The Stephen Sondheim Society

Sondheim on Television

Early Work

• The Two of You February 22nd 1952

  Dated February 22, 1952, this song was intended to be sung by Fran Allison on “The Kukla, Fran and Ollie Show”, but was rejected.

• Topper* September 1953 – November 1953

  A fantasy sitcom series for which Sondheim wrote ten or eleven episodes, George Oppenheimer wrote ten and they co-wrote the rest. September - November 1953. The Sondheim episodes include: “Hiring the Maid”, “Phantom Burglar”, “Henrietta and the Decorator”, “George’s Old Flame”, “The Vance’s Game”, “Madam Kaza”, “Henrietta Wins a Trip”, “Theatricals”, “Car Episode”, “Trip to Lisbon”, “Economy” and “The Socialite”. The cast included Anne Jeffreys, Robert Sterling and Leo G. Carroll.

• The Last Word January 6th 1957 – October 1st 1959

  A CBS panel show with the English language as the topic of discussion. “Steve” Sondheim, along with Madeline Karr, was credited as writer for the show’s premiere.

• In an Early Winter* (NBC) May 20th 1959

  Sondheim’s only dramatic teleplay to be produced. Based on a New Yorker story by Roger Angell. The cast included Kim Hunter, Pat Hingle, Isobel Elsom and Thomas Chalmers.




Unproduced Television Work

• A Funny Coincidence

  Unproduced television series based on the book “Blandings” by Eric Hodgins, pilot script written by Sondheim.

• Do You Hear a Waltz?

  A planned television musical. The title song was included in the revue “Putting It Together” in 1999.

• Happily Ever After

  Unproduced musical for television, with book by Joseph Stein and music and lyrics by Sondheim, 1959.

• I Believe in You

  Unproduced musical for television, with book by Elaine Carrington and Sondheim, 1956.

• Mr. Blandings and the Tree Surgeon

  Unproduced television series based on the book “Blandings” by Eric Hodgins, pilot script written by Sondheim.

• Teddy and the Magician

  Episode for Kodak Family Adventure, 1954.

• The Education of Mr. Blandings

  Unproduced television series based on the book “Blandings” by Eric Hodgins, pilot script written by Sondheim.

• The Lady or the Tiger

  Unproduced musical for television, based on the story by Frank Stockton, written by Mary Rodgers and Sondheim, 1954.

• Ten Years Old. (CBS) January 31st 1960

  A song by Sondheim and Burt Shevelove for “The Fabulous Fifties” but cut before airtime.




Early Television Appearances

• Play Your Hunch (NBC) June 3rd 1960

  Sondheim was a guest participant in this night-time game show.

• The Tonight Show (NBC) June 19th 1962

  Sondheim was a guest.

• The Merv Griffin Show (NBC) February 14th 1963

  Sondheim was a guest.

• The Match Game (NBC) November 1st 1966

  Sondheim was a panellist.

• Password (CBS) December 25th 1966

  Sondheim was a panellist on the celebrity edition on a team headed by Lee Remick.




Original Television Musicals

• Evening Primrose* (ABC - Stage ’67) November 16th 1966

  Sondheim’s only original television musical. Adapted by James Goldman from a story by John Collier. The director was Paul Bogart and the cast included Anthony Perkins, Charmian Carr, Dorothy Stickney, Larry Gates, Margaret Bannerman, Margaret Baker, Leonard Elliott, Mike Meola, Dorothy Sands and Margaretta Warwick.




Sondheim As Actor

• June Moon* (PBS - Theatre in America) January 30th 1974

  Sondheim made his professional acting debut as wisecracking, acerbic pianist Maxie Schwartz in the television adaptation of the George S. Kaufman/Ring Lardner comedy about the business of songwriting. The directors were Burt Shevelove and Kirk Browning, and the cast also included Jack Cassidy, Tom Fitzsimmons, Estelle Parsons, Barbara Dana, Austin Pendleton, Kevin McCarthy and Susan Sarandon.




Miscellaneous

• The Saga of Lenny (PBS - Great Performances) March 19th 1989

  Bernstein at 70. Sondheim wrote the lyrics to Kurt Weill’s music for this birthday tribute sung by Lauren Bacall.




