Gaten Matarazzo plays his final performance as Tobias Ragg in Broadway's Sweeney Todd November 5 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Permanent replacement casting has not yet been revealed, with understudies Felix Torrez-Ponce and Nathan Salstone scheduled to step into the role over the next few weeks.
Matarazzo is the latest of the production's original cast to announce a departure. Original Anthony, Jordan Fisher, left the production in June, and stars Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford announced recently that they will complete their own Tony-nominated runs January 14, 2024. Groban and Ashford will be succeeded by Tony winners Aaron Tveit and Sutton Foster beginning February 9, 2024.
Sweeney is the latest in Matarazzo's post-Stranger Things stage return. The young actor began his career onstage appearing as Benji in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Gavroche in Les Misérables before his break-out success on the Netflix streaming series. His first stage return came in 2022 in Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen, which Matarazzo followed up by appearing as Frankie Epps in Parade at New York City Center.
Regularly one of Broadway's top-grossing productions, the current revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's Sweeney Todd began performances at the Lunt-Fontanne last February. Directed by Thomas Kail, the revival was nominated for eight 2023 Tony Awards, and won Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Natasha Katz) and Best Sound Design of a Musical (Nevin Steinberg).
READ: Gaten Matarazzo and Manoel Felciano Trade Notes on Playing Toby in Sweeney Todd
The production currently features Groban as Sweeney, Tony winner Ashford as Mrs. Lovett, Tony Award winner and Laurence Olivier Award nominee Ruthie Ann Miles (The King and I) as Beggar Woman, Daniel Yearwood (Hamilton) as Anthony, Maria Bilbao (On Your Feet!) as Johanna, Jamie Jackson (The Last Ship) as Judge Turpin, John Rapson (Les Misérables) as Beadle Bamford, and Nicholas Christopher (Hamilton) as Pirelli.
The production features Jonathan Tunick's full, 26-piece orchestration for the first time on Broadway since the 1979 original production, with music supervision by three-time Tony winner Alex Lacamoire. A cast album was released in September.
Based on the Christopher Bond play of the same name, Sweeney Todd centers on its titular barber who seeks revenge on a corrupt judge and turns to murder, with neighbor and accomplice Mrs. Lovett ultimately discovering they can dispose of the evidence by serving up the most unsettling meat pies to the people of London.
The production features choreography by Steven Hoggett, scenic design by Mimi Lien, costume design by Emilio Sosa, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, special effects design by Jeremy Chernick, and wig, hair, and make-up design by J. Jared Janas. Casting is by The Telsey Office, and Baseline Theatrical's Nick Lugo and James Hickey serve as general managers. Cody Renard Richard is production stage manager.
Annaleigh Ashford and Josh Groban in Sweeney Todd
Ruthie Ann Miles in Sweeney Todd
Jordan Fisher and Maria Bilbao in Sweeney Todd
Gaten Matarazzo, Annaleigh Ashford, Alicia Kaori, DeLaney Westfall, and Kristie Dale Sanders in Sweeney Todd
Nicholas Christopher and cast in Sweeney Todd
Jamie Jackson and John Rapson in Sweeney Todd
Annaleigh Ashford in Sweeney Todd
Josh Groban in Sweeney Todd
Gaten Matarazzo, Annaleigh Ashford, Josh Groban, Nathan Salstone, and cast of Sweeney Todd
Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford in Sweeney Todd
Josh Groban, Annaleigh Ashford, and cast of Sweeney Todd
