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

[somethingwicked]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#1

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

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

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

[luvtheEmcee]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondhiem: The Birthday Concert#2

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

Yay!

A work of art is an invitation to love.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondhiem: The Birthday Concert#2

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

Sweet! Looking forward to the HD broadcast!

"It's Phantom meets Hamlet... Phamlet!"

[ljay889]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondhiem: The Birthday Concert#3

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

Will be there Monday night.

[PalJoey]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#4

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]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#5

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.

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

[BroadwayBound062]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#6

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

So excited!!!!!!!

Genius lasts longer than beauty.

[laura is broadway]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#7

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

Does anyone know what songs will be performed?

[givesmevoice]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#8

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.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

[jasonf]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#9

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

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

Hi, Shirley Temple Pudding.

[ACL2006]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#10

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

YES!!!!

A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.

[binau]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#11

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

I hope Bernadette Peters sings "Losing My Mind".

Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.

[givesmevoice]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#12

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.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

[MomofOZ]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#13

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

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

[TheBoyDownstairs]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#14

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]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#15

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.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

[jv92]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#16

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]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#17

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.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

[NYadgal]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#18

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!)

"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."

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

[Mister Matt]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#19

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.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

[adamgreer]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#20

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]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#21

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

She'd better sing The Ladies Who Lunch!

Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you. --Cartman: South Park ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."

[Mister Matt]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#22

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.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

[NYadgal]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#23

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

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

*gasp!*

"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."

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

[givesmevoice]

PBS to Air NY Phil's Sondheim: The Birthday Concert#24

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

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

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad