It’s been not quite a month since Stephen Sondheim’s passing. Of course, he was 91 and led a long, productive creative life. Many of us somehow imagined — or at least hoped — he could go on forever. We certainly did not expect that news on Nov. 26, the day after Thanksgiving. Just days before …
Stephen Sondheim’s unexpected passing on Nov. 26 has unleashed a tremendous outpouring of sadness, love and gracious recollection. I’ve been tracking and absorbing more than 50 obituaries, reminiscences, and tributes — from major media, theaters, performers, my many colleagues in the American Theatre Critics Association and more. I resonated with something that composer Jason Robert …
It’s the beginning of the holiday season, and Thanksgiving always reminds us of things we’re grateful for. I’m especially thankful for the hundreds of people who have already purchased The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia — and hopeful that more of you might consider it as a gift for a friend who loves musical theater. Here’s an …
Sondheim News for November: Discounts, Books, Shows Read More »
I’m drawing extensively on my own resource, The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia, as I embark on a related project with Stuart Brown, the hardworking guy who founded and maintains Sounds of Broadway, a 24/7 online radio station playing the music of Broadway, Off-Broadway, the London stage and much more. We’re sitting down together (virtually, of course) …
“The Complete Stephen Sondheim” podcast is now under way Read More »
I live in Cincinnati and have a long history with this city’s local public radio stations. (I worked for WGUC, a classical music station once licensed to the University of Cincinnati, and managed WNKU, an eclectic NPR affiliate licensed to Northern Kentucky University.) In recent years I have conducted theater interviews — including several with …
Back in April and May just after The Sondheim Encyclopedia was published, Bill Rudman, host of Sirius XM’s “On the Aisle” on its On Broadway channel presented a series of conversations with me. If you missed them there, check your local public radio station (a full list here) for “Footlight Parade,” the re-release of our …
Finishing the Conversations: Sondheim Listening Opportunities Read More »
In April and May on Sirius XM’s “On Broadway” channel, host Bill Rudman devoted four of his “On the Aisle” programs to conversations with me about the Encyclopedia! Now those programs are available to public radio stations, where they air as FOOTLIGHT PARADE. On most stations they’ll air on the weekends of July 17-18 and …
In 1976 Sondheim wrote a song for his friend Herbert Ross’s film, The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, a Sherlock Holmes tale. “I Never Do Anything Twice” was performed by a madam to entertain her customers in an upscale brothel where Holmes (played by Nicol Williamson) pursued a villain. The singularly named Régine played the role, and the …
Check out the COVERAGE menu at www.RickPenderWrites.com to find a lengthy list of interviews and articles with Rick about this comprehensive reference volume. On June 15, author Rick Pender hosted a panel discussion for the American Theatre Critics Association, A Little Night Musing: Writing About Sondheim. His esteemed guests were Ted Chapin (author of Everything …
Sondheim Encyclopedia coverage continues as fans order hundreds of copies Read More »
The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia was released on April 15, and there’s been a lot of interest already. Several hundred people tuned in to the live-streamed launch on Friday evening, April 16. (If you missed it, you can watch Rick’s conversation with David Armstrong — including some challenging trivia questions for attendees — via a YouTube …
