Sondheim Estate Permissions Custom Stephen Sondheim Musical Tribute Revues (Music + Lyrics)

[StylishCynic]

Posted: 4/9/24 at 2:05pm

A small theater in Evanston, IL is performing an entirely custom Stephen Sondheim musical revue (titled "Sondheim Tribute Revue" ).

In its review, the Chicago Tribune outlined how the Sondheim Estate is permissioning custom Sondheim tribute revues on an ad hoc basis right now:

"For a limited time, the Sondheim estate has been granting permission to theaters to create their own customizable revue of the late, great one’s incomparable catalog.

There are certain parameters:

• Sondheim had to have written both music and lyrics (so no “West Side Story” or “Gypsy” ),
• no more than three songs can be from one show 
• no spoken material from any of the musicals is permitted,
• and you can’t come out in full slasher-barber garb since no show-specific costumes are allowed.
• (And as far as I can discern from looking at the contract, you can’t orchestrate beyond a piano.)

But that still gives you 15 great musicals from “Saturday Night” to “Road Show” (a.k.a., for Chicagoans, “Bounce” ). I cannot image a more fun assignment than picking which songs."

Jones also calls attention for the need for newly designed Sondheim tributes because:

"Up until now, audiences basically have been restricted to hearing the pre-determined selections present in “Side by Side by Sondheim,” which came out in 1976, thus missing some of the most productive years, or the better “Sondheim on Sondheim” from 2010, a show that intersperses interviews with the songwriter between his songs, but that’s not licensable (Cameron Mackintosh also produced a show called “Old Friends” in London in 2022)."

I'm looking forward to seeing more of these appear at regional theaters, and I'm sure that they appreciate the creative opportunity generated by the constraints.

Updated On: 4/9/24 at 02:05 PM

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 4/9/24 at 2:43pm

Unfortunately, the article is incorrect. Sondheim on Sondheim is available to license. As well as the off-Broadway and Broadway versions of "Putting It Together". Also, the lesser known revues "Marry Me a Little", using cut and trunk songs from 1981, written by Craig Lucas; and "You're Gonna Love Tomorrow", which was performed at the Whitney Museum in 1983 are available to license. These are all in the MTI website. 

I do find this new revue interesting. It could be great with the right choices. Thanks for pulling apart the contract.

Updated On: 4/9/24 at 02:43 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/9/24 at 2:55pm

This revue has been performed a lot about over the past year.

The title couldn't be worse, but it's an interesting concept.

I wonder how they've varied in quality and setlist.

[StylishCynic]

Posted: 4/9/24 at 3:08pm

fashionguru_23 said: "Unfortunately, the article is incorrect. Sondheim on Sondheim is available to license.As well as the off-Broadway and Broadway versions of "Putting It Together". Also, the lesser known revues "Marry Me a Little", using cut and trunk songs from 1981, written by Craig Lucas; and "You're Gonna Love Tomorrow", which was performed at the Whitney Museum in 1983 are availableto license. These are all in the MTI website.

I do find this new revue interesting. It could be great with the right choices. Thanks for pulling apart the contract."

Thanks for the further details! While the website allows companies to apply for a license for the other Revues, so I wonder if MTI has paused issuing licenses to funnel adoption of the 2024 tribute (available through the end of this year).

I found the full details from the 2024 Revue package on MTI's site. Other highlights include:

• The license only grants performance rights and the logo; all sheet music must be purchased from a third-party; all music must be performed as orchestrated by the purchased arrangement
• No cap on a number of total songs besides the 3 songs per show maximum allowed

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 4/10/24 at 12:11pm

I've been seeing notices pop up about this in a bunch of regional/community theaters around (I went to one recently in NJ) and it's been interesting to see what songs they pick and how they structure the order of the show

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 4/10/24 at 12:18pm

"As well as the off-Broadway and Broadway versions of "Putting It Together". Also, the lesser known revues "Marry Me a Little", using cut and trunk songs from 1981, written by Craig Lucas; "

These aren't revues. You're right about Sondheim on Sondheim. Very licensible and with upcoming productions.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 4/11/24 at 1:00am

*"Permission" is not a verb.

[BETTY22]

Posted: 4/11/24 at 7:47am

Great idea. Happy to see his este is being well managed. 

[StylishCynic]

Posted: 4/11/24 at 4:31pm

HogansHero said: "*"Permission" is not a verb."

I knew this when I titled the thread, and I still decided to use it. I found using "permission" as a verb to be both succinct and ideal for what I wanted the title to convey.

Many common words that we use today were simply made up by individuals like Shakespeare and Dr. Seuss. I'm not at all saying that I'm "on their level" because that's ridiculous –this is an anonymous, internet forum.  

Still, everyone comprehended the statement. Language adapts.

 

Updated On: 4/11/24 at 04:31 PM