Sondheim updates- Page 2

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/12/22 at 2:52pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Jane Campion or Todd Haynes for ALNM film."

Adding Celine Sciamma or Pedro Almodovar to this list.

And let Cate Blanchett or Kate Winslet star.

Updated On: 1/12/22 at 02:52 PM

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 1/13/22 at 2:05pm

Having recently read the 1976 screenplay, I can confidently state that poor editing, lack of budget, and Hal Prince were the only problems with the original screen version of Night Music. Put back some of the lieder singers' material (perhaps in other mouths, as the draft script does), revert some of the lyric revisions ("Liaisons," for example, kind of suffered in rewriting, which can be heard here), re-set it in Sweden, and you've got a terrific basis in what Hugh Wheeler originally wrote, no matter the director (perhaps).

Updated On: 1/13/22 at 02:05 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 12:08am

Finally, some updates here about Sondheim's estate. F. Richard Pappas and "another man" are the executors of his estate. 

"The world-renowned theater great designated 20 people and charities as beneficiaries to his trust, including his husband Jeffrey Romley, the Smithsonian Institute, the Museum of New York City, the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, the Dramatists Guild Fund and the Irish Repertory Theater Company."

https://nypost.com/2022/01/23/stephen-sondheim-left-behind-an-estate-worth-an-estimated-75-million/

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 12:13am

Perhaps this will be like Dumbledore's will in Harry Potter: James Lapine and Jeff and the groundskeeper and other recipients have to piece together a puzzle revealing Sondheim's final show.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 9:23am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Perhaps this will be like Dumbledore's will in Harry Potter: James Lapine and Jeff and the groundskeeper and other recipients have to piece together a puzzle revealing Sondheim's final show."

"The Last of Stephen" 

[The8re phan]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 9:40am

Would love a return,  limited-engagment run of  SUNDAY with Jake and Annaleigh sometime this spring.   Please??!?

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 9:43am

They never even got to remount across the pond; it was slated for a West End run in the summer of 2020. I had tickets. 😅 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 10:00am

Anyone else think the Irish Rep inclusion is a little strange? I guess Sondheim must have been a fan of their work, but I can't really see why. He's not Irish, they've never done his work as far as I know, and their programming doesn't seem to align very closely with his artistic sensibilities.

Although, having said that, there have been a number of cases in recent years where Sondheim praised some show that made me think "Really? Sondheim loved THAT show??" So maybe their programming was more to his taste than I would've thought. 

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 10:17am

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "Having recently read the 1976 screenplay, I can confidently state that poor editing, lack of budget, and Hal Prince were the only problems with the original screen version of Night Music. Put back some of the lieder singers' material (perhaps in other mouths, as the draft script does), revert some of the lyric revisions ("Liaisons," for example, kind of suffered in rewriting, which can be heard here), re-set it in Sweden, and you've got a terrific basis in what Hugh Wheeler originally wrote, no matter the director (perhaps)."

Yeah, it's really wild to say this but Hal Prince sunk this film. 

Cause it's true the screenplay is almost 95 percent Wheeler's libretto. 

I think Yorgos Lanthimas (the director of The Favourite and The Great) is perfect for this cause he knows how to make costume drama/comedy fresh and hilarious. It's easy to think at a distance A Little Night Music is stuffy but it is SUCH a sex comedy.

 

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 10:35am

1) I’m really curious to see what archive museum collections get what artifacts  and what goes on display.  I’m sure he must have collected a lot of stuff  I’m curious if any of them would create a small Sondheim wing   Or if there would be a place in Manhattan for a smaller Sondheim museum/commemorative memorial  (like a 5 or so room display- early life, 1950s-1960s - gypsy/west side-forum, 1970s- company/follies/ night music/ Sweeney Todd, 1980- merrily/sunday/into the woods, 1990-2020 passion/ and final years

 

2) I really am hoping for a redo of Little Night Music.  I’ve said before hopefully this might be a cate Blanchett. Julie Andrews opportunity if the Scott Rudin revival is dead. 
 

3) I too would love to see a Sunday in the Park revival. Though I never saw the concert revival. Are they actually that praise worthy?  It’s interesting because I never would have considered them to be in those roles. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 10:48am

JBroadway said: "Anyone else think the Irish Rep inclusion is a little strange? I guess Sondheim must have been a fan of their work, but I can't really see why. He's not Irish, they've never done his work as far as I know, and their programming doesn't seem to align very closely with his artistic sensibilities."

I agree. Were he and John McMartin personal friends –– more than just colleagues and collaborators? That could explain it, since John's longtime partner is Charlotte Moore. Or it could just be that he enjoys their work and the work of the old Irish playwrights. (The big unknown is the dollar amount...could be a nominal gift.)

The Irish Rep did honor Sondheim in 2017: https://www.broadway.com/photos/gallery/340/broadway-legend-angela-lansbury-more-step-out-for-irish-rep-gala-celebrating-stephen-sondheim/

Updated On: 1/24/22 at 10:48 AM