Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends - 2025 Broadway History , Info & More
What do you say, old friend? Ready for some more Sondheim? The music of Broadway's most revered composer is back on Broadway in Manhattan Theatre Club's (in association with Cameron Mackintosh and Daryl Roth) Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends- a musical that celebrates the master himself, with an ensemble cast led by Tony Award winners Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga.
Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends comes to Broadway from London’s West End, and plays Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles before arriving on Broadway.
Old Friends is a great big Broadway show born out of Cameron Mackintosh and Stephen Sondheim’s lifetime of friendship and collaboration. The two of them came up with the idea during the pandemic, drawing on the many shows that they had done together in collaboration with their good friend Julia McKenzie. Once theatres reopened in London and New York in the fall of 2021, Mackintosh was able to visit Sondheim again and this new show remained something they continued to discuss; but, sadly, shortly after, Sondheim passed away in November 2021.
It fell to Mackintosh to pick up where he and Sondheim left off, collating their notes, and structuring the show that would initially become a spectacular star-studded gala at the Sondheim Theatre in London’s West End in May 2022 to celebrate Sondheim’s life and work, and also raise funds for the newly formed Stephen Sondheim Foundation.
Stephen Sondheim is widely acknowledged as the most innovative, most influential, and most important composer and lyricist in modern Broadway history. He is the winner of an Academy Award, numerous Tony Award, multiple Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize. Some of his other accolades include a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors (1993), the National Medal of Arts (1996), the American Academy of Arts and Letters' Gold Medal for Music (2006) and a special Tony Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre (2008).
Stephen Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics for Road Show (2008), Passion (1994), Assassins (1991), Into the Woods (1987), Sunday in the Park with George (1984), Merrily We Roll Along (1981), Sweeney Todd (1979), Pacific Overtures (1976), The Frogs (1974), A Little Night Music (1973), Follies (1971; revised in London, 1987), Company (1970), Anyone Can Whistle (1964) and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962), as well as the lyrics for West Side Story (1957), Gypsy (1959), Do I Hear a Waltz? (1965) and additional lyrics for Candide (1973). Side by Side by Sondheim (1976), Marry Me a Little (1981), You're Gonna Love Tomorrow (1983) and Putting It Together (1993/99) are anthologies of his work, as is the new musical Sondheim on Sondheim.
Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends - 2025 - Broadway Cast
PREVIEW Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends - 2025 - Broadway
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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends
From: TimeOut New York
By: Adam Feldman
Date: 2025-04-09
6 / 10
Perhaps fittingly, the best reason to see Old Friends is the oldest thing in it: Bernadette Peters. At 77, she remains astonishingly youthful-looking; when she takes the stage to sing “I Know Things Now” as Little Red Riding Hood from Into the Woods, it really doesn’t seem like that big a stretch. She does a little cavorting—especially when clowning with Leavel and Riding in Gypsy’s “You Gotta Get a Gimmick”—but mainly she offers emotional ballads and ballast. Most of her solos are in songs she has done before, including some that she has done on Broadway (“Send in the Clowns,” “Losing My Mind”), but her versions are in constant, exquisite evolution. She knows things now, many valuable things, and she brings them to Sondheim’s work like the best kind of friends: the ones who can tell you the truth.
From: The Wrap
By: Robert Hofler
Date: 2025-04-08
3 / 10
Yet another Stephen Sondheim revue is playing on Broadway. This one is called Old Friends, and it opened Tuesday at MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre after engagements in London and Los Angeles. This is the sixth Sondheim revue to open on Broadway. In recent decades, legendary composers from George Gershwin to Richard Rodgers have not received this kind of attention. Hands down, the three best moments in Old Friends come when five wonderful singers (Jacob Dickey, Jasmine Forsberg, Kyle Selig, Maria Wirries and Daniel Yearwood) deliver a memorable Tonight Quintet from West Side Story. The two other great moments belong to Lea Salonga, who brings down the house twice, first with Somewhere from West Side Story and then Everything’s Coming Up Roses from Gypsy. Salonga presents a great Rose, and what adds to the excitement is how different Rose is from the roles that made Salonga a star: Kim in Miss Saigon, Fantine in Les Miz and the singing voice of Jasmine in the film Aladdin. If there were any justice, Cameron Mackintosh, who devised this Sondheim revue, would have instructed Matthew Bourne, who directs, to include Rose’s Turn for Salonga to finish off the evening.
Video: Catching Up with Old Friend Maria Wirries
by Robert Bannon - May 30, 2025
In this video, Maria talks about her discovering a love of Sondheim, working with Bernadette and Lea, and her own love of writing! She has her own full length musicals ready to go penned by her own talented self! We also talk about her life touring in “Kinky Boots,” coming to Broadway with “Dear Evan Hansen,” and singing “Maria” while being, well, Maria!
Video: Bernadette Peters Reveals Her Favorite Stephen Sondheim Song
by Josh Sharpe - May 14, 2025
As part of The Kelly Clarkson Show's Broadway-themed episode, Broadway icon Bernadette Peters stopped by the show to discuss starring in the musical revue Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends and shared her favorite Sondheim song. Watch the interview!
Photos: STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S OLD FRIENDS Cast Celebrates Opening Night
by Bruce Glikas - April 12, 2025
Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, starring two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga, officially opened earlier this week on Broadway. Check out photos of the cast taking their opening night celebration here.
Review Roundup: STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S OLD FRIENDS Opens On Broadway
by A.A. Cristi - April 8, 2025
It's a celebration of all things Steve as Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, starring two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga, celebrates on Broadway! See what the New York critics thought of this West End transfer! Read the reviews!
Photos: STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S OLD FRIENDS Hosts Benefit Performance
by Bruce Glikas - April 3, 2025
On April 2, Manhattan Theatre Club hosted a special benefit performance of Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, starring Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga. BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos here!
STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S OLD FRIENDS Extends for Two More Weeks
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 25, 2025
Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, starring two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga, has extended for two more weeks. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Cameron Mackintosh Is Bringing Sondheim Home
by Nicole Rosky - March 22, 2025
Bit by bit, Cameron Mackintosh has been putting together the masterpiece that is his latest musical project. Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, a tribute to his old friend who passed away before seeing it onstage, comes to Broadway this spring following acclaimed runs in London and Los Angeles. He's telling us all about how it came to be.
Up on the Marquee: STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S OLD FRIENDS
by Jennifer Broski - February 26, 2025
Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, starring two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga, is coming to Broadway! Check out photos of the new broadway marquee here.
Watch Lea Salonga Perform 'Everything's Coming Up Roses' in OLD FRIENDS
by A.A. Cristi - February 15, 2025
Cameron Mackintosh's production of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, starring two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga is playing now at at Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles. Check out new video of Tony Award-winner Lea Salonga performing, 'Everything's Coming Up Roses,' from Gypsy.
Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends History
Other Productions of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends
Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends - 2025 Broadway Awards and Nominations
Note: Award winners are highlighted with a background.
Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends awards and nominations
| Year |
Ceremony |
Category |
Nominee |
| 2025 |
Drama Desk Awards |
Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical |
Mick Potter |
| 2025 |
Drama League Awards |
DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE |
Beth Leavel |
| 2025 |
Drama League Awards |
DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE |
Lea Salonga |
