Assassins was my first Sondheim and will always have a special place in my heart. In recent years the Nationals production of Follies really left a big impression on me. He was absolutely peerless.
This is a belated comment that no one's ever gonna see, but I'll leave it here anyway. The day Sondheim died I literally couldn't get out of bed how sad I was, relistening to every piece I could find. And up until that moment I would never have guessed his death would be such a blow to me (something I'd only thought was bound to happen when Joni Mitchell passes away someday). That man's works - I'm now positive - completely shaped me into the person I am today, shaped my taste in music, in writing, made me exponentially more open as a queer person (even though you wouldn't really single out Sondheim as queer theater!), Sondheim is my personal Shakespeare, my personal Mozart. I remember seeing Bernadette Peters playing Dot in Sunday in the Park somewhere on TH-cam - when she finished singing "Move On", I was in tears, in full catharsis - that woman and that song helped me overcome an absolutely horrible period in my life at a moment I was sure I'd never recover. If that doesn't show you the sheer power and beauty of Sondheim and what his music can do to a person, nothing can.
I hope someone goes through all of Sondheims trunk songs and makes shows out of all those songs we have never heard of before. And when Sonheim died I literally cried every day for a week.
I live in N.Y.C. and am an avid theatergoer. Yes, I've seen Sondheim many times in theatres but never approached him. In the mid 1970's I went to Queens College to hear a lecture on Sondheims' word up to then. I lived near by and Sondheim was doing the lecture with an interview following. I arrived in plenty of time only to be told there were no more seats available,, but we could sit on the floor in front of Sondheim, since he was in agreement. It was a treat and next to me was a boy around 12 years old. His father got him to sit there and give up a seat he had because in his hands were about 10 record albums, which his father said " Get Stephen Sondheim to sign each one " well after questions and answers the boy approached Sondheim and requested the signature on each album. Sondheim smiled and shook the boys hand ( that's all )and was lead out of the room by a Queens College staff member. When I was leaving the auditorium I noticed people with sheet music and books and yes there were many clutching albums.
Without such people like him your channel, and many others, probably wouldn't exist. I have encountered his work many times when I spent 14 years in musical theatre and you can still hear his influence on many new pieces.
Like COUNTLESS others, I have loved Sondheim forever - he literally created my love of musical theatre. My wife and I saw the original cast of SUNDAY IN THE PARK (we are from Western Canada -- England is closer!) - our first TRUE Broadway show - it was life-changing. Sunday in the Park means something new to me every time I watch it or listen to it. ART ISN'T EASY and FINISHING THE HAT bring me to tears every time. I still have the program signed by Bernadette Peters that night and have seen her a few times in concert and in another good show, SONG AND DANCE. I think my wife would have understood if she were my 'hall pass.' I saw her here in an outdoor concert just a few years ago -- still stunning - her voice still in fine form. And of course, I have both volumes of his lyrics collections. Thank heavens he had the foresight to share such treasures while he could. Years later, LONG after the original cast of INTO THE WOODS had departed, we got great centre orchestra (*stalls) tickets to see it. We arrived at the theatre to see the names of the original cast on the marquee... WTF? Perhaps it's like when they honour the original cast in the forward of a published play? Nope... For THAT NIGHT ONLY the original cast was back to record the show for the VERY VIDEO of the show that you watched as a kid. Not only that -- SONDHEIM took to the stage to introduce the show to us! MY GOD! I could not believe (then and now) that I was in the same room with such a giant. Since we have seen many great shows in the West End. That said -- I envy so many of the productions YOU have seen, especially the Regents Park INTO THE WOODS -- I heard about it from a friend who saw it -- I wish it had been filmed or recorded digitally. My dear wife is sadly no longer with me -- but she was in spirit when I saw the latest female Bobby reboot of COMPANY in London just before the plague struck. Patty LuPone!!! I would still like to see more of his work on stage. Occasionally local semi-pro companies will do productions of SWEENY or ASSASSINS (a brilliant, underrated show that I think will be seen for the classic it is in time), but having seen the REAL THING I can't muster the enthusiasm to see a lacklustre version of work that I love. I share your appreciation for Imelda Stanton's Sondheim works -- her Mrs. Lovett is wonderful. Now a fan of your channel. Thanks for sharing your thoughtful memories and insights.
My favourite Sondheim moment was sitting in the row behind him, with my wife & son, watching Michael and Imelda in Sweeney Todd at The Adelphi in London. I was very cool and concentrated on the show. He skipped out just before the interval and skipped back in as the second act started. He certainly seemed to be enjoying it like we were.
i really enjoyed the documentary "best worth thing that ever could have happened" on netflix about the Broadway opening & closing of Merrily we roll along.
My favorite Sondheim experience. I went to see a reunion show of Into the Woods in Orange County of all places. I didn’t know anything about the production really but i like the music and the tickets weren’t that expensive even though it was kind of a long drive in LA traffic. As it got closer, i just wasn’t very motivated in the drive and was going to skip it but i mentioned it to a friend who loves the show and we decided to go. It turned out not to be the show but a true reunion of the original broadway cast hosted by Mo Rocco, James Lupine and Stephen Sondheim himself in the flesh. For two hours we heard the cast members sing there key pieces and tell stories about the production and backstage. It was incredible and i almost didn’t go.
