The Stephen Sondheim Society

2nd Company Productions upgrades to the Pleasance Main Space with Assassins.

Lynne — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:50:04 +0000

Following a string of sell out shows, 2^nd Company Productions (2ndCP) will be moving from the 56 seat Pleasance Studio Space to the 288 seat Main Space for its latest and most ambitious project to date, Assassins.

Over twenty years on from the original Broadway and London productions, this multi-award winning musical explores and scrutinises America – a country where some grow up to become a President, and others are left in the shadows, their fate destined towards murderous intentions.

The cast has some well-known names including Martin Dickinson (Jekyll and Hyde) as John Wilkes Booth, John Jo Flynn (Les Miserables) as The Balladeer and Above The Stag’s very own resident director -Tim McArthur as Samuel Byck.

Martin Dickinson, who has just launched an album entitled ‘Encore’ under the Dress Circle Label: “After the work put into Encore, I must be mad to move immediately on to the role of John Wilkes Booth in Assassins. But meeting the cast and crew, and getting to work on the piece has reminded me exactly why I am a musical theatre performer.”

Ray Rackham, Artistic Director and founder of 2ndCP: “Assassins was originally conceived as a show to be produced off-Broadway, away from the bright lights of the commercial mainstream. I am therefore delighted that we are producing this revival on the Fringe but are taking the best part of the West End with us: the talent. To have put together such a strong cast demonstrates how important the fringe is to London’s theatre scene. I’m excited to be moving into the bigger Pleasance Main Space, and I think it shows that 2ndCP is moving onto new horizons. I’m looking forward to the ride, primarily because we’re taking our friends with us. ”

The production of Assassins will run from 20^th March to 8th April at The Pleasance Theatre Main Space in Islington.

Press night: Thursday 22^nd March

Contact Anna Mitchell on 07971 146 805; 2ndcompanypress@gmail.com

Whatsonstage Award for Chichester’s Sweeney Todd

Lynne — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:55:36 +0000

In the Whatsonstage Awards 2012, announced on February 19th, the Chichester Theatre’s production of Sweeney Todd was voted Best Regional Production. Congratulations to all concerned.

The production is having a limited run in London, opening on March 10th and running until September 22nd. http://sweeneytoddwestend.com/

Dimanche Dans Le Parc Avec George

Lynne — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:54:09 +0000

As previously suggested, next year Paris’s Le Chatelet Theatre will be staging Sunday in the Park with George. However, this will be a very unusual production in that the first act will be performed in French and the second act in English.

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine are working on the translation and the show is due to be staged in April 2013.

Bernadette Peters becomes a Patron of the Society

Peter Auker — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:05:00 +0000

: Bernadette Peters – our new Patron

We are delighted and excited to announce that Broadway legend Bernadette Peters has agreed to become one of the Patrons of our Society.

Fresh from her acclaimed performance as Sally Durant in Follies on Broadway, Miss Peters declared that she was “honoured” to take her place alongside Stephen Sondheim, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Barbara Cook, Julia McKenzie, David Kernan, Millicent Martin and Stuart Pedlar as a Patron.

The Stephen Sondheim Society presents… Anna-Jane Casey

Peter Auker — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:44:17 +0000

Anna-Jane Casey’s show is at The Pheasantry, King’s Road, Chelsea, on Monday 12th March at 7.00pm.

Remember – Sondheim Society members get a discount – another great reason for joining the Society!

As one of the West End’s leading ladies for over 20 years, Anna-Jane’s talents for singing, dancing and acting have been well exercised and proven and through her time as a performer, she has been perfecting her cabaret and concert work worldwide with diverse accompaniment from symphony orchestras to jazz trios.

Her combination of pop,comedy,ballads and rock songs have audiences enthralled and her range of vocal styles will leave you moved and elated.

With musical director Paul Herbert and bassist Robin Colyer, this evening is guaranteed to be thrilling and fun.