Musicals on Television

• Pacific Overtures* (TVAsahi, Japan) June 9th 1976

  The original Broadway production was taped June 9, 1976, at the Winter Garden Theatre for Japanese television, where it was shown with Japanese subtitles. The television direction was by Marty Pasetta, and the cast included Mako, Soon-Teck Oh, Yuki Shimoda, Sab Shimono, Isao Sato, Alvin Ing, Ernest Harada, James Dybas, Mark Hsu Syers, Patrick Kinser-Lau, Ernest Abuba, Larry Hama, Jae Woo Lee, Freddy Mao, Tom Matsusaka, Conrad Yama, Timm Fujii, Haruki Fujimoto, Freda Foh Shen and Gedde Watanabe.

• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street* (The Entertainment Channel) September 12th 1982

  Taped in Los Angeles during the tour that followed the show’s Broadway run. The television direction was by Terry Hughes, and the cast included George Hearn, Angela Lansbury, Cris Groenendaal, Calvin Remsberg, Betsy Joslyn, Ken Jennings, Sal Mistretta, Spain Logue, Walter Charles and Michael Kalinyen.

• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street* (Showtime) March 11th 1984

  Taped in Los Angeles during the tour that followed the show’s Broadway run. The television direction was by Terry Hughes, and the cast included George Hearn, Angela Lansbury, Cris Groenendaal, Calvin Remsberg, Betsy Joslyn, Ken Jennings, Sal Mistretta, Spain Logue, Walter Charles and Michael Kalinyen.

• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street* (PBS - Great Performances) May 3rd 1985

  Taped in Los Angeles during the tour that followed the show’s Broadway run. The television direction was by Terry Hughes, and the cast included George Hearn, Angela Lansbury, Cris Groenendaal, Calvin Remsberg, Betsy Joslyn, Ken Jennings, Sal Mistretta, Spain Logue, Walter Charles and Michael Kalinyen.

• Sunday in the Park with George* (Showtime - Broadway on Showtime) February 18th 1986

  Taped before an audience at the Booth Theatre in New York. The television director was Terry Hughes, and the cast included Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Charles Kimbrough, Barbara Bryne, Dana Ivey, Melanie Vaughan, Mary D’Arcy, Sue Anne Gershenson, Cris Groenendaal, John Jellison, Frank Kopyc, Judith Moore, Nancy Opel, William Parry, Natalie Polizzi, Michele Rigan, Brent Spiner and Robert Westenberg.

• Follies in Concert: Four Days in New York* (PBS - Great Performances) March 14th 1986

  This documentary was both a behind-the-scenes look at the rehearsal period and footage of numbers from the 1985 concert version with the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall. The concert was directed by Herbert Ross, and the cast included Licia Albanese, Carol Burnett, Liz Callaway, Betty Comden, Barbara Cook, Adolph Green, André Gregory, George Hearn, Howard McGillin, Erie Mills, Liliane Montevecchi, Phyllis Newman, Mandy Patinkin, Daisy Prince, Lee Remick, Arthur Rubin, Elaine Stritch and Jim Walton.

• Sunday in the Park with George* (PBS - American Playhouse) June 16th 1986

  Taped before an audience at the Booth Theatre in New York. The television director was Terry Hughes, and the cast included Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Charles Kimbrough, Barbara Bryne, Dana Ivey, Melanie Vaughan, Mary D’Arcy, Sue Anne Gershenson, Cris Groenendaal, John Jellison, Frank Kopyc, Judith Moore, Nancy Opel, William Parry, Natalie Polizzi, Michele Rigan, Brent Spiner and Robert Westenberg.

• Candide (PBS - Live from the Lincoln Center) November 12th 1986

  A live telecast of the New York City Opera’s production of the 1956 Leonard Bernstein Broadway musical. Lyrics by Richard Wilbur, with contributions by Sondheim and John LaTouche. The conductor was Scott Bergeson, and the cast included David Eisler, Erie Mills, John Lankston, James Billings and Muriel-Costa-Greenspon.

• Candide* (BBC) 1988

  The Scottish Opera production conducted by John Mauceri. The cast included Mark Beaudert, Nickolas Grace and Marilyn Hill Smith.