My first essay at university was an analysis of the Regent's Park production of 'Into The Woods' (I love digital theatre for introducing me to it as I was too young to be aware of it when it was on). That same year, I played an amalgamation of Toby and Jack in a dissertation musical based on Sondheim characters and shows. The man was a genius and will be greatly missed
I will never forget my first production of Assassins. It was SRO, closing night, and I was only 15 or so, arriving at the theatre under the mistaken impression that the tickets had already been sorted. They hadn't. So we ended up standing through the whole show, and I couldn't be more glad. It was a transformative experience. I wholeheartedly concur that the work is criminally underrated -- and I've seen two other stunning productions of it as well. I'm surprised it's not more often cited as one of his best. That said, it's at best in a four-way tie for second place in my book, because Sweeney Todd. I remember the first time I discovered Sweeney, on CD, laughing uproariously at 'A Little Priest' even as I felt queasy. But also the thrilling, muscular accompaniment figure to 'Pirelli's Miracle Elixir'. And the unutterably sublime 'Kiss Me Quartet' -- who but Sondheim would give such an achingly gorgeous moment to two frivolous characters and two outright villains? It's perverse. And also perfect. When I first heard about the concept of John Doyle's production, I was furious. It just sounded like a cheapskate's way of evading payment of an orchestra. But when I learned that Patti LuPone would be opening it on Broadway, I bought a ticket anyway. Within two minutes, I saw how I'd been dreadfully misinformed... All the reviews described it as a production in which the *actors* played the instruments too. But what I saw was the *characters* playing their instruments. I've seen more traditional Sweeneys also, and they've all had something that spoke to me, but the Doyle production was indelible. Both times. Another highlight: the Los Angeles Opera opted to produce A Little Night Music one summer, with Victor Garber *perfectly* cast as Fredric -- although everyone else was splendid too. I've seen enough Martha Swope photos to know that the original production had a peerless sumptuousness to it, but the LA Opera came pretty close to matching it. One more memory: Merrily at the Kennedy Center, in a room full of Sondheim devotees. The whole show was just about perfect, but the audience didn't wait to find out. As soon as the overture began, there was an almost violent eruption of applause. I started to weep a little, realizing that I was going to see the show for the first time with people who loved it as much as I do. I wept a great deal more as that heartbreaking night unfolded. But in the best way.
My Sondheim shows go way back to the 1980s. I saw Into the Woods in Boston on it's first national tour. I also saw Sweeney Todd on tour in Boston with Angela Lansbury and George Hearn who had both played it on Broadway. A Little Night Music might have been early nineties in a very good local theater. My best Sondheim memory is the 1988 Follies in London where Julia McKenzie sang beautifully as Sally, Daniel Massey as Ben, and the great Eartha Kitt as Carlotta!
I saw the same London Follies. Wow. Diana Rigg too! I bought the CDs and enjoyed all of it, especially Julia McKenzie's "In Buddy's Eyes" and "Losing My Mind".
Happiest memory was Into the Woods, front row and Robert Westenberg right in front singing down to me. Glorious. Saw the show twice while visiting NY. I also very much enjoyed Michael Ball and Maria Friedman in Passion as well as Michael and Imelda in Sweeney. Have seen just about all Sondheim musicals alive apart from Anyone can Whistle and Pacific.
I loved your passion for Sondheim's brilliance that mirrors my own. I was blessed to have met him in Washington DC during the workshop of Bounce, which evolved into Road Show. A generous spirit. Thank you for your eloquence.. A major los for us all. His music will last long after we are all gone.
Into the Woods was my gateway drug for Sondhime as well. First I saw a college performance that my cousin was in (rapunzel’s prince) and act 2 left me a crying mesmorized emotional mess. Then my brother was cast in the same roll for a small production done in our friend’s backyard. I would run lines with him as cinderella’s prince and I still call him “Good Brother” in a deep voice to this day. I then got the opportunity to play clarinet in the pit for a community therater production which was incredible. Holy shit is that music hard but it was so beautiful as well. I adore so many of Sondhime’s shows but Into the Woods will always have a special place in my heart.
Sondheim! My favorite subject! I never cared for ITW when I first heard it. I thought it was a lot of songs that don't finish. I mean they do finish, but it seems like they're like sketches, and the real songs are coming up later.I know for a lot of people, that it is one of the most popular and favorite shows. I've only seen two Sondheim shows live, both with their original cast. Merrily we Roll Along, which I liked. I couldn't understand all the criticism surrounding it. Merrily is also one of my favorite Sondheim scores. I had a good time watching that show. The other was Sweeny Todd. What I remember most was the suspense during Pretty Women, the other thing I will probably never forget are the sopranos singing "Sweeny, Sweeny" in the opening song. Brilliant. The good thing about all the revivals is that it keeps younger people interested in his work and not make these shows relics of the 1970's.
Seeing my feelings of grief and loss echoed so profoundly from every corner of the globe has made me feel more connected to my tribe of artists than I have in so long. I felt every single word of this, to my bones xoxo
Saw the original production of Follies and A Little Night Musi on Broadway (Yeah I'm Old) and I've never forgotten them ,staggeringly beautiful productions with amazing music and jaw dropping performances! Thank You Mr. Sondheim for your wonderful gifts to us you will be missed.
This was a great vid, loved hearing all your stories. I've never had the chance to see these shows. The closest I've seen was the recent pro-shot of Gypsy. I think Into the woods/the Sweeny Movie were my first experience of Sondheim. Like you, having only seen Wicked and Disney shows before this it was mind-blowing to know just how much writing and nuance you could put into a musical
I saw the ‘87 Follies. Diana Rigg had left the show by then but Eartha Kitt had joined. “I’m still here” came off like her autobiography. It was brilliant. Sondheim wrote a new song for that production, “Underneath”. I hope they put that number back in for the version you saw. It contains my second favorite Sondheim lyric “In the depths of her interior We’re fears she was inferior Or something even eerier But no one dared to query her Superior exterior” There is a cast album out there with Miss Rigg singing it. Find it. Unlike almost nobody else, my favorite Sondheim show is Pacific Overtures.
