Sondheim's
Sweeney gets new recording

The first new Broadway cast recording of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street since its original run 25 years ago will be recorded on Monday, November 14, according to Playbill.com. The two-CD recording will be released by Nonesuch.

The 10-member cast, which also serves as the onstage band for U.K. director John Doyle's revival at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, may have an advantage at the recording session that they don't have onstage: It's unlikely they'll have to play their instruments while singing in the studio, although they will serve as the only musicians on the recording.

The new production, which won mostly rave reviews after its November 3 opening, stars Hedwig and the Angry Inch veteran and Tony winner (for Sondheim's Assassins) Michael Cerveris as Sweeney Todd--he also plays guitar onstage--and Broadway's original Evita, Patti LuPone, as Mrs. Lovett. LuPone also plays orchestral bells and, in a few songs, the tuba.

Playbill.con reports that the session will be guided by producer Tommy Krasker, who has helmed six previous Sondheim cast albums as well as the 2000 recording of Sweeney Todd that featured the New York Philharmonic. (Advocate.com)