Bloody Good News! Sondheim Grants Landless Theatre Company Permission to Develop Prog-Metal Version of ‘Sweeney Todd’ by Andrew L. Baughman

Sweeney Goes Metal: Landless Theatre to develop a new production

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Last June, Landless Theatre Company realized they had stumbled onto something exciting with their world premiere staging of Richard Campbellā€™s Frankenstein, a prog-metal opera fusion of company artists and local metal musicians. No one expected that a letter to Stephen Sondheimā€™s agent would result in permission to develop a prog-metal version of Sweeney Todd.

Stephen Sondheim.
Stephen Sondheim.

ā€œSondheim is a genius, so this is bigā€ said Producing Artistic Director Andrew L. Baughman. ā€œHeā€™s giving us an amazing opportunity to break new ground in both the theatre and music scenes.ā€

[Note: In the NY Times,Ā ā€˜Sweeney Toddā€™ (Progressive Rock Remix) by Allan Kozinn on 2/12/14,Ā Mr. Sondheim was quoted as saying, “Yes, I did indeed give them my okay,ā€ Mr. Sondheim wrote in an email, ā€œon condition that they donā€™t cut anything or change the order of things without my express permission. Since I believe that what keeps theater alive is its openness to reinterpretation from generation to generation, I look forward to seeing (and hearing) what they do.ā€

Mr. Sondheim added that he would attend rehearsals, but only if the company asked him.

ā€œNothing is more distracting to a director and cast than having the author within eyesight while theyā€™re trying to invent and experiment,ā€ he said. ā€œIt will be an exhilarating learning experience for me whether I like the result or not.ā€]

Landless is known in DC for producing camp and satirical theatre, but the company also has deep roots in rock theatre. In 2004, Landless obtained permission to develop a stage production of Diamond Dead (a screen rock musical collaboration between Night of the Living Deadā€™s George A. Romero and Rocky Horrorā€™s Richard Hartley); the production went on to win 2008 Best Musical Pick of the Capital Fringe, and was a selected participant in the 2009 NY International Fringe Festival. Landless also produced a critically acclaimed DC premiere of Kyle Jarrowā€™s absurdist art-rock President Harding Is A Rock Star in 2008 and 2014.

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ā€œSweeney Todd Ā – Prog Metal Versionā€ will be presented in August at Mount Vernonā€™s Undercroft Theatre. It will feature many of the artists and musicians from the Richard Campbellā€™s Frankenstein team, including Resident Director Melissa Baughman.

ā€œSweeney is a natural fit for prog-metal,ā€ said Melissa Baughman. ā€œAside from the dark story of murder and revenge, the score is operatic and intricate.ā€

There have been a few Sweeney Todd rock experiments in the past, such as Dee Sniderā€™s 2012 cover of ā€œThe Ballad of Sweeney Toddā€ (Watch it below). Landlessā€™ production will mark the first rock orchestration of the show. It will bring out a new dimension of the score, and highlight some of the lesser known songs, such as Judge Turpinā€™s ā€œJohanna.ā€

Melissa Baughman, Associate Producing Director and Andrew Lloyd Baughman, Producing Artistic Director of Landless Theatre.
Melissa Baughman, Associate Producing Director Ā and Resident Director and Andrew Lloyd Baughman, Producing Artistic Director of Landless Theatre.

ā€œWe hope to see this Prog Metal Version live on beyond our premiere production,ā€ added Melissa Baughman. ā€œExpect a concert staging where the music is front and center… and yes, there will be blood.ā€

summerofrock

Sweeney Todd is part of Landless Theatreā€™s ā€œSummer of Rock,ā€ including the CapFringe production of Rock Bottom [A Rock Opus], based on the novel by Michael Shilling, which will also involve popular artists of the local music scene. Landless is currently accepting resume submissions from new actors, musicians, designers and technicians for both productions. Visit our website for details.

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LINKS

Part One:Ā ā€œRichard Campbellā€™s Frankenstein: Making a Monster Rock Operaā€: Meet Robert Bradley.

Part Two:Ā ā€œRichard Campbellā€™s Frankenstein: Landless Making a Monster Rock Opera:ā€ Meet Andrew Baughman.

Part Three:Ā ā€œRichard Campbellā€™s Frankenstein: Landless Making a Monster Rock Opera:ā€ Meet Irene Jericho.

Landless Theatre Company’sĀ website.




https://youtu.be/r1YJjTQtkqE

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