I also love pacific overtures. It was the first sondheim, show I saw, well second if you include west side story but I wasn’t aware at that time as he had written the lyrics to that! I was a member of a midlands youth theatre, the Leicester hay market, it is no more and they now have the curve there. and Mr Sondheim was associated with that theatre for a while as visiting artistic director I believe at the time. Unforgettable. He was an an amazing talent and we will never have another talent quite like that in the world. I also love how he was influenced and supported by Rogers and Hammerstein who he knew and he shaped Jonathon Larson who wrote Rent, and then how he influenced the creator of Hamilton. I love that whole circle of creative life. He will be sadly missed, but an amazing amount of talented people have wanted to be better at their craft because of him.
I travelled to New York specifically to see a Broadway show, and the show I chose was Into The Woods.I was so moved that I cried. It was the night the recording for television was made, (the camera was over my left shoulder). After the show, my copy of the book and lyrics was signed by Sondheim, Bernadette Peters and the rest of the cast, and I got to shake Sondheim's hand and have a few words with him, (I could hardly bear to wash it). Later, I saw the Sydney Theatre Company production back home, and, believe it or not, I enjoyed it even more ... the performances were just as good, and the set design was a triumph, so much better than the New York staging. My first Sondheim musical was A Funny Thing when I was about 16, (I'm now 75) ... it is still, by far, the funniest musical ever written, and it has some great songs, so Sondheim was great from the very start, (we're not even counting his lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy). I agree that Assassins is outrageously under-rated ... I saw it in a semi-professional production, and it was terrific. Company, again at the Sydney theatre Company was wonderful, and the set as it often is for that show, was wonderful. I also saw a brilliantly acted and sung Sweeney Todd in Sydney. with a terrifying performance by Peter Carrol ... his Epiphany scared the bejesus out of me. I still can't believe I got to shake hands with a genius, a bona-fide god of musical theatre.
Hi Mickey Jo! Great video. My favorite Sondheim Musicals are A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Into The Woods, West Side Story and Company.
If you skipped the movie version of, into the woods, consider it your lucky day. A revival of it is coming to Broadway in July (and yes, I have 2nd row seats) aside from loving this show. It’s packed with actors/actress that I’ll never see in one place at the same time again. They mounted it at a small venue for a week and it’s success moved it to Broadway. They’ve had cast changes for bigger stars and some like, heather headly, didn’t transfer. However, I get the fabulous Patrina Miller (no complaints because I saw heather in, the color purple). I’ll let you know how it goes but if you Google the cast, they could basically stand there and it’d still be exciting.
Knew of Sondheim, but only realized his genius catching a US Uni Production of Follies at the Edinburgh Festival. Miles away from the centre in Portobello, an audience of about 30 in an 600 or so seater, but I was transfixed.
I found Sondheim quite late on in my theatre Journey but even then I can't deny how much he and his music have impacted my life. My first time seeing a Sondheim show was the recent west end revival of Company. I had found some relatively cheap tickets and so I booked the national express down from Glasgow to London. The intention was that I would be able to get back in time to catch the bus home. I did not and ended up having to stay in a hostel and get the train the next morning. Looking back i could have easily made it but My brain was focusing so much on the show. I had never seen a show that dealt with such complex and adult issues and I went into the show completly blind so everything hit that little bit harder. Sondheim showed me that musicals were more than just fun and camp (Not that that's bad i love camp) and that there is a wider array of theatre out there for me to explore. He will be missed.
When i was in high school, i was part of a musical theater workshop and we almost did Merrily We Rolled Along. Our directors decided to change our end of workshop show to Miss Saigon, understandably because of the complexity of Merrily will go over our very young, non-worldly heads. I still have the score until now and, now that i am much older, i wished we had done it. This was the beginning of my love of Sondheim. I envy anyone now who are at their start of their Sondheim journey and pity at the same time for they have missed the man when he was alive.
Great video Mickey! Most of my Sondheim experiences have actually been in performing them as I took part in productions of Sweeney Todd which is probably my favourite and also Follies. I did see the production of Sweeney with Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton in London and it was stunning, also saw the ENO version with Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson. I did see the 2018 HAODS production of Into The Woods which was truly spellbinding especially the finale of Children Will Listen
MickeyJo - thanks for sharing your personal memory tour of Sondheim . . . want your take on there being other Sondheim material in the filing cabinets of his studio (maybe an unproduced musical) that will continue his contribution. I so hope so . . . Hugs for you.
My list: Angela Lansbury, Sweeney Todd, 1980 in San Francisco. 1987 Follies in London. Into the Woods in Singapore in 1994 with Lea Salonga. The early 2000s, A Little Night Music in San Francisco, my fave of Sondheim's. In 2002 the Royal Festival Hall Follies. More versions of Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, and Sweeney Todd in Singapore (the latter in 2019, again with Lea Salonga). A repeat loop of Sweeney, Woods, Follies, Night! I want to see Company, Assassins, and Sunday in the Park, but they're never playing in places I travel to. But there's hope for the future.
I was fortunate to see the orginal Broadway 'Follies' when I was 17. I was hooked on theatre. 5 years later 'Pacific Overtures', Sondheim's least appreciated work, then 'Sweeney Todd'. See as much as you can. Heis gone, but his work endures. Thank you.
