Intro to Sondheim

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Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:25pm

How did you all get into Sondheim?

It seems there are always a bunch of people, myself included, that got into Sondheim through "Into the Woods."

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

Updated On: 4/14/06 at 01:25 PM

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:29pm

My first exposures to him as a lyricist were through GYPSY and WEST SIDE STORY. But I "got into him" by seeing the original production of COMPANY and the recording of ANYONE CAN WHISTLE.

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:32pm

the video of into the woods.

"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:38pm

My mom let me listen to the record of West Side Story when I was like 2 or 3 and from then on I was hooked.

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:38pm

Seeing the London Sunday in the Park with George production.

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:40pm

Into the Woods did it for me.

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:41pm

Funnily enough, though some would argue that PASSION is his most unaccessible score, that's the one that got me hooked on his genius.

"Years from now, when you talk about this - And you will - Be kind. "

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:42pm

My highschool did an AMAZING production of Into The Woods before I got there. Unbelievable talent, grand sets, and of course the material immediately grabbed me. I've been hooked ever since.

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:43pm

For me: First Gypsy. Then Passion and Into the Woods. Then the rest.

#10

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:44pm

Into the Woods was the first Sondheim show I'd seen, but it was listening to the Sweeney Todd concert recording that did it.

#11

I was unimpressed with Sondheim when I heard Sweeney and Into the Woods for the first time - but after I heard and loved Assassins I revisited the earlier two and learned to appreciate him.

So I'll say Assassins.

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#12

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:50pm

I would say it would be a tie between A Little Night Music and Into the Woods because the first music that I heard of his was from A Little Night Music, but I didn't hear too much of it, and then I saw a production of Into the Woods and was hooked.

#13

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:51pm

Assassins. Then Into the Woods, and then Sweeney.

#14

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:51pm

My first Sondheim exposure was the original recording of FOLLIES when I was around ten or so. I was instantly hooked.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

#15

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 1:53pm

Sunday in the Park with George was my first sondheim show that made me a fan...it also helped that i actually saw him in person that day.

"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D

#16

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 2:01pm

I saw the ITW revival a few years ago, and thought it was so-so, but I got the revival cast recording, and loved it, then I got the filmed original cast, loved that, then I saw the DVD for Sunday in the Park, then the Passion DVD, and so on and so forth.

MARGARET: "Clara, stop that. That's illegal." - The Light in the Piazza

"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel

#17

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 2:16pm

A Little Night Music

#18

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 2:19pm

Sweeney and Into the Woods. Into the Woods is a great gateway drug.

"This ocean runs more dark and deep than you may think you know...I'll be the fear of the fire at sea." -Marie Christine

#19

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 2:20pm

Seeing the Gypsy revival then watching the Into The Woods and Sunday In The Park With George DVDs.

Updated On: 4/14/06 at 02:20 PM

#20

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 2:22pm

ITW cd, then Sweeney Todd dvd, then seeing Assassins and since then it hasn't stopped!

#21

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 2:22pm

Sweeney and Into the Woods. Into the Woods is a great gateway drug.

It definately is! It's a simple story that everyone can understand and yet it has such deep themes and tones and moods, as well.

No One is Alone says it all.
Children will Listen.

It's awesome.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

#22

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 2:53pm

Follies and Into the Woods. Then Company and A little Night Music. Then peut a peut the rest.

#23

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 3:03pm

I can't remember back far enough to when I didn't know the entire score of West Side Story by heart, so technically it would be that, but I didn't know about "Sondheim" till I checked out of the library this weird cassette with a picture of a wolf on it -- a musical about fairy tales? Really? I heard "Hello Little Girl" for the first time - and I remember being maybe 11 or 12 years old, flipping through the liner notes and saying "Who is this Sondheim?" and my dad saying "he wrote West Side Story and Sweeney Todd." I had no idea what ST was, and as it turned out my dad had recently taped the production of it with Lansbury/Hearn. I watched it that night with my brother, and I was hooked forever.

Hi, Shirley Temple Pudding.

#24

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 3:06pm

My first exposure to Sondheim was probably West Side Story, technically. I guess Gypsy (arguably) and Into the Woods came sort of at the same time for me, though I only saw the former, and listened to the music from the latter.

I liked Merrily alright and still am mad at myself for not quite being able to get into Sunday in the Park..... and I saw Pacific Overtures, but didn't really love it.

It took me a while to really catch on to the Sondheim "thing," which I would say (embarassingly) has happened only recently, after packing both Doyle productions into a one-week period. Now I'm going back to my other recordings and thinking "oh, so that's the big deal!"

A work of art is an invitation to love.

Updated On: 4/14/06 at 03:06 PM

#25

re: Intro to Sondheim

Posted: 4/14/06 at 3:21pm

I was underwhelmed by Overtures too Emcee, I really think it was beyond obscure. It was still quite brilliant at times, but I was wondering how that got chosen to be revived as opposed to some of his better work.
Yet it ws the first revival since it premiered in 75 so I guess it had to come back sooner or later. I just haved mixed feelings on the show though

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