Sondheim's COMPANY @ NY Philharmonic in 2007

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 4:08pm

From Playbill.com:

New York Philharmonic to Present Semi-Staged Performances of Sondheim's Company

The 2006-2007 season at the New York Philharmonic will include semi-staged performances of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's award-winning musical Company.

The 1970 Tony-winning Best Musical will be presented March 7-10, 2007, at Avery Fisher Hall. Lonny Price will direct, and Paul Gemignani will conduct the famed orchestra. Company follows the Philharmonic's acclaimed presentations of two other Sondheim musicals: Follies in 1985 and Sweeney Todd in 2000.

No casting has been announced.



http://www.playbill.com/news/article/97831.html

Updated On: 2/8/06 at 04:08 PM

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 4:10pm

Great news!!!!!! Wow!! What would be the dream cast for this show? mmm...
Updated On: 2/8/06 at 04:10 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 4:15pm

AlanScott over on TalkinBroadway.com has the fun idea of using "real" theatre couples as the marrieds:

Judy Kaye and David Green
Michelle Pawk and John Dossett
Carolee Carmello and Greg Edelmann
Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley
Sherie Rene Scott and Kurt Deutsch

Since Lonny Price is directing, I guess the consensus is that LuPone will probably play Joanne.

Should be a fun evening, though I guess this production will pretty much supercede any kind of transfer of John Doyle's COMPANY - I was hoping we'd get that, at least for a limited run at B.A.M.
Updated On: 2/8/06 at 04:15 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 4:23pm

Patti will be a great Joanne. I can't imagine it wouldn't be her. Can we expect Cerveris as Bobby? Audra as Amy?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 4:25pm

I doubt Audra will be in it. Cerveris is probably a likely candidate for Bobby, though it would be fun if they went for a bigger name like Hugh Jackman.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 4:35pm

Hugh Jackman as Bobby is a good choice.

Bobby is a tricky role. He is withholding yet warm, distant and friendly, charming, sexy, sensitive, yet there has to be something visibly missing. For all that is there (or ought to be there) there is a missing link or two.

What is it about this man that he is the best friend of all these couples? The women all love him and the men all want to be him. That's something that we need to see.

Tricky.

[Scottie310]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 5:12pm

This should be incredible. Does anyone know how much tickets will cost? Or when they will be available. I would love to go see this and one of the performances is on my birthday, so it would be a fun way to celebrate.

I love the idea of Patti as Joanne, but I don't see Michael as Bobby at all. Hugh Jackman would be fun though. I really want to see Raul do it too. I would love to see Carolee as Marla (is that her name? The one who sings Another Hundred People). I'm not sure if she's too old or not, but she would sound incredible singing that song.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 5:34pm

"Marta" -- and yeah Carolee is probably too old, but it's a concert version so it doesn't really matter. I always wanted to hear Andrea McArdle sing it.

[RuprechtJr.]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 5:34pm

I think (and don't throw stones) that Elaine Stritch should reprise the role. What do you think?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 5:54pm

I don't really think Strich needs to reprise her role. She still performs "Ladies Who Lunch" all the time, and they already had an OBC reunion concert.
Updated On: 2/8/06 at 05:54 PM

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 5:59pm

YAY.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 6:12pm

Wow. This is so exciting. Company with Raul this year, and then Company with the Philharmonic next year!

Michael would be *perfect* for Bobby. Oh please, oh please, oh please let this happen. Of course, do you think it's likely that Raul would reprise his role?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 6:19pm

Good idea. Maybe it will get recorded. Although, I guess Doyle's Company won't be making the leap. If it did, I think NYC audiences would overdose on Company.

[Bluewatergables]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 6:19pm

No offense to anyone here, but I am personally over Audra..I feel she is very one note. Sorry bout the pun.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 7:32pm

"Ah sir! Happy news indeed!"

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 7:41pm

Is it possible that if Esparza impresses as Bobby in Doyle's production and it doesn't transfer, he'd be a candidate for the role in this one?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 7:44pm

I wouldn't see this if it starred Judy Garland, John Raitt, Ethel Merman, Gwen Verdon, Laurence Olivier and robbiej.

I. hate. this. show.

Updated On: 2/8/06 at 07:44 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 7:47pm

The only production that is going to star that line up Rath, is when they stage it at WIGSTOCK...

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 7:55pm

Company is one of Sondheim's most brilliant shows in my opinion. People haven't learned to digest it 30+ years after it opened. The book is mediocre at times, very sitcom-ish, but the score is truly flawless, showstopper after showstopper, and the material is so deep. I don't like the idea of LuPone playing Joanne at all, I think she'd be totally miscast. Judy Kaye would make a great Joanne, actually. This is exciting news, I won't be able to go to see Doyle's production, but next year I'll sure head to the city and watch one of my favorite shows.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 8:11pm

The score is what I can't stand about it. Except for Ladies Who Lunch. Those hammer-you-over-the-head type songs do not go down well with me.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 8:31pm

I find the music beautiful and as you can see from my name, it is a personally adored one in my book. I also don't like the idea of Patti anywhere near this.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 8:49pm

Company is pure genius.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 8:52pm

Rath, do you mean the entire score aside from "Being Alive"? Like, hammer you over the head with morals and didactic points?

Gwen Verdon would make a great Bobby though, I agree.

PS Audra? Audra McDonald? One note? ?!?!?!!

I think I'd kill myself listening to Hugh Jackman play Bobby. He's the male Patti LuPone. "Be-eeng ALAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVE. BEEEEE-EEEENG ALAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVE!" You do realise his vibrato disturbs wind patterns and causes tsunamis and hurricanes, don't you?

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 8:54pm

Wait, for a second I thought you were talking about Raul's vibrato!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 8:57pm

Sorry, of course I love Being Alive.

It's the Bobby Babys, Another 100 Peoples, and Barcelonas and their ilk that make me want to gouge my eyes out with a fork.