Its a great shame , Mickey , that u are probably too young to remember how wonderful the Dress Circle store was in London , when it existed . Sadly , it is no more . You would have practically lived in that shop !!
Hi Mickey Jo, Like yourself I was also deeply saddened by Mr. Sondheim's death as his music and the shows he crafted (along with Hal Prince, Michael Bennett, Jonathan Tunick etc etc) had been so formative in my own life. I was 15 when Company opened - it was modern, it was New York (And it had Elaine Stritch). I loved it and was to see it in full at least 8 or 9 times while second-acting it countless times more. I wasn't the only one as numerous other friends also adopted it. For a time we would often break into the Side by Side number at parties (there were that many of us) and as I remember we had it down pretty well. Of course, Follies came the following year and it was sheer magic. Like yourself I found my sense of what theatre could be greatly expanded. It was so exciting. (In fairness, Peter Brooks' Midsummer Night's Dream came to Broadway that same year - 1971 - and it, too, proved an eye-opener. Follies had no intermission, so second acting was out but Hal Prince, God Bless Him, priced the box seats for a mere $2 (a bargain even then!) that allowed high school kids like me to afford it. They were box seats, allegedly marked down because of sight lines, but they offered amazing views of the performances. Again sheer magic. Years later when I was head of our college drama society (Columbia Players up at Columbia University) Tony Randall arranged for Sondheim to come and speak with us and afterwards I found myself off having drinks with him at one of my Upper West Side haunts. How lucky I was! With his passing I can only think of Follies where the shell of the soon to be demolished theatre they meet in represents the end of an era. That is why I am saddened by his passing because I know that that Broadway is gone for good and must remain a cherished memory. Good luck, kiddo!
The Into The Woods revival on Broadway is amazing. Only running for 4 more weeks, I think they should extend it because it’s the best thing on Broadway right now.
I too love Into The Woods! I had such a wonderful experience playing The Witch and have such reverence for Sondheim’s brilliant lyrics and musical complexity ❤️
💜🫂😢 My experience of sondheim is watching Sweeney Todd in different forms Loved it so much Seen bits of into the woods And heard send in the clowns Now can’t listen to that without crying 😢 Performer friends who have sung sondheim tunes and being wowed by them Hearing Patti lupone sing Little priest is my favourite thing ever Also saw Sondheims 80th birthday celebration and Elaine stritch singing I’m still here 🥺
My favorite will likely always be Pacific Overtures. Partially it's due to the fact it's so under-appreciated. It's also due to my love of ethnomusicology and other cultures.
I enjoyed this presentation. My favorite Sondheim is Merrily, followed by Follies. I have never seen Assassins or Road Show or Pacific Overtures live. I have never seen Passion or Anyone Can Whistle at all.
Beautiful video, and thank you for sharing your memories and feelings! I highly recommend watching the video of the original production of Pacific Overtures, which is here on TH-cam somewhere. It is really unlike anything else. Even if you've heard the cast album, you won't be prepared. Thanks, and best wishes.
While I love Bernadette’s version better than any other here. There’s another extraordinary Sondheim song named “I remember“ although some list it as I remember Sky from Evening Primrose which is sung by someone who does a better version than Bernadette Peters which is the version by Dianne Reeves who granted is a jazz singer and not a Broadway actress.
I saw that Regent’s Park production of ITW as well. The year after I noticed a poster for that year’s season and it had a picture of that production (you could clearly see red riding hood) but they weren’t doing it that year. The year afterwards, they used the same picture, but they still weren’t bringing it back and to my knowledge they never did. I did find that irritating myself that they were teasing those who knew where that picture was from but saying that they were never going to get the chance to see it. But I guess that their attitude is more like they wanted that production to be special, and bringing it back would just make it stale and artificial. Shows like phantom and wicked run for years because the producers know there’s people willing to pay for it. But it may not be the best thing for artistic theatrical integrity. Interesting subject, that i could talk about for ages.
Yeah, the shows at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre are only ever intended as limited runs (unless they transfer elsewhere) and there's usually a completely new season each year. They were using the picture just to promote the venue I expect, although you can still watch the professionally recorded version of that Into the Woods revival on digital theatre.
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Assassins was my first Sondheim and will always have a special place in my heart.
In recent years the Nationals production of Follies really left a big impression on me. He was absolutely peerless.
This is a belated comment that no one's ever gonna see, but I'll leave it here anyway. The day Sondheim died I literally couldn't get out of bed how sad I was, relistening to every piece I could find. And up until that moment I would never have guessed his death would be such a blow to me (something I'd only thought was bound to happen when Joni Mitchell passes away someday).
That man's works - I'm now positive - completely shaped me into the person I am today, shaped my taste in music, in writing, made me exponentially more open as a queer person (even though you wouldn't really single out Sondheim as queer theater!), Sondheim is my personal Shakespeare, my personal Mozart. I remember seeing Bernadette Peters playing Dot in Sunday in the Park somewhere on TH-cam - when she finished singing "Move On", I was in tears, in full catharsis - that woman and that song helped me overcome an absolutely horrible period in my life at a moment I was sure I'd never recover. If that doesn't show you the sheer power and beauty of Sondheim and what his music can do to a person, nothing can.
I see your comment
And I see your comment too ❤️
I hope someone goes through all of Sondheims trunk songs and makes shows out of all those songs we have never heard of before. And when Sonheim died I literally cried every day for a week.
