Steve Sondheim News

BroadwayWorld continues our exclusive content series, in collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, which delves into the library's unparalleled archives, and resources. Below, check out a piece by Charles Morrow, Cataloger of the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, on: 'Sing out, Louise!'

Moderated by the New York Times' (NYT) chief classical music critic Anthony Tommasini, three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep, who plays the titular role of the tone-deaf operatic soprano Florence Foster Jenkins in the movie of the same name, recently talked about the connection between acting and music; her desire to work on an original theater piece on the Broadway stage, among other things, in 'TimesTalks.'

? It's a toga party!  Middlebury Community Players presents one of the brightest and funniest musicals ever written, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, at the Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, Vermont.  Opening April 28 and closing May 7, the show runs Thursday through Sunday the first weekend and Thursday through Saturday the second weekend.  Showtimes are 8:00 for April 28, 29, 30 and May 5, 6 and 7 with 2:00 matinees on May 1 and 7.  Tickets are $15 for the Thursday shows, $23 for all other performances ($18 for students with ID), and can be purchased at the box office, (802) 382-9222, or online at www.townhalltheater.org.  ASL interpretation will be available at the May 1 show.

Westchester Broadway Theatre presents TIM AND SCROOGE, A CAROL FOR A LATER CHRISTMAS, with music by Neil Berg and book & lyrics by Nick Meglin. Directed by Nick Corley with musical direction by Patrick Hoagland, the production will run tonight, December 3 - December 27, 2015.

Westchester Broadway Theatre presents TIM AND SCROOGE, A CAROL FOR A LATER CHRISTMAS, with music by Neil Berg and book & lyrics by Nick Meglin. Directed by Nick Corley with musical direction by Patrick Hoagland, the production will run December 3 - December 27, 2015.

She was hand-picked by Leonard Bernstein to sing Mimi in his Grammy nominated La boheme

Today we are talking to an accomplished director, actor and writer who has carved out an astonishingly unique career and is now taking charge of this weekend's annual Tony Awards Viewing Party sponsored by The Actors Fund LA, Luke Yankee. Shedding some light on growing up as the son of legendary Academy Award-winning stage and screen star Eileen Heckart, who famously collaborated with such theatrical luminaries as William Inge, Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim and many more. Most importantly, Yankee shares what the lucky attendees can expect from the viewing party in LA this weekend - the only official live feed in the world besides the East Coast airing - as well as highlights the starry honorees receiving special citations and the accomplished performers scheduled to appear at the hotly anticipated event.

The National Theater Institute includes a vibrant community of over 3,500 alumni. The many talents of these actors, writers, directors, and designers can be seen on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in films, television, London's West End, and at every major regional theater in the U.S. Today, in an excerpt from EVERYTHING WAS POSSIBLE: THE BIRTH OF THE MUSICAL FOLLIES, we hear from Ted Chapin (NTI Fall '70) who called his semester-away at NTI an 'extraordinary' 'experimental off-campus theater program.'

BWW caught up with the busy artist just days before the 87th ACADEMY AWARDS airs live on February 22nd, to find out what's in store for this year's ceremony, and get the behind-the-scenes scoop on NBC's PETER PAN LIVE and more!

In an all-new interview with Deadline, INTO THE WOODS producer Marc Platt shares some of the challenges he faced in bringing the iconic musical production to the big screen.

Today we remember stage and screen icon Joan Rivers in honor of her death this week at the age of 81 with this InDepth InterView originally presented in 2013.

BroadwayWorld.com is very excited to kick off a brand new partnership with THE SONDHEIM REVIEW. Each month we'll be bringing you special, and exclusive archives from the quarterly magazine dedicated to the work of the musical theatre and Broadway's foremost composer and lyricist, Stephen Sondheim. Each issue contains news, interviews, features, reviews, historical information, upcoming productions in your area, puzzles, and more. Our correspondents in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, and all over the world bring you the latest, most accurate information and insights.

Versatile Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz discusses his career beginnings and much more as part of a new video interview.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: One of the most iconic Broadway leading ladies in theatrical history, in honor of her passing earlier today at the age of 89, let us revisit this career-spanning InDepth InterView with the one and only Elaine Stritch. As a personal aside, following the conclusion of the interview proper the conversation between Ms. Stritch and I continued for several more minutes and she emphatically relayed to me that this had been her favorite interview to date and that she was incredibly appreciative and pleased with being questioned about the topics chosen herein. The following is reprinted exactly as it originally appeared here on BroadwayWorld on February 17. Hats off to a dynamite dame.

Today we are talking to a remarkably accomplished writer and director who has amassed numerous top entertainment trophies over the course of his long and distinguished career, including multiple Emmy Awards, Tony Awards and even a Grammy - the uniquely talented Martin Charnin. Sharing his thoughts on the forthcoming big screen adaptation of his hit musical property ANNIE as well as previewing what we can expect from the forthcoming 2014-2015 national tour, Charnin also reflects on the original production of the classic Depression-era musical and analyzes why it remains a continual cultural touchstone for generations new and old while also looking ahead to a potential Broadway production of the sequel, written with original composer Charles Strouse, ANNIE WARBUCKS. Also, Charnin touches upon his time as a member of the original cast of iconic musical WEST SIDE STORY and recounts working alongside legends such as Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents and more. Additionally, Charnin sheds some light on his illustrious string of collaborations with recently deceased composer Mary Rodgers Guettel, ranging from more than 50 songs written as a team to a string of special TV musicals as well as working together on the stage musicals HOT SPOT and THE MADWOMAN OF CENTRAL PARK WEST. Besides of all of that, Charnin also looks back to his heyday as a TV variety special helmer, having created award-winning tributes to a slew of Broadway's best composers and lyricists including George Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Cole Porter and many more. Plus, Charnin shares his thoughts on GLEE, how show business has changed, the possible future life for TWO BY TWO and much, much more in this wide-ranging chat with a major Broadway notable.

