New York Philharmonic Concert of Company is Canceled

A semi-staged concert production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Company, which was to have been among the offerings of the New York Philharmonic during its 2006-2007 season, has been cancelled.

The concert was to have been performed at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall from March 7th through March 10th, but no casting had been announced.  Paul Gemignani would have conducted the concert, which would have been helmed by Lonny Price.

New York Philharmonic spokesman Eric Latzky said that the concert's slot will be filled by another event: "We'll announce our plans for that week sometime this summer."

With the cancellation of the Company concert, there will only be one presentation of the classic musical next season.  As was previously announced, John Doyle's hit Cincinnati Playhouse production will open on Broadway in November.  As with the Ohio staging, it will star Raul Esparza as Bobby and Barbara Walsh as Joanne.  Like Doyle's hit Broadway revival of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, it will also feature its cast serving as its orchestra.

The New York Philharmonic has previously presented two staged concerts of Sondheim shows: the historic 1985 Follies concert and 2000's Sweeney Todd (Candide, for which Sondheim wrote some of the lyrics, was also recently seen).

Company, with music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by Furth, traces the love life of bachelor Bobby, whose interactions with his married friends force him to re-evaulate his choices about commitment. Fragmented in structure and slangily, sexily modern in content, Company marked the first musical in the groundbreaking collaboration between Sondheim and director Harold Prince.

The show, starring Dean Jones (who was soon after replaced by Larry Kert), Elaine Stritch and others, opened at the Alvin Theatre on April 26th, 1970 and ran for 705 performances. The show won six Tony Awards--including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Scenic Design (for Boris Aronson). Company featured direction by Prince; he was aided by Michael Bennett, who delivered the show's choreography.

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