The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and Mad Cow Theatre will present the March 6 and 7 performances of the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre in Orlando, FL. Show time is 8 PM.
In a statement Gaines said, "I'm so looking forward to working with Faith once again. Not only is she a great comedic actress, but she infuses each role with pathos and heart. That's why I think she'll make a terrific Mrs. Lovett!"
Faith Prince, most recently on Broadway in A Catered Affair, won a Tony Award for her performance as Adelaide in the Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls and starred Off-Broadway in the Lincoln Center production of A Man of No Importance. Her numerous Broadway credits include Noises Off, Bells Are Ringing, James Joyce's The Dead, Little Me, The King and I, What's Wrong with This Picture?, Nick & Nora and Jerome Robbins' Broadway. Her solo recording, "Leap of Faith," was recorded live at Joe's Pub and is available from DRG Records.
Davis Gaines received the Bay Area Critics' Award for Best Actor for his work as the Phantom in the West Coast production of The Phantom of the Opera, a role he repeated on Broadway. His other theatrical credits include the world premiere of Whistle Down the Wind as well as Encores! The Boys From Syracuse; Hello, Dolly!; Forbidden Broadway and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Gaines has sung with virtually every major symphony orchestra in North America, and his two solo recordings, "Against the Tide" and "All My Tomorrows: Songs of Sammy Cahn," are available on LAP Records.
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. Another 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 starred in the most recent Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd, which was directed by Tony winner John Doyle. The film version starred Johnny Depp.
The Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre is located at 401 W. Livingston Street, Orlando, FL. Concert tickets can be purchased by calling (407) 770-0071 or by visiting www.OrlandoPhil.org.
