Bernadette Peters & Lea Salonga to Lead Sondheim’s OLD FRIENDS On Broadway in 2025- Page 8

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 2/17/25 at 7:27pm

Indeed, it looks like Kevin, listed under “the company will also include” in Deadline (linked below), was bumped up into David’s track.

Hoping David is alright. The longer the radio silence, the more it feels like it could be a health issue (to me at least). Not only would he post his own stories regularly, but he would share others’ stories about the same amount.

(Editing to add: he just shared a story on Instagram.)

https://deadline.com/2024/10/stephen-sondheim-old-friends-broadway-cast-1236142985/

Updated On: 2/17/25 at 07:27 PM

[meredithchandler73]

Posted: 2/17/25 at 7:58pm

DAME said: "Kevin was always in the show. He was not brought in to replace David."

True - Kevin was always in the show, but I think he may have been moved up from being one of the understudies to the regular cast. The MTC website lists Bernadette, Lea, the regular cast in alphabetical order by last name, and then the four understudies in alphabetical order. You can find older press releases where Kevin Earley was among the last four names listed (one of the understudies).

[DAME]

Posted: 2/23/25 at 5:56pm

Well.. he posted a beach picture.  I’m glad he is ok.

[MezzA101]

Posted: 2/24/25 at 6:57am

'Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends' Is a Retrospective Delight: Review

https://variety.com/2025/legit/reviews/stephen-sondheims-old-friends-revue-ahmanson-review-1236317150/

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 2/24/25 at 9:31pm

DAME said: "Well.. he posted a beach picture. I’m glad he is ok."

I’m assuming he got let go?  These folks over share so much on social media .  But when things happen they just dissapear .  Can’t blame us for being naturally curious .  

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/24/25 at 10:09pm

Smaxie said: "Kevin Earley replaced David Harris, and Greg Mills joined the company to play the track Earley was playing. It was announced on Friday."

Kevin Earley has pretty good luck as an understudy: he also replaced Julian Ovenden in DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY and sang on its cast album.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 2/24/25 at 10:29pm

For his performance in Maury Yeston's ''Death Takes a Holiday'' (2011), Earley got a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. Here's a track of Earley's glorious voice, singing ''More and More'' with Jill Paice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMLyYvlg3xs

 

Updated On: 2/24/25 at 10:29 PM

[MezzA101]

Posted: 2/25/25 at 12:52pm

Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends (LA) Curtain Call

https://youtu.be/zsYA3t1fsNA?feature=shared

[sm33]

Posted: 2/27/25 at 2:40am

Just saw this tonight, and it was fantastic! I was not familiar with most of the cast before this aside from Bernadette and Lea, but Beth Leavel, Gavin Lee, Jasmine Forsberg and Kyle Selig were all highlights as well. The staging was fun, too - even the songs I didn't know were engaging. And obviously this varies from day to day, but the audience was incredible tonight. Quiet, responsive, no phones to be seen... wish I could say the same about every show.  

Genuinely thrilled this came to LA so I don't have to work it into my NYC trip next month!

[Moreski93]

Posted: 3/5/25 at 1:20pm

Just FYI 30 Under 35 tickets were just released. Check your emails! Got my ticket for a Tuesday in April for far left mezzanine.

[steven22]

Posted: 3/5/25 at 1:20pm

30U35 tickets are on sale. The code was just emailed. 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 3/5/25 at 2:23pm

steven22 said: "30U35 tickets are on sale. The code was just emailed."

I still haven't gotten the code but I'm pretty sure I'm on the email list since I received the email for Dakar 2000 a while back

[Tking0012]

Posted: 3/5/25 at 6:48pm

I’m on the email list but haven’t gotten the codeI’m on the email list but haven’t gotten the code. 30U35 didn’t work which is what they gave me yesterday when I asked 

[Tking0012]

Posted: 3/5/25 at 6:59pm

What’s the code? My code they gave me is not working I 

[binau]

Posted: 3/9/25 at 5:28am

You know it's actually like the theatre is too small for this show on Broadway. Ticket sales are so strong and at high prices too - probably the highest as a % of available capacity at this stage than was true for any of Bernadette's other recent shows. I think it's likely this show will be completely sold out every performance on Broadway. A few extra seats would have been helpful. 

I wonder if they would consider extending without Lea given she is off to do Into the Woods in the Philippines - e.g. bring in someone like Donna Murphy to close the show with Bernadette? Or obviously a true event would be Patti...who is indeed one of Cameron Mackintosh's 'old friends'.

