Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: Behind the Bloody Musical Masterpiece

by Rick Pender

Overview

An award-winning Sondheim expert dives into all facets of this unique, murder-filled masterpiece-its slimy roots, original production, characters from killers to lovers to bakers, soaring score, gripping storytelling, and lasting power.

This bloody tale is often considered one of the greatest musicals of all time. Rick Pender provides a kaleidoscopic view and interweaves a wealth of archival materials and insights, starting with the show's 19th-century gruesome literary origins and Christopher Bond's 1970 stage adaptation that inspired Sondheim to transform it into a Broadway musical. Pender extensively explores the show's development and its Tony Award-winning original 1979 production, focusing on Sondheim's majestic score and the show's masterfully written and intricately plotted book by Hugh Wheeler. Also profiled are members of the all-star creative team led by director Hal Prince as well as legendary orchestrator Jonathan Tunick, renowned musical director Paul Gemignani, and the original cast, including Len Cariou, Angela Lansbury, Victor Garber, Sarah Rice, Edmund Lyndeck, Ken Jennings, and Merle Louise.

The book surveys major, subsequent productions by theater and opera companies, as well as Tim Burton's dark 2007 cinematic adaptation featuring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter. Critical assessments of the original production and numerous adaptations are shared, including John Doyle's 2005 Tony Award-winning actor/musician production and the 2023 revival starring Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford. The book ends with a look at the musical's cultural impacts and legacy. Rick Pender provides riveting exploration of Sweeney Todd will please fans of musical theatre, Sondheim enthusiasts, and those who gravitate to horror stories.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538196441
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/02/2025
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Rick Pender, author of The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia, is a respected authority on Stephen Sondheim and the composer/lyricist's 18 Broadway musicals. Pender is past chair of the American Theatre Critics Association and was the executive editor and publisher of Everything Sondheim and managing editor of The Sondheim Review. He has written for CityBeat, Cincinnati's alternative newsweekly, since it was founded in 1994. In 2002 and again in 2017, the Society of Professional Journalists named him Ohio's best critic.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Attend the Tale of Sweeney Todd
Chapter 2: Sweeney's Bloody Roots
Chapter 3: First Blood on Broadway: Sweeney Todd, 1979
Chapter 4: Blood on the Big Screen: Tim Burton's Horror Musical, 2007
Chapter 5: Sweeney Swings Back… Again and Again: Revivals, Opera Houses and Concerts
Chapter 6: Sweeney Settles the Musical Score
Chapter 7: Take Sweeney Home to Listen: Recordings
Chapter 8: “Isn't that Sweeney there beside you?”: Cultural Impact

Appendix 1: Sweeney Todd Productions Worldwide
Appendix 2: Song-by-Song Commentary
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Rick Pender takes us through every conceivable nook and cranny in the world of Sweeney Todd. There are tidbits to be cherished, and the revelations just keep coming with extraordinary detail. I doubt there is anything you ever wondered about Sweeney Todd that isn't addressed in this remarkable book.” —Ted Chapin, producer and performer; former president, Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization

“Rick Pender's approach to Sweeney Todd is characteristically exhaustive. Those of us who have revered it for decades will encounter new facts, insights, and the creator's passion on every page. But just as important, I am so pleased that the newbies who discover this classic musical, through Rick's mind and heart, will have him as their guide.” —Bill Rudman, Producer and Host, On the Aisle on SiriusXM on Broadway

“Blending historical analysis, production histories, backstage stories, and sharp musical insights, Rick Pender traces Sweeney Todd's evolution from Victorian penny dreadfuls to the Broadway stage, to film and recordings, and beyond. Through meticulous research and a keen theatrical sensibility, Pender offers fresh perspectives. This fascinating book is rich in detail and engagingly written – an indispensable companion to Sweeney Todd.” —Stacy E. Wolf, author, Changed for Good: A Feminist History of the Broadway Musical; Professor of Theater, Princeton University

From the Publisher