney Todd in the proper key? As a baritone?"

If Michael Cerveris, who originated the title role in Tommy, can sing Sweeney, then yes, Tveit can sing Sweeney."

Except that Michael Cerveris struggled with a lot of the low notes in Sweeney (and for that matter, with some of the high notes in Tommy).

pmensky said: "Seems like people are concerned because these characters are so inherently dark and neither of these actors are known for playing roles with such gravitas. That’s why they’re both probably wanting to play them. It will be interesting to see them stretch and show they can be more than a corn fed optimist and a boy ingenue. They’re both getting too old to keep doing that, so it’s probably a good, strategic career move."

Tveit and Foster are about as menacing as Groban and Ashford, so they seem well-suite for this production's tone and approach.

musikman said: Aaron is a very talented performer. I’ve just seen no evidence, as of yet, that he’s anything other than a high-belting pop tenor, when the role of Sweeney requires a legit bass-baritone timbre and vocal range. Are they going to raise the keys for him? This is nothing against him whatsoever, but I think people here are right to question the (likely) casting based upon our current knowledge of his capabilities as a singer. I wouldn’t cast Patrick Page as Judas in JCS just because he’s a terrific singer and actor.

Aaron is not a baritone. And they will have to transpose some of the score. His tessitura and timbre just is not that of a baritone. He's a bonafide lyric tenor. BUT, that being said. Aaron is more than a high belting pop tenor. Not many people know that he basically trained as a classical singer his whole life before changing from classical voice major to musical theatre major in college. He's even sung both the Rodolfo aria from La Bohème and an English art song in his concerts. Have a listen to this audio of him singing Che Gelida Manina https://youtu.be/ZKPtqFzKx4c?si=SkWQk2iIlhIqufW1 I think this definitely is proof that he's got the legit vocals. He'll definitely throw in some grit and growls though, when required. He doesn't have the baritone timbre, but Sweeney has been played by tenors before. Alexander Gemignani for example. Hugh Panaro is also a tenor, though darker than Aaron. And I know that Aaron will go full out in this role and be a bat**** insane Sweeney. Plus, it's been a dream role of his for 10 years. He'll do it justice.

pmensky said: Well, he didn’t have to struggle to get Tony nominations for both roles."



Bad argument. Jason Danieley is one of the greatest Broadway actors ever and has never gotten a Tony nomination.