Sondheim Celebration on 3/16

[wewdie]

Posted: 3/9/10 at 11:11pm

Hello all,

I am attending the Sondheim Celebration on 3/16 at Lincoln Center. This is the second night of the event, with the the gala dinner being the night before. My seat is in the third tier. Regarding attire, is a suit formal enough to wear to the event or should I wear a tux?

Thanks for any and all thoughts.
-Eddie

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 3/10/10 at 9:59am

I'm sure a suit is formal enough, but I'm not often faced with this problem. But my friend and I will also be sitting in the third tier on the 16th. (we're both wearing cocktail dresses, I believe)

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/10/10 at 11:40am

Wait. We need to get dressed up for this?

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 3/10/10 at 12:12pm

I mean, I guess since the third tier would be the equivalent of the bleacher creatures, it's not that big a deal if you don't want to get dressed up. Just make sure your "I LOVE YOU E. STRITCH!" sign doesn't block the person behind you.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/15/10 at 8:26pm

BTW, the concert is spectacular so far.

Joanna Gleason and Chip Zien reuniting to sing "It Takes Two" was terrific.

Mandy Patinkin's "Finishing the Hat" was flawless.

Bernadette joined him for "Move On", and she hit some majorly sour notes...but still quite moving.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/15/10 at 11:52pm

Am I really the first to get to post about the full show? Yippy!

Well, despite the ordeal it took to get there (the flooding in NJ caused road closures and our train to be delayed 45 minutes), it was worth every bit of the aggravation.

There were so many great moments in the show- Joanna Gleason and Chip Zien reuniting for It Takes Two, Audra singing the solo version of The Glamorous Life, Marin Mazzie's "audition" for Sally with a beautiful rendition of Losing My Mind, and a fun Pretty Women/ Little Priest from Sweeney with LuPone, Cerveris, and Hearn.

There were a few moments, however, that really stood out to me. The first was a stunning Finishing the Hat from Mandy Patinkin, which was followed by a gorgeous Move On from he and Bernadette. The next was Patti's fabulous Ladies Who Lunch. LuPone earned a standing ovation from Stritch herself for that one. Speaking of Stritch, she had the penultimate number in the evening- I'm Still Here. Despite changing some phrases and being difficult to hear at times, she knocked it out of the park, and got a standing ovation.

As fabulous as these moments were, I got chills when they got to the finale, which was a stirring rendition of Sunday, and featuring "cast members from every show in town" (which is probably an exaggeration, given that a number of shows had performances tonight). By the time they all reached the stage, there was easily 100 people up there. Beautiful moment, and a perfect ending.

At the end, Sondheim spoke VERY briefly. So briefly, that I couldn't even make out what he said- there were a lot of sound issues.

I do have a few quibbles with the song selections, but overall, an outstanding evening!! Can't wait to see it on PBS.
Updated On: 3/16/10 at 11:52 PM

[jasonf]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 12:16am

We were up in the box seats stage right. I echo everything adamgreer said - the standouts for me were definitely Mandy and Bernadette doing Move On (I was very nearly moved to tears), Stritch, and the Sunday finale. I also LOVED Donna Murphy's "Could I Leave You" and the "Little Priest" number. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Angela Lansbury supposed to be there as well?
We're wondering what we're going to miss tomorrow night - but really hope whatever it is they include it in the broadcast!

Sondheim's closing statement was something like: "You're a kid, you're an adult, then middle age, then you're wonderful. Tonight was wonderful."

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 1:06am

It was a great evening!
Adamgreer really summed it all up. No real surprises. Karen Olivo was unannounced, so that was a pleasant surprise for this Olivo fan!
I did have some issues with the song selection. Nothing from Pacific Overtures, Assassins, Passion, or Road Show was performed. How many times do we really need to hear Bernadette sing "Not A Day Goes By"? I expected her to "audition" her two FOLLIES songs. But instead we got an absolutely stunning version of "Losing My Mind" from Marin Mazzie. Maybe SHE should be our Sally for the upcoming KC production.
The highlight of the evening certainly was the "Beautiful Girls" sequence with Patti, Marin, Audra, Donna, Bernadette, and Elaine. I couldn't figure out why didn't include Tony winner Victoria Clark with these ladies. Yes, she sang in act one, but she is certainly in the same caliber as Donna and Marin.

