Stephen Sondheim
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Stephen Sondheim A Funny Thing Happened … to the American Musical
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Stephen Sondheim. A Funny Thing Happened … to the American Musical. Early Studies. Parents divorced Oscar Hammerstein II as father figure and mentor Musical-writing program with Hammerstein, extending through his education at Williams Scholarship to study with Milton Babbitt. Broadway Debut. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Stephen Sondheim
Stephen SondheimA Funny Thing Happened … to the American Musical
Early StudiesParents divorcedOscar Hammerstein II as father figure and mentorMusical-writing program with Hammerstein, extending through his education at WilliamsScholarship to study with Milton Babbitt
Broadway Debut
West Side Story - 1957Gypsy – 1959Built a reputation for witty lyrics
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - 1962
Book by Burt Shevelove and Larry GelbartDirected by George AbbottProduced by Hal Prince
Anyone Can Whistle - 1964Book by Arthur Laurents
Directed by Arthur Laurents
Ran for 12 previews and 9 performances before closing
Angela Lansbury’s first musical stage role as the Mayoress
Company - 1970Book by George FurthDirected by Hal PrinceOrchestrations by Jonathan TunickFirst “concept musical”
Sondheim’s SoundPasticheModular melodies, not “hummable”VampsReorchestration“Wrong note” harmonies
Sondheim’s WorldviewCentral isolated characterQuestioning the “happily ever after”Deconstructing the mythologies of American identityNostalgia
Follies - 1971Book by James Goldman
Directed by Hal Prince & Michael Bennett
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
A Little Night Music - 1973Book by Hugh Wheeler
Directed by Hal Prince
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
A Weekend in the Country
Pacific Overtures - 1976Book by John WeidmanDirected by Hal PrinceOrchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Sweeney Todd - 1979Book by Hugh Wheeler, Directed by Hal PrinceOrchestrations by Jonathan TunickWith Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Lovett
Ballad
Not While I’m Around
Merrily We Roll Along - 1981
Book by George FurthDirected by Hal Prince (last collaboration)Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Closed after 52 previews and 16 performances
Sunday in the Park with George - 1984Book by James Lapine 1985 Pulitzer Prize for DramaDirected by James Lapine
With Bernadette Peters as Dot
Into the Woods - 1987Book by James Lapine
Directed by James Lapine
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
With Bernadette Peters as the Witch
Assassins – 1990 (Off-Broadway)
Book by John WeidmanDirected by Jerry Zaks
History of bad opening dates
Passion - 1994Book by James LapineDirected by James Lapine
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
Recent Revivals