• A Little Night Music (PBS - Live from the Lincoln Center) November 7th 1990

  A televised performance of the New York City Opera’s production. The stage director was Scott Ellis and the television director was Kirk Browning. The cast included Sally Ann Howes, George Lee Andrews, Elaine Bonazzi, Danielle Ferland, Michael Maguire, Maureen Moore, Ron Baker, Lisa Saffer, Barbara Shirvis, Michael Rees Davis, Susanne Marsee, David Comstock, Kevin Anderson, Beverly Lambert, Raven Wilkinson and Susan Terry.

• Into the Woods* (PBS - American Playhouse) March 20th 1991

  Most of the original Broadway cast were in this television adaptation. The director was James Lapine and the cast included Bernadette Peters, Joanna Gleason, Chip Zien, Danielle Ferland, Ben Wright, Kim Crosby, Robert Westenberg, Tom Aldredge, Barbara Bryne, Pamela Winslow, Chuck Wagner and Merle Louise. Edwin Newman interviewed Sondheim and James Lapine during the intermission.

• Candide* (A & E) October 15th 1991

  Leonard Bernstein conducted the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a concert production, taped in 1989 at the Barbican Center in London. The director was Humphrey Burton and the cast included Jerry Hadley, June Anderson, Adolph Green, Christa Ludwig and Nicolai Gedda.

• Gypsy* (CBS) December 12th 1993

  Made-for-television movie based on the 1959 Ethel Merman Broadway hit. The producer/director was Emile Ardolino and the cast included Bette Midler, Peter Riegert, Cynthia Gibb, Edward Asner, Christine Ebersole, Michael Jeter and Andrea Martin.

• Passion* (PBS - American Playhouse) September 8th 1996

  Most of the original Broadway cast were in the film taped just after the show’s closing. The director was James Lapine and the cast included Donna Murphy, Jere Shea, Marin Mazzie, Gregg Edelman, Tom Aldredge, Linda Balgord, T.J. Meyers, William Parry, Christopher Peccaro, Francis Ruivivar, John Antony, Colleen Fitzpatrick, Marcus Olson and Andy Umberger.

• Company* (BBC2) December 10th 1996

  Live presentation of the production at the Donmar Warehouse in London. The director was Sam Mendes, who interviewed Sondheim during the intermission, and the cast included Adrian Lester, Paul Bentley, Clare Burt, Anna Francolini, Rebecca Front, Sheila Gish, Kiran Hocking, Hannah James, Teddy Kampner, Clive Rowe, Liza Sadovy, Michael Simkins, Gareth Snook and Sophie Thompson.




Tributes, Interviews and Programs

• American Musical Theatre* (WCBS) October 15th 1961

  Host Earl Wrightson interviewed Sondheim about his career in what is most likely the first extended television interview about his work. Wrightson, Ralph Curtis and Martha Wright, and the CBS Orchestra under Irwin Kostal, performed songs from “West Side Story” and “Gypsy”.

• American Musical Theatre (WCBS) May 20th 1962

  Host Earl Wrightson’s guests were Sondheim, Brian Davies and Preshy Marker from the cast of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”.

• American Musical Theatre* (WCBS) April 24th 1965

  Richard Rodgers, Elizabeth Allen and Sergio Franchi discussed “Do I Hear a Waltz?” with host Earl Wrightson, Allen and Franchi singing five songs from the show.

• Camera Three: The Making of a Musical: Do I Hear a Waltz?* (CBS) April 25th 1965

  Host James MacAndrew discussed the creation of the Broadway musical with Sondheim, librettist Arthur Laurents and scenic designer Beni Montresor.

• Company: The Making of the Original Cast Album* (WNEW-TV) October 25th 1970

  D.A. Pennebaker’s documentary with the original cast.

• The David Frost Show: Follies* (Sydicated) June 23rd 1971

  David Frost hosted a 90-minute special edition devoted to “Follies”. Cast members Alexis Smith, Dorothy Collins, Yvonne De Carlo, Gene Nelson and John McMartin talked about how they were cast. De Carlo sang “I’m Still Here”, Collins sang “Losing My Mind” and Kurt Peterson, Virginia Sandifur, Harvey Evans and Marti Rolph sang “You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow”. Hal Prince and James Goldman discussed the origins of the show and Sondheim sang “Can That Boy Foxtrot!” and played “Marry Me a Little”.