Updated On: 3/9/25 at 05:28 AM

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/9/25 at 11:48am

I was at Kate Baldwin’s 54 Below show on Friday and she shared this endearing story about how Bernadette changed some blocking in Dolly and ended up touching Kate’s shoulder which made Kate lose her train of thought and her lines. Anyway it was funnier when Kate delivered the story. But since you’re talking about possible Lea replacements for an extension, I’d add Baldwin to the list. She’d be wonderful. 

[THDavis]

Posted: 3/9/25 at 12:40pm

I saw this last night and thoroughly enjoyed myself. After reading snippets of posts on here, I was a bit nervous as to how Bernadette would do but WOW!! She sounded great and had excellent energy. Lea, of course, had jaws on the floor and some rising to their feet after Everything’s Coming Up Roses. The entire supporting cast was equally as energetic and entertaining - Lee and Leavel stand out to me, but they’re also the supporting cast I’m more familiar with in the first place. I also enjoyed the energy of the audience - people were buzzing and cheering and humored all evening. 

[MezzA101]

Posted: 3/12/25 at 6:26pm

Bernadette scheduled for Jimmy Fallon tonight.

[bear88]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 4:25am

As I’ll be in New York City during the second week of April, a somewhat brutal week in terms of availability if Telecharge is to be believed, should I just keep watching for shows with seats together - ideally not in crazy-expensive areas - and buy? Or am I better off waiting for better prices once I’m there? It’s such a small theater.

ETA: Never mind. Spotted second row tickets and grabbed them for less than $200 each. 

Updated On: 3/13/25 at 04:25 AM

[Listener]

Posted: 3/14/25 at 1:32am

Is Beth L still in this production?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/14/25 at 4:14pm

Listener said: "Is Beth L still in this production?"

She is on the show's website and appeared in the Los Angeles engagement. Why would there be any question that she wasn't still in it?

[meredithchandler73]

Posted: 3/14/25 at 8:09pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Listener said: "Is Beth L still in this production?"

She is on the show's website and appeared in the Los Angeles engagement. Why would there be any question that shewasn't still in it?"

Perhaps the way most press releases mention Tony winners Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga, but don’t mention Tony winner Beth Leavel?

Only 11 days to wait! I’m really excited!

[binau]

Posted: 3/21/25 at 5:52pm

It looks like they made the front row available for the first preview and other performances (did they find a way to open more seats?). 

$300. $400 for prime orchestra seats behind (or even not-so prime sides). 

Eye-watering. But it looks like the sexiest, hottest new show on Broadway is not Nick Jonas in The Last Five Years after all. No it's Bernadette Peters, Broadway Baby, who has been around for the Last Seventy Seven Years. 
 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

The last time (and likely only time for many) to witness Bernadette Peters in character as Dot live on a Broadway stage for just a brief moment in time.

To recreate her definitive performance of "Send in the Clowns"

To show why no one can sing Sondheim with the gut-wrenching vulnerability she can in "Losing My Mind"

To make us laugh hysterically in "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" 

It pains me to say, but we don't have Angela anymore. We don't have Stritch anymore. We don't have Chita anymore. These moments are highly valuable and rare. 

[bear88]

Posted: 3/22/25 at 12:03am

With the discount, those new seats are $198.50, which is what I paid for second row seats. Less expensive seats pop up in the mezzanine.

My expectations for Bernadette Peters aren’t through the roof, given her age and some of the comments here, but I have never seen her perform live. At first, I was going to skip Old Friends, having seen a lot of Sondheim lately (and with a lot of shows that interest me on my spring trip) but one of the things that changed my mind is that it felt stupid to miss Peters and Salonga (and Beth Leavel, for that matter) in a Sondheim revue in New York City.

I didn’t want to pass on the opportunity. Even if Peters only nails ‘Send in the Clowns,’ that will be worth it for me.

Updated On: 3/22/25 at 12:03 AM

[ChiDoc]

Posted: 3/22/25 at 12:00pm

bear88 said: "With the discount, those new seats are $198.50, which is what I paid for second row seats. Less expensive seats pop up in the mezzanine.

My expectations for Bernadette Peters aren’t through the roof, given her age and some of the comments here, but I have never seen her perform live. At first, I was going to skipOld Friends, having seen a lot of Sondheim lately (and with a lot of shows that interest me on my spring trip) but one of the things that changed my mind is that it felt stupid to miss Peters and Salonga (and Beth Leavel, for that matter) in a Sondheim revue in New York City.

I didn’t want to pass on the opportunity. Even if Peters only nails‘Send in the Clowns,’ that will be worth it for me."

Exact same for me.  My boyfriend couldn’t turn down the 30 Under 35 price, but for me, it’s all to see Bernadette once (and doing her Clowns).  I have some regrets of shows or people I didn’t see, but Bernadette will not be one.