Next Sondheim?
Next Sondheim?
#1Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/21/24 at 9:02pm
Since both Sweeney and Merrily will be closing up in the next few months, NY stages will be without a major Sondheim work for the first time in years. What do we think/hope the next revival will be? Any chance of the Axelrod 'Sunday' transferring?
Slotted spoons don't hold much soup
Age_of_Mendacity
Understudy Joined: 5/11/17
#2Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/21/24 at 10:08pm
I'm hoping for Follies, Night Music or Passion. Has been a while (or a long while) for all. Especially hoping for Passion, but even the National Theatre Follies would sufice!
#3Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/21/24 at 10:12pm
Age_of_Mendacity said: "I'm hoping for Follies, Night Music or Passion. Has been a while (or a long while) for all. Especially hoping for Passion, but even the National Theatre Follies would sufice!"
Follies would be great. Mandy Patinkin as Ben Stone please.
#4Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/21/24 at 10:26pm
I want a lavish Night Music, Pacific Overtures, or Follies at Lincoln Center.
Would be nice to have Funny Thing back as well.
#5Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/21/24 at 10:26pm
Would love nothing more than for Lincoln Center to do A Little Night Music with a Star-Studded Cast! Could we bring Hannah Waddingham back to Broadway in this?
The idea is to work and to experiment. Some things will be creatively successful, some things will succeed at the box office, and some things will only - which is the biggest only - teach you things that see the future. And they're probably as valuable as any of your successes. -Harold Prince
#6Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/21/24 at 10:38pm
I feel like we’ll see a NIGHT MUSIC soon. There are two parts that any number of (talented) stars could and most likely want to do. But I want lavish - not sitting on the floor like the last one.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
#7Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/21/24 at 10:38pm
Since Funny Thing came very close to fruition a decade or so ago, I wouldn't be surprised if it gets re-examined. Cast a big name funny man and then pad the cast with a roster of reliable comedic performers, it could work like gangbusters.
I wish the Encores Anyone Can Whistle had transferred. Perhaps that will be the redemption project now that Merrily has soared.
A proper Night Music revival would absolutely be welcome, if only to erase the memory of that misguided and miscast Nunn production.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Updated On: 3/21/24 at 10:38 PM
#8Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/21/24 at 11:06pm
Dylan Smith4 said: "Would love nothing more than for Lincoln Center to do A Little Night Music with a Star-Studded Cast! Could we bring Hannah Waddingham back to Broadway in this?"
Now that Waddingham is worldwide star, I can’t imagine repeating a role she played to great acclaim 15 years ago would be a wise career choice for her.
I DO feel a lavish Night Music will be coming in the near future. It just feels like the right timing. I also really want an LCT Follies as well.
#10Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/21/24 at 11:17pm
Let's wait 15 years to get an Audra and Kelli Follies (or Benanti or Mueller or Headley or.....)
#11Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/21/24 at 11:23pm
None of those ladies need to wait 15 years :-)
Sally and Phyllis are 49.
#12Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/21/24 at 11:31pm
ljay889 said: "Noneof those ladiesneed to wait 15 years :-)
Sally and Phyllis are 49."
Oh interesting! I always think of those roles as much older but you're definitely right - my lineup of ladies are of the correct age (regardless that they look much younger)
#13Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/21/24 at 11:42pm
Maybe Bernadette utilizing the same voice for Sally as she used for Marie has confused people about the general age of the four leads.
#14Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/21/24 at 11:50pm
HenryTDobson said: "ljay889 said: "Noneof those ladiesneed to wait 15 years :-)
Sally and Phyllis are 49."
Oh interesting! I always think of those roles as much older but you're definitely right - my lineup of ladies are of the correct age (regardless that they look much younger)"
Yep! Headley would be an amazing Phyllis. I had thought of that before as well.
Theatrefanboy1
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/2/15
#15Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/21/24 at 11:51pm
Well as much as I had of loved the Julie Andrews/ Cate Blanchett Rudin revival. I feel like that ship has sailed now. Unless it’s announced this year. I do think a little night music will have a big lush revival very soon.
I think it’s a toss up between LNM and Forum. (But I would also love a starry follies. )
WindyNewYorker
Swing Joined: 10/22/23
#16Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/22/24 at 1:55am
A little night music, putting it together, pacific overture (original orchestration) or here we are!
#17Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/22/24 at 2:43am
Toni Collette as Desire please
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
#18Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/22/24 at 3:50am
joevitus said: "Maybe Bernadette utilizing the same voice for Sally as she used for Marie has confused people about the general age of the four leads."
HAHAHAHAH. To be fair, I do think 49 in 1970 means something different than 49 in 2024 (or 2011;)). I also continue to be annoyed that Bernadette, who at least can sing, always gets trashed for her vocals in Follies while Staunton gets a free pass despite having very little lyrical beauty in Buddy’s Eyes, and lowering the key for Too Many Mornings. Though I thought her Losing my Mind was powerful even if overwrought in her typical style.
I’ve heard that people are trying to put on Forum - so far the attempts have been unsuccessful.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Dreamboy3
Chorus Member Joined: 10/8/18
#19Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/22/24 at 6:36am
ALNM is one of the most commercial of Sondheim’s shows. As others have noted, I would love to see a full scale revival with lush sets and without stunt casting. And with the movie version of the Glamorous Life. On the other hand, Follies is my favorite Sondheim score but the cost of doing it justice makes a revival prohibitively expensive and it’s never been commercially successful.
#20Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/22/24 at 6:51am
Jamie Lloyd FOLLIES :p?
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
#22Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/22/24 at 8:49am
I would KILL for this Assassins from the Chichester Festival Theatre in th UK to transfer (I assume first to the West End and then Broadway). It looks so cool!
#23Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/22/24 at 8:58am
This may be an obvious observation but it's truly amazing how much *quality* work Sondheim put out there in a short amount of time. Yes, there's "high" level Sondheim shows (Sweeney, Into The Woods, ALNM) but even his "lower" level work is better than most people's best work. It's so impressive that every show mentioned here warrants a revival at any and all times.
JasonC3
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/21
#24Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/22/24 at 9:33am
It's not an option for Broadway, but I'd love to see a major regional theater do a Sondheim Celebration ala the Kennedy Center's offering 20 years ago. To see so many of his works with so many great stars in a compact timeframe was truly special. Still unlikely nowadays I imagine given finances and programming goals for most theaters.
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#25Next Sondheim?
Posted: 3/22/24 at 10:19am
Winslet as Desiree
Karimloo as Frederick
Plimpton as Charlotte
Ann-Margret as Mme. Armfeldt
