Wicked's Leung to Star in Wisconsin Sweeney Todd
By Andrew Gans
09 Jul 2006
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Telly Leung
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Telly Leung, who recently completed a year-long run as Boq in the sit-down production of Wicked in Chicago, will co-star in the Four Seasons Theatre's upcoming presentation of Sweeney Todd at the Wisconsin Union Theater.
Leung, according to the actor's official website, will play Tobias in the famed Stephen Sondheim musical, which will be performed Aug. 11-13. Andrew Abrams will direct and musical direct the limited engagement.
The Sweeney company will also feature Rick Henslin as the vengeful barber, Lori Poulson as Mrs. Lovett, Tamara Brognano as the Beggar Woman, Steve O’Connell as Judge Turpin, Jessica Baetz as Johanna, Nathan Lehmann as Anthony Hope, Christopher Smith as The Beadle, John Najem as Pirelli and Tom Henson as Jonas Fogg.
The creative team comprises Jenn Johnson (set designer), Tim Gates (technical director), Ben Smith (lighting designer), Rebecca Sites (costume designer), Jan Ross (wig and make-up designer) and Steve Gotcher (sound designer).
Telly Leung made his Broadway debut in the revival of Flower Drum Song and then appeared in the revival of Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures. He spent a year playing Boq in the Chicago production of Wicked, and his other theatrical credits include Zanna, Don't!; Thoroughly Modern Millie; The King and I; Jesus Christ Superstar; and Children of Eden. Leung can be heard on the "Wall to Wall Stephen Sondheim" recording, and his debut EP is titled "Getaway." Visit http://tellyonline.net for more information.
Considered one of Sondheim's masterpieces, Sweeney Todd originally premiered at Broadway's Uris Theatre on Feb. 6, 1979, with a cast led by Len Cariou (Sweeney) and Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Lovett), who both nabbed Tony Awards for their roles. Harold Prince directed the production, which was awarded the 1979 Tony for Best Musical. A 1989 revival at Circle in the Square Theatre featured Beauty and the Beast's Beth Fowler as Mrs. Lovett and former Evita star Bob Gunton as the man who returns to London to avenge the death of his wife.
A recent major production of the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler work, which is based on a version of "Sweeney Todd" by Christopher Bond, was the Kennedy Center mounting, which starred Brian Stokes Mitchell and Christine Baranski. A concert presentation of the musical, directed by Lonny Price and led by Tony winners George Hearn and Patti LuPone confirmed the strength of Sondheim's score, which boasts such tunes as "The Worst Pies in London," "Johanna," "Pretty Women," "A Little Priest," "By the Sea" and "Not While I'm Around." Michael Cerveris and LuPone currenly star in John Doyle's acclaimed revival of Sweeney at Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre.
Wisconsin Union Theater is located on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison at 800 Langdon Street in Madison, WI. Tickets are available by calling (608) 262-2201 or by visiting www.fourseasonstheatre.com.
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