Sondheim and Choreography

Obviously, when Sondheim worked with Michael Bennett, there was choreography in his musicals, like "The Right Girl," "Who's That Woman," and "Tick Tock." But it seems like most of Sondheim's later musicals don't rely on any big dance numbers at all. (Passion, for instance, has none.)

What are your thoughts on this? Does the work of Sondheim not work well with big numbers or are they just not considered relevant to his shows?

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When I was doing Merrily We Roll Along, there was a lot of choreopgrphy. I really think that it depends on the nature of the show. I don't think we would have believe Fosca dancing in Passion. If you look at all of Sondheim's shows...he seems to rely more on movement then he does on pure dance. I guess it really depends on the number and the feel of the piece if there should be "dance" Also, Im not sure if it is just Sondheim. Look at Les Miz and musicals from that late 90's era. There was barely any dance...and even in Phantom...you have the ballet dancers and you have the opening of Act 2, but is that really dance or actors moving?

Interesting question, SG...

I know that seeing McKecknie do Tick Tock in 1993, 20 years after she originally did it...was one of the highlights of my theater going life.

I recall not being impressed with Marshall's choreog. for the revival, tho...was that D'Amboise or Marshall? Was it the comparison? Not sure...but that is one great dance number.

I feel like it is possible that Sondheim just has chosen to write shows that have not needed big dance numbers. I dont know if he purposly did not write a big fairy tale dance break number for ITW...interesting to wonder about. Someone needs to ask him.

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....I'm waiting for an invitation!

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Sondheim tends to work on book shows that simply don't call for a lot of big dance numbers. Sweeney Todd and Passion...not too dancy. Follies...dancy. Into the Woods - movement. A Little Night Music - some waltzes as transitions. Really, when you go to a Sondheim show, you want to hear great singers sing great lyrics, and that probably means there won't be tons of time taken for dances. Sondheim is all about characters and stories, not about spectacle.

Updated On: 8/1/06 at 12:05 PM

dancinfan-- You're so right. That was pretty much what I was thinking as well, but you put it much better than I could have.

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