An elaborate, lavish new production opening Saturday, Jan. 31 at La Mirada Theatre begins with perhaps the most indelible opening lyric in the musical canon: “Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd.”
That instruction is all well and good, but before anyone can attend anything, there’s the pesky matter of filling the title role, one of theater’s most demanding undertakings for a singer-actor.
In the complete title of Stephen Sondheim’s horror musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” “demonic” could be the daunting adjective facing director Jason Alexander in approaching this work.
Jason Alexander directs the La Mirada Theatre production of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” (Photo by Jason Niedle, TETHOS)“Sweeney is one of the most complex characters of the musical theater,” says Alexander. “But it is often approached in a somewhat simplistic way. As he is a dark character, many actors just play ‘dark.’”
The role, Alexander feels, requires an actor who can burrow into the character’s duality, the traces of humanity still present in a murdering maniac. And someone with the vocal range to inhabit one of Sondheim’s most complicated scores.
Oh, and ideally, a performer brimming with leading man appeal would be nice, too.
Enter Will Swenson.
In a 20-year Broadway career, Swenson has received plaudits for roles demanding a great range of acting and singing skills.
He was a Tony award nominee as the merciless detective Javert in a revival of “Les Misérables.” Most recently, he originated the role of pop icon Neil Diamond in the hit “A Beautiful Noise.”
Jason Alexander directs Lesli Margherita and Will Swenson in the La Mirada Theatre production of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” (Photo by Jason Niedle, TETHOS)This range jumped out at Alexander.
“He has an amazing résumé,” says Alexander. “From the passion of Javert to the spontaneity of Berger in ‘Hair’ and the warmth of Diamond.
“Will contains the vocal talents and actor ability to bring it all to life.”
Before casting Swenson, Alexander and the actor discussed the character and the production. Alexander feels they were on the same page, but as the director cannily notes “It is all fine enough to talk about but then you need an actor that can produce it.”
Alexander came away convinced.
“Will is sexy and thrilling and sensitive and powerful. His voice contains riches. I’m blessed that he’s with us.”
Will Swenson and Lesli Margherita rehearse for the La Mirada Theatre production of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” (Photo by Jason Niedle, TETHOS)Additional Broadway talent in the form of actress Lesli Margherita plays the key role of Sweeney’s cohort in misdeeds, Mrs. Lovett, the maker of “the worst pies in London.”
Margherita most recently appeared in New York in a major revival of “Gypsy,” starring Broadway royalty Audra McDonald, who just happens to be married to Swenson.
Audra McDonald, right, and Will Swenson attend the God’s Love We Deliver Golden Heart Awards at The Cathedral Church of St. John The Divine on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)A Southern California native until he moved to Utah when he was 12, Swenson has been on the ground at La Mirada Theatre across four weeks of rehearsals.
Swenson took his luncheon break to talk, which required some sacrifice on his part because it kept him from going out in search of Mexican food (“which I pretty much gotta have every meal out here because it’s so good.”)
Q: What scenes are you rehearsing today?
A: Today we’re working on the end of the show. So, (sarcastically) nothing much at all.
Some singing, starting with the “Beggar Woman’s Lullaby” and at the end it turns into a big kind of group number cause (Swenson brays out a mock scary-movie laugh) everything’s coming to a head, with me killing … (three spoilers deleted!) … which wraps up all the juicy stuff.
Q: From your side of things, how did this production come about?
A: Awhile back I put a bug in my agency: “Sweeney is the top of the list.” I started to feel old enough to be right for the role. It’s a somewhat notorious part for being hard to learn. Anyway, a couple of planned productions didn’t work out but then I got contacted on this.
Lesli Margherita and Will Swenson are directed by Jason Alexander in rehearsals for “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” at La Mirada Theatre. (Photo by Jason Niedle, TETHOS)Q: Did you feel simpatico with Jason Alexander before rehearsals on how to interpret and approach Sweeney’s inner self and behaviors?
A: We had a Zoom call a few months ago. And we had really similar ideas about who Sweeney is and how we might develop the character in an interesting way … about how to reveal the transition from a harshly treated average person named Benjamin Barker. So, when the character secretly returns (to London) it is as the wronged Sweeney Todd.
Q: What kinds of challenges does playing Sweeney present that other roles might not, beyond killing people, that is?
A: Other shows are a lot more straightforward; you might just stand there and say words or sing a pretty song. But this one requires sort of rubbing your belly and patting your head at the same time, that kind of concentration.
Sweeney is a barber and while I give somebody a shave, which I do a few times, part of the brain is trying to stay in character during dialogue. And another part of your brain is trying to sing with good technique.
But then another part of your brain is trying to remember to angle the barber chair so the audience can see the other actor reclining while he talks or sings. And the other part of your brain is holding a razor and then another part of your brain is saying, “Wait, you didn’t lather his face yet”… so, it’s almost like six cooks in the kitchen kind of all vying for different space.
(Top Center) Will Swenson and Lesli Margherita star (with the company) in the La Mirada Theatre production of “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” (Photo by Jason Niedle, TETHOS)Q: As Javert in a Broadway production of “Les Miserables,” you played another relentlessly focused, harshly obsessive character. Did you draw on that experience at all here?