• The Merv Griffin Show (Syndicated) July 24th 1972

  Griffin hosted a salute to “Follies” with original Broadway cast members. They sang “Waiting for the Girls Upstairs”, Yvonne De Carlo sang “I’m Still Here” and Dorothy Collins sang “Losing My Mind”.

• Sondheim: A Musical Tribute* (WNET) March 11th 1973

  Filmmaker Hart Perry’s impressionistic thirteen-minute documentary included archival photographs, rehearsal footage and interviews with participants as they prepared for the March 11, 1973, musical tribute to Sondheim at the Shubert Theatre.

• Camera Three: Anatomy of a Song* (CBS) March 28th 1976

  Frank Rich interviewed Sondheim about the writing of “Someone in a Tree” from “Pacific Overtures” and cast members Mako, James Dybas, Mark Hsu, and Gedde Watanabe were joined by Sondheim on the piano to perform the song.

• Previn and the Pittsburgh: The World of Stephen Sondheim* (WNET) March 28th 1977

  André Previn interviewed Sondheim and there were performances by David Kernan, Millicent Martin, and Julia McKenzie from “Side by Side by Sondheim”.

• The Mike Douglas Show* (Syndicated) June 14th 1977

  Sondheim and Julia McKenzie were guests and she sang “Side by Side by Side” and “Broadway Baby.”

• Previn and the Pittsburgh: The World of Stephen Sondheim* (PBS) June 29th 1979

  André Previn interviewed Sondheim and there were performances by David Kernan, Millicent Martin, and Julia McKenzie from “Side by Side by Sondheim”.

• The MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour* (WNET) October 24th 1984

  An eighteen-minute segment featured an interview with Sondheim taped a few days before the opening of the off-Broadway revival of “Pacific Overtures”. Conductor Paul Gemignani and director Hal Prince were shown rehearsing the New York City Opera’s production of “Sweeney Todd”, and Robert Westenberg sang “Color and Light”.

• Bernstein Conducts West Side Story* (PBS - Great Performances) May 17th 1985

  A documentary about the 1985 recording session for the Deutsche Grammophon release of “West Side Story”. The cast included Kiri Te Kanawa, Tatiana Troyanos, José Carreras and Kurt Ollmann.

• 60 Minutes* (CBS) March 13th 1988

  Diane Sawyer interviewed Sondheim, and he and Bernadette Peters discussed “Into the Woods”.

• CBS This Morning (CBS) 1992

  Related to Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall, this salute included songs by Helen Schneider.

• Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall* (PBS - Great Performances) June 10th 1992

  An edited version of the concert. Paul Gemignani conducted the American Theatre Orchestra, Kirk Browning was the director, and performers included Liza Minnelli, Bernadette Peters, Betty Buckley, Glenn Close, Karen Ziemba, Madeline Kahn, Bill Irwin, Daisy Eagan, Patti LuPone, Jerry Hadley, Michael Jeter, Mark Jacoby, Patrick Cassidy, Victor Garber, Dorothy Loudon and James Naughton.

• Kennedy Center Honors* (CBS) December 29th 1993

  The Kennedy Center Honor presented to Sondheim included performances by Angela Lansbury, Jason Alexander, Scott Bakula and Bernadette Peters.

• Good Morning America* (ABC) May 3rd 1994

  An interview with Sondheim about “Passion” with excerpts from “Passion”, “Gypsy” and “Into the Woods”.

• 20/20: Stephen Sondheim: The Man Behind the Music* (ABC) May 6th 1994

  Interviews with Sondheim, James Lapine and Frank Rich, with excerpts from “Passion”, “Gypsy”, “Merrily We Roll Along” and “Sunday in the Park with George”.

• The Charlie Rose Show* (PBS) June 3rd 1994

  Rose interviewed Sondheim and Lapine about “Passion” and showed clips from the show.

• The Larry King Show (CNN) June 11th 1994

  Guests included Sondheim, Mandy Patinkin and Donna Murphy, who performed “I Wish I Could Forget You”.

• A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim (A & E) January 12th 1995

  Taped at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where Sondheim received the Algur H. Meadows Award, the show featured Debra Monk, Chip Zien and Bernadette Peters.

• Inside the Actors Studio* (Bravo) June 7th 1995

  James Lipton interviewed Sondheim, and Liz Callaway and Jim Walton, accompanied by Paul Ford, sang his songs.