The SUNDAY finale was definitely a great moment, but the Carnegie Hall Sondheim celebration closed with that number too.

Overall, a great evening.
Updated On: 3/16/10 at 01:06 AM

[jasonf]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 1:18am

True, but to hear it live is TRULY spectacular. I've heard the recordings on great earphones - but it's nothing compared to hearing it live!

I was wondering that about Victoria Clark also. Strange that they didn't include her. I was REALLY hoping they were going to do Who's That Woman when they all came out.

I was also disappointed Bernadette did Not a Day Goes By for the umpteenth time. Something different would have been welcome.

For me, the biggest surprise was some songs and shows that were left out -- aside from the surprise of NOT hearing Being Alive or Send in the Clowns for the umpteenth time, the lack of Assassins, Passion, Road Show, Pacific Overtures,Anyone Can Whistle or Forum was kind of surprising - as was only one song each from Merrily, Company, Into the Woods, and Night Music. I think with the talent there some really unique and interesting things could have been done -- imagine Danieley and Cerveris doing Agony or It Would Have Been Wonderful -- or the group doing A Weekend in the Country.

Still, hard to complain given how wonderful the night was!

Updated On: 3/16/10 at 01:18 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 1:21am

You're right! No FORUM or WHISTLE either.

I wonder what the City Center selection will be like.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 2:00am

PS. While there was unfortunately no Patti/Bernadette duet. It sure was fun seeing them watch the other perform. And they had to hold hands for bows. <3

[moljul]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 2:24am

Bernadette and Patti didn't HAVE to hold hands during the bows. They obviously chose to. There were only about 4 or 5 of them who came out holding hands. It was actually rather funny as Audra and Mandy seemed to be walking a lot faster than Bernadette and Patti and appeared to almost be pulling them on stage.

And both women appeared to be genuinely enjoying each other's solos during that section of the concert.

Plus they both seemed to be chatting a lot during the VERY LONG standing ovation given to Sondheim.

And do I have to go back to the top of the show when all the stars were being "introduced" and Patti and Berndette came out together though from different sides and Bernadette blew Patti a kiss. I didn't see Patti's reaction as I was looking at Bernadette at the time but I don't think she flipped her off or anything.

Maybe we can now put this supposed cat fight to bed.
Updated On: 3/16/10 at 02:24 AM

[Steven]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 2:25am

I'm surprised myself that they didn't try for original performances since this was going to be recorded for PBS. I was really hoping with this cast that they wold have created new "Sondheim moments" for everyone to enjoy. I'd love Donna Murphy giving us a preview of Whistle or I would have loved her singing "Children and Art" or even "Send in the Clowns". I'd have loved LuPone and Benanti to have sung a duet of "Everyday a Little Death" and surprisedthey didn't have LuPone either do a medley of the Ravinia 75 Sondheim season or "Roses Turn" even thought it was only scores that he did both music and lyrics. I was really hoping for Bernadette to sing "Losing My Mind" or how great would it have been if she had done "By the Sea." Also to have Bernadette and Patti singing "It's Always a Woman" or even A Boy Like That/I Have a Love would be talked about for years.
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[ljay889]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 2:28am

Relax, lol. I don't think anyone believes they really hate one another. But theater fans always have fun pitting them against each other as rivals (and Patti has made public statements about Bernadette before). I do imagine in Patti's upcoming book she will write about Bernadette, and I am sure she will state there never was a rivalry.

I still really want to see them sing a duet!
Updated On: 3/16/10 at 02:28 AM

[binau]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 2:51am

Did Murphy sing anything besides "Could I leave you?" (That doesn't seem to be the worst song choice *cough* Peters *cough*).

