Unfinished Sondheim Material

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 7/31/22 at 11:18am

Hi everyone!

When we lost Stephen Sondheim last year, he had just recently mentioned in an interview that he was working on a new work and it had even been workshopped with Bernadette Peters and Nathan Lane under the title of "Square One."  I was wondering if we'll ever see that work now.

Anyone know anything about it?

[binau]

Posted: 8/1/22 at 8:52am

No news here of course but wild fan speculation/day dreaming on some of the challenges that could need to be worked through and options if it provides some entertainment.
 

First, who is the producer/driving force behind getting this work mounted? Previously it was Scott Rudin I believe but it’s unclear what role he would/could have in future and who (if anyone) would take his place. This seems particularly important given the likely challenges of coordinating an unfinished work (more on this later). Is there any agreement that would prevent others from producing the material? (See also, Scott Rudin lawsuit with Sondheim re: rights for Bounce/wise guys/Road show).

Second, while some time has passed now when Sondheim just died I imagine there are a number of commercial and personal affairs that needed to be worked through and I doubt the priority of the estate and associated parties was to try and mount Square One. In addition it probably would seem a bit opportunistic and tasteless for people to circle the estate about Square One (assuming there are interested producers). So conversations about this might have only just started recently (if at all).

Third, an obvious challenge is the work itself. Sondheim is a notorious procrastinator so it is unlikely the score is complete. What do they do about that? Did Sondheim have specific wishes for someone else to carry on the torch in the event of this scenario? (Somehow I doubt it. Interestingly he was asked if he was concerned at this scenario happening in an interview if I recall - dying before it is finished - and he said it was not something that really bothered him. I doubt anything can be inferred from this though about whether he did or did not have contingency plans, though I had the impression he was writing because he enjoyed it not because he was desperate to say something). Does the estate make a decision to try and have someone finish the work (I don’t know if this feels right) or should they present as-is? If they present as-is is there actually a show there or just a few songs/scenes?

Fourth, for what is complete, is it actually good? Sondheim said they were ‘encouraged’ by the reading but anyone who was lucky enough to be there to witness Bernadette Peters and Nathan Lane perform his last, brand new work ever basically hit the jackpot for musical theatre history/fandom. Both actors can elevate any material really and who would not enjoy/encourage the experience?

Fifth, depending on many of the factors above and others what kind of ambition would they have about the work? Is a brief run at The Public with non-name talent sufficient and would serve the material well (e.g. like Road Show) or do they have higher commercial ambitions? If they have higher commercial ambitions they probably need names. Do Bernadette Peters and Nathan Lane want to and can commit to the project? Do they need to consider alternatives such as LuPone (who was up until recently busy with Company), Mandy Patinkin, Audra McDonald? Are they available and when? What venue/theatre?

I think my dream would be they try and mount a production in a small Broadway theatre for a limited 12 week run with Bernadette Peters and Nathan Lane (or Mandy Patinkin). If the material is unfinished it could be presented not as a complete show but as a kind of special event that has other elements. For example, 60 minutes of Square One and 30 minutes of a concert celebration (would work particularly well if it was Bernadette and Patinkin who could perform selections of Sunday in the Park and their own solo work/new duets). “Sondheim: Square One and Celebration”.

If it’s any consolation, it almost feels like any dream I’ve ever had about Sondheim has practically happened or even exceeded (with the exception of Bernadette playing Mrs Lovett). Never in a million years did I imagine I would see CZJ/Lansbury in a Sondheim revival or even ‘meet’ (if you can really call it that) Sondheim himself at the CD signing. I dreamed of seeing Bernadette in a Sondheim show and I got this not just once (night music) but twice (follies). I dreamed of seeing Bernadette’s Sondheim etc concert and it happened - her flying overseas to do concerts. I dreamed of seeing a full scale Sondheim revival in London and it happened (Follies/Company). I didn’t think I’d get to see the Company revival on Broadway and it happened. I saw Bernadette lead Sondheim’s memorial concert in London and Judi Dench perform ‘Send in the Clowns’. And while she wasn’t involved in the Sondheim Grammy memorial she was involved in the Tony memorial. It’s not just Sondheim too, next to normal is one of my favourite shows and Alice Ripley just came to do the show in Barcelona. I love Michael Greif, LuPone, Ebersole and ‘Grey Gardens’ and it all came together for ‘War Paint’. Don’t even get me started on Flying Over Sunset. Plus heaps of historical examples (eg Lansbury doing Driving Miss Daisy, Geoffrey Rush doing Funny Thing). I’m not saying I’m good luck but I do seem to have a pretty good track record of amazing theatre things happening to me so I will keep praying for all of us!! This is basically the pinnacle of it all. 

[InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve]

Posted: 8/1/22 at 10:42am

Broadway’s slovenly self couldn’t even give me the man a proper tribute when he died.  Other counties had giant concerts for him… we had one person sing three minute song on the Tony awards.  No mega concerts of each of his shows… no even mega concert tribute.  Broadway doesn’t deserve any new backstock Sondheim, I hope it goes to London. 

Updated On: 8/1/22 at 10:42 AM

[JasonC3]

Posted: 8/1/22 at 12:52pm

I don't know if his estate would ever authorize it or what his expressed wishes might have been, but I would pay to see a show of outtakes from his uncompleted works.

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 8/2/22 at 1:34pm

I would imagine it is up to his widower to decide how to proceed - or not.  The people who participated in it have certainly remained tight-lipped.  Perhaps with his passing they will reveal a bit more.  

[InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve]

Posted: 8/2/22 at 1:36pm

Plan right now is an off-broadway site specific production of the last show he worked on.  It'll sell out super fast if it ever happens because we're talking less than 800 seats.  They were waiting for some scuedules for their stars to clear. 

[Ke3]

Posted: 8/2/22 at 2:19pm

JasonC3 said: "I don't know if his estate would ever authorize it or what his expressed wishes might have been, but I would pay to see a show of outtakes from his uncompleted works."

There's a song from his abandoned Mary Poppins musical that I would love to hear an official recording of. Maybe an entire album of Sondheim unreleased!

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 8/2/22 at 2:48pm

I would pay an insane amount of money to go see that. Much more than I've ever spent on any other ticket. 

[binau]

Posted: 8/2/22 at 3:26pm

If the stars are Bernadette and Nathan Lane, both should be free in October? Could this mean maybe a run later this year? 

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/2/22 at 3:39pm

InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve said: "Plan right now is an off-broadway site specific production of the last show he worked on. It'll sell out super fast if it ever happens because we're talking less than 800 seats. They were waiting for some scuedules for their stars to clear."

I love this. I remember Lane said they were working on getting it produced somewhere. I forget the venue he had mentioned. 
I do wonder if there’s enough material for Planned two acts.

Updated On: 8/2/22 at 03:39 PM

[Elibal]

Posted: 8/2/22 at 8:51pm

I don't know about the state of Square One, but Singing Out Loud is supposed to be finished, please Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, whomever, Spielberg or Lin-Manuel ask some favours and make the movie.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 8/2/22 at 11:30pm

What is Singing Out Loud?

[Ke3]

Posted: 8/3/22 at 12:11am

TotallyEffed said: "What is Singing Out Loud?"

A film project Sondheim, Streisand, William Goldman, and Rob Reiner worked on pretty extensively in the 90s. Sondheim wrote six songs for it that we know of. I've seen Reiner say "six to eight". That would be a pretty full score for an original film musical. It is not however "finished". Reiner has talked in recent years about picking it back up, Sondheim's passing would make finishing it pretty hard. You couldn't change much since we only have the six (or eight) songs he wrote. No one's ever seen the script though so maybe it's in much better shape than its shelving implies*.

 

*I will say, maybe the script is fine, and Barbra being busy got it shelved. No one has said that, but I can't imagine this happening without her or another singer of her stature. 

Updated On: 8/3/22 at 12:11 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/3/22 at 12:15am

“Water Under the Bridge” from Singing Out Loud is such an underrated Sondheim song. I love Debbie Gravitte’s pop version. 

[bk]

Posted: 8/3/22 at 4:20pm

We recorded three songs from Singing Out Loud - the aforementioned Water Under the Bridge with Debbie on Unsung Sondheim, and then on Sondheim at the Movies, Sand and Dawn. 

[AnythingYouDo]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 3:15pm

In the latest issue of the Dramatist, there is a roundtable interview with James Lapine, John Weidman, and David Ives about collaborating with Sondheim, and Ives says the Buñuel musical is "looking for a home," to which Lapine responds "Great. This is exciting! Something to look forward to."

Earlier in the interview, Ives refers to the two musicals he worked with Sondheim on: "One of them, which was based on an original idea of Steve's, we never finished. The other was based on two Luis Buñuel films." From his wording, it sounds like Square One (though Ives doesn't ever refer to it by that title) is at least to some extent complete, or complete enough to be presented.