• CBS Sunday Morning (CBS) October 22nd 1995

  Charles Osgood interviewed Sondheim, with clips from the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of “Company”.

• ABC Good Morning America (ABC) 1996

  Joel Siegel interviewed Sondheim and Larry Gelbart, with excerpts from the revival of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”.

• About Books (C-Span2) January 27th 1997

  Sondheim participated in this informal discussion about literature hosted in Barney’s men’s store by publisher Harry Evans.

• Hey, Mr. Producer (PBS - Great Performances) August 16th 1998

  A tribute to Cameron Mackintosh included songs from “Gypsy”, “Company”, “Follies” and “A Little Night Music”.

• Bernadette Peters in Concert (PBS) August 7th 1999

  A concert from the Royal Festival Hall in London included several Sondheim songs.

• Stephen Sondheim, Musicals and More (German TV) October 14th 2000

  A documentary produced by Georg Wuebbolt featuring many interviews and clips.

• 92nd Street Y Presents: Stephen Sondheim (WLIW, New York) November 6th 2000

  An interview with Sondheim and songs by Liz Callaway and Jonathan Dokuchitz, accompanied by Paul Ford.

• Inside the Actors Studio: Bernadette Peters (Bravo) November 12th 2000

  James Lipton interviewed Peters and she sang several songs.




Cast Performances

• The Garry Moore Show* (CBS) May 1st 1962
  A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

  Julie Andrews introduced “Love, I Hear” from the musical scheduled to open on Broadway the following week.

• Eye on New York: Angel on Broadway (CBS) January 21st 1964
  A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

  A documentary about Marguerite Cullman includes Mostel and the courtesans.

• Tony Awards* (ABC) March 28th 1971
  A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

  Zero Mostel sang “Comedy Tonight” in this 25th anniversary retrospective of Tony-winning musicals.

• The Tonight Show (NBC) May 10th 1973
  A Little Night Music

  Glynis Johns sang “Send in the Clowns” and D. Jamin-Bartlett sang “The Miller’s Son”.

• Best of Broadway* (Entertainment Channel) 1982
  A Little Night Music

  Glynis Johns and Len Cariou sang “Send in the Clowns.”

• Best of Broadway* (PBS - Great Performances) May 24th 1985
  A Little Night Music

  Glynis Johns and Len Cariou sang “Send in the Clowns”.

• Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall* (PBS) June 10th 1992
  Assassins

  Patrick Cassidy and Victor Garber sang “The Ballad of Booth”.

• The Tonight Show (NBC) April 13th 1971
  Company

  Company members performed a number from the show. Larry Kert and Beth Howland are listed on the NBC cards as guests.

• Musical Comedy Tonight (Part 1) (PBS) October 1st 1979
  Company

  Host Sylvia Fine Kaye paid tribute to “Company” with a sequence including performances by non-original cast members Sandy Duncan, Richard Chamberlain, Bernadette Peters and Carol Burnett.

• Best of Broadway* (Entertainment Channel) 1982
  Company

  Pamela Myers, Susan Browning and Donna McKechnie sang “You Could Drive a Person Crazy”.

• Kennedy Center Tonight: Broadway Plays Washington* (PBS) March 13th 1982
  Company

  Elaine Stritch sang “The Ladies Who Lunch”.

• Best of Broadway* (PBS - Great Performances) May 24th 1985
  Company

  Pamela Myers, Susan Browning and Donna McKechnie sang “You Could Drive a Person Crazy”.

• The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS) March 28th 1965
  Do I Hear a Waltz?

  Elizabeth Allen sang “Do I Hear a Waltz?” and Sergio Franchi joined Allen for “Take the Moment”.

• Tony Awards (ABC) April 20th 1975
  Follies

  Alexis Smith sang “The Story of Lucy and Jessie”.

• Hollywood’s Diamond Jubilee (CBS) November 11th 1978
  Follies

  Yvonne De Carlo sang “I’m Still Here” at the unveiling of the rebuilt Hollywood sign.

• Best of Broadway* (Entertainment Channel) 1982
  Follies

  Alexis Smith sang “Could I Leave You?”

• Best of Broadway* (PBS - Great Performances) May 24th 1985
  Follies

  Alexis Smith sang “Could I Leave You?”

