The Stephen Sondheim Celebration at Washington's Kennedy Center shifts into full gear this week when Sweeney Todd begins previews on May 10. The following Friday, May 17, will mark the first preview of the second Sondheim offering, Company, for which principal casting is now complete.
Dan Cooney is the final cast member to be announced for Company, the 1971 Tony-winning Best Musical. Cooney, who starred as Che in the national tour of Evita, will portray Peter, the role originated on Broadway by John Cunningham. The remainder of the previously announced Company company comprises John Barrowman (Bobby), Christy Baron (Susan), Matt Bogart (Paul), Keira Naughton (Sarah), Lynn Redgrave (Joanne), Alice Ripley (Amy), Emily Skinner (Jenny), Marcy Harriell (Marta), Elizabeth Zins (Katherine), Jerry Lanning (Larry), David Pittu (Harry), Kim Director (April) and Marc Vietor (David).
Sondheim's tale of a confused bachelor named Bobby and his friendships with five married couples casts former Putting It Together star Barrowman in the lead role. Barrowman, who also starred in the West End productions of Anything Goes and Sunset Boulevard, was most recently seen in the television series "Titans" and also appeared in another short-lived TV program, "Central Park West." Originally produced on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre in 1970, Company features a book by George Furth and such classic Sondheim tunes as "The Little Things You Do Together," "You Could Drive a Person Crazy," "Another Hundred People," "Getting Married Today," "Being Alive" and the second-act show-stopper, "The Ladies Who Lunch," originally performed by Elaine Stritch — who includes the song in her current Broadway show — and to be rendered at the Kennedy Center by Oscar-nominated actress Lynn Redgrave.
Sean Mathias — who helmed the Broadway production of Indiscretions — directs Company, which is one of six Sondheim musicals to be presented during the summer-long celebration. The other five titles: Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, Merrily We Roll Along, Passion and A Little Night Music. Tickets for Company range from $29-$79 and can be purchased by calling (800) 444-1324. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is located in Washington, D.C., at 2700 F. Street. For more information, go to www.kennedy center.org.
—By Andrew Gans
