Reading of New Sondheim Musical with Nathan Lane and Bernadette Peters- Page 3

[PianoMann]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 11:11am

jacobsnchz14 said: "I need to watch these films! I assume this is a behind-the-scenes type of store about Bunuel working on the films as opposed to adaptations."

In past interviews, Sondheim has made it sound like it will be an adaptation that connects these two distinct films by creating one set of characters – the first act is Discrete Charm, with the characters searching for a place to have dinner, and the second act is Exterminating Angel, in which they cannot leave the dinner part. Those are reductive summaries, of course, but that's what he's put out there previously.

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 11:14am

Yep, it’s definitely an adaption. The working title was “Bunuel,” but at one point, it was confirmed that wasn’t the actual title.
I hope we get a confirmation soon whether Square One is the Bunuel piece. I assume it will be, especially given the title.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 11:17am

Is it “sometime next year” yet?!?!

[UrNotAMachine]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 11:18am

binau said:

I wonder if the film radically changes the context of how “I feel pretty” is used that makes him happy. Eg it’s now a fantasy number where she is imaging herself in another context and suddenly the embarrassment of the lyrics no longer matters because it’s not literally coming out of the character’s mouth but a fantasy representation of herself."

From a quick shot in the trailer, it seems to me that

Spoiler:

the scene will take place inside a department store that Maria and the rest of the girls are cleaning. So I'd imagine there's some sort of fantasy element of trying on dresses they can't afford.

End of Spoiler

But that's just a guess from maybe 1 second of footage

Updated On: 9/16/21 at 11:18 AM

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 11:21am

Jordan Catalano said: "Remember when you were a kid and your parents told you that next year we’re going to Disney and you didn’t sleep at all that night because you were so excited - that’s how i feel right now."

ME TOO!!!!

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 12:17pm

Margaret Hall who made the confusing tweet yesterday about this being new has seemingly confirmed it is indeed Bunuel.
I’m guessing the pandemic inspired Sondheim and Ives to finish it. 

https://twitter.com/itsmargarethall/status/1438361176493133826?s=21

Updated On: 9/16/21 at 12:17 PM

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 12:25pm

ljay889 said: "Margaret Hall who made the confusing tweet yesterday about this being new has seemingly confirmed it is indeed Bunuel.

https://twitter.com/itsmargarethall/status/1438361176493133826?s=21"

How was that not new or something we shouldn't be excited about? 

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 12:29pm

Yeah, I take major issue with her original tweet. The only thing I can surmise is maybe she was referring to Sondheim working on it for close to ten years. Even so, it is 100% new and a completely unheard score. This is beyond exciting.

[PianoMann]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 12:39pm

The original tweet never really made sense given Lane's choice of words: a "new Sondheim musical... he's written this new musical." You wouldn't say that about a revue, nor would you really need to do a reading with folks of the caliber of Lane and Peters for something like A Bed and a Chair. I suppose something like Sondheim on Sondheim would warrant a reading/workshop, but that didn't add up in context. I'm glad Sondheim was on Colbert on the same day to clear up the confusion.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 12:51pm

Margaret Hall clarifies her original post.

https://twitter.com/itsmargarethall/status/1438545638724096003?s=21

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 2:37pm

StylishCynic said: "Sondheim’s exact words on the Late Show: “I’ve been working on a show for a couple of years with a playwright named David Ives. It’s called Square One. We had a reading of [Square One] last week. And we were encouraged. With any luck, we’ll get it on next season.”

 

No. Charles Aznavour wrote that wonderful musical about Toulouse Latreck that had two mountings in CT (both starring the brilliant Bobby Steggert) at the age of 93. He died a year later.


Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t this set the record for the oldest person to write the music and lyrics for a new musical?"

 

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 3:00pm

I'm really excited about this. I was really disappointed when it was originally reported back in April that it was no longer being developed.

I love Buñuel and I love Sondheim, so this is a "perfect marriage" of sorts for me. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 3:03pm

Her tweet made no sense. Does she actually know anything?

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 4:46pm

I mean this with all the love for Sondheim in the world and excitement for what's coming from him,

 

he needs better titles for his newer shows.

Square One? Road Show? Bounce? 

How do you get butts in seats with those titles?

Updated On: 9/16/21 at 04:46 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 5:01pm

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "he needs better titles for his newer shows.

Square One? Road Show? Bounce?

How do you get butts in seats with those titles?"

With all due respect, the problem with Road Show/Bounce was not the title. I actually really like Square One because (as I said above) it has Sondheimian sophistication and, for the two discrete acts, it is very apt. I also think it is a cool name, with great built in graphics, and oodles of meanings. Finally, re butts in seats, I don't envision this as some blockbuster and I don't think that would be the aim.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 5:02pm

I agree that "Square One" is a bad title, but at this point, I think we should just take what we can get. The butts in seats will come for the name "Stephen Sondheim" regardless of the title of the show. Will that get enough butts in seats to recoup a commercial Broadway run? Maybe not. But I don't think Sondheim is writing this with commercial purposes. The plan was always to put the show up at the Public - I don't know if that's still true, but regardless: they could call the show whatever they want and still pack the Newman (or any other Off-Broadway house) every night for months. 

