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