I live in N.Y.C. and am an avid theatergoer. Yes, I've seen Sondheim many times in theatres but never approached him. In the mid 1970's I went to Queens College to hear a lecture on Sondheims' word up to then. I lived near by and Sondheim was doing the lecture with an interview following. I arrived in plenty of time only to be told there were no more seats available,, but we could sit on the floor in front of Sondheim, since he was in agreement. It was a treat and next to me was a boy around 12 years old. His father got him to sit there and give up a seat he had because in his hands were about 10 record albums, which his father said " Get Stephen Sondheim to sign each one " well after questions and answers the boy approached Sondheim and requested the signature on each album. Sondheim smiled and shook the boys hand ( that's all )and was lead out of the room by a Queens College staff member. When I was leaving the auditorium I noticed people with sheet music and books and yes there were many clutching albums.
Without such people like him your channel, and many others, probably wouldn't exist. I have encountered his work many times when I spent 14 years in musical theatre and you can still hear his influence on many new pieces.
Like COUNTLESS others, I have loved Sondheim forever - he literally created my love of musical theatre. My wife and I saw the original cast of SUNDAY IN THE PARK (we are from Western Canada -- England is closer!) - our first TRUE Broadway show - it was life-changing. Sunday in the Park means something new to me every time I watch it or listen to it. ART ISN'T EASY and FINISHING THE HAT bring me to tears every time. I still have the program signed by Bernadette Peters that night and have seen her a few times in concert and in another good show, SONG AND DANCE. I think my wife would have understood if she were my 'hall pass.' I saw her here in an outdoor concert just a few years ago -- still stunning - her voice still in fine form.
And of course, I have both volumes of his lyrics collections. Thank heavens he had the foresight to share such treasures while he could.
Years later, LONG after the original cast of INTO THE WOODS had departed, we got great centre orchestra (*stalls) tickets to see it. We arrived at the theatre to see the names of the original cast on the marquee... WTF? Perhaps it's like when they honour the original cast in the forward of a published play? Nope... For THAT NIGHT ONLY the original cast was back to record the show for the VERY VIDEO of the show that you watched as a kid. Not only that -- SONDHEIM took to the stage to introduce the show to us! MY GOD! I could not believe (then and now) that I was in the same room with such a giant. Since we have seen many great shows in the West End.
That said -- I envy so many of the productions YOU have seen, especially the Regents Park INTO THE WOODS -- I heard about it from a friend who saw it -- I wish it had been filmed or recorded digitally. My dear wife is sadly no longer with me -- but she was in spirit when I saw the latest female Bobby reboot of COMPANY in London just before the plague struck. Patty LuPone!!!
I would still like to see more of his work on stage. Occasionally local semi-pro companies will do productions of SWEENY or ASSASSINS (a brilliant, underrated show that I think will be seen for the classic it is in time), but having seen the REAL THING I can't muster the enthusiasm to see a lacklustre version of work that I love. I share your appreciation for Imelda Stanton's Sondheim works -- her Mrs. Lovett is wonderful.
Now a fan of your channel. Thanks for sharing your thoughtful memories and insights.
"I am unworthy of your love" - your love for Assassins has that song looping in my head! (;
My favorite Sondheim musical is Follies (:
My favourite Sondheim moment was sitting in the row behind him, with my wife & son, watching Michael and Imelda in Sweeney Todd at The Adelphi in London. I was very cool and concentrated on the show. He skipped out just before the interval and skipped back in as the second act started. He certainly seemed to be enjoying it like we were.
i really enjoyed the documentary "best worth thing that ever could have happened" on netflix about the Broadway opening & closing of Merrily we roll along.
My favorite Sondheim experience. I went to see a reunion show of Into the Woods in Orange County of all places. I didn’t know anything about the production really but i like the music and the tickets weren’t that expensive even though it was kind of a long drive in LA traffic. As it got closer, i just wasn’t very motivated in the drive and was going to skip it but i mentioned it to a friend who loves the show and we decided to go. It turned out not to be the show but a true reunion of the original broadway cast hosted by Mo Rocco, James Lupine and Stephen Sondheim himself in the flesh. For two hours we heard the cast members sing there key pieces and tell stories about the production and backstage. It was incredible and i almost didn’t go.
My first essay at university was an analysis of the Regent's Park production of 'Into The Woods' (I love digital theatre for introducing me to it as I was too young to be aware of it when it was on). That same year, I played an amalgamation of Toby and Jack in a dissertation musical based on Sondheim characters and shows. The man was a genius and will be greatly missed
I will never forget my first production of Assassins. It was SRO, closing night, and I was only 15 or so, arriving at the theatre under the mistaken impression that the tickets had already been sorted. They hadn't. So we ended up standing through the whole show, and I couldn't be more glad. It was a transformative experience. I wholeheartedly concur that the work is criminally underrated -- and I've seen two other stunning productions of it as well. I'm surprised it's not more often cited as one of his best.
That said, it's at best in a four-way tie for second place in my book, because Sweeney Todd. I remember the first time I discovered Sweeney, on CD, laughing uproariously at 'A Little Priest' even as I felt queasy. But also the thrilling, muscular accompaniment figure to 'Pirelli's Miracle Elixir'. And the unutterably sublime 'Kiss Me Quartet' -- who but Sondheim would give such an achingly gorgeous moment to two frivolous characters and two outright villains? It's perverse. And also perfect.
When I first heard about the concept of John Doyle's production, I was furious. It just sounded like a cheapskate's way of evading payment of an orchestra. But when I learned that Patti LuPone would be opening it on Broadway, I bought a ticket anyway. Within two minutes, I saw how I'd been dreadfully misinformed... All the reviews described it as a production in which the *actors* played the instruments too. But what I saw was the *characters* playing their instruments. I've seen more traditional Sweeneys also, and they've all had something that spoke to me, but the Doyle production was indelible. Both times.