[Elibal]

Posted: 10/15/22 at 8:10pm

Ke3 said: "TotallyEffed said: "What is Singing Out Loud?"
 No one's ever seen the script though so maybe it's in much better shape than its shelving implies*.
*I will say, maybe the script is fine, and Barbra being busy got it shelved. No one has said that, but I can't imagine this happening without her or another singer of her stature."

It is not true that no one has seen the script, it circulates on social media and can be found. Great news that the Buñuel musical will premiere somewhere at some point though.

Updated On: 10/15/22 at 08:10 PM

[gypsy101]

Posted: 10/16/22 at 3:14am

“Second, while some time has passed now when Sondheim just died I imagine there are a number of commercial and personal affairs that needed to be worked through and I doubt the priority of the estate and associated parties was to try and mount Square One. In addition it probably would seem a bit opportunistic and tasteless for people to circle the estate about Square One (assuming there are interested producers). So conversations about this might have only just started recently (if at all).”

how does this make any sense lol. why would producing a new work be more opportunistic than capitalizing on his hits

“Broadway’s slovenly self couldn’t even give me the man a proper tribute when he died.  Other counties had giant concerts for him… we had one person sing three minute song on the Tony awards.  No mega concerts of each of his shows… no even mega concert tribute.  Broadway doesn’t deserve any new backstock Sondheim, I hope it goes to London.”

yeah what was the deal with this? was it because of Covid? seems weird there hasn’t been big concerts for him

[JasonC3]

Posted: 10/16/22 at 8:13am

Not quite the big concert some might be thinking of, but wasn't yesterday Wall to Wall Sondheim?

On the one hand to me it does seem strange, but on the other hand, the man has been feted so regularly in recent years as he hit different age milestones that I can see it feeling like yet another Sondheim tribute.  Take Me to the World isn't that far in the rear view mirror.

Updated On: 10/16/22 at 08:13 AM

[binau]

Posted: 10/16/22 at 8:30am

[QUOTE]how does this make any sense lol. why would producing a new work be more opportunistic than capitalizing on his hits[/QUOTE]

I was more thinking of the prestige than money......

[lachri5]

Posted: 10/16/22 at 10:25am

JasonC3 said: "Not quite the big concert some might be thinking of, but wasn't yesterday Wall to Wall Sondheim?

On the one hand to me it does seem strange, but on the other hand, the man has been feted so regularly in recent years as he hit different age milestones that I can see it feeling like yet another Sondheim tribute. Take Me to the World isn't that far in the rear view mirror."

Wall to Wall Sondheim didn't happen yesterday. It was taken off Symphony Space website for weeks without any explanation.

[JasonC3]

Posted: 10/16/22 at 10:41am

Ah, thanks for that. It is still on the site, but shows now as cancelled if you scroll down a bit.

https://www.symphonyspace.org/events/wall-to-wall-sondheim-2

[lachri5]

Posted: 10/16/22 at 11:34am

Looks like they put the page back. There's a snapshot on archive.org from September. When I was planning a trip around this, this is what I saw for weeks, "page not found": https://web.archive.org/web/20220909083136/https://www.symphonyspace.org/events/wall-to-wall-sondheim-2 

[binau]

Posted: 10/22/22 at 7:58am

If they are looking for a 'home' and we assume perhaps an opening early next year/spring are there any small Broadway theatres free or likely to come free, or any of the usual prestigious off-broadway spaces free that might be able to take the show? What is opening at the American Airlines theatre after 1776? Maybe they can try and take the Booth if/when KIMBERLY AKIMBO might sadly shut its doors? What's going into the Hudson after Death of a Salesman? 

Bernadette has a basically-clear concert schedule next year (perhaps by coincidence, or perhaps not). If the show is finished (sounds like it could be if they are looking for a home) and they can get Nathan Lane I actually think there might be some commercial prospects to the show that could mean a Broadway engagement seems completely feasible and warranted. Perhaps Bernadette can also finally get her 3rd Tony to make up for the Tonys she missed out on or was not eligible for literally all of her Sondheim roles (e.g. Follies, Night Music, Gypsy, Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park, Anyone Can Whistle hehe) 

 

 

Updated On: 10/22/22 at 07:58 AM

[binau]

Posted: 10/25/22 at 10:04am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Nathan-LaneDanny-BursteinandZoWanamaker-Will-Lead-PICTURES-FROM-HOME-on-Broadway-Next-Year-20221025

Looks like Nathan Lane is booked! So doesn't look like he could be involved in the project before next summer? Mandy Patinkin would be an obvious person to replace given his Sondheim/Bernadette connection. Is he free?