• Gypsy Rose Lee (WNTA) April 14th 1959
  Gypsy

  On the premiere of a prospective talk/variety show hosted by Gypsy Rose Lee, Jule Styne and Sandra Church performed numbers from her forthcoming musical bio.

• Ford Startime: Merman on Broadway (NBC) November 24th 1959
  Gypsy

  Ethel Merman sang songs from “Gypsy” on numerous programs on television, most notably on Ford Startime: Merman on Broadway.

• Gypsy Rose Lee* (Syndicated) 1965
  Gypsy

  Ethel Merman was Lee’s guest on the talk show.

• Tony Awards (CBS) January 1st 1975
  Gypsy

  Angela Lansbury sang “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from the 1974 Broadway revival.

• Broadway Sings the Music of Jule Styne (PBS) December 1st 1989
  Gypsy

  Linda Lavin sang “Some People”.

• Kennedy Center Honors (CBS) December 28th 1990
  Gypsy

  Tyne Daly sang “Some People” in the tribute to Jule Styne.

• Tony Awards* (CBS) June 5th 1988
  Into the Woods

  Phylicia Rashad (who replaced Bernadette Peters as the Witch), Joanna Gleason and Chip Zien performed.

• Tony Awards (ABC) April 18th 1976
  Pacific Overtures

  The original Broadway cast performed the show’s opening number.

• Today (NBC) 1994
  Passion

  Donna Murphy sang “Loving You”.

• Good Morning America* (ABC) May 3rd 1994 – May 4th 1994
  Passion

  Segments featured Passion.

• 20/20* (ABC) May 6th 1994
  Passion

  A segment featured “Passion”.

• Good Morning America (ABC) May 8th 1994
  Passion

  Jere Shea and Marin Mazzie sang “Happiness”.

• National Arts September 26th 1994
  Passion

  Donna Murphy, Jere Shea and Marin Mazzie were interviewed and clips from “Passion” were shown.

• John Curry Ice Spectacular (PBS)
  Side by Side by Sondheim

  1977 or 1978. Millicent Martin, Julia McKenzie and David Kernan performed “Side by Side”, “Send in the Clowns”, “Anyone Can Whistle”, and “You Could Drive a Person Crazy”.

• The Merv Griffin Show
  Side by Side by Sondheim

  Millicent Martin sang “The Boy From…” (from “The Mad Show”).

• John Curry Ice Spectacular (London Weekend Television) December 25th 1976
  Side by Side by Sondheim

  Millicent Martin, Julia McKenzie and David Kernan performed “Side by Side”, “Send in the Clowns”, “Anyone Can Whistle”, and “You Could Drive a Person Crazy”.

• Tony Awards (ABC) June 5th 1977
  Side by Side by Sondheim

  Millicent Martin sang “I’m Still Here”.

• The Mike Douglas Show* (Syndicated) December 7th 1977
  Side by Side by Sondheim

  Douglas welcomed Hermione Gingold, Larry Kert, Georgia Brown and Nancy Dussault from the replacement cast. Brown, Kert and Dussault performed “Comedy Tonight” and “Love Is in the Air”, Kert sang “Something’s Coming”, Dussault performed “Send in the Clowns”, and Brown sang “I’m Still Here”.

• Tony Awards (CBS) June 3rd 1984
  Sunday in the Park with George

  The original company performed the Act One finale.

• Tony Awards (CBS) June 3rd 1979
  Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

  Angela Lansbury sang “The Worst Pies in London”.

• The South Bank Show. Sweeney Todd: Scenes from the Making of a Musical* (London Weekend Television) July 26th 1980
  Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

  Opening with the first day of rehearsals of the London production of “Sweeney Todd”, this ninety-minute documentary focused on the rehearsal process with the musical’s director Hal Prince, the composer and actors Denis Quilley, Sheila Hancock and John Aron.

• Tony Awards* (CBS) June 7th 1981
  Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

  Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou sang “By the Sea”.

• Best of Broadway* (Entertainment Channel) 1982
  Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

  Len Cariou sang “Pretty Women”. Excerpt from “God, That’s Good” performed by Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou.

• Best of Broadway* (PBS) May 24th 1985
  Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

  Len Cariou sang “Pretty Women”. Excerpt from “God, That’s Good” performed by Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou.

