"He was the theater’s most revered and influential composer-lyricist of the last half of the 20th century..."
So began the very first sentence of the New York Time’s obituary for Stephen Sondheim. It succinctly sums up Stephen Sondheim’s importance to the American Musical Theatre. He moved the musical from the tuneful, entertaining and formulaic storytelling of Jerome Kern, Rogers and Hammerstein and Jerry Herman to one of complexity, urban sophistication and the ambiguities of the human experience.
Each week we will view and discuss one of Stephen Sondheim’s musicals beginning with West Side Story and moving chronologically through to Merrily We Roll Along. Our constant guide for our journey will be none other than Mr. Sondheim himself as related in our core book, Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes. This book, penned by Sondheim, as the title suggests, provides an inside look into each production including lyrics, history and personal insights. Our core book will be augmented with archival interviews of Sondheim and other key members from each production. Each week will also include an analysis of one song from the show as well as a look at how the production was initially received by the theatre critics of the time.
PLEASE NOTE: This will be a hybrid. 11 persons at Gayley and 3 persons on Zoom. If you are registered for Gayley you do not have the option of attending the class on Zoom.
Also the SDG will start promptly at 10:30 and end at 12:30pm.
1. Sondheim – A brief bio and the Art of Songwriting
Finishing the Hat, Preface, Introduction Rhyme and Its Reasons, pgs XV-XXVII
Biography of Stephen Sondheim: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Sondheim
The Art of Songwriting with Stephen Sondheim and Adam Guettel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TofC3KD-h8M&t=25s (1:04)
2. West Side Story, 1957
West Side Story - 1961 film, Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise, Natalie Wood, George Chakaris, Rita Moreno
Finishing the Hat, pgs 24-53
3. Gypsy, 1959
Gypsy, 1993 TV Film, Bette Midler, streaming
Finishing the Hat: 54-77
4. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 1962
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 1966 movie, Richard Lester, Zero Mostel, Jack Gilford
Finishing the Hat: 78 - 109
5. Company, 1970
Company with the New York Philharmonic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNZGdSurN_8
Finishing the Hat: 164 - 197
6. Follies, 1971
Follies, National Theatre, 2017 depending upon availability, or Follies, in Concert, 1985 or Follies, Toulon Opera production, 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRBBx477FeU
Finishing the Hat: 198 - 249
7. A Little Night Music, 1973
A Little Night Music, NYC Opera Nov 7, 1990 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nfd98fE9T8&t=2991s
Finishing the Hat: 250 – 283
8. Pacific Overtures, 1976
Pacific Overtures - 1976 Original Broadway Cast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ546PASgHI
Finishing the Hat: 302 - 329
9. Sweeny Todd, 1979
Sweeny Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1982), Angela Lansbury, streaming, rental,
Finishing the Hat: 331-378
10. Merrily We Roll Along, 1981
Merrily We Roll Along, (2013) Menier Chocolate Factory - London Theatre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWPEwf-pX0Q
Finishing the Hat: 379 - 422
Core book
Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes, 2010 Alfred Knopf
NOTE: While all videos are currently available at the time of writing availabilities are subject to change. In the case of unavailability other materials will be substituted.