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Post by alece10 on Jan 25, 2022 12:50:21 GMT
During one of my recent restless nights of sleep my mind suddenly started thinking to the most productions I have seen of a musical. Came to the conclusion that it must have been Sweeney Todd. Which leads me to ask if this musical has had more productions of any musical? To me it seems that Sondheim's work, over other composers, seems to have a lot of productions/revivals.
The first production I ever saw of Sweeney Todd was at the NT with Julia Mackenzie and Dennis Quilley (Julia Mackenzie is still my favourite Mrs Lovett of all time).
Further productions I have seen are at the Royal Festival Hall which, I think, had a young Daniel Boys in it.
Then the Chichester production that moved into the Adelphi with Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton.
And the London Colliseum production with Emma Thompson.
I am also pretty sure I saw an actor/musician production at the Ambassadors Theatre.
There was also the production that was performed in a pie shop that I think moved into a venue in Shaftsbury Avenue but I didn't get to see that one.
I think that Into The Woods must come a close second as I first saw it at the Donmar with a very young Sheridan Smith as Little Red Riding Hood, then at the Pheonix Theatre with Julia Mackenzie, a production at one of the smaller spaces in the Royal Opera House. I don't remember everyone in it but I think Anne Reid was in it. Followed by Regents Park with Hannah Waddingham and the last one I saw was at the Menier Chocolate Factory which was one of those actor/musician productions.
So wondered what other peoples thoughts are on this and if they saw any of these productions.
And are there any other musicals that have had as many major productions?
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Post by anita on Jan 25, 2022 13:19:06 GMT
I saw an actor / musician one with Jason Donovan as Sweeney.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Jan 25, 2022 13:27:02 GMT
Actually the Phoenix Production of Into the Woods opened 8 years before the production at the Donmar.
But yeah, I can't imagine many musicals having enjoyed more London productions than Sweeney Todd, including the Drury Lane debut (1980), the NT production (1993), ROH (2003), the 2004 and 2012 West End revivals, and the pie shop production (2015). Plus not many musicals are staged as frequently in concert, with the two concerts at Royal Festival Hall (2000 & 2007) and the London Coliseum production (2015). Plus of course some smaller London productions, like at the Half Moon Theatre with Gillian Hanna in 1985, the Bridwell Theatre with Dianne Pilkington in 2000 (plus another production there in 2007) and the one with David Bedella at Twickenham Theatre in 2014.
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Post by maggiem on Jan 25, 2022 14:03:16 GMT
I saw an actor / musician one with Jason Donovan as Sweeney. I saw that at the palace theatre in Manchester. First time seeing it live on stage, and I'd like to see another production someday. |
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Post by TallPaul on Jan 25, 2022 14:15:47 GMT
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jan 25, 2022 14:15:48 GMT
1. Opera North
2. Coventry University
3. Bridewell - Best production ever
4.Royal Opera - terrible
5. Opera North revival - fantastic
6. John Doyle - Trafalgar studios
7. John Doyle - Trafalgar studios - loved it both times
8. Adelphi - hated it.
9. ENO - BT was terrible but everyone around him was fantastic
10. Twickenham one with David Bedella - Really good.
Slightly regret not seeing the Pie Shop, Leeds Playhouse and Liverpool Everyman productions.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2022 14:56:13 GMT
I saw the Chichester production and to this day think it was one of the best things I’ve ever seen.
The Welsh National Opera tour in 2015 however left me underwhelmed. In hindsight I would’ve preferred to have seen that version at the Leeds Playhouse or Royal Exchange as the musical theatre/opera hybrid just didn’t work for me.
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Post by fiyero on Jan 25, 2022 15:27:46 GMT
It is definitely the show I have seen the most productions of by far.
1. Gate Theatre, Dublin
2. Royal Festival Hall concert
3. Chichester & Adelphi
4. Twickenham
5. ENO
6. Pie Shop
7. WNO
I love that I have seen so many interpretations compared to other shows which are frozen.
