(CBS) NEW YORK On a dimly lit wooden set that's nearly all black and white, Tony Winner Patti LuPone struts with attitude as Nellie Lovett, the London landlord and piemaker in the revival of Stephen Sondheim's “Sweeney Todd.”

The Long Island native is having a ball singing lines like, “These are probably the worst pies in London. I know why nobody cares to take them. I should know: I make them.”

LuPone is co-starring with Tony Winner Michael Cerveris, evil-eyed and seemingly haunted as he sings that he's Sweeney Todd, "the demon barber of Fleet Street.”

In this 2005 version of the dark musical that premiered in 1979, say goodbye to the Victorian costumes and hello, goth! Reconceived at every turn by British director John Doyle and with the okay from legendary American composer and lyricist Sondheim, LuPone loves this hip Mrs. Lovett.

LuPone told CBS 2's Dana Tyler that it's great fun donning the tight, black wardrobe. Lupone said, "I thought it was my homage to Kelly Osbourne!"

LuPone and Tyler both laughed and the actor added, "Why didn't I look that way in my 20's?" Tyler asked, "Is it right to say, this Mrs. Lovett is sexy?” LuPone thought for a second and said, “Yes, some have said that about my performance.” And without missing a beat, she said, well, she shouted. "Thank God!"

In the musical, Mrs. Lovett helps Mr. Todd, with his barber's razor in hand, exact revenge on people. And you can guess what ends up in those meat pies of hers. LuPone, pardon the pun, eats up the challenges in this show. First, there are Sondheim's layers of lyrics.

“Steve writes what appears to be a rap song in all of his musicals,” LuPone said. And although she's had this role in a concert version with the New York Philharmonic production of "Sweeney Todd" in 2000, this Broadway musical staged at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre challenges her like no other show.

There's no orchestra in the pit. LuPone and her nine castmates do everything on stage. LuPone plays the triangle, orchestra bells and, are you ready? The tuba. Speaking with Tyler in a midtown restaurant, LuPone couldn't hold back her excitement for this production.

"What is fantastic is the fact that we are stagehands, musicians, chorus and principal players and we're doing the whole thing,” she said. “And to keep each bit straight, where that piece of furniture goes, when to move my tuba, when to play my tuba,” she continued, laughing, "and what notes to play to on my tuba and then remembering the lyrics! There's a lot to absorb."

And with a look of genuine accomplishment, LuPone said, "It's the greatest experience I've had since I was at Julliard.”
But wait a second. Those dense Sondheim lyrics aside, did she know how to play the tuba before this? Well, yes. LuPone played the sousaphone in the Northport High School marching band. The sousaphone is that huge, winding horn that you have to step into and lift over your head. The large, bell of it rests on your shoulder.

LuPone gave Tyler a photo of her days at Northport High and said during the interview as she bopped her head like she was marching. "We had an all-girl sousaphone line,” she said. “I fake-played it, but we had a ball! We marched at the 1964 World's Fair in Queens.”

Ok, so how's she doing with the tuba 40 years later? LuPone grinned, "Now, I'm hitting the right notes. I think!" Tyler added, "You must be better than you were, right?”

LuPone said big-eyed and confidently, "Much better! There's lots on the line now!" And it's all with no sheet music. She said for the 10 cast members, it's all about watching each other's body language for the upbeat to keep the tempo. LuPone said this atypical musical is all about teamwork.

"We're just caring and careful of each other,” she said. “There's only one legitimate card-carrying member of the local 802 musicians' union out there, and the rest are actors/musicians. But we're very aware of how vulnerable and exposed we are.”

LuPone, who won a Tony award in 1980 for "Evita," also has done plays like 1997's "The Old Neighborhood" by David Mamet. But growing up playing the piano and cello, her heart is with music and her solo concerts like "Matters of the Heart" and "The Lady with the Torch."

And now, LuPone says playing this ghoulish woman who carries a torch was irresistible especially with lyrics like: "By the sea, Mr. Todd, that's the life I covet. By the sea, Mr. Todd, ooh, I know you'd love it,” has this wife and mother of a teenaged boy, pinching herself.

"I hope it lasts because it is the best time,” LuPone said. “You know my talent is natural, but the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.”

And with a very serious face she said, "The Lord gave me a lot of talent and gave me this nose!" as she gave a profile and a huge laugh. LuPone added and laughed, “But I'm Italian and from New York and in New York, I work, but never in Hollywood."

Resigned to that notion, but in the moment of this much talked about production of "Sweeney Todd," she said, "But here, I have a director who took the package. I'm just reveling in that. I can't believe this is happening at my age."

Patti LuPone is in "Sweeney Todd" is at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.