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 2:54am

That's all Murphy sang! Marin had a duet in act one with her husband (Jason Danieley) in addition to her stunning "Losing My Mind." I was surprised Murphy only had 1 song. I was expecting her to maybe preview "Me and My Town" again. Her "Could I Leave You?" is as phenomenal as it was at Encores! 3 years ago.

[binau]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 3:02am

Someone on ATC claims she had a lyric-slip..do you hear anything? (Definitely the performance I'm looking forward to most on the recording).

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 3:04am

^ Yes, I remember her messing one lyric up, but I cannot remember it now! Stritch also had some problems in "I'm Still Here." I assume for the film, both of their performances will come from tomorrow night.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 9:43am

How was the "You're Gonna Love Tomorrow"?

[jasonf]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 10:23am

Murphy slipped up during the part right before "Wait a goddamn minute" -- she lost one of the lines - I think the "Sugar you keep the spinnet." Still - it was a brilliant performance.

You're Gonna Love Tomorrow was well done. I was a little surprised they did it, because the music always sounded a lot to me like Rodgers' music for We're Gonna Be All Right -- which they had done just a couple of numbers earlier (that was Daniely and Mazzie).

I keep thinking of things it would have been cool for them to have done, but honestly, with the people there, that concert could still be going on now, 15 hours later, and I'd still be loving it.

[Amalia Balash]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 10:29am

Damn work. I would have loved to have attended either (or better yet) both nights. Hope everything was recorded and will be released -- PBS could make a lot of money from me on this.

[JBSinger]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 10:47am

Could someone please post a song/performer list?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 12:10pm

Full disclosure...I'm copying and pasting this from ATC...

ACT ONE

Overture (bits of "Sweeney Todd," "Comedy Tonight," "Rich and Happy," "Old Friends," "Company," "Side by Side")

"America" - Karen Olivo and the Shark Girls
"We're Gonna Be Alright (from "Do I Hear a Waltz") - Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley)
"Don't Laugh" (from "Hot Spot") - Victoria Clark
"Johanna" (from "Sweeney Todd") - Nathan Gunn
"You're Gonna Love Tomorrow" (from "Follies") - Bobby Steggert, Laura Osnes, Matt Cavenaugh, Jenn Colella
"Too Many Mornings" (from "Follies") - Nathan Gunn and Audra Mcdonald
"The Road You Didn't Take" (from "Follies") - John McMartin
"It Takes Two" (from "Into the Woods") - Chip Zien and Joanna Gleason
"Finishing the Hat" (from "Sunday") - Mandy Patinkin
"Move On" (from "Sunday) - Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters
"Pretty Women" (from "Sweeney Todd") - Michael Cerveris and George Hearn
"A Little Priest" (from "Sweeney Todd") - Patti LuPone, Michael Cerveris, George Hearn

ACT TWO

"Goodbye for Now" (from the film "Reds") - performed by dancers Blaine Hoven and Maria Riccetto
"So Many People in the World" (from "Saturday Night") - Laura Benanti
"Beautiful Girls" (from "Follies") - David Hyde Pierce
"The Ladies Who Lunch" (from "Company") - Patti LuPone
"Losing My Mind" (from "Follies") - Marin Mazzie
"The Glamorous Life" (from film version of "A Little Night Music") - Audra McDonald
"Could I Leave You?" (from "Follies") - Donna Murphy
"Not a Day Goes By" (from "Merrily") - Bernadette Peters
"I'm Still Here" (from "Follies") - Elaine Stritch
"Sunday" (from "Sunday") - huge chorus

[jasonf]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 12:12pm

That matches the list I wrote down when I got home...

[jv92]

Posted: 3/16/10 at 3:53pm

Wow! I cannot, cannot wait to go tonight. Will Steve be there again? It looks like he got quite emotional from the pictures.
I wanted to see Stritch sing "The Ladies who Lunch" but I bet that Patti will be superb! Can't wait!