Another highlight: the Los Angeles Opera opted to produce A Little Night Music one summer, with Victor Garber *perfectly* cast as Fredric -- although everyone else was splendid too. I've seen enough Martha Swope photos to know that the original production had a peerless sumptuousness to it, but the LA Opera came pretty close to matching it.
One more memory: Merrily at the Kennedy Center, in a room full of Sondheim devotees. The whole show was just about perfect, but the audience didn't wait to find out. As soon as the overture began, there was an almost violent eruption of applause. I started to weep a little, realizing that I was going to see the show for the first time with people who loved it as much as I do.
I wept a great deal more as that heartbreaking night unfolded. But in the best way.
My Sondheim shows go way back to the 1980s. I saw Into the Woods in Boston on it's first national tour. I also saw Sweeney Todd on tour in Boston with Angela Lansbury and George Hearn who had both played it on Broadway. A Little Night Music might have been early nineties in a very good local theater. My best Sondheim memory is the 1988 Follies in London where Julia McKenzie sang beautifully as Sally, Daniel Massey as Ben, and the great Eartha Kitt as Carlotta!
I saw the same London Follies. Wow. Diana Rigg too! I bought the CDs and enjoyed all of it, especially Julia McKenzie's "In Buddy's Eyes" and "Losing My Mind".
I saw the Raul Esparza production of Company on Broadway. And I've had a crush on Raul Esparza ever since.
Happiest memory was Into the Woods, front row and Robert Westenberg right in front singing down to me. Glorious. Saw the show twice while visiting NY. I also very much enjoyed Michael Ball and Maria Friedman in Passion as well as Michael and Imelda in Sweeney. Have seen just about all Sondheim musicals alive apart from Anyone can Whistle and Pacific.
I loved your passion for Sondheim's brilliance that mirrors my own. I was blessed to have met him in Washington DC during the workshop of Bounce, which evolved into Road Show. A generous spirit. Thank you for your eloquence.. A major los for us all. His music will last long after we are all gone.
Into the Woods was my gateway drug for Sondhime as well. First I saw a college performance that my cousin was in (rapunzel’s prince) and act 2 left me a crying mesmorized emotional mess. Then my brother was cast in the same roll for a small production done in our friend’s backyard. I would run lines with him as cinderella’s prince and I still call him “Good Brother” in a deep voice to this day. I then got the opportunity to play clarinet in the pit for a community therater production which was incredible. Holy shit is that music hard but it was so beautiful as well. I adore so many of Sondhime’s shows but Into the Woods will always have a special place in my heart.
At last! Intelligent reactions to musical theatre! You are so lovely, informed and eloquent. Thank you!!
Very late to this video but... trust me I cried my eyes out when I heard the news. And the voice over in tick tick boom will always make me cry. ♡
Sondheim! My favorite subject! I never cared for ITW when I first heard it. I thought it was a lot of songs that don't finish. I mean they do finish, but it seems like they're like sketches, and the real songs are coming up later.I know for a lot of people, that it is one of the most popular and favorite shows. I've only seen two Sondheim shows live, both with their original cast. Merrily we Roll Along, which I liked. I couldn't understand all the criticism surrounding it. Merrily is also one of my favorite Sondheim scores. I had a good time watching that show. The other was Sweeny Todd. What I remember most was the suspense during Pretty Women, the other thing I will probably never forget are the sopranos singing "Sweeny, Sweeny" in the opening song. Brilliant. The good thing about all the revivals is that it keeps younger people interested in his work and not make these shows relics of the 1970's.
Seeing my feelings of grief and loss echoed so profoundly from every corner of the globe has made me feel more connected to my tribe of artists than I have in so long.
I felt every single word of this, to my bones xoxo
You're right, as devastating as the loss was, the togetherness we've been able to feel has been profoundly moving! So glad you enjoyed the video ❤
Saw the original production of Follies and A Little Night Musi on Broadway (Yeah I'm Old) and I've never forgotten them ,staggeringly beautiful productions with amazing music and jaw dropping performances! Thank You Mr. Sondheim for your wonderful gifts to us you will be missed.
This was a great vid, loved hearing all your stories. I've never had the chance to see these shows. The closest I've seen was the recent pro-shot of Gypsy.
I think Into the woods/the Sweeny Movie were my first experience of Sondheim. Like you, having only seen Wicked and Disney shows before this it was mind-blowing to know just how much writing and nuance you could put into a musical
What a wonderful story and tribute to Sondheim.
I saw the ‘87 Follies. Diana Rigg had left the show by then but Eartha Kitt had joined. “I’m still here” came off like her autobiography. It was brilliant. Sondheim wrote a new song for that production, “Underneath”. I hope they put that number back in for the version you saw. It contains my second favorite Sondheim lyric
“In the depths of her interior
We’re fears she was inferior
Or something even eerier
But no one dared to query her
Superior exterior”
There is a cast album out there with Miss Rigg singing it. Find it.
Unlike almost nobody else, my favorite Sondheim show is Pacific Overtures.
I also love pacific overtures. It was the first sondheim, show I saw, well second if you include west side story but I wasn’t aware at that time as he had written the lyrics to that! I was a member of a midlands youth theatre, the Leicester hay market, it is no more and they now have the curve there. and Mr Sondheim was associated with that theatre for a while as visiting artistic director I believe at the time. Unforgettable. He was an an amazing talent and we will never have another talent quite like that in the world. I also love how he was influenced and supported by Rogers and Hammerstein who he knew and he shaped Jonathon Larson who wrote Rent, and then how he influenced the creator of Hamilton. I love that whole circle of creative life. He will be sadly missed, but an amazing amount of talented people have wanted to be better at their craft because of him.