Company at a cinema near you!

Peter Auker — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:50:18 +0000

Have a look at http://www.more2screen.com/our-content/now-booking/sondheims-company/ where you can see if this is on at your local cinema. It is on at about 50 cinemas the length and breadth of the UK.

Announcing a real treat for musical theatre fans – the Tony award-winning musical, Sondheim’s Company, is screening in cinemas worldwide on 15 March. This New York Philharmonic concert production, recorded live at the Avery Fisher Hall, has an all-star cast with some of the hottest names from American stage and TV. A must–see musical theatre event, it will be followed by a LIVE Q&A with the Emmy-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), who plays the part of Robert.

Sondheim’s Company is the bittersweet story of Robert – a single man unable to commit fully to a steady relationship, let alone marriage – the five married couples who are his best friends, and his three girlfriends. Staged as a series of vignettes linked by a celebration for Robert’s 35th birthday, the musical throws a comic spotlight on the eternal issues faced by people in relationships.

Starring

Stephen Colbert, Jon Cryer, Neil Patrick Harris, Christina Hendricks, Patti LuPone, Martha Plimpton and Craig Bierko

Composer

Stephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics) based on a book by George Furth

Conductor

Paul Gemignani

Production Information

Running time 164 minutes

Delivered by satellites Intelsat 905 and 10.02

Congratulations!

Peter Auker — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:22:16 +0000

The Society would like to congratulate and convey our best wishes to Anna Francolini and her husband Toby on the birth of their first child, a daughter Beatrice, born on 30th January, some fourteen years since the run of Saturday Night, for which Anna pioneered the role of Helen, ended at the Bridewell Theatre.

RADA’s Saturday Night features 2011 SSSSPOTY winner, Taron Egerton

Peter Auker — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:45:12 +0000

RADA’s current Sondheim production, Saturday Night, which is running from the 9th – 18th February, features the 2011 Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year, Taron Egerton.

Members of the Society will be going to see the performance on Saturday 11th February.

Saturday Night is Sondheim’s first musical. ‘It’s my baby pictures’, he says. Set in 1920s Brooklyn, a gang of friends share amorous escapades and schemes to ‘get rich quick’, all of which backfire and our heroes barely escape jail. RADA has built a reputation for presenting musicals of the highest quality: Saturday Night will be no exception. It is being staged in the Academy’s Jerwood Vanburgh Theatre – for further details please see the RADA website at www.rada.ac.uk

The Stephen Sondheim Society Presents…Anna-Jane Casey

Peter Auker — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:52:34 +0000

The Pheasantry, Kings Road, London SW3 4UT

Monday 12th March

Show Time 8:30pm / Doors Open 7:00pm

BOOKING AVAILABLE Book online now at http://pizzaexpresslive.co.uk/popBook.aspx?showId=397f3b1e-91ab-4555-ae2a-bee89df33e90&showDateId=5355

SONDHEIM SOCIETY MEMBERS CAN GET A DISCOUNT. CONTACT US TO FIND OUT HOW.

Sweeney Todd in Scotland – theatre break offer

Peter Auker — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:38:05 +0000

Enjoy a close shave and join a relaxing weekend at Cherry Tree Lodge B&B in Fife including Stephen Sondheim’s Musical about the demon barber of Fleet Street, Sweeney Todd.

Arrive at Cherry Tree Lodge on Friday evening and join for dinner and a log fire. On Saturday we take a walk along Dollar Glen to Campbell Castle. There will be a pre-theatre meal before the show at Perth Theatre on Saturday night. Wake up in the idyllic Kingdom of Fife for a hearty breakfast and spend a leisurely Sunday with optional massage.

You can join as much or as little of the above as you fancy. All meals till Sunday lunchtime will be provided except Saturday evening’s pre theatre meal. You are welcome to extend your stay at preferred rates. Please contact Cherry Tree Lodge on 01383851059 or via markandtill@cherrytreelodge.net for details.