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Stephen Sondheim

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.

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Stephen Sondheim

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  1. Stephen Sondheim A Funny Thing Happened … to the American Musical

  2. 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

  3. Broadway Debut • West Side Story - 1957 • Gypsy – 1959 • Built a reputation for witty lyrics

  4. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - 1962 Book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart Directed by George Abbott Produced by Hal Prince

  5. Anyone Can Whistle - 1964 Book 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

  6. Company - 1970 Book by George Furth Directed by Hal Prince Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick First “concept musical”

  7. Sondheim’s Sound • Pastiche • Modular melodies, not “hummable” • Vamps • Reorchestration • “Wrong note” harmonies

  8. Sondheim’s Worldview • Central isolated character • Questioning the “happily ever after” • Deconstructing the mythologies of American identity • Nostalgia

  9. Follies - 1971 Book by James Goldman Directed by Hal Prince & Michael Bennett Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick

  10. A Little Night Music - 1973 Book by Hugh Wheeler Directed by Hal Prince Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick A Weekend in the Country

  11. Pacific Overtures - 1976 Book by John Weidman Directed by Hal Prince Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick

  12. Sweeney Todd - 1979 Ballad Not While I’m Around Book by Hugh Wheeler, Directed by Hal Prince Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick With Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Lovett

  13. Merrily We Roll Along - 1981 Book by George Furth Directed by Hal Prince (last collaboration) Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick Closed after 52 previews and 16 performances

  14. Sunday in the Park with George - 1984 Book by James Lapine 1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama Directed by James Lapine With Bernadette Peters as Dot

  15. Into the Woods - 1987 Book by James Lapine Directed by James Lapine Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick With Bernadette Peters as the Witch

  16. Assassins – 1990 (Off-Broadway) Book by John Weidman Directed by Jerry Zaks History of bad opening dates

  17. Passion - 1994 Book by James Lapine Directed by James Lapine Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick

  18. Recent Revivals

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