Theatre Memories

[+ WilliamM]

I an surprised at the few Sondheim musicals mentioned. By this time I have seen almost every one, mostly in revival. The only original cast Sondheim are as follows: "Gypsy," Merrily We Roll Along," "Sunday in The Park with George," and "Saturday Night."

 

It's amazing that one other person saw "I Can Get It For You Wholesale" and "Subways Are For Sleeping" too.

Edited October 29, 2016 by WilliamM

[body2body]

I an surprised at the few Sondheim musicals mentioned. By this time I have seen almost every one, mostly in revival. The only original cast Sondheim are as follows: "Gypsy," Merrily We Roll Along," "Sunday in The Park with George," and "Saturday Night."

 

It's amazing that one other person saw "I Can Get It For You Wholesale" and "Subways Are For Sleeping" too.

Of the Sondheim canon I have seen:

Anyone Can Whistle*

Follies*

Company

A Little Night Music

Pacific Overtures

Sweeney Todd

Merrily We Roll Along*

Passion

Sunday in the Park with George

Into the Woods

The Frogs*

Assassins

The ones with an asterisk are ones I have only seen in revivals of very high quality ( The Merrily was at the La Jolla Playhouse directed by James LaPine, with score massaged by the composer). Pacific Overtures is one of my very fondest Theater memories. The score, the performances (especially Mako, and Soon-tek Oh), Boris Aronson's sublime decors, are all engraved in my memory.

Edited October 29, 2016 by body2body

[+ WilliamM]

Thanks @body2body, I saw "Gypsy" so long ago (1960).....did I have any idea who Sondheim was/is?

[N13]

Pacific Overtures is a special memory for me. I was sitting accross the aisle from Sondheim and Lauren Bacall when his hat fell behind him. I got up to return it to him and was given the ugliest "How dare you disturb me?" look from Bacall before she realized that I was only picking up his hat. Couldn't stand her ever after!

[actor61]

Pacific Overtures is a special memory for me. I was sitting accross the aisle from Sondheim and Lauren Bacall when his hat fell behind him. I got up to return it to him and was given the ugliest "How dare you disturb me?" look from Bacall before she realized that I was only picking up his hat. Couldn't stand her ever after!

Oh the stories I could tell about Betty Bacall!!!!!!

[N13]

I love that the cast members of "Applause" wore "I survived the Bitch of Broadway" t-shirts.

[actor61]

W

I love that the cast members of "Applause" wore "I survived the Bitch of Broadway" t-shirts.

We actually had a party when she left!! Not a nice lady.

[Reluctant Daddy]

My one theatre memory was seeing Shelley Winters in The Effect of Gamma Rays back in the late 70's when I was a teen. My first visit to NY, and I was determined to meet her. I went backstage after the performance and made up some story about being mugged on my way to see the play. Not sure whether they believed it, but the stage manager took me up to her dressing room to meet her. Should was incredibly sweet, signed my program, and issued a motherly warning on being careful on the streets of the city.

[Becket]

Forgot how much I enjoyed Spring Awakening with Jonathan Groff (or Goff?) Resonated loudly to my own sexual journey. Lots of sing along songs. Not to mention a great naked butt presented by Mr. Groff.

[+ honcho]

I an surprised at the few Sondheim musicals mentioned. By this time I have seen almost every one, mostly in revival. The only original cast Sondheim are as follows: "Gypsy," Merrily We Roll Along," "Sunday in The Park with George," and "Saturday Night."

 

It's amazing that one other person saw "I Can Get It For You Wholesale" and "Subways Are For Sleeping" too.

 

I've played in the pit orchestra for two different stagings of Company, and Sweeny Todd once (community theatre productions).

 

The music for Todd is even more fun to play than it is listen to; there's a quite a lot there that doesn't meet the ear on first hearing. It was interesting to find out that Sondheim studied composition with Milton Babbitt.

 

The photographer who did my 1987 Honcho spread sang in a production of Pacific Overtures, so, of course, I had to go to see it.

[N13]

I think Pacific Overtures was Sondheim's most underrated show. I loved it!

[body2body]

I think Pacific Overtures was Sondheim's most underrated show. I loved it!

Me too. I found this video of the original 1976 Broadway Production. It is the complete show, and was recorded for broadcast on Japanese television. It is not HD, but it is better quality than most of the other ones on line. The opening number is simply breathtaking.

Edited October 30, 2016 by body2body

[samhexum]

Penn and Teller on Broadway