Putting It Together book by James Lapine- Page 2

[jv92]

Posted: 8/6/21 at 11:38am

Jerry, Lenny and Steve reached a level of artistic immortality that Arthur never would. He was a journeyman and a craftsman— an excellent one— but not on the level of the others. Therein lies the problem. And Steve really did it without him, although I don’t think for a minute he’d express anything but gratitude for the opportunity and council he gave him early on. 
 

True genius shows generosity. 
 

 

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/8/21 at 11:10pm

Just finished it. Got it on Friday and after the first 50 pages I put it down as I already knew I wanted spend at least a few night curled up with this book. I did so with the OBCR playing softly on repeat.

I loved the conversational style of the book. So, so many tidbits that we never knew. The conversations with Mandy's wife were interesting as were the stories of how they dealt with him. Especially the notes. I also loved Sondheim's comment to Lupine at the Tony Awards right after Herman's nasty little speech. It just said a lot. I also loved how Sondheim went very in depth on how he writes. It was fascinating to read and anyone who likes him and knows his music has to feel like "yup, I get and kind of figured that". Especially his use of certain chords throughout his score to remind of of a prior scene.

The book, for me, just yanked me back to that time and made me feel like I was right there. Just like "Everything Was Possible" did. And I rank this book right up there with that book. I could easily read it again.

I do agree about the pictures of the notes. I wear glasses and hate to read with them on so they were a bit blurred as is. I am tempted to get a magnifying glass to see if that will pull them into focus.

For those who have yet to read it, you are in for a real treat. By the middle I was thinking,he just needs to make it a "Putting It Together"  trilogy and do the same with "Into The Woods" and "Passion". 

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 8/8/21 at 11:22pm

Agree with every single thing you’ve written … except:
Wanting a trilogy to include similar books on INTO THE WOODS and PASSION. I’m sorry to say I detested PASSION and no amount of exploration if its creation would make me care for it more.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/8/21 at 11:27pm

Someone in a Tree2 said: "Agree with every single thing you’ve written … except:
Wanting a trilogy to include similar books on INTO THE WOODS and PASSION. I’m sorry to say I detested PASSION and no amount of exploration if its creation would make me care for it more."

I had to listen to Passion a few times after I saw it. It is not my favorite of his but I would love to read about putting it together.  Wouldn't make me like it more but it would be interesting to read how Lupine and Sondheim's creative partnership evolved. I would like to see one on "Into the Woods" first. 

I am not a fan of "Pacific Overtures". I tried but just don't care for it. But I would read a book about its development.

 

Updated On: 8/8/21 at 11:27 PM

[JasonC3]

Posted: 8/9/21 at 10:19am

Detested Passion in its original Broadway run, but some of its songs have taken a place among my list of Sondheim favorites. I've also enjoyed subsequent productions, particularly the most recent Classic Stage revival.

I would be most interested in a third book to add to the Sondheim collection, one that covers his last batch of shows.

[Lin-Manuel Miranda]

Posted: 8/9/21 at 4:28pm

uncageg--I'd buy that trilogy. I do not read to think...

[BJR]

Posted: 8/9/21 at 8:14pm

Cannot WAIT to read this. I love oral histories. How they read so easily, like you're sitting and chatting them as they recollect.

And I would absolutely read that trilogy. From the  WOODS tryout in San Diego I've heard so little about over the years to Fosca's moving moles, I would devour it.

[kmiller10]

Posted: 8/11/21 at 2:20pm

I inhaled this book in one sitting. James Lapine writes about the creation of one of my favorite musicals of all time: Sunday in the Park With George. I enjoyed reading about the creative/collaborative process he and Stephen Sondheim took in creating this masterpiece.
I first discovered the musical itself when I was at a difficult crossroads in my life. At the time, I was facing some serious and life changing decisions. So much of the music/lyrics spoke to me at the time. This lyric in particular, from “Move On”…

Stop worrying where you're going
Move on
If you can know where you're going
You've gone
Just keep moving on

I chose, and my world was shaken
So what?
The choice may have been mistaken
The choosing was not
You have to move on

These words stuck in my brain and became almost like a mantra. They helped me build up the courage to make the choices I needed to make.

