Next Sondheim revival?

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 9/21/20 at 9:00am

With company and west side currently on broadway What who you like to see as the next Sondheim revival how would you imagine it and who would star.

Mine are

Gypsy - the Imelda Staunton revival
A little night music - Ive said t hi s for years. But a lush set with Julie Andrews and cate Blanchett
Sunday in the park - full scale production with Jeremy Jordan or Jonathan Groff and Laura Osnes
Assassins - John Gallagher Jr, Cheyenne Jackson, Alice ripley, Corey cott, Taylor frey, Kyle Dean Massey

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/21/20 at 9:13am

Love, there are no shows currently on Broadway, hello?!

I would like for Company to actually open first, and before anyone considers your all-white Sondheim fantasies.

Updated On: 9/21/20 at 09:13 AM

[gypsy101]

Posted: 9/21/20 at 9:30am

i still want a production of Into the Woods with Jane Krakowski as The Witch. i’ve also been thinking of her as Rose in Gypsy lately and how it would be a fresh kind of take on the character.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/21/20 at 9:34am

The Imelda “Gypsy” isn’t coming to broadway. She has “Hello Dolly” now set to open on the West End in 2022, so I think her “Gypsy” having any life outside the filmed version available online is thankfully, dead.

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 9/21/20 at 9:37am

blaxx said: "Love, there are no shows currently on Broadway, hello?!

I would like for Company to actually openfirst, and before anyone considers your all-white Sondheim fantasies."

Actually, anything that hasn't announced a closure is still "currently on Broadway", just currently having temporarily suspended performances.

As much as I love Gypsy and Sundayin the Park, they've both had multiple revivals this century already (as have Follies and if you count off-Broadway Into the Woods).  So instead I'd love to see the first revival of Passion or even bringing back Forum again since it's been 24 years now.  Just something different.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/21/20 at 9:52am

But to answer the question, I think we’ll get the rumored “Funny Thing Happened” revival sooner rather than later. It’s the kind of fun show that I think broadway is going to need with the opportunity to have a huge star in the lead.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/21/20 at 10:58am

Jordan Catalano said: "But to answer the question, I think we’ll get the rumored “Funny Thing Happened” revival sooner rather than later. It’s the kind of fun show that I think broadway is going to need with the opportunity to have a huge star in the lead."

I doubt Corden would have the availability to participate in an open-end run, but maybe a limited run and switch out cast members. I can see them nabbing Josh Gad or maybe even Nathan Lane for a brief return to his role from the most recent revival.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/21/20 at 10:59am

blaxx said: "

I would like for Company to actually open first,"

My thoughts exactly. Let's allow Company to actually open before we start planning the next Sondheim revivals. In addition to Company, we still have Assassins at Classic Stage to look forward to. 

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 9/24/20 at 3:50pm

Staunton as Dolly? I can't wait to see her crazy eyes ramped to 100 from start-to-finish with lack of nuance take on it...

[binau]

Posted: 9/24/20 at 4:26pm

Jordan Catalano said: "But to answer the question, I think we’ll get the rumored “Funny Thing Happened” revival sooner rather than later. It’s the kind of fun show that I think broadway is going to need with the opportunity to have a huge star in the lead. "

I agree. It’s one of the only revivable shows left that hasn’t been done recently and is commercially appealing for all the reasons you have suggested. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 9/25/20 at 3:25pm

Imagine this: Limited Engagement with Eddie Murphy as Prologus/Pseudolus in FORUM!...What fun that would be! He would never do it but it would WIN him a TONY!

Updated On: 9/25/20 at 03:25 PM

[Gorlois]

Posted: 9/25/20 at 6:26pm

I would weep to see Julie on Broadway in A Little Night Music... I’m really not sure if that’s something she’d be interested in, but who knows...

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 9/27/20 at 3:11pm

yesyesyes to a Julie Andrews led ALNM as MME. ARMFELDT...

but i would really love to see a revival of ANYONE CAN WHISTLE...with a new book...Arther Laurents is dead, so why can't there be a new look at the book?...

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 9/27/20 at 3:25pm

Wasn't there at one point buzz that either the Fiasco or Michael Arden productions or Merrily was supposed to come in? I'm assuming both are dead.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/27/20 at 7:38pm

itsjustmejonhotmailcom said: "Wasn't there at one point buzz that either theFiasco or Michael Arden productions or Merrily was supposed to come in? I'm assuming both are dead."

 

I'm assuming by "come in" you mean transfer to Broadway, because of course the Fiasco production did already play NY. I never heard any buzz about either of those Merrily productions transferring to Broadway, but maybe I missed it. The one that I remember having transfer buzz was Maria Friedman's production from London, which (IIRC) had its only US run in Boston. That production has widely been regarded as one of the best (if not the best) revival of Merrily, at least in recent years. As opposed to the Fiasco revival, which I personally thought was pretty bad, and I don't remember it being very well-received. A lot of people theorized that the Friedman production would transfer to NYC after its Boston run, but then Fiasco scooped up the area rights before that could happen. I don't know if that's actually why events played out the way they did, but I still think it's a real shame NYC never got the Friedman production.

 

As for the other Sondheim shows:

I agree that if we're just talking Broadway, Forum (with a big star as Pseudelus) is probably the best bet for the near(ish) future. It's overdue for a revival, and it could do well at the box office if everything is done right.

However, if we're not limiting it to Broadway, then I think it's very likely that we will get major productions of Sondheim's more obscure shows in the coming years. I can definitely imagine some Off-Broadway theatre like CSC, Roundabout, etc. putting up a revival of something like Anyone Can Whistle, The Frogs, etc.

I feel like there's been an increase in demand for productions of Sondheim's rarely-produced shows. Not in a commercial setting, of course, but in terms of smaller houses attended by serious theatregoers. We had the Encores! production of Road Show, the concert version of Saturday Night, the CSC production of Pacific Overtures. I even remember that 42nd Street Moon in San Francisco did Do I Hear a Waltz a few years back. When I was in London a few years ago I managed to catch a production of The Frogs, and I almost went to see a production of Anyone Can Whistle too, but it didn't pan out. It's a shame because it's one of the few Sondheim shows I've never seen live, and I'd like to try to get them all someday. 

Updated On: 9/27/20 at 07:38 PM

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 9/27/20 at 8:04pm

I wish the Friedman revival of MERRILY had transferred to Broadway. I recently rewatched it and forgot how perfect it is.

[darquegk]

Posted: 9/27/20 at 9:32pm

There’s always money in the barber shop...

[Jarethan]

Posted: 9/27/20 at 9:40pm

IdinaBellFoster said: "I wish the Friedman revival of MERRILY had transferred to Broadway. I recently rewatched it and forgot how perfect it is."

How were you able to watch it?  Is there a version available for rent?

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 9/28/20 at 4:10pm

I wouldn't mind seeing Assassins again.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 9/28/20 at 4:34pm

Can't wait for the day Company officially/finally opens, not counting previews. Not looking many years into the future, this will hopefully be the next Sondheim revival (back) on the Great Bright Way. Oh my god, that CAST. And even if they have to recast, I'm sure they will make some more interesting choices. There are moments that truly SHINE in this revival from what I've heard.

Updated On: 9/28/20 at 04:34 PM

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 9/29/20 at 3:28pm

As long as they don't recast Lenk or LuPone. I know Katrina Lenk is in her mid-40s,but she doesn't look it. When Kristin Chenoweth did the Promises,Promises revival she was 20 years older than her character instead of just 10 and it was a bit more obvious.

Updated On: 9/29/20 at 03:28 PM