PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/25/10 at 11:57am

"PBS' 'Great Performances' will capture the New York Philharmonic's star-studded Sondheim: The Birthday Concert, which will be presented March 15-16 at Avery Fisher Hall.

Representatives for 'Great Performances' told Playbill.com that Sondheim: The Birthday Concert will likely air in the fall, though exact dates have not been determined. The Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer-lyricist celebrates his 80th birthday March 22. Both concerts are sold out.

Tony Award winner David Hyde Pierce (Curtains, Spamalot) serves as host. Longtime Sondheim collaborator Paul Gemignani will conduct, with Lonny Price as director. Choreography is by Josh Rhodes.

The cast features Laura Benanti, Matt Cavenaugh, Michael Cerveris, Victoria Clark, Jenn Colella, Jason Danieley, Joanna Gleason, Nathan Gunn, George Hearn, Patti LuPone, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, John McMartin, Donna Murphy, Gillian Murphy, Laura Osnes, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Bobby Steggert, Ethan Stiefel, Elaine Stritch, Jim Walton and Chip Zien..."

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/137273

Updated On: 2/25/10 at 11:57 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/25/10 at 11:59am

Yay!

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 2/25/10 at 1:21pm

Sweet! Looking forward to the HD broadcast!

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/25/10 at 1:23pm

Will be there Monday night.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/25/10 at 2:35pm

somethingwicked--can you fix the spelling in Sondheim's name in the subject line? Switching the "e" and the "i" makes me crazy (like spelling Liza's last name with one "n" or one "l").

I fixed it in this one.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 2/25/10 at 4:31pm

Hopefully it will be the complete concert. I couldn't get tickets for the 1992 Carnegie Hall concert so was pleased when it was announced that PBS would broadcast it, but in the end it was just 90 min worth of highlights and not the full concert.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 2/25/10 at 4:47pm

So excited!!!!!!!

[laura is broadway]

Posted: 2/25/10 at 8:42pm

Does anyone know what songs will be performed?

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/25/10 at 8:55pm

um, well, I'm assuming Elaine Stritch will sing Ladies Who Lunch. I don't really care about anything else.

[jasonf]

Posted: 2/25/10 at 9:25pm

Cool! We'll be there Monday also. Can't wait!

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/25/10 at 10:19pm

YES!!!!

[binau]

Posted: 2/25/10 at 10:41pm

I hope Bernadette Peters sings "Losing My Mind".

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/25/10 at 10:54pm

I'd rather hear Victoria Clark's version again. I'd love to hear her sing that and In Buddy's Eyes.

[MomofOZ]

Posted: 2/26/10 at 8:15am

I know John McMartin is singing "The Road You Didn't Take"

[TheBoyDownstairs]

Posted: 2/26/10 at 12:20pm

I, too, hope that Victoria Clark sings "Losing My Mind" and would love to hear her "In Buddy's Eyes" again as well.

I'd also like to see Marin Mazzie & Jason Danieley sing "Happiness" and Donna Murphy do "Could I Leave You?"

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/26/10 at 12:32pm

I was wondering what songs from Passion they'd do. I could more imagine Marin and Michael Cerveris singing Happiness, though.

Marin and Jason do a gorgeous Too Many Mornings that I'd love to hear live.

[jv92]

Posted: 2/26/10 at 3:11pm

If Stritch sings "The Ladies Who Lunch", I might cry. Seriously. I'm thinking I'm going to break out in tears several times, so my sobs and bravos may be televised for the first time. Cool! Can't wait for March 16th.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/26/10 at 3:37pm

I've heard all these songs sung by everyone a million times. I'll send him a card. I'm over the Sondheim celebrations. Love the guy and his music, but I'm begging you, please give these folks new stuff to sing. I think we've had more Sondheim concerts during his life than we've had Rodgers and Hammerstein concerts...ever.

Let me guess...You're just a Broadway baby and you're still here.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/26/10 at 3:47pm

Nathan Gunn. I wonder what he's doing in town?...


I'm very excited about this concert!
(I get what you're saying Mister Matt, but... I love him!)

Updated On: 2/26/10 at 03:47 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/26/10 at 3:55pm

I love Sondheim, too. Which is why I really don't want to get sick to death of his work, which has been happening ever since the start of the Sondheim series at Ravinia. GAH!! I guess there are worse things. A Ricky Ian Gordon concert comes to mind.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/26/10 at 3:56pm

I've heard all these songs sung by everyone a million times. I'll send him a card. I'm over the Sondheim celebrations. Love the guy and his music, but I'm begging you, please give these folks new stuff to sing. I think we've had more Sondheim concerts during his life than we've had Rodgers and Hammerstein concerts...ever.

The man is about to turn 80. How many new scores do you still want him to be cranking out? Most people in their 80's are happily retired (unless your name is Angela Lansbury). He's mentioned in interviews before he wants to write one last score, so he's not totally retired yet, but it's a little unrealistic to expect him to still be working full tilt at this point in his life.

As for having heard these songs a million times before, that's probably true, but I for one am excited about finally getting a chance to see so many "Sondheim Legends" sing his signature songs live.

For those sick of Sondheim....well, there's always that stunning theatrical achievement....Memphis.
Updated On: 2/26/10 at 03:56 PM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 2/26/10 at 3:58pm

She'd better sing The Ladies Who Lunch!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/26/10 at 4:16pm

For those sick of Sondheim....well, there's always that stunning theatrical achievement....Memphis.

Uh...or lots of other shows. Not sure where you were going with that, but I'm assuming you don't like Memphis. So what are you trying to say?

He's mentioned in interviews before he wants to write one last score, so he's not totally retired yet, but it's a little unrealistic to expect him to still be working full tilt at this point in his life.

Ok, so my tongue was in its cheek a bit. But still, I saw Bounce. Talent was the one number I felt was worthy of Sondheim. Even some one-offs and trunk songs would be nice. I never said it had to be a full-on Broadway score.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/26/10 at 4:18pm

Are you saying a Ricky Ian Gordon concert is a 'worse thing'?!

*gasp!*

Updated On: 2/26/10 at 04:18 PM

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 2/26/10 at 4:19pm

I'm really excited to hear some of the orchestral work I'm not as familiar with.