Reading of New Sondheim Musical with Nathan Lane and Bernadette Peters — Page 4

The musical, Sondheim said, is about “trying to find a place to have dinner.” The first deals with interruptions to dinner, the second is about “people who have dinner and can’t leave,” which “is my cheerful view of the world today.”
https://www.playbill.com/article/matthew-morrison-says-sondheims-new-bunuel-musical-is-challenging

The title Square One would definitely make sense based on that explanation and the plot of both films.

Updated On: 9/16/21 at 07:27 PM

ljay889 said: "The musical, Sondheim said, is about “trying to find a place to have dinner.” The first deals with interruptions to dinner, the second is about “people who have dinner and can’t leave,” which “is my cheerful view of the world today.”
https://www.playbill.com/article/matthew-morrison-says-sondheims-new-bunuel-musical-is-challenging

The title Square One would definitely make sense based on that explanation and the plot of both films."

Hey thanks for the explanation! I am going to see if I can get my hands on the two films that are the basis for this show so I can get a better understanding of it.

ljay889 said: "Well…The NY Times is reporting that it is NOT Bunuel. Wow!

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/16/theater/sondheim-new-musical.html"

Okay! So I guess it's back to square one to figure out what this new musical is even about!

Whatever it is, I am just super-excited we are getting a new Sondheim show in my lifetime!

Updated On: 9/16/21 at 08:06 PM

If it's not Buñuel, then maybe it's what was rumored to be All Together Now? It makes sense that Lane and Peters were named for the reading, since Sondheim had described that potential project as centering on a couple.

Ravenclaw said: "As I posted earlier today (on page 3 of this thread)

In 2012, Sondheim said he was working with Ives ona 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 calledAll Together Now.https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Stephen-Sondheim-Reveals-New-Details-on-David-Ives-Collaboration-ALL-TOGETHER-NOW-20120305

"Square One" does sound like an appropriate title for this piece."

Thank you Ravenclaw.

Regardless of what it's called or what it's about, I hope I'll get to see it ASAP. News about a new Sondheim show is always cause for celebration.

Back in 2016, Michael Riedel in the Post had reported that Sondheim and Ives' new musical, based on Luis Bunuel's films, was called ''Bunuel.''

I was fortunate enough to email Sondheim and he later set the record straight for BroadwayWorld.com: ''For your info (feel free to be the first on your block to report it): 'Buñuel' was never the title of the show. That was just misreporting by Michael Riedel (surprise, surprise), whose spy at the Public thought the file name was the title. (We don't have one yet.)''

Since there was no title, I jokingly suggested a couple to Sondheim: ''Everybody Loves Luis'' or ''Sing Out, Luis!''

Updated On: 9/17/21 at 12:29 AM

Georgeanddot2 said: "Remember the Tom Hiddleston stan with the playbill? That's going to be me with this show."

The one pleasuring themselves in the audience? Please don't be that person haha

The Tweeter was a reputable, soon-to-be-published author who is a cut above literally anyone else associated with OnStageBlog, in my estimation. I asked her the minute the Times reported the opposite, and she said, in what I felt was honesty, "I'm not saying anything anymore. I've had information given to me and revoked about 12 times today. At this point I am considering everything up in the air." Her intel always comes from those she works with, and given the subject of her forthcoming book, she is assuredly in a position to know. This was not speculation. The confusion is not her fault.

Updated On: 9/17/21 at 11:03 AM

Everyone has been confused, to the point that I wonder if the confusion is not a brilliant PR stunt. And to this point, no one knows anything beyond what Sondheim said on TV and as I said above even the Times piece does not lift the gauze. As I have said in another context, patience.

What a saga this has become! Since Paulson's article said Sondheim didn't respond with comment, I wonder if he just made an assumption that it wasn't the Buñuel based on the news from April? I wouldn't expect that from the New York Times, but the piece is clear that neither Sondheim nor Ives spoke to him to clarify exactly what the heck they're up to.

A separate source entirely, another reporter who would be in the know (with some digging), had simply this to say when I asked them: "I'm hearing reports of three different projects at various states right now, so truly I do not know which is titled Square One. If he doesn't clarify in the next couple of weeks I'll shake him down to save my own sanity."

Well, the good news hidden in the confusion is that, with three different projects in varying states of completion, he is far from done, and -- even posthumously -- this sure ain't his last.

Updated On: 9/17/21 at 05:59 PM