Michael Cerveris = SWEENEY TODD?????

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:36pm

From Broadway Pulse:

"Still officially in the rumor phase, but flying in from enough usually reputable sources that I'll pass it along with a grain of salt is word that Tony-winner Michael Cerveris might be sharpening his barber's blades in the upcoming revival of Sweeney Todd. The Sondheim tuner is scheduled for a Fall bow on Broadway."

If this happens...I think I just might keel over in joy.

[Razz77]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:39pm

Hmm..I think this is close to brilliant casting. While Stokes would do a very wonderful job, I think we can all already picture the wonderful job that he would do...Cerveris is daring - he'll tear the score up, as well. I'm looking forward to it.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:40pm

I hope it is true. I want someone good playing my dream role. In many years i will play it in a revival but for now I hope someone good does it.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:41pm

I would love to see him as Sweeney. How about Imelda Staunton for Mrs. Lovett?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:42pm

I would also love to see Norm Lewis as Sweeney. I think he would do an excellent job.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:43pm

YES! What great news! Cerveris would be BRILLIANT in this role! I don't know about his clarinet skills, but I know he's a musician.

Mef: I absolutely insist upon Staunton playing Lovett!!!!!!

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:45pm

so weird i starta a xanga about dream cast and i had him peged as todd.....



Weird
http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=HunterJHaws

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:46pm

Let's get her some trumpet lessons and book an audition!

Actually, I think it would be pitch-perfect casting. She can sing, she can act, she has a cockney accent. She IS Mrs. Lovett, for God's sake.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:49pm

During VERA DRAKE I just kept thinking of Lovett...she's beyond perfect. I hope the people casting this show KNOW what they're doing.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:50pm

This was the dream cast that I posted a little while ago:

Sweeney Todd-Norm Lewis (although, I'm certainly not complaining about Cerveris)
Mrs. Lovett-Imelda Staunton
Anthony-Hugh Panaro
Johanna-Harolyn Blackwell
Tobias-Malcolm Gets
Judge Turpin-George Hearn
Beadle Bamford-William Finn
The Beggar Woman-Victoria Clark

[Plum]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:52pm

Munk, what instrument does Cerveris play? If it's an oboe or something he could make the switch to clarinet...I guess. I'm not really much of a woodwinds expert.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:53pm

No, I believe he only plays the guitar. Well, I know for sure he plays guitar atleast. I really hope he does this...

[Plum]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:54pm

Guitar isn't exactly part of the standard Sweeney orchestration. *shrug* I'm not a gigantic Cerveris fan- I haven't seen enough of him for that. So I really have no problem with someone relatively unknown being cast as Sweeney- as long as they're damn good.

[broadway betty]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:55pm

YAY!

Updated On: 4/6/05 at 10:55 PM

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:56pm

I concur, I think Hearn being the most famous Sweeney Id like to see him in it. Hugh was fantastic and deserves the role.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:57pm

I don't have a problem with unknowns at all. But I think Cerveris is perfect for it, I really don't want to see Stokes do this. And my comment about knowing Cerveris is a musician wasn't to say that since he plays the guitar, he'll just do THAT for the show. I was saying that he's a musician, and if we know he's musically inclined, perhaps it will be rather easy for him to learn to play the SWEENEY score on a clarinet. Maybe just wishful thinking.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 10:59pm

Cerveris would be a very good choice for this particular production.

And by the way, when I saw this production in London, the character of Sweeney was the only one I noticed who did not play a major instrument. They mentioned clarinet in the breakdown, but I truly don't recall the actor playing it.
Updated On: 4/5/05 at 10:59 PM

[midtowngym]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 11:03pm

Cerveris is genius. Any Hedwig as good as John Cameron Mitchell gets my respect. He sat in front of me at the theater last week, but i was too nervous to say anything. I thought that only happened when I was near Raul Esparza. Damn.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 11:12pm

Wow...Michael Cerveris certainly would be an interesting choice. Since he's a tenor (although he does have a good low range), he's not a natural for the role, and he doesn't really look like a Sweeney either. But since this whole production is going to be radical, they might as well put a new spin on the title character.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 11:14pm

What does a Sweeney look like?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 11:14pm

Michael didn't look like John Wilkes Booth either. But with a wig and some make-up...HELL YEA he did!

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 11:14pm

Michael didn't look like John Wilkes Booth either. But with a wig and some make-up...HELL YEA he did!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 11:43pm

For anybody who didn't see Stokes do Sweeney at Kennedy Center in 2002, you don't want to.

You want to hear it on a CD, or see it in a concert. You want to hear it because it's beautiful.

But you don't want to watch the acting. Trust me.

Glad to see that Cerveris is quickly becoming a pretty dang good Sondheim favorite....

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 4/5/05 at 11:59pm

God, he is overrated IMO. He was good in Asassins. O'Hare was better. He was HORRIFIC in the Passion 10th Anniversary Concert. And he doesn't have stage presence. If he is cast as Sweeney, I will second thought seeing that stinker...whew, that would seriously be a BAD decision, IMO

[midtowngym]

Posted: 4/6/05 at 12:00am

Did you see his Hedwig? He tore that f**ken stage UP. No presence? HA!