I saw the 2012 version of sweeney Todd that went into london and it blew my mind. It was everything I thought it would be and more.
This has been a wonderful video.
I travelled to New York specifically to see a Broadway show, and the show I chose was Into The Woods.I was so moved that I cried. It was the night the recording for television was made, (the camera was over my left shoulder). After the show, my copy of the book and lyrics was signed by Sondheim, Bernadette Peters and the rest of the cast, and I got to shake Sondheim's hand and have a few words with him, (I could hardly bear to wash it).
Later, I saw the Sydney Theatre Company production back home, and, believe it or not, I enjoyed it even more ... the performances were just as good, and the set design was a triumph, so much better than the New York staging.
My first Sondheim musical was A Funny Thing when I was about 16, (I'm now 75) ... it is still, by far, the funniest musical ever written, and it has some great songs, so Sondheim was great from the very start, (we're not even counting his lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy).
I agree that Assassins is outrageously under-rated ... I saw it in a semi-professional production, and it was terrific. Company, again at the Sydney theatre Company was wonderful, and the set as it often is for that show, was wonderful.
I also saw a brilliantly acted and sung Sweeney Todd in Sydney. with a terrifying performance by Peter Carrol ... his Epiphany scared the bejesus out of me.
I still can't believe I got to shake hands with a genius, a bona-fide god of musical theatre.
Hi Mickey Jo! Great video. My favorite Sondheim Musicals are A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Into The Woods, West Side Story and Company.
If you skipped the movie version of, into the woods, consider it your lucky day. A revival of it is coming to Broadway in July (and yes, I have 2nd row seats) aside from loving this show. It’s packed with actors/actress that I’ll never see in one place at the same time again. They mounted it at a small venue for a week and it’s success moved it to Broadway. They’ve had cast changes for bigger stars and some like, heather headly, didn’t transfer. However, I get the fabulous Patrina Miller (no complaints because I saw heather in, the color purple). I’ll let you know how it goes but if you Google the cast, they could basically stand there and it’d still be exciting.
The only time I saw David Badella was in the rocky horror show. I wish I'd been able to meet Michael ball and imelda staunton.
I love Mr. Sondheim. Assassins is under appreciated. My husband thinks that my mild fascination with true crime is worrisome.
Knew of Sondheim, but only realized his genius catching a US Uni Production of Follies at the Edinburgh Festival. Miles away from the centre in Portobello, an audience of about 30 in an 600 or so seater, but I was transfixed.
My first was Follies in the 87 with Julia McKenzie and Diana Rigg. You can also see into the woods in copenhagen 2022
Beautifully expressed. Thank you!
i like how my unorthodox intro to sondheim was camp. such a funny film, yet, really did a lot more than people gave it credit for.
I found Sondheim quite late on in my theatre Journey but even then I can't deny how much he and his music have impacted my life. My first time seeing a Sondheim show was the recent west end revival of Company. I had found some relatively cheap tickets and so I booked the national express down from Glasgow to London. The intention was that I would be able to get back in time to catch the bus home. I did not and ended up having to stay in a hostel and get the train the next morning. Looking back i could have easily made it but My brain was focusing so much on the show. I had never seen a show that dealt with such complex and adult issues and I went into the show completly blind so everything hit that little bit harder. Sondheim showed me that musicals were more than just fun and camp (Not that that's bad i love camp) and that there is a wider array of theatre out there for me to explore. He will be missed.
When i was in high school, i was part of a musical theater workshop and we almost did Merrily We Rolled Along. Our directors decided to change our end of workshop show to Miss Saigon, understandably because of the complexity of Merrily will go over our very young, non-worldly heads. I still have the score until now and, now that i am much older, i wished we had done it. This was the beginning of my love of Sondheim. I envy anyone now who are at their start of their Sondheim journey and pity at the same time for they have missed the man when he was alive.
I'm not that big of a musical fan, but "Into the woods" is one of those musicals I really hope I get to watch in a theater.
This was so touching, loooove
Great video Mickey! Most of my Sondheim experiences have actually been in performing them as I took part in productions of Sweeney Todd which is probably my favourite and also Follies. I did see the production of Sweeney with Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton in London and it was stunning, also saw the ENO version with Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson. I did see the 2018 HAODS production of Into The Woods which was truly spellbinding especially the finale of Children Will Listen
MickeyJo - thanks for sharing your personal memory tour of Sondheim . . . want your take on there being other Sondheim material in the filing cabinets of his studio (maybe an unproduced musical) that will continue his contribution. I so hope so . . . Hugs for you.
This has been such a strange experience for me. I don’t normally grieve very much, but I cried when I found out about his passing.
My list: Angela Lansbury, Sweeney Todd, 1980 in San Francisco. 1987 Follies in London. Into the Woods in Singapore in 1994 with Lea Salonga. The early 2000s, A Little Night Music in San Francisco, my fave of Sondheim's. In 2002 the Royal Festival Hall Follies. More versions of Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, and Sweeney Todd in Singapore (the latter in 2019, again with Lea Salonga). A repeat loop of Sweeney, Woods, Follies, Night! I want to see Company, Assassins, and Sunday in the Park, but they're never playing in places I travel to. But there's hope for the future.
