More info on the new Sondheim and David Ives musical (UPDATE, 2018) — Page 6

A comment in the Groundhog Day Preview thread inspired me to start reading about the in-the-works Sondheim/Ives musical at the Public. I know it's early to start the conversation but I hope it'll be of interest at some point.

Apparently, a workshop of Bunuel is supposed to be taking place this month. And this article states that the second act of the show is based on The Exterminating Angel. http://www.playbill.com/article/matthew-morrison-says-sondheims-new-bunuel-musical-is-challenging

Meanwhile, a Thomas Ades opera titled The Exterminating Angel, based on the same movie, is premiering at the Met in October. http://www.metopera.org/About/Press-Releases/2017-18Season/ It was already performed elsewhere last summer.

Is anyone planning to see the Met Opera production? Has anyone seen the film? Any thoughts on the sudden interest in adapting this film for the stage and musicalizing it?

I knew that wouldn't be the title. I am glad Sondheim cleared it up. I really hope this happens soon.

Is anyone planning to see the Met Opera production? Has anyone seen the film? Any thoughts on the sudden interest in adapting this film for the stage and musicalizing it?



I saw the opera in Salzburg this past summer (its a collaboration between the Met, Salzburg Festival, and the ROH). Not only is the opera stunning, but the production is as close to perfect as you can ask for. Both the opera and production are elegiac and haunting. I can't wait to see it again at the Met!

As an aside, I went to a patron event at the Met last week and Peter Gelb stated that there will be events around the City collaborating with the opening of the opera including screenings of Bunel's films.

I think it's fairly common to not reveal your working title - didn't expect Sondheim to reveal that in his email response. Who's directing this, again?

Well, if you think your life is bad, at least Stephen Sondheim doesn't openly discredit YOUR writing...

Different musical that they abandoned because, thanks to waiting so long to use his desired plot device (All Together Now was previously developed in the Nineties with Terrence McNally before Ives came on), it was basically The Last Five Years with a Sondheim score. This is a separate project.

Updated On: 4/26/17 at 02:59 PM

StageDoor3 said: "The Public just announced their 2017-2018 season, and I don't see a Sondheim/Ives show on there.... unless there's an open slot to schedule the show. Does anyone have any updated information?"

I just noticed that. Hopefully it sees the light of day sometime-anywhere this season. Wonder if it was ever considered to be fast-tracked for Broadway...?

The Public can certainly add things later on, but it's an awfully packed season.

From an inside source, the label on the scripts for the last workshop read "The Bunuel Project".

Found this info online but idk how credible it is. www.newyorkcoityheatre.com

A NEW MUSICAL CELEBRATING THE SURREALIST FILM LEGEND

Joe Mantello, the Tony Award-winning director behind such hits as Wicked, Take Me Out and Assassins has a new project on the horizon, a Stephen Sondheim and David Ives musical based on the life and work of surrealist film maker Luis Bunuel. The artist created the celebrated movies The Exterminating Angel and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, which have been rumored to provide the basis of this new stage musical. Still in the development stage, a workshop is slated to begin in March 2017 at the Public Theater, with an anticipated opening off-Broadway next fall.

WHAT TO EXPECT

As far back as 2014, Sondheim announced that he was working on a new musical that celebrated the pin-sharp and frosty humor of Luis Bunuel's films, namely, the two that took vicious swipes at the bourgoisie in the setting of the dinner party, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and The Exterminating Angel. In fact, this is the second work based on the latter movie that is slated to appear in New York during 2017. Thomas Ades, British operatic composer premiered his newest work The Exterminating Angel at the Salzburg Festival, before it heads to the Met Opera.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONDHEIM!

With pioneering producer Scott Rudin already on board for the musical, it is expected that favorable reviews will help the musical head to Broadway for its Spring 2018 premiere, also as a celebration of Sondheim's 88th birthday.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DATES

11 October 2017 to 31 Jan 2018

hey jake, is that link accurate? it's certainly strangely spelled (like "coity" instead of "city"

^ I agree, but it is strange they had specific production dates.