• The Merv Griffin Show
  West Side Story

  Josie de Guzman and Ken Marshall sang “Tonight” from the Broadway revival.

• The Tex and Jinx Show (NBC) October 14th 1957
  West Side Story

  Larry Kert and Carol Lawrence were guests.

• Look Up and Live* (CBS) February 23rd 1958
  West Side Story

  The Rev. Sidney Lanier discussed the conception of “West Side Story” and its representation of juvenile delinquency with Jerome Robbins. Mickey Calin (Callan) sang “The Jet Song” and “Cool”, Larry Kert sang “Something’s Coming”, and Carol Lawrence and Larry Kert performed “Tonight”.

• The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS) September 14th 1958
  West Side Story

  The Broadway company, with Hank Brunjes as Riff, performed “Cool” on the first anniversary of the opening of “West Side Story” on Broadway.

• The Ed Sullivan Show* (CBS) November 2nd 1958
  West Side Story

  Carol Lawrence and Larry Kert re-enacted the balcony scene and sang “Tonight”.

• Tony Awards (CBS) June 8th 1980
  West Side Story

  Debbie Allen led the revival cast in “America”.

• Liberty Weekend: Opening Ceremonies (ABC) July 3rd 1986
  West Side Story

  Debbie Allen danced “America”.

• In Performance at the White House (PBS) March 31st 1988
  West Side Story

  Larry Kert sang “Something’s Coming” and joined Judy Kuhn in “Tonight” in a salute to Broadway musicals hosted by President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan.

• Tony Awards* (CBS) June 4th 1989
  West Side Story

  The Broadway cast of Jerome Robbins’ Broadway performed “Dance at the Gym”.

• West Side Stories: The Making of West Side Story 1996
  West Side Story

  An unaired documentary by Peter Fitzgerald featured interviews with cast members of both the stage and film productions of “West Side Story”, as well as 8mm behind-the-scenes footage shot on location during the filming of the movie.




British Television

• Diamonds as Big as the Ritz-The Musical: All You Need Is Love (London Weekend Television) April 2nd 1977

  Glynis Johns sang “Send in the Clowns”.

• Comedy Tonight! (Thames) April 2nd 1980

  London’s Pseudolus, Frankie Howerd, sang “Comedy Tonight” on this British special.

• The Levin Interviews: Stephen Sondheim (BBC) May 24th 1980

• The South Bank Show. Sweeney Todd: Scenes from the Making of a Musical* (London Weekend Television) July 26th 1980

  Opening with the first day of rehearsals of the London production of “Sweeney Todd”, this ninety-minute documentary focused on the rehearsal process with the musical’s director Hal Prince, the composer and actors Denis Quilley, Sheila Hancock and John Aron.

• Royal Variety Performance (London Weekend Television) November 13th 1983

  Julia McKenzie sang “Broadway Baby” from the London production of “Side by Side by Sondheim”.

• Razzmatazz and Realism: All the World’s a Stage (BBC) April 15th 1984

  Sondheim was a participant.

• The South Bank Show. Stephen Sondheim: A Master Class* (London Weekend Television) May 20th 1984

  This hour-long documentary showed Sondheim coaching students at the Guildhall School of Music on how to perform and interpret four of his songs.

• Royal Variety Show (BBC) November 25th 1984

  The West End cast performed “Gee, Officer Krupke”, from the 1984 revival of “West Side Story”.

• Arts Review (London Weekend Television) December 14th 1986

  “Next” from the Wythenshawe production of “Pacific Overtures”.

• The Terry Wogan Show (BBC) August 7th 1987

  Terry Wogan hosted a special show devoted to the 1987 London production of “Follies”, featuring interviews with Sondheim and cast members Diana Rigg, Julia McKenzie and Dolores Gray.

• Evening Standard Awards (Thames) November 17th 1987

  Included segment of “Follies” numbers “Loveland” and “Beautiful Girls” taped live from the Shaftsbury Theatre.

• Olivier Awards (London Weekend Television) November 29th 1987

  Eartha Kitt sang “I’m Still Here”.

• The Royal Variety Performance (London Weekend Television) November 29th 1987

  Dolores Gray sang “I’m Still Here”.

• Olivier Awards (BBC) January 24th 1988

  The cast of the London production of “Follies” performed “Who’s That Woman?”

