Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration
Stand-by Joined: 9/18/17
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#450
Posted: 4/28/20 at 12:58amThank you!
Stand-by Joined: 9/18/17
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#451
Posted: 4/28/20 at 1:07amI was disappointed that ‘I’m Still Here” happened after the credits bc it was great and I think a lot of people tuned out at that point. It also would’ve been nice for a big group number in the middle of the concert for contrast and diversity.
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#452
Posted: 4/28/20 at 9:45am
Robbie2 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "“Someone in a Tree” is Sondheim’s favorite song of his so I’m happy they were able to make such a great video of this."
Didn't know that
...
IMHO PACIFIC OVERTURES is really long overdo for a major revival on Broadway!!...i was lucky enough to have see the original 1976 Broadway production, and i loved it so much...
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#453
Posted: 4/28/20 at 11:43am
Has Sondheim done an interview or released a statement since Sunday? I was sad to see that he didn't have an opportunity to say a few words during the stream.
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#454
Posted: 4/28/20 at 12:30pm
No but according to Raul on that interesting podcast episode Wayman posted, Sondheim was thrilled at the concert.
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#455
Posted: 4/28/20 at 12:35pm
also, there were reports about things he said (mostly "wow"
at the zoom viewing party he attended.
As to "opportunity," I am confident that he could have said a few words, or more, during the stream, had he been so inclined.
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#456
Posted: 4/28/20 at 12:42pm
I may have missed something in the comments chain, but I'm amazed there hasn't been more love for Alexander Gemignani's performance of "Buddy's Blues." I mean, singing, acting -- even *choreography* for goodness sake -- all flawless!
For me, that and "The Flag Song" were the highlights, but the whole thing was sublime. Thanks and congratulations to all the performers and producers and everyone else involved.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/25/05
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#457
Posted: 4/28/20 at 12:58pm
CopleyScott17 said: "I may have missed something in the comments chain, but I'm amazed there hasn't been more love for Alexander Gemignani's performance of "Buddy's Blues." I mean, singing, acting -- even *choreography* for goodness sake --all flawless!
I'm fairly certain he created his own accompaniment track as well.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#458
Posted: 4/28/20 at 3:07pm
''IMHO PACIFIC OVERTURES is really long overdo for a major revival on Broadway!!...i was lucky enough to have see the original 1976 Broadway production, and i loved it so much...''
I love ''Pacific Overtures,'' too, but does this mean you missed Roundabout's revival in 2004-05? The wonderful cast included B.D. Wong (as the Reciter), Paolo Montalban, Telly Leung, Michael K. Lee and Francis Jue. And Sab Shimono, who played Manjiro in 1976, returned to portray Lord Abe, while Alvin Ing reprised his role as the Shogun's Mother and did ''Chrysanthemum Tea'' again (nearly 3 decades later!). It was directed by Amon Miyamoto, who did a celebrated Japanese production of ''Pacific Overtures'' that played in July 2002 at Avery Fisher Hall. The 2004-05 revival was Tony-nominated, but only ran for 24 previews and 69 performances, so I wouldn't expect any major remounting on Broadway.
Off-Broadway, the York Theatre did a downsized revival in 1984, featuring Kevin Gray and Ernest Abuba. And in 2017, John Doyle downsized it even more at the Classic Stage Company: reducing the cast to 10 (led by George Takei) and cut it down to a 90-minute, one-act version, excising numbers like the Lion Dance and ''Chrysanthemum Tea.'' This ''Take Me to the World'' podcast featured 4 of its cast members - Ann Harada, Thom Sesma, Austin Ku and Kelvin Moon Loh - reprising their ''Someone in a Tree.''
P.S. The original 1976 ''Pacific Overtures'' was shot for Japanese TV and can be found on YouTube in all its splendor and glory. Also worth watching on YouTube: ''Anatomy of a Song'' from ''Camera Three'' - a fascinating documentary in which Sondheim and Weidman explain and explore the creation of ''Someone in a Tree.''
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#459
Posted: 4/28/20 at 5:03pm
Raul Esparza is asking those who viewed the show to provide their location by replying to his Twitter post:
https://twitter.com/RaulEEsparza/status/1255218303292841986
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#460
Posted: 4/28/20 at 9:47pm
It's already up to 1.3 million views in two days. Impressive.
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#462
Posted: 5/1/20 at 4:02pm
CarlosAlberto said: "That drummer is hot. He was worth the hour wait."
Jared from Moulin Rouge ![]()
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#463
Posted: 5/1/20 at 6:04pm
As expected, Patti doesn’t seem to be a fan of the “Ladies Who Lunch” trio. Hehe.
https://twitter.com/ShutUpLuPone/status/1256342132924788736
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#464
Posted: 5/1/20 at 6:32pmYes, I saw one in Boston directed by Spiro Veloudos.
Featured Actor Joined: 12/16/10
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#465
Posted: 5/2/20 at 9:28pmWhat a fabulous, transcendent event. Loved every performance. I watched it on YouTube and the 142 minutes flew by.
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#466
Posted: 5/4/20 at 12:29pm
Now that I've had over a week to reflect on this sublime evening (that's fortunately preserved for all time), the only minor disappointment that I have with the concert is the lack of Angela Lansbury.
I'm sure it would have been difficult to capture a performance from her due to her age and potential lack of technology in her home, but man oh man how I wish that one of Sondheim's very first interpreters could have had at least one more opportunity to approach a new Sondheim song.
I don't think that she's sang I'm Still Here, has she? That would have been the cherry on top of a perfect Sundae...
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#467
Posted: 5/4/20 at 12:57pm
It now has over 2 million views. Very impressive.
Meryl Streep, Patti LuPone, more to perform for virtual Sondheim 90th birthday celebration#468
Posted: 11/29/21 at 10:24am
Needed to revisit this after the long weekend
Updated On: 11/29/21 at 10:24 AM
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