And then, there’s what I consider to be the best song in the history of musical theater, “Finishing the Hat”.
Though the character, George, is singing about creating art, and getting lost in that world of creation, the lyrics resonated in me. I am a teacher. Teaching is both a science and an art. This fact is one of the many reasons I have loved my vocation for so long. Creating lessons and units of study is an art form that can be totally absorbing. So, when George sings the following, I understood completely:

Finishing the hat
How you have to finish the hat
How you watch the rest of the world
From a window while you finish the hat
Mapping out a sky
What you feel like, planning a sky
What you feel when voices that come
Through the window
Go
Until they distance and die
Until there's nothing but sky
And how you're always turning back too late
From the grass or the stick
Or the dog or the light
Coming from the hat, studying the hat
Entering the world of the hat
Reaching through the world of the hat
Like a window
Back to this one from that

If you’re unfamiliar with this Pulitzer Prize winning show, you can probably stream in on YouTube. I hear that it’s definitely streaming on Hoopla.

Thanks

https://filesynced.org

Updated On: 8/12/21 at 02:20 PM

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/12/21 at 1:43am

Lin-Manuel Miranda said: "uncageg--I'd buy that trilogy. I do not read to think..."

Not quite sure what you mean there...but, I really want that trilogy. 

Regarding not liking the other two musicals, I would not read books on them because I did or did not like them, I would read them because I like Lapine and Sondheim and would love a peak into their process in bringing the shows to the stage. Especially Into The Woods. But Passion would have to be interesting to read about also.

 

[binau]

Posted: 8/12/21 at 3:58am

It’s a reference to Passion lyrics in a passage of music titled “I read”. (An amazing, dissonant, dark, desperate song that is my favourite from the show and in my opinion shows why Sondheim was still at his best and most innovative even if the show doesn’t always fully work for me - paired with a very nuanced, complex performance by Donna Murphy).

[bear88]

Posted: 8/12/21 at 5:20am

That inspired me to watch ‘I read’ again. I have only seen Passion once, and while it didn’t entirely work for me either, I was impressed with Murphy’s performance and with Sondheim’s rather gutsy willingness to write music that didn’t rely on wordplay or cleverness. Plus, ‘Loving You’ is a gorgeous and heartbreaking song. He and Lapine had to know they were asking a lot of the audience.

And a few years before, Sondheim wrote the music for Assassins, which I think is is his most unsettling show and one that feels a little too prophetic. It was controversial when it was written, when it had a Broadway revival, and is apparently too hot for some companies to handle even now.

Updated On: 8/12/21 at 05:20 AM

[jv92]

Posted: 8/12/21 at 12:46pm

JasonC3 said: "Detested Passion in its original Broadway run, but some of its songs have taken a place among my list of Sondheim favorites. I've also enjoyed subsequent productions, particularly the most recent Classic Stage revival.
 

That CSC production sealed the deal for me. PASSION is a thrilling evening of theatre. I like it more than INTO THE WOODS, but I’m often contrarian. 
 

It DOES ask a lot of an audience, but I don’t mind. Others do, I suppose. 

 

[wiggum2]

Posted: 12/27/21 at 9:02pm

I got the book for Christmas and am about 70 pages in and I am enjoying it. I would definitely love a similar book about ITW... I wonder if it is forthcoming and James got Sondheim's part

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/20/22 at 3:32pm

binau said: "It’s a reference to Passion lyrics in a passage of music titled “I read”. (An amazing, dissonant, dark, desperate song that is my favourite from the show and in my opinion shows why Sondheim was still at his best and most innovative even if the show doesn’t always fully work for me - paired with a very nuanced, complex performance by Donna Murphy)."

Was just redirected to this thread from a post on another thread that mentioned Lin posts here sometimes. Never saw that he responded to my comment!

binau, thank you for the explanation. Did a search and found video of the scene where this passage of music is sung. Now I get it!

 

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/20/22 at 3:34pm

Lin-Manuel Miranda said: "uncageg--I'd buy that trilogy. I do not read to think..."

Had to look for the reference and found it! 

 

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 1/20/22 at 3:45pm

I’m really hoping as well that Lapine was forward thinking enough to get Sondheims part for “Into the Woods” as well.  Has there been any word at all if there would be an ITW one?

Personally if prepared I would love it to be a trilogy and include Passion as well

[BarnabyTucker]

Posted: 1/20/22 at 5:23pm

Checked this out of the library the other day, and read it in a night.  I loved following Lapine from his "Mickey and Judy" days where he was producing theater with friends on a budget to getting a show to Broadway with the kind of musical theater himself. 

I appreciate how humble Lapine's approach to directing is.  He doesn't consider himself to be the end-all-be-all authority in the room, and creates a collaborative and creative environment.  It seemed to escape some actors who got frustrated with his approach, but it clearly paid off.  His dialogue has always read as organic to me and I can see now he works with his company of actors to get it that way. 

Count me in for wanting an ITW and Passion books!