• Cleo Sings Sondheim April 4th 1988

  A tie-in to the recording featuring music-video-like production numbers.

• Sunday in the Park… with Stephen* (BBC1 - Omnibus) March 20th 1990

  A two-pronged documentary that focused on both Sondheim’s activities in England as he guided the Royal National Theatre through rehearsals for its production of “Sunday in the Park with George” and his stint as visiting professor at Oxford University that year as the first recipient of the Cameron Mackintosh Chair of Contemporary Theatre. The cast included Philip Quast as George and Maria Friedman as Dot and Marie.

• The Late Show (BBC) September 24th 1990

  Ned Sherrin interviewed Sondheim.

• Evening Standard Awards (London Weekend Television) November 13th 1990

  “Agony” and “Last Midnight” from the London production of “Into the Woods” were performed.

• The Terry Wogan Show (BBC) December 21st 1990

  Julia McKenzie and Nicholas Parsons performed “Hello, Little Girl” and “Agony”.

• The South Bank Show: Arts Review (London Weekend Television) December 28th 1990

  The opening sequence of the London production of “Into the Woods” was featured.

• Olivier Awards (BBC) April 19th 1993

  Henry Goodman and Anthony Barclay sang “The Ballad of Guiteau” from the 1992 London production of Assassins.

• Olivier Awards (BBC2) April 18th 1994

  The company sang “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” and Julia McKenzie sang “The Worst Pies in London” from the 1993 West End revival of “Sweeney Todd”.

• Face to Face (BBC2) October 9th 1995

  Sondheim was interviewed.

• The South Bank Show: Judi Dench (London Weekend Television) October 29th 1995

  A profile of Judi Dench in which she sang “Send in the Clowns”.

• Pebble Mill: A Little Night Music* (BBC1) January 25th 1996

  Actors from the National Theatre’s revival of “A Little Night Music” discussed and performed songs from the musical. The cast included Judi Dench, Laurence Guittard, Sian Phillips, Joanna Riding, Di Botcher, Stephen Hanley, Morag McLaren, John Owen-Jones and Ernestina Quarcoo.

• Evening Standard Awards (London Weekend Television) November 29th 1996

  Michael Ball and Maria Friedman performed songs from the London production of “Passion”.

• Company* (BBC2) December 10th 1996

  Live presentation of the production at the Donmar Warehouse in London. The director was Sam Mendes, who interviewed Sondheim during the intermission, and the cast included Adrian Lester, Paul Bentley, Clare Burt, Anna Francolini, Rebecca Front, Sheila Gish, Kiran Hocking, Hannah James, Teddy Kampner, Clive Rowe, Liza Sadovy, Michael Simkins, Gareth Snook and Sophie Thompson.

• Theatreland: Saturday Night* (London Weekend Television) December 28th 1997

  A ten-minute appraisal of the premiere of Sondheim’s 1954 unproduced musical “Saturday Night” included clips from the Bridewell Theatre Company’s production and performances by Anna Francolini, Sam Newman, James Millard, Maurice Yeoman, Jeremy David, Sion Greiff, Gavin Lee and Rae Baker.

• The Show: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (London Weekend Television) August 22nd 1999

  A documentary about the production in Regent’s Park in 1999.

• Love Is in the Air: Zum Siebzigsten (German TV WDR) April 2000

  Shown in England via satellite, April 2000. Don Sebesky conducted the WDR Big Band and the Orchestre der Beethovenhalle Bonn in a concert of Sondheim’s work. Helen Schneider sang a medley.




Museum of Television and Radio Seminars

• An Evening with Sondheim* October 27th 1993

  New York. An interview with Sondheim about his upcoming musical, “Passion”, and a discussion of his television work, the influence of Oscar Hammerstein II, the genesis of “Evening Primrose” and other matters.

• A Conversation with Stephen Sondheim* March 16th 2000

  New York. Sondheim discussed the casting of Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters in “Sunday in the Park with George”, his work on “Topper”, his enjoyment of teaching, his collaborations with Hal Prince and James Lapine and the workshop of “Wise Guys”.

• Side by Side with Sondheim* May 24th 2000

  Los Angeles. Sondheim’s work was discussed by a panel that included writer and producer Craig Zadan and performers Glynis Johns, Joanna Gleason, Dean Jones, Charmian Carr and Nancy Dussault.