South Florida can go for years without a production of songs by Stephen Sondheim, but this summer will see two back-to-back. First there was Palm Beach Dramaworks’ superb concert version of A Little Night Music and now MNM Productions gives us a reconceived Side by Side by Sondheim, the musical revue from 1977, directed by Bruce Linser with musical direction by the ubiquitous … [Read more...]
Sondheim, Streep and visual wizardry unite for ravishing ‘Into the Woods’
I have the regret or the pleasure, depending on where you’re coming from, to admit that I’ve never seen Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods onstage. It’s a regret because it’s a grievous blind spot for any theater critic, but it’s a pleasure because I can view Rob Marshall’s film adaptation with the fresh eyes of discovery — and without the burden of screaming blasphemy! at the … [Read more...]
Sondheim compiles second treasure trove of remarkable career
Fortunately for all concerned, Stephen Sondheim’s Look, I Made a Hat is not a treatise on the art of millinery. Instead, it is the sequel to Finishing the Hat, the pre-eminent American theater composer-lyricist’s compilation and consideration of his career, divided into two volumes and filled with nuggets of insight. Or, as he prefers to put it in his subtitle, “Collected … [Read more...]
Take our Sondheim quiz – if you dare – and win ‘Into the Woods’ tickets
In honor of Broadway composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday and the opening of the Caldwell Theatre’s staged reading of his Into the Woods this Friday through Sunday, May 21-23, we fiendishly present our Ultimate Sondheim Trivia Test, geared to separate the obsessive fanatics from the casual fans. And the Caldwell has generously donated a pair of tickets to any … [Read more...]