And incidentally, the titles of Bounce/Road Show are the least of its issues IMO. 

Updated On: 9/16/21 at 05:02 PM

[binau]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 5:08pm

Well I’d suggest with a combination of Sondheim, Bernadette Peters and Nathan Lane the commercial proposition off Broadway or on Broadway is suddenly much less risky. We are talking the biggest Broadway stars of all time and the biggest composer of all time. Who cares if ‘square one’ is a bad name.

[Ravenclaw]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 5:27pm

ljay889 said: "Margaret Hall clarifies her original post.

https://twitter.com/itsmargarethall/status/1438545638724096003?s=21"

I'm taking that tweet with a grain of salt.

In 2012, Sondheim said he was working with Ives on a musical that "...reportedly follows a similar structure to Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, in which the storytelling occurs in reverse chronological order. He tells The Times that the project centers on “two people and what goes into their relationship."" That piece was called All Together Now.  https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Stephen-Sondheim-Reveals-New-Details-on-David-Ives-Collaboration-ALL-TOGETHER-NOW-20120305

To me, Square One sounds like it might be a new title for that piece, rather than a new title for Bunuel. And perhaps Bunuel was indeed shelved as previously reported, but the reason was to work on this piece further.

Then again, other sources refer to All Together Now as an earlier working title for Bunuel. Everyone is piecing together tiny bits of info and making their best guesses. Whatever it is, I can't wait to see it.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 5:39pm

Another point: unless they have paid virtually no homage to the source material, this is not "commercial." It is surrealism and there is no plot to speak of. If satire closes on Saturday not, surrealism closes on Wednesday matinee. This does not mean that it will not open and have a nice run on Broadway, and win a bunch of awards, but if this indeed turns out to be the swan song, it's very consistent with a lot of the path Sondheim has been on for years. 

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 5:48pm

binau said: "Well I’d suggest with a combination of Sondheim, Bernadette Peters and Nathan Lane the commercial proposition off Broadway or on Broadway is suddenly much less risky. We are talking the biggest Broadway stars of all time and the biggest composer of all time. Who cares if ‘square one’ is a bad name. "

Yep, the combination of Lane, Peters, AND Sondheim on Broadway is likely any producer’s dream. Obviously, it won’t be a blockbuster, but if it’s received well, I would love to see it have a run like SITPWG. I believe Riedel once said the music is similar to Sunday and Passion. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 6:34pm

binau said: "Well I’d suggest with a combination of Sondheim, Bernadette Peters and Nathan Lane the commercial proposition off Broadway or on Broadway is suddenly much less risky.


ljay889 said: "Yep, the combination of Lane, Peters, AND Sondheim on Broadway is likely any producer’s dream." 

 

Can't say I fully agree. It's a dream combination for a lifelong musical theatre fan, but most commercial producers are looking for actors/projects that will appeal to more general audiences. Bernadette Peters isn't a household name outside of Broadway, and maybe some older crowds. Her run in Hello, Dolly didn't sell as well as they hoped, and we've seen time and time again that Nathan Lane is not a bankable box office name. Many people will show up for Sondheim, but again, he's not a big draw for tourists, especially if it's a show that's more experimental. 

Maybe there will be some commercial alchemy in the combination of all 3 of these names, but I doubt it. I think Hogan is right to say that this might end up having a well-received Broadway transfer - maybe the hype, and the short-term demand from all the dedicated theatre-goers will be enough to eke out a recoupment. But no one is getting rich off a project like this. 

Also, a reminder that we don't know if those 2 actors have any intention of continuing with the project. Nathan Lane has done readings/workshops for at least 2 other Sondheim shows in the past, and he didn't end up starring in either of them later on. 

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 6:41pm

The goal isn’t going to be to appeal to the tourists. It would definitely be a prestige project aimed at the New York/Tri-state theater crowd. Also, the older matinee crowd will eat up those three names. Peters and Lane in a new Sondheim piece will definitely sell tickets.

Updated On: 9/16/21 at 06:41 PM

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 6:57pm

I couldn't make it more than 30 minutes into Discreet Charm but it's not like I need prior attachment to the source material to enjoy a show. Sondheim is enough of a draw. (I'm not debating whether this will be a huge commercial hit... just that people might see it without any interest in Bunuel.)

I hope it moves forward and we get to see something from it. 

[SpiritualGangster]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 7:15pm

I just saw the interview with Stephen Colbert, it’s great news that we will be getting a new show from him next season. I’m interested what the title “Square One” refers to? Does anyone have any idea/thoughts?

[binau]

Posted: 9/16/21 at 7:25pm

Bernadette Peters while not exactly Bette Milder still had decent box office for both Hello, Dolly and Follies. And she is still active on television. Unless her fanbase has died recently (which sadly I guess there might be some truth) I still think her involvement means something. Not that she is actually moving forward with the project or that a production has even been announced lol but still.