Dramatists Guild Event April 23 with Sondheim and Esparza

[keen on kean]

Posted: 4/23/07 at 3:34pm

If anyone is fortunate enough to attend this, please give us a full report?
Updated On: 4/24/07 at 03:34 PM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 12:13am

No time for a full report but...

A lovely evening and show. Michael Greif did a nice and smooth directing of a presentation of musical scenes from many shows.

John Guare was the master of ceremonies. There were some preliminary awards which have been announced in the press, so I will not list them again.

One bookwriter/composer/lyricist from each show was present to introduce it. Stephen Sondheim led off, giving us works along the way in development of Company, Raul Esparza giving nothing less than brilliant interpretations of each number, with some witty comments of his own. He sang about four, including at least one from the present version of the show. Though it was called "Medley from Company," it really was four separate song presentations with beginnings and ends. Kind of fascinating to see the development of the show from out-of-town tryouts.

"Nine People's Favorite Thing" from [title of show].

"Daddy's Girl" from Grey Gardens with I think composer Scott Frankel introducing.

"What Makes Me Love Him?" from The Apple Tree was sung by Kristin Chenowith who wore a short babydoll white lace dress with long sleeves. Sheldon Harnick gave hilarious preceding anecdotes about changes to the lyrics over time as saying "even when he abuses me" or something similar didn't cut the mustard with the liberation of women over the decades. The lyrics were originally from the Mark Twain play, he explained.

"Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind" from Spring Awakening. Nice performances from Phoebe Strole on the ballad "Blue Wind" and a rousing rock-singing take from John Gallagher, Jr. on "Don't Do Sadness" which left me wondering if young men act badly because they don't feel able to express sadness or their imperfections in our society and so they take a pose which is kind of mean. He had a lot of levels of acting going on in that number and made me have an interest in seeing the show.

I believe Rupert Holmes introduced "It's a Business" from Curtains, which gave a rousing close to the performances led by the perfect timing of Debra Monk with two others in the cast and great dancing from eight men of the chorus.

To think all of these folks who work six days a week gave their one day off to perform to benefit the Dramatist's Guild Fund, which supports theatres that develop new works and playwrights in financial need--it was so generous and kind of them to do so.

The final event of the evening was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award citation to southern playwright Horton Foote, who had some gracious and very touching remarks. He has been a Guild Member since like 1942.
Updated On: 4/24/07 at 12:13 AM

[keen on kean]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 11:54am

Thanks, Nom - I would have sold my soul to see the Sondheim/Esparza medley. Oh, well...

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 11:57am

Oh, wow. Do you know what songs he actually sang? The development of the show is absolutely fascinating, especially the various songs that were tried for the ending. Did he do Happily Ever After?

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 2:27pm

Raul's four individual songs were not listed in the program. One was about seeing Amy everywhere (so that he realizes she's the one he should marry is the jist) which was great, rousing and upbeat and the crowd loved it.

There was a hilarious dark version of what the closing song was and I really, really liked it, but Sondheim's director told him it was a downer, to change it. I thought it was great, really honest about how relationships can be so intrusive on your peace and privacy. The lyrics were like someone to hold you too much, someone to want you too much, and so on, Raul really, really liked it you could tell as he sang it and he said so. They should record that version. Then he sang one like that but more positive saying love me the best but not exclusively or some such and that's the one in the show, maybe the closing song.

I liked the dark version better. Funny, witty as hell, and so edgy and honest.

It's hard to remember, frankly. I wasn't writing anything down and had no idea there'd be four individual songs there. It was NOT a medley, so that was a misnomer. Maybe they hadn't picked which songs at the time of the program deadline was printed. Raul used the sheet music for part of one song, maybe that great edgy one and he had it nearby for another. I must mention that Raul was looking very slender and handsome and was in terrific voice. The Sondheim songs made quite an opener.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 2:31pm

Sounds like the other songs were "Multitudes of Amys" and "Happily Ever After".

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 2:32pm

That sounds amazing. What a treat! Happily Ever After used to be where Being Alive is now; it's very dark and cynical, yet definitely witty. Perhaps that was one of them. There's a recording floating around somewhere.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 2:38pm

There was another song, the first he sang, also from a version of Company, but I don't recall it.

"Multitudes of Amy" was that one about Amy, yes.

I haven't seen Company yet, but I have my ticket.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 2:40pm

Yes, I think the title was "Happily Ever After" and it was a sharp, wonderful song.

I think the last one was "Being Alive" perhaps, that title sounds familiar.

The first one...arrggghhh...

[keen on kean]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 3:02pm

I had heard it was going to be Being Alive, Marry Me a Little, Happily Ever After and Multitude of Amys - each of which was considered (and possibly even tried) as the closing song.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 6:14pm

Yes, sounds right, but geez why didn't you make my life easier and say so earlier! You used up at least 20,000 of my brain cells.

I believe the order was:

1. Marry Me a Little

2. Multitude of Amys

3. Happily Ever After

4. Being Alive

I will happily sit corrected if someone remembers better.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 6:18pm

I've never had a chance to hear "Multitudes of Amys." Does anyone know if a recording exists?

I can't get over how wonderful that must've been to see. I hope you enjoy Company!

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 6:26pm

Yes, it was.

Sondheim got such a reception when he stepped to the podium at the side of the stage, he kept trying to end it. :) And before each number he gave a little talk about it.

Really, the one-on-one for that between seeing the writer/composer and the interpretive artist onstage at once was great. Usually you don't get an inside look with some little known history, you just see a production of a show or listen to the recording. And live, rather than in some documentary, how unusual is that!

"Multitudes of Amys" is a wonderful song.

Hey keen, will you uptate your title to this thread to read "Dramatists Guild April 23 Event With Sondheim"? Maybe then we'll get a Sondheimophile who can tell us whether that song was ever recorded. Updated On: 4/24/07 at 06:26 PM

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 6:29pm

I have this strange obsession with "Happily Ever After." Even though I'm too optimistic to prefer it as the ending to the show, there's a lot about it that's brilliant and SO perfect for Bobby.

Anyway, I agree that the Company "medley" sounds like it was great.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 6:36pm

Found one.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 6:42pm

I believe "Multitude Of Amys" is on the Unsung Sondheim CD if you can find it.

[teka21]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 7:07pm

Can anyone update us on the actual awards won?
Thanks!

[keen on kean]

Posted: 4/24/07 at 11:32pm

Nom - apologies for not volunteering the information sooner but it took me about 20,000 brain cells of my own to remember!

[jewishboy]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 7:28am

Yes, Happily Ever After is an amazing finale and frankly much truer to the character of Bobby. But, Harold Prince was a genius and knew the audience would just not go for that song and out it went. There is a great recording of that song done by Craig Lucas on the Marry Me A Little CD along with Suzanne Henry doing the best rendition of "Marry Me A Little."

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 4/25/07 at 8:21am

I love Lucas's performance of the song.

"Waste a little time,
Make a little love,
Show a little feeling -
But why should you try?
Why not, sure, feel a little lonely
But fly, why not fly
With no one to hold you too close..."

It's SO Bobby. Updated On: 4/25/07 at 08:21 AM