You can rent INTO THE WOODS from the iTunes stores for $3. I strongly think that you should watch the video and not just listen to the cast recording, if you want the best introduction.
If you have Netflix, they have both Sunday in the Park With George and the 2006 revival of Company (if you'd rather watch than listen first)
Stand-by Joined: 12/31/69
Thomas Z. Shepard, for all his *ahem* personality issues produced the Sweeney cast album particularly well, almost as a radio show.
Would be under movies? Because I don't know if you can buy it on iTunes in Canada
Just please pick one and buy it already! xD
		     			Sorry that sounded rude.  
		     				Updated On: 6/18/11 at 07:36 PM
		     					
Broadway Star Joined: 12/31/69
ITW is def on the Canadian itunes...
		     			Did you buy it? I can't find it.  Help anyone?
 Help anyone?
		     				
		     					
Broadway Star Joined: 12/31/69
And apparently I was accessing iTunes USA--it's not on the Canadian site, you're right.
		     			"Thomas Z. Shepard, for all his *ahem* personality issues..." 
 
To what are you referring, eric? Please share with the class :)
		     				
		     					
Company.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
I just know that Shepherd's off putting obsessiveness, and even cruelty, led to Sondheim personally not wanting him to produce his cast albums post Sunday.
I'm quite sure that the OP was posting as Steel Pier Fan not so long ago, and I'm not convinced he actually cares about your answers to his phony question. However your efforts have not been totally wasted as I have enjoyed reading them!
		     			Well I'm not. Sorry to ruin that for you. I just wanted to start getting into Sondheim's music.  
 
BTW. I got Into The Woods. Thank you for your answers.
		     				Updated On: 6/18/11 at 09:25 PM
		     					
		     			This is Steel Pier Fan. I'm almost positive.  He's a brand new member (about 6 days old, about the same Steel Pier Fan quit after the troll was exposed in various lies regarding Caroline, Or Change and others, he then subsequently created another moninker, I forget what it was, within a few hours and started a thread about Patti LuPone being overrated, that account then disappeared, and now he's posting on this one.)   
 
He's starting various random threads and getting angry anytime someone doesn't give the exact answer he's looking for or questions any of his responses, just like Steel Pier Fan. 
 
Please, don't feed the trolls. 
 
Love, 
Broadwaydevil - official troll detective
		     						     						
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Well if that's true, then it seems not only pathetic, but a really sad way to waste time on the internet (and trust me, I know sad ways to waste time on the internet...)
Swing Joined: 6/18/11
		     			Are you sure you want to get a sondheim album. 
 
I'm in high school and planning on being a BFA Musical Theatre and then Broadway. I've been looking at these boards a lot to get more information. Everybody talks about Sonheim here so I looked him up. 
 
WARNING 
 
If you are planning on auditioning DO NOT listen to Sondheim. All the audition people don't like Sondheim. You should look into other writers. It's like if you want to be a ballerina and watch hip-hop. It could mess up chances at auditions. 
		     				
		     					
		     			I am very much with EricMontreal22 on this one... I was extremely fortunate to see all of the original productions of Sondheim's works, COMPANY thru PASSION. As cast album go, Company remains sparkling, as does MERRILY. 
 
I also think the OBC LP to A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC is quite good as is ANYONE CAN WHISTLE. 
 
In the theater, my favorite Sondheim musicals were PACIFIC OVERTURES, SWEENEY TODD, INTO THE WOODS, and PASSION. 
 
In short, I adore Stephen Sondheim. 
 
 
		     				
		     					
I haven't had the chance to give every Sondheim score equal listening, but at the moment my favorite is A Little Night Music! Definitely give it a try!
		     			Company and Into the Woods were the easiest cast recordings to get through, for me. Did anyone here enjoy the score to "A Funny thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"? I find that one difficult to get through. 
 
I have yet to listen to Merrily We Roll Along.
		     						     						
Swing Joined: 6/18/11
		     			I know some people can't turn away from things they aren't supposed to do.  
 
If you have to, get one of the more musical theatre accepted ones like West Side Story. 
 
On i-tunes Glory Days is really good. It's more realistic than any of these other ones. 
		     				
		     					
		     			I think if the OP was serious about wanting recommendations they wouldn't have said the Sweeney and Passion weren't listenable... 
Ah well, their loss.
		     						     						
		     			broadwaynoitall is my new favorite user. Still laughing from the all caps "WARNING." 
I see my post's been deleted and OP apparently already got what he wanted, but going to repeat what I said anyway. I always introduce with Into the Woods. Like EricMontreal22 I first experienced Sondheim through Passion, and it remains my favorite Sondheim show by far, but the man himself said that it's a challenge to the audience. Into the Woods, on the other hand, has been made into a children's book. Most accessible show of his I think.
		     				
		     					
to me MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG is SONDHEIM's most "broadway' sounding show on CD, starting with the overture, which sort of reminds me of the overture for GYPSY, (which SONDHEIM didn't write)
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/20/06
broadwaynoitall don't be ridiculous. Simply listening to Sondheim music doesn't ruin your auditions for college BFA programs. IF ANYTHING I've learned a lot over my years acting Sondheim music and then incorporating that into the rest of my repertoire. I'm currently in a BFA program right now and while I may not have auditioned to schools with a Sondheim song I can assure you that he's highly regarded in any program and in general. I'd rather hedge my bets on an accompanist knowing a well-known Sondheim song on piano better than some of the obscure crap being written nowadays.
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