Comedy Tonight

"Comedy Tonight" by Stephen Sondheim/arr. Greg Gilpin
(from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum)
Performed by Mak'hela Jewish Chorus of Western MA
www.makhela.org
Elaine Broad Ginsberg, music director
Jamie Goodnow, piano
Anna Sobel, cajon
Recorded on 5/19/24 at the Yiddish Book Center (Amherst, MA) as part of Mak'hela's "Jewish Broadway!" concert.
Audio and video recording by Brian Bender
Stephen Sondheim grew up on the Upper West Side of New York. He
became the lyricist for Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story” which was the big break
that made him famous. He was considered a musical poet and one of the most inspiring
and influential composers of musical theater.
“Comedy Tonight” is from “A Funny Thing Happened on the
way to the Forum.” This song was a last minute “fix” requested by Jerome Robbins. He
thought that the audiences needed to be told what to expect in an opening number.
Sondheim wrote a title “Love is in the Air,” hoping that might work; however, he was
sent home to try again. This time, he was inspired and wrote the entire song over the
weekend. It was a hit!
Stephen Sondheim (1930 - 2021), composer and lyricist, grew up on the Upper West
Side of Manhattan in New York City, where his father manufactured dresses that his
mother designed. His parents divorced when he was 10 years old. He moved to a farm in
Pennsylvania with his mother and attended the Quaker George school. He played piano at
an early age, and at 15 he wrote a musical for his school. He studied with Oscar
Hammerstein. He also studied both math and music at Williams College in Williamstown
where he continued writing shows. He moved to New York City and became the lyricist
for Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story.” This was the break that made him famous.
The “West Side Story” soundtrack was the best -selling album of its decade. Sondheim
wrote 18 musicals in over five decades; some of his well-known are, “Gypsy,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “Into the Woods.” In
2015, President Obama presented him with the Presidential Award of Freedom. He was
considered a musical poet, one of the most inspiring, influential people of musical theater.
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We are grateful to the following organizations for their support:
Mass Cultural Council
Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts
Harold Grinspoon Foundation
Contributions will be gratefully welcomed.
Please visit the website to make a contribution:
www.makhela.org
Or mail to:
Mak’hela, Inc.
P.O. Box 2153
Amherst, MA, 01004