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Sondheim and Ives' HERE WE ARE at The Shed

Sondheim and Ives' HERE WE ARE at The Shed

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jacobsnchz14
#1Sondheim and Ives' HERE WE ARE at The Shed
Posted: 3/16/23 at 10:58am

https://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/sondheim-here-we-are-premiere_94978.html

Here We Are, the final musical by legendary songwriter Stephen Sondheim, will have its world premiere this September at the Shed. 

With a book by David Ives and direction by Joe Mantello, the world premiere productions is formerly known as Square One and is inspired by the Luis Buñuel films The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and The Exterminating Angel. Tom Kirdahy produces alongside the Shed, with Sue Wagner, John Johnson and Jillian Robbins as executive producers.

News of the musical first broke in 2014. Various mini-readings and workshops of the show — dubbed Buñuel in the press and later called Square One by Sondheim on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, had been held through the years at the Public Theater, with Mantello directing. Various actors involved through included Michael Cerveris, Shuler Hensely, Heidi Blickenstaff, Sierra Boggess, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Simard, Bernadette Peters, and Nathan Lane.

In the spring of 2021, Sondheim has reported the project to be dead, though he reportedly went back to it that fall, just prior to his death. Here We Are is supposedly about a group of friends trying to dine together at the end of the world.

Further details including dates and cast are still to be announced.

Updated On: 9/25/23 at 10:58 AM

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Charley Kringas Inc
#2Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 11:00am

please let this actually happen

binau Profile Photo
binau
#3Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 11:02am

Eek if Bernadette is in the west end does this mean she is no longer involved?


"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

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ljay889
#4Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 11:03am

I liked Square One better as a title, especially because Sondheim named it. But still sooo exciting!

JasonC3
#5Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 11:04am

Christmas came so early this year. 

This + Merrily + Sweeney is a fall Sondheim trifecta.

Kad Profile Photo
Kad
#6Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 11:08am

The Shed?! That’s rather surprising, considering the Public’s development of the piece. And considering the Shed’s… spotty production record thus far.


"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

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Hey, Zelda!
#8Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 11:11am

Kad said: "The Shed?! That’s rather surprising, considering the Public’s development of the piece. And considering the Shed’s… spotty production record thus far."

Also, not sure if the choice of venue is thematically on point or missing the point entirely.

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Dylan Smith4
#9Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 11:12am

Oh, I am excited about this one! 


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

nativenewyorker2
#10Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 11:21am

Well the Sweaty Testicles was about 3 months short on the announcement  and had the venue completely incorrect lol. Glad people still follow him though.

 

He also has predicted the Cabaret revival at 5 different theaters so far, but I'm glad he's so reliable

 

Updated On: 3/16/23 at 11:21 AM

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musikman
#11Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 11:25am

Well this came out of left field.  What an unexpected choice of venue, but boy am I excited! Guess I'm becoming a Shed member lol.

 

 


-There's the muddle in the middle. There's the puddle where the poodle did the piddle."

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Play Esq.
#12Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 11:29am

musikman said: "Well this came out of left field. What an unexpected choice of venue, but boy am I excited! Guess I'm becoming a Shed member lol.



"

No doubt this will be a quick sell. I just tried to renew my membership but the membership page crashed!

ljay889 Profile Photo
ljay889
#13Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 12:53pm

I’m surprised there isn’t more excitement here. It’s like the hoax announcement drained us. 

Jordan Catalano Profile Photo
Jordan Catalano
#14Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 12:58pm

I think the announcement should have been made with at least one piece of casting and even a video of a song or something to “prove” it’s happening. The official website and everything is proof enough but give us something “else” to talk about - we’ve already discussed a show we know nothing about, to death. 

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binau
#15Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 1:00pm

ljay889 said: "I’m surprised there isn’t more excitement here. It’s like the hoax announcement drained us."

I genuinely think it did drain all the energy and excitement out of this for me. I should be screaming off the roof top right now and all I really feel is…relief that it’s happening. 


"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

musikman Profile Photo
musikman
#16Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 1:00pm

ljay889 said: "I’m surprised there isn’t more excitement here. It’s like the hoax announcement drained us."

I think there’s some trepidation with it 1) being at the shed 2) being unfinished.  
 

I could care less. I’m bouncing off the walls with excitement for this.  


-There's the muddle in the middle. There's the puddle where the poodle did the piddle."

dramamama611 Profile Photo
dramamama611
#17Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 1:27pm

So, I "regsistered" at the shed.....but is there a MEMBERSHIP that will likely be needed for first access?

 

(I'm wicked excited - I don't even care if the show sucks eggs, frankly.)


If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

MVintheheartland
#18Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 1:31pm

JasonC3 said: "Christmas came so early this year.

This + Merrily + Sweeney is a fall Sondheim trifecta.
"

#goals!

RippedMan Profile Photo
RippedMan
#19Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 1:48pm

I'm excited! I still wish someone would take another crack at Road Show. I think there's such a terrific story there. And I loved the overture (when it was Bounce). 

chrishuyen
#20Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 1:51pm

It looks like they have a $10 membership level that allows for presale access

Jordan Catalano Profile Photo
Jordan Catalano
#21Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 2:23pm

dramamama611 said: "So, I "regsistered" at the shed.....but is there a MEMBERSHIP that will likely be needed for first access?”


From an email I got from The Shed -

“members at the Builder 3 ($500) level and above will have first access to tickets, followed by Builder 1-2 members, then Mover ($10) members on the following day.”

 

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Georgeanddot2
#22Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 2:35pm

The Shed is a weird venue for this.  What are their ticket prices usually like?

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pethian
#23Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 3:02pm

So, do we think other writers have been called in to 'complete' it? Or perhaps we will just get the first act as we did for the first Playwrights Horizons production of SUNDAY?

ljay889 Profile Photo
ljay889
#24Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 3:09pm

I would like to see a trusted partner or friend help finalize the complete score. IE: Tunick, Paul or Alexander Gemignani, JRB, LMM. It sounds like there was enough unfinished music they could mesh into fuller songs. It was said the score was 60 percent finished. 

I would think Ives could help tweak the lyrics. 

Robbie516
#25Sondheim's Final Musical HERE WE ARE will premiere at The Shed this fall (No, really!)
Posted: 3/16/23 at 4:46pm

Has anyone heard anything about who will star?


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