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8,159 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jan 25, 2022 15:28:46 GMT
Actually the Phoenix Production of Into the Woods opened 8 years before the production at the Donmar. But yeah, I can't imagine many musicals having enjoyed more London productions than Sweeney Todd, including the Drury Lane debut (1980), the NT production (1993), ROH (2003), the 2004 and 2012 West End revivals, and the pie shop production (2015). Plus not many musicals are staged as frequently in concert, with the two concerts at Royal Festival Hall (2000 & 2007) and the London Coliseum production (2015). Plus of course some smaller London productions, like at the Half Moon Theatre with Gillian Hanna in 1985, the Bridwell Theatre with Dianne Pilkington in 2000 (plus another production there in 2007) and the one with David Bedella at Twickenham Theatre in 2014. Thanks for the info about Into The Woods. Thinking back I was living overseas when it was on at the Pheonix and saw it a couple of times when I came back to the UK on business and I had returned to the UK when I saw it at the Donmar. I can Still picture the outside of The Pheonix with a wolfs head and maybe a clock? |
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Post by pianowithsam on Jan 25, 2022 16:01:17 GMT
Which leads me to ask if this musical has had more productions of any musical? To me it seems that Sondheim's work, over other composers, seems to have a lot of productions/revivals. I don't know if only pro productions are being counted here but the following fact was mentioned in the 2019 documentary film Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles about Fiddler on the Roof: "Since Fiddler on the Roof opened on September 22, 1964, the show has been performed every day.. Somewhere around the world...." If all productions are being counted, I think that is the answer! Nevertheless, that's quite an amazing stat I think. |
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Post by cavocado on Jan 25, 2022 16:08:45 GMT
I think the Julia MacKenzie NT production had Alun Armstrong as Sweeney, in the 90s? Denis Quilley and Sheila Hancock were in an earlier production.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Jan 25, 2022 16:10:52 GMT
I think the Julia MacKenzie NT production had Alun Armstrong as Sweeney, in the 90s? Denis Quilley and Sheila Hancock were in an earlier production. Denis Quilley and Sheila Hancock played the leads in the original London production in 1980. In the 1993 production Quilley played Turpin and then went on to replace Armstrong in the BBC Radio broadcast |
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8,159 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jan 25, 2022 16:20:54 GMT
Which leads me to ask if this musical has had more productions of any musical? To me it seems that Sondheim's work, over other composers, seems to have a lot of productions/revivals. I don't know if only pro productions are being counted here but the following fact was mentioned in the 2019 documentary film Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles about Fiddler on the Roof: "Since Fiddler on the Roof opened on September 22, 1964, the show has been performed every day.. Somewhere around the world...." If all productions are being counted, I think that is the answer! Nevertheless, that's quite an amazing stat I think. Thanks. That's an interesting fact. I was thinking more in terms of London productions though. |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Jan 25, 2022 18:17:30 GMT
There's a university production of Sweeney Todd at Oxford Playhouse next week from Wednesday to Saturday
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2022 20:15:11 GMT
1. Opera North 2. Coventry University 3. Bridewell - Best production ever 4.Royal Opera - terrible 5. Opera North revival - fantastic 6. John Doyle - Trafalgar studios 7. John Doyle - Trafalgar studios - loved it both times 8. Adelphi - hated it. 9. ENO - BT was terrible but everyone around him was fantastic 10. Twickenham one with David Bedella - Really good. Slightly regret not seeing the Pie Shop, Leeds Playhouse and Liverpool Everyman productions. The 'Promenade' Sweeney at the Bridewell was one of my worst. Audience particpation is my kind of hell, and having Dianne Pilkington suddenly appear beside me screaming 'Alms, 'Alms... for a miserable woman' made sure it was the last promenade production i have been to. Great cast though! |
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Post by maggiem on Jan 26, 2022 11:21:55 GMT
Oliver beamish as Judge Turpin made an impression I haven't forgotten. They way he said the line complimenting Joanna on how beautiful she looks in the gown still resonates. |
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