I think I’ve pretty much talked the topic of Sondheim and his musicals to death with all of my theater friends, so it’s time to talk his work to death on the intarwebs! I come to appreciate his music more and more every year, so much that a lot of musicals sound to me like ‘faux Sondheim.’ So, any fellow musical theater nerds out there? What are your favorites? I think a lot of people think he’s not very accessible, but I disagree- I think there’s something in his body of work for everyone. Personally, I think my favorite is Sunday in the Park with George, with Company and Sweeney Todd close behind.
Agree 100% with this. SUNDAY is a masterpiece. I love how the way the music comes together in the first act references the construction of the painting itself, beginning with short “dots” of music that culminate in the glorious harmonies of “Sunday.” I fell in love with the Broadway revival that played last year, seeing it 3 times on Broadway and 4 times in Seattle (which used the same staging but a different cast.)
Ooh, a girl who played on of the Celestes in the Seattle version was just in town here (Indianapolis) playing the lead in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the big dinner theater. I haven’t listened to the revival soundtrack much but I should- however, I’m just so in love with Bernadette Peters that I don’t know if I could ever get over it.
Never heard anything by him, but I’m going to see A Little Night Music next month. Hope its good.
Big Sondheim fan here. I’ve seen most of his shows, and my favorite was the original production of Sunday with Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters, which I saw four times.
But I’ve gotta say . . . Sondheim is an absolute sadist for singers. My chorus did an all-Sondheim concert a few years ago, and it was murder. The harmonics are strange, and there are so damn many words. Plus, most of his songs don’t lend themselves to choral singing; most have to be solos or duets, so we had some of them too. The concert was a tremendous amount of work, and a huge success.
Oh, very cool! I really enjoyed that production. I flew out there for a long weekend in April to attend the opening night (and following three) performances. Got to meet Sam Buntrock & several members of the design team as well as the cast at the after party!
Allow me to take a minute to shamelessly promote two videos related to the Seattle production. The first is a compilation of highlights from the show which showcase the visual effects & performances, and the second is an interview I conducted with Hugh Panaro, who played George, where he talks about the production & working with the unique design aspects.
Highlights
Interview
Well, I have not actually seen Bernadette’s performance (the DVD is on my wishlist from Amazon) but those who did see it say that the way she played the character was very different from Jenna Russell, although IMO Jenna Russell sounded very much like Bernadette on the recording.
I adore Daniel Evans on the revival! I think he is just brilliant and should have won the Tony last year. I really hope we get him back here in New York in another show soon enough. I heard the possibility that he may be playing Bobby in Company in London next year, which almost makes me want to hop on a plane!
That reminds me of the absolutely hilarious Forbidden Broadway Sondheim parody number, “Into the Words.”
Into the words, the metaphors, the synonyms, the perfect stand.
Into the words, the detail and Tricky little phrases.
Into the words, the what, the where, The when, the why, the plot began?
Into the words, the work, The craft, the garnish or the phrases.
Yes, and it’s all true.
After reading all the praises that have been heaped upon Into the Woods on the SDMB, I finally got and watched a copy this year. I am in love.
I have to say, I love Into The Woods, but I don’t much like the production available on DVD.
Sweeney Todd is a magnificent creation. But so is A Funny Thing…, Into the Woods, and Night Music. Of the less-commonly appreciated ones, I’m a fan of Pacific Overtures, Assassins, and even Anyone Can Whistle (for the songs only).
I love Sondheim.
What’s everyone’s favourite individual song of his? I know he’s said in the past his personal favourite is ‘Someone in a Tree’ from Pacific Overtures.
I’ll agree that he is not nice to the chorus (probably why his chorus parts are usually pretty small.) I was in the chorus of Assassins a few years ago and How I Saved Roosevelt is just a mean, nasty number if you aren’t familiar with the music beforehand. I’ve heard the same thing about Sweeney- some friends did it a few years ago and said that they were singing in different time signatures at some points. Ouch.
For those with Netflix, you can get DVDs of the Peters/Patinkin version of Sunday, as well as the Hearn/Lansbury Sweeney Todd (far superior to all other incarnations, IMO- I about came to blows with someone a few weeks ago who said he preferred Patti Lupone as Mrs. Lovett!)
Or the song “Everybody wants to be Sondheim” (it’s funnier performed)
And they pack their lyrics 'til they’re so damn dense
You could put 'em in your yard and you could use 'em for a fence,
I don’t like Sunday in the Park. I can’t get into the songs at all. I think the transition between the acts fails. And I don’t care about any of the people.
But I do like a number of the other plays.
I’m very fond of Assassins, Sweeney Todd and Sunday. It took me a long time to warm up to Company and Follies. When I first listened to them I was disappointed, but they grew on me.
“A Little Priest,” from Sweeney.
Recently, a friend of mine was telling me about being in NYC at one of my favorite little Gay bars, Marie’s Crisis on Sheridan Square in the Village. It is a piano bar and every wannabe Broadway actor shows up and the singing is quite amazing…think of EXCELLENT karaoke, except with a live piano player and tons of very talented chorus boys all out to one-up the next.
One night, a guy was singing a Sondheim number and just as he was finishing his song, in walks Sondheim (who was passing by the bar) and told the guy, “Nice job.” Sondheim stuck around the bar for awhile that night - and from what my friend said, it was a night to remember.