A: Every process I do is different. It has to be to find the inner swirlings in each role.
But Javert is like Sweeney, another character who absolutely is rooted in the idea that he’s doing the right thing and who loses sight of the big picture and doesn’t understand he’s kind of flipped over to the other side.
I think that aspect maybe helps you as an actor — creating someone with a strong conviction that they are on the right side and the actions they take are valid no matter what anyone else thinks.
Q: In an article you and Audra McDonald interviewed each other and you referred to her as a “truth-seeking missile” in researching roles to know a character. And you intimated she was a role model for you because “there’s a lot more work to be done than just showing up to rehearsal.” What preparations did you make here?
A: I had to show up with a good amount of character already in my bones, so to speak.
There was the technical part of learning the script but in trying to be that truth-seeking missile, also finding the parts that really speak to me about his human qualities, versus the “demon” aspects, coming through.
I was really interested in a couple spots that really show some of his humanity and at least expose his love for his family, finding out how broken he is.
Q: Did you move outside the script for background knowledge?
A: Benjamin Barker had been shipped to a prison camp for 15 years. I read up and did history on Botany Bay in Australia, that’s where he was transported. Pretty horrifying learning what happened there. It helped knowing how broken mentally and physically he would be as he returned to London.
Q: On the other side of the part, singing versus acting, is there any song in the musical that is especially challenging for you?
A: I think anyone that plays Sweeney would probably say that “Epiphany” (late in the second act) is the top of the mountain. It’s musically quite kind of bipolar. It jumps around in theme, six or seven times. It’s discordant, at times dissonant, and, I guess, is near the top of the range for this role.
Q: So, technically challenging?
A: But also, emotionally. It’s about as frenzied as we see the character get. So, it’s all that the actor can give in one moment, I guess.
Q: How old were you when you first even heard about “Sweeney Todd?”
A: Oh, I saw it when I was 8 or 9. It was when we were here in California (living in Glendale) and we knew an actor in it who played The Beadle.
Q: Whoa, intense material for that age. Weren’t you scared?
A: The big shrieking train whistle near the start scared the pants off me! The show was dark and kind of gory so that was interesting, not like the friendly kids’ musicals I knew. And I remember clocking that the music wasn’t to be melodic, its purpose was just to tell a story.
Will Swenson, left, and Audra McDonald arrive at the 78th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)Q: Your youngest daughter Sally is just a little older than you were … will she get to see you in this?
A: Luckily, it’s going to coincide with a week off from school in New York, so the plan is for her to come out with my lovely wife for it.
She’s really interested in theater and acting and she’s heard me practicing this and I think she’s gonna see it … if she doesn’t change her mind.
Q: Wait. Isn’t she in favor of theater because her parents do it?
A: Well, “yes” and “maybe” might be closer. She understands what we do, but (laughs) she’s pretty good at guilting us into stuff based on each of us can be a bit absentee parents on nights when we’re working and she can be not necessarily in favor of that.
Q: But a trip near Disneyland, nicer weather… won’t that seal the deal?
A: Hope so. (Laughs) But, like I said, she knows it can be leverage.
Q: What theater plans lie ahead for you?
A: Right now, I am excited for this.
The biggest next thing is to go to Australia in about six months and open “A Beautiful Noise” there. I have so much fun doing that one. And Neil Diamond was so huge down there it sounds like those audiences may eat it up.
Plus, Audra’s going to take a break and the whole family will come down. We’re all excited for that adventure!
‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’
Where: La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada.
When: Preview performances 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30 and 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31; regular performances 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31 through Feb. 22. Curtain times 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays.
Tickets: $36-$132
Information: 714-994-6310, 562-944-9801; lamiradatheatre.com
Related Articles
To create a thrilling kind of ‘Hamlet,’ Eddie Izzard decided to go it alone ‘The Wiz’ brings updated enchantments to Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa Ben Platt surprises LA crowd with Demi Lovato during residency show at the Ahmanson 5 Southern California theaters offering holiday deals beyond Black Friday Where to see ‘A Christmas Carol’ and other holiday shows in Southern CaliforniaRelated links
Review: ‘Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground’ brings a president to life in Laguna To create a thrilling kind of ‘Hamlet,’ Eddie Izzard decided to go it alone ‘The Wiz’ brings updated enchantments to Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa South Coast Repertory to develop a new version of ‘A Christmas Carol’ Barbara Eden and Hal Linden, both 94, return to the stage for ‘Love Letters’Hence then, the article about broadway star will swenson teams with jason alexander in la mirada was published today ( ) and is available on Los Angeles Daily News ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Broadway star Will Swenson teams with Jason Alexander in La Mirada )
Also on site :
- Nokia Strengthens Edge AI Capabilities Through Strategic Collaboration with Blaize on Hybrid Inference Solutions Across Asia Pacific Regions
- The deepfake threat is reshaping global politics
- Music Festival Announces Live Show of '90s Death Metal Band