Norm Lewis & Carolee Carmello Will Join Sweeney Todd Off-Broadway

Two Tony nominees will attend the tale of Sweeney Todd off-Broadway this spring. Norm Lewis and Carolee Carmello will take on the roles of the titular demon barber and pie shop owner Mrs. Lovett in the off-Broadway revival beginning April 11, 2017.

The New York transfer of the Tooting Arts Club production is set to begin performances at the Barrow Street Theatre on February 14. Lewis and Carmello will assume the leading roles from Jeremy Secomb and Siobhan McCarthy, who are reprising their critically acclaimed performances from the London run through April 9.

Also joining the cast on April 11 are Jamie Jackson and John-Michael Lyles as Judge Turpin and Tobias, respectively, taking over for Duncan Smith and Joseph Taylor.

Lewis received a Tony nomination in 2012 for his performance in Porgy and Bess. His additional credits include The Phantom of the Opera (in which he became the first black actor to play the title role on Broadway), The Little Mermaid, Les Miserables (both on Broadway and in the London 25th anniversary performance) and Chicago.

Carmello, who most recently appeared on Broadway in Tuck Everlasting, earned Tony nominations for Scandalous, Lestat and Parade. She has also appeared on Broadway in Finding Neverland, Sister Act, The Addams Family, Mamma Mia! and Falsettos.

Jackson’s previous stage credits include Doctor Zhivago, The Last Ship and Soul Doctor on Broadway and The 39 Steps off-Broadway. Lyles returns to the Barrow Street Theatre after appearing in The Flick; his additional off-Broadway credits include Brooklynite and Jasper in Deadland.

The production, directed by Bill Buckhurst, is set to open officially on March 1 and will transform the venue into a working pie shop environment. The cast will also include Matt Doyle as Anthony, Alex Finke as Johanna, Betsy Morgan as Pirelli and the Beggar Woman and Brad Oscar as the Beadle.