'Sondheim Tonight' at Everyman Theatre

I have one major complaint about this second and final Explore Everyman Series of cabaret performances for this season…it is not going to be extended!!

Judy Simmons, as Director of Cabaret for the Theatre, should have known how terrific she is and how well this concert would be received.

The one hour non-stop "Sondheim Tonight" should not be missed. There are limited tickets available for the final two performances, Monday and Tuesday nights, April 23 and 24.

For a Sondheim fan, this concert is delectable. For those who unacquainted, this will be am an educational and entertaining experience.

Simmons starts the evening with "Broadway Baby" sung a cappella…and slowly she builds the momentum of this great number from "Follies".

You could tell the many Sondheim aficionados in the audience quickly. Simmons asked, "What is your favorite Sondheim musical?" The audience was quick to yell their various responses…"Sweeney", "Night Music", "Company"…etc.

Her next number was a rarely heard tune from "Evening Primrose", "I Remember".

It was a bold decision to include this song along with other similarly not famous titles as "No Mary Ann" ("The Thing of it Is") and "I Never Do Anything Twice" from the film "The Seven Percent Solution". I think the audience would have benefited from more background of these lesser-known numbers.

The title song from the musical "Anyone Can Whistle" had a lovely tempo and included a spirited piano cadenza by her amazing accompanist and orchestrator, Howard Breitbart.

Other favorites you will hear include "Wait" and "By the Sea" from "Sweeney Todd", the anthem from "Company" "The Ladies Who Lunch", a wonderful rendition of "Being Alive" and "Finishing the Hat" (where she had to change the lyrics to a female perspective), "Old Friend" from "Merrily We Roll Along" (which will be done next season at the Signature Theatre), and her encore was Sondheim's most famous song "Send in the Clowns" from "A Little Night Music" (which will be done at Center Stage in 2008).

There is certainly a huge audience for evenings like this. Now that the theatre has purchased a great sounding piano, there's a good chance this will continue next year.

For tickets, call 410-752-2208 or visit www.everymantheatre.org.  To learn more about Stephen Sondheim, go to his official website www.sondheim.org.  For a great magazine devoted to the composer visit www.sondheimreview.com.

For comments, cgshubow@broadwayworld.com