Education Dramaturg Ted Sod met with composer John Kander to discuss his work on Cabaret.

Iconic leading lady, theatrical grande dame Elaine Stritch is making a few select appearances this week in promotion of her upcoming documentary, ELAINE STRITCH: SHOOT ME, and the actress comments on her most recent Broadway role opposite Bernadette Peters in the 2009 revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC as part of a new interview.

Today we are setting our sights on one of the most iconic Broadway leading ladies alive and looking back at her astonishingly rich and varied career onstage and onscreen, having worked with many of the most important entertainment figures of the 20th and 21st century over her 60-year career and winning multiple awards and honors in the process - the one and only Elaine Stritch. Touching upon her time in many notable theatrical entities ranging from her early work at The New School under director Erwin Piscator to rubbing elbows with legends like Bertolt Brecht, William Inge, Noel Coward, Tennessee Williams and Marlon Brando to her unforgettable turns in Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY and FOLLIES IN CONCERT, Stritch also shines a light on her indelible performances in the plays of Edward Albee and looks ahead to a staged reading of THREE TALL WOMEN she is pursuing later this year. Most importantly, Stritch opens up about the multi-year process in creating the stunning and awe-inspiring new all-access documentary ELAINE STRITCH: SHOOT ME, directed by Chiemi Karasawa, and outlines how she dealt with cameras documenting her every move for more than two years. Additionally, Stritch comments on her memorable moments in the films of Woody Allen byway of SEPTEMBER and SMALL TIME CROOKS, as well as shares insights into some of her most famous and fabulous co-stars - Ben Gazzara, Alec Baldwin, James Gandolfini, Steve Buscemi and many more included. Plus, Stritch details her recent move back to her hometown of Detroit, Michigan, and shares details about her recent recuperation from hip surgery and ongoing battles with alcoholism as well as learning to see with only eye. As if all of that were not enough, Stritch also imparts her thoughts on why she appeals to the younger generation and how her Emmy-winning 30 ROCK role has raised awareness for her in the last decade and whether she would ever consider pursuing a reality series or new solo cabaret act. All of that, why she hates the word diva and much, much more in this career-spanning conversation with the veritable reigning queen of Broadway herself.

Today we are talking to a legendary leading lady famous for a few of the most iconic roles in some of the most memorable musicals of the 1980s and 1990s as well as a versatile vocalist and concert performer set to make her cabaret debut later this month - the ingratiating and amusing Randy Graff. Looking back at originating the role of Fantine in the original Broadway production of mega-hit mega musical LES MISERABLES and singing the unforgettable 'I Dreamed A Dream' eight times a week (and on the best-selling cast recording) as well as recounting her Tony Award-winning work in the endlessly entertaining Cy Coleman/David Zippel musical comedy CITY OF ANGELS, Graff share stories from behind the scenes and gives us a rare look at theatrical history in the making and her elemental role in both productions. Additionally, Graff opens up about some of her other most fondly remembered work, including her fantastic turn in Ed Kleban's A CLASS ACT, William Finn's FALSETTOS, Cole Porter's HIGH SOCIETY, the stage play and documentary MOON OVER BUFFALO co-starring Carol Burnett, the most recent revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and much more. Most importantly, Graff generously outlines what we can expect from her upcoming solo shows at NYC hotspot 54 Below titled MADE IN BROOKLYN, in what will actually be the stalwart star's solo show premiere. In addition to all of that, Graff also touches upon some of her big screen and small screen work, ranging from LAW & ORDER to RENT, as well as recounts some theatrical tales involving theatre greats such as Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, John Simon and more. All of that and much, much more awaits in this rich resume recounting retrospective with one of Broadway's best!

Today we are talking to a terrifically talented and versatile stage and screen performer who has excelled in many arenas throughout her compellingly varied career - comedy, drama, stand-up, cabaret, jazz and beyond - the fiercely, fabulously idiosyncratic and ebulliently engaging Lea DeLaria. Espousing upon a wide range of topics and tracing her unique professional trajectory thus far, DeLaria sheds some light on a few of her most fondly remembered stage roles - revivals of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW and ON THE TOWN on Broadway, as well as Off-Broadway turns in LITTLE FISH and PROMETHEUS BOUND included - as well as recounts her experiences participating in a handful of feature films, new and old, as well - including the recent Hallmark original movie musical DEAR DUMB DIARY. Most importantly, DeLaria recounts her experiences starring on the Netflix mega-hit series ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK and offers a glimpse of the major impact that the pop culture lynchpin has had on her own life since its 2013 debut - while also preliminarily previewing what we can expect from Season Two, too. Plus, DeLaria reflects on her recording legacy, detailing the conception and production of some choice cuts from her many arresting albums - such as 'Broadway Baby', 'The Ballad Of Sweeney Todd', 'Puff' and 'Sleigh Ride' - as well as shares first news on her new album project, highlighting the music and lyrics of David Bowie. Additionally, DeLaria teases her upcoming scandalously titled series of holiday-themed shows at NYC cabaret hotspot 54 Below occurring in late December while also offering her candid perspective on favorite Christmas tunes and the season itself. All of that, FURTHER TALES OF THE CITY memories and much more in this engaging conversation with a true Broadway and Hollywood original.