Sondheim’s Square One coming to broadway?

[Jesse St. James]

Posted: 11/16/22 at 11:09pm

I found this twitter account named SquareOneBway that was created in July. I was wondering if this account could have been made in preparation for an announcement? Obviously anyone can create a fake twitter account but I find it odd that it is followed by playbill and the public theater.

[Synecdoche2]

Posted: 11/16/22 at 11:19pm

Yes

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 11/16/22 at 11:25pm

Wouldn't be surprised if this is the case at all!

It's not rare for companies to grab social media handles to prevent a random person claiming a handle from messing with their plans. Many a Marvel project has been known to leak because they grab social media handles well before they announce their projects and years before they come out. 

That being said, nothing is confirmed to be happening in Theatre until the curtain goes up on the first preview. It's entirely possible a production company has the rights and grabbed this Twitter to prepare for a potential production, but it isn't confirmed to be happening yet. 

[binau]

Posted: 11/17/22 at 3:44am

With Nathan Lane likely unavailable i wonder if we could get a Bernadette/Patinkin reunion. That would be super super special. 

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 11/17/22 at 10:11am

If Bernadette and Mandy returned to Broadway in a new musical from the late, great Sondheim... I don't know what I'd do with myself.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/17/22 at 10:15am

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, now.

[Alex M]

Posted: 11/17/22 at 10:25am

binau said: "With Nathan Lane likely unavailable i wonder if we could get a Bernadette/Patinkin reunion. That would be super super special."

Suspecting this is waiting till next season. If so, Lane probably will be available.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 11/17/22 at 10:37am

jkcohen626 said: "Wouldn't be surprised if this is the case at all!

It's not rare for companies to grab social media handles to prevent a random person claiming a handle from messing with their plans. Many a Marvel project has been known to leak because they grab social media handles well before they announce their projects and years before they come out.

That being said, nothing is confirmed to be happening in Theatre until the curtain goes up on the first preview. It's entirely possible a production company has the rights and grabbed this Twitter to prepare for a potential production, but it isn't confirmed to be happening yet."

Just as common is someone stealing the handle so the production company will have to pay them money to buy it back from them. Happens with website domains all the time.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 11/17/22 at 11:37am

Fair enough. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/17/22 at 11:40am

I wonder if this was talked about at the super-secret Sondheim memorial event that nobody has any info on lol

[HogansHero]

Posted: 11/18/22 at 10:53am

lol I feel confident it was talked about but maybe not by anyone who knows any more than we do. I don't think this moves forward without Nathan.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 11/18/22 at 11:29am

Valentina3 said: "jkcohen626 said: "Just as common is someone stealing the handle so the production company will have to pay them money to buy it back from them. Happens with website domains all the time."

Considering the account is followed by The Public, which has been attached to the show since we heard about it early on, I'd say that's a pretty strong sign it's legitimate.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/18/22 at 11:53am

OhHiii said: "Valentina3 said: "jkcohen626 said: "Just as common is someone stealing the handle so the production company will have to pay them money to buy it back from them. Happens with website domains all the time."

Considering the account is followed by The Public, which has been attached to the show since we heard about it early on, I'd say that's a pretty strong sign it's legitimate."

I was thinking the same thing, but I think it would be very unlikely to open without Lane and Peters, especially Lane. A Sondheim show, especially with this plot will be a tough sell. 

I am most curious about structure of the final show. I believe act two wasn’t finished. Ives could obviously finish the book and likely tweak lyrics, but what happens to the music? Who could make minor alterations to the music? The music director? Tunick? A trusted friend/composer like LMM?
Maybe it’ll become one act?
It’s going to be very interesting to see what happens. 

Updated On: 11/18/22 at 11:53 AM

[binau]

Posted: 11/18/22 at 1:26pm

Is Nathan Lane a bigger star than Mandy Patinkin? (I’m not really sure). Interestingly Mandy’s concert schedule ends Feb, which would give enough time for Rehearsal for a spring opening (and Bernadette’s schedule will be mostly clear except a couple dates in June). Of course this is just wishful thinking on my part. But if they were as apparently described in the dramatist last just ‘looking for a home’ a spring opening seems well timed with the Tonys too. If it’s a Broadway opening it would seem more undesirable to open next summer/fall/winter, unless they are waiting for Nathan Lane to become available (which may be also seen very reasonable). 

[Ke3]

Posted: 11/18/22 at 4:51pm

binau said: "Is Nathan Lane a bigger star than Mandy Patinkin? (I’m not really sure). Interestingly Mandy’s concert schedule ends Feb, which would give enough time for Rehearsal for a spring opening (and Bernadette’s schedule will be mostly clear except a couple dates in June). Of course this is just wishful thinking on my part. But if they were as apparently described in the dramatist last just ‘looking for a home’ a spring opening seems well timed with the Tonys too. If it’s a Broadway opening it would seem more undesirable to open next summer/fall/winter, unless they are waiting for Nathan Lane to become available (which may be also seen very reasonable)."

