Happy Birthday, Stephen Sondheim!

[furtech]

...well, a -few- days early! Arguably the finest lyricist (and a damn fine composer) ever in American Musical theater, he'll be a spry 75 on March 23!

I have many friends who "hate musicals"...invariably, I can find them a show that convinces them that they're not -all- bad. Usually it's Sondheim: Assassins, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Pacific Overatures, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Follies, A Little Night Music, Company and Merrily We Roll Along. Musicals about presidential assassins, Greek plays, Japanese history, fairy tales: an amazing range of subjects and characters.

So an early Happy Birthday and thanks for all the shows, Mr. Sondheim!

Comments

[iisaw.livejournal.com]

Anybody that writes songs about a cannibal barber is okay in my book! ;)

The best Lyricist...IMHO

[thakur.livejournal.com]

I would give that honor to Larry Hart...despite him being a drunk and dying of pneumonia during a revival of 'Pal Joey' ...with Oscar Hammerstein II and Alan J Lerner a dead heat second. we are talking Lyricists here..for composers there is not much argument. Richard Rogers!

but hey, I have been in the amateur theatre scene in Sydney for a number of years and been associated with the old shows both on stage and off.

The toughest shows to do?

technically .."man of La mancha" not much staging but the lighting/SFX carries the show
An 'on the ball' tech crew is a must.

Dancing... 'West side Story' and 'Cats'( if they ever release it for amateurs).

Shear Spectacle...'Camelot' PLEASE dont attempt this show on a small stage. it doesnt work.

These are all IMHO...your milage may vary:)

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

Maybe there'll be another 20 years of great songs from 'im! ^v^

[n2kenai.livejournal.com]

Anyone having an anatomically correct wolf in one of thier shows is okay by me. I enjoy him as well.