I was fortunate to see the orginal Broadway 'Follies' when I was 17. I was hooked on theatre. 5 years later 'Pacific Overtures', Sondheim's least appreciated work, then 'Sweeney Todd'. See as much as you can. Heis gone, but his work endures. Thank you.
Its a great shame , Mickey , that u are probably too young to remember how wonderful the Dress Circle store was in London , when it existed . Sadly , it is no more . You would have practically lived in that shop !!
I loved that place ❤️
Your passion for musicals is heartwarming. Just found your TH-cam. I have fallen for you as a person. Look forward to watching more.
Hi Mickey Jo, Like yourself I was also deeply saddened by Mr. Sondheim's death as his music and the shows he crafted (along with Hal Prince, Michael Bennett, Jonathan Tunick etc etc) had been so formative in my own life. I was 15 when Company opened - it was modern, it was New York (And it had Elaine Stritch). I loved it and was to see it in full at least 8 or 9 times while second-acting it countless times more. I wasn't the only one as numerous other friends also adopted it. For a time we would often break into the Side by Side number at parties (there were that many of us) and as I remember we had it down pretty well. Of course, Follies came the following year and it was sheer magic. Like yourself I found my sense of what theatre could be greatly expanded. It was so exciting. (In fairness, Peter Brooks' Midsummer Night's Dream came to Broadway that same year - 1971 - and it, too, proved an eye-opener. Follies had no intermission, so second acting was out but Hal Prince, God Bless Him, priced the box seats for a mere $2 (a bargain even then!) that allowed high school kids like me to afford it. They were box seats, allegedly marked down because of sight lines, but they offered amazing views of the performances. Again sheer magic. Years later when I was head of our college drama society (Columbia Players up at Columbia University) Tony Randall arranged for Sondheim to come and speak with us and afterwards I found myself off having drinks with him at one of my Upper West Side haunts. How lucky I was! With his passing I can only think of Follies where the shell of the soon to be demolished theatre they meet in represents the end of an era. That is why I am saddened by his passing because I know that that Broadway is gone for good and must remain a cherished memory. Good luck, kiddo!
Also, you *have* to see the 2014 Lincoln Center production of Sweeney Todd with Emma Thompson. The opening alone is heart stopping.
The Into The Woods revival on Broadway is amazing. Only running for 4 more weeks, I think they should extend it because it’s the best thing on Broadway right now.
I too love Into The Woods! I had such a wonderful experience playing The Witch and have such reverence for Sondheim’s brilliant lyrics and musical complexity ❤️
He was an inspiration and it's sad to know his oeuvre is now complete!
💜🫂😢
My experience of sondheim is watching Sweeney Todd in different forms
Loved it so much
Seen bits of into the woods
And heard send in the clowns
Now can’t listen to that without crying 😢
Performer friends who have sung sondheim tunes and being wowed by them
Hearing Patti lupone sing Little priest is my favourite thing ever
Also saw Sondheims 80th birthday celebration and Elaine stritch singing I’m still here 🥺
The only memory i have with his work is when i saw the into the Woods disney movie in theaters
Completely agree 100% re: Into the Woods.
*vigerous snapping in agreement to all of this* 💯💯💯💯💯
My favorite will likely always be Pacific Overtures. Partially it's due to the fact it's so under-appreciated. It's also due to my love of ethnomusicology and other cultures.
I will never forget when my piano teacher introduced me to Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd
I enjoyed this presentation. My favorite Sondheim is Merrily, followed by Follies. I have never seen Assassins or Road Show or Pacific Overtures live. I have never seen Passion or Anyone Can Whistle at all.
What a love letter!
always eloquent! xo
Beautiful video, and thank you for sharing your memories and feelings! I highly recommend watching the video of the original production of Pacific Overtures, which is here on TH-cam somewhere. It is really unlike anything else. Even if you've heard the cast album, you won't be prepared. Thanks, and best wishes.
Very eloquent! A lovely tribute to a great man. Have you seen the film Camp? Sondheim makes an appearance in it. ❤️💜💚💙💛💖
Pacific overtures is the best musical ever written.
I know hun. I was thinking of you. I posted 3 times on my Instagram about him. Hope you are ok x
I do hope you managed to see "old friends" on the 3rd May.
The Last Midnight sung by Bernadette Peters is the best!
While I love Bernadette’s version better than any other here. There’s another extraordinary Sondheim song named “I remember“ although some list it as I remember Sky from Evening Primrose which is sung by someone who does a better version than Bernadette Peters which is the version by Dianne Reeves who granted is a jazz singer and not a Broadway actress.
I saw that Regent’s Park production of ITW as well. The year after I noticed a poster for that year’s season and it had a picture of that production (you could clearly see red riding hood) but they weren’t doing it that year. The year afterwards, they used the same picture, but they still weren’t bringing it back and to my knowledge they never did. I did find that irritating myself that they were teasing those who knew where that picture was from but saying that they were never going to get the chance to see it. But I guess that their attitude is more like they wanted that production to be special, and bringing it back would just make it stale and artificial. Shows like phantom and wicked run for years because the producers know there’s people willing to pay for it. But it may not be the best thing for artistic theatrical integrity. Interesting subject, that i could talk about for ages.
Yeah, the shows at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre are only ever intended as limited runs (unless they transfer elsewhere) and there's usually a completely new season each year. They were using the picture just to promote the venue I expect, although you can still watch the professionally recorded version of that Into the Woods revival on digital theatre.
Tick tick boom please
Your reminiscences are interesting, but I can't listen you saying "I went to go" over and over, so I have to leave this video.
Always like any reviews you do dude :> ) So down to earth and so informative :> D