I'd say that Nathan Lane and Mandy Patinkin are equally famous to non-theatre audiences based on name recognition alone. If you put a poster up, Mandy's would jog more memories due to the early seasons of Criminal Minds and then doing Homeland. Either way, I think the audience who would turn out for this show, would also turn out for Bernadette opposite a brick wall. At this point all we're talking about is a rumor of an off-broadway run. Not to be crass but Sondheim's dead and this is his final (semi)finished work. You could fill an off-broadway house for a decent run just off-that fact. 

And, obviously, we're talking about commercial theatre so this doesn't matter, but I do think the casting for his final work being meddled with to sell tickets would be a slap in the face to everything his art stands for.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/18/22 at 5:58pm

Ke3 said: " And, obviously, we're talking about commercial theatre so this doesn't matter, but I do think the casting for his final work being meddled with to sell tickets would be a slap in the face to everything his art stands for."

I get what you’re saying, but are you referring to the potential casting of Lane and Peters? I can’t think of a more perfect pair for his final show, his ultimate muse, Peters, and a regular of his work and friend, Lane. They also both did the reading while he was alive. 

[Ke3]

Posted: 11/18/22 at 9:15pm

ljay889 said: "Ke3 said: "And, obviously, we're talking about commercial theatre so this doesn't matter, but I do think the casting for his final work being meddled with to sell tickets would be a slap in the face to everything his art stands for."

I get what you’re saying, but are you referring to the potential casting of Lane and Peters? I can’t think of a more perfect pair for his final show, his ultimate muse, Peters, and a regular of his work and friend, Lane. They also both did the reading while he was alive."

No, no! I'm referring to the idea, that already seems to be brewing on this board that they (or she) are not "big" enough. Some of the above comments seem to be heading that way, and I thought was silly.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/18/22 at 10:21pm

Ah! Totally agree then. It would be ridiculous to try to stunt cast this show. Lane and Peters in Sondheim’s final musical would definitely sell some tickets. 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 11/19/22 at 12:17am

ljay889 said: "I am most curious about structure of the final show. I believe act two wasn’t finished. Ives could obviously finish the book and likely tweak lyrics, but what happens to the music? Who could make minor alterations to the music? The music director? Tunick? A trusted friend/composer like LMM?
Maybe it’ll become one act?
It’s going to be very interesting to see what happens."

Is it possible they might do what was done with State Fair, where they supplement the score with previously unreleased songs from other shows? Not saying if that would work or not for Square One, but it might be a way to get the show to a performable state, along with giving us some Sondheim material that would have been lost to time otherwise.

[binau]

Posted: 11/26/22 at 2:56pm

Came across this interview with Bernadette where she actually refers to Square One. I particularly love some of the quotes before, I think it's pretty clear that if Bernadette can she will want to do the show lol.

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/bernadette-peters-on-broadway-barks-and-paying-tribute-to-stephen-sondheim-070522

 

How did it feel performing the tribute for Stephen Sondheim at the Tony Awards?

I felt privileged that I could honor Steve in that way. All I really wanted to do was present the song with as much intention as what he wrote. Because those are important lyrics with an important message. He never, never, never wanted his lyrics to preach to an audience. He hated that. And they don't preach. They just lay it out there for you to just think about. And I was really honored to be there to be able to sing it.

Do you think it gave you a sense of closure at all?

Oh, no. It just keeps things open. There is never closure with his music. I want to sing it forever.

What do you recall of your last conversation with him?

He was having trouble seeing and he was going to have to learn how to write on a computer. I think in a way he was wondering about that. He was writing that last show [Square One].

That you did a workshop with Nathan Lane.

I did, yeah. That was wonderful to be able to do. I am glad I did that. We basically chit-chat. I would ask his advice about something so I always called him just to see how he was and that kind of stuff.

Do you think that the public will get to see that show that you did the workshop with?

I really don't know. I sure hope so.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/26/22 at 8:30pm

NYTIX strikes again lol 

Shelved Broadway Shows

 https://www.nytix.com/shows/shelved

 https://www.nytix.com/shows/square-one

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/26/22 at 8:50pm

STOP GIVING NYTIX ANY CONSIDERATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/26/22 at 9:51pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "STOP GIVING NYTIX ANY CONSIDERATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

What a joke of a compnay -  how do they still exist and of course not - I don't get their deal just sharing with all what they have posted on their site and interesting though that they have info on this show posted???

Updated On: 11/27/22 at 09:51 PM