On Wednesday, Feb. 2, 5pm Eastern, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City will present a free Zoom webinar, A Celebration of the Life and Work of Stephen Sondheim. This promises to be a multi-lensed look into the depth, complexity and nuanced work of Sondheim. What makes this conversation unique is its perspective on his vast contributions from both sides of the footlights: the program will feature a pair of actors who originated roles in Sondheim shows: Joanna Gleason (The Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods) and Donna Murphy (Fosca in Passion). Also speaking will be who , as well as a pair of leading intellectuals: Dr. Cornel West, a prolific author and thought leader as well as the recipient of more than 20 honorary degrees and American linguist John McWhorter, who teaches at Columbia University. The program will be moderated by Jamie Bernstein, author and daughter of composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. Register with this link.
I hope you’ve tuned in to one of my ongoing conversations with Stuart Brown on his Sounds of Broadway musical theater web channel. We are discussing each of Sondheim’s shows; our most recent topic, Assassins, is available as of January 28, 2022. (Our previous conversations explored West Side Story and Merrily We Roll Along.)
Last August I recorded a conversation with my local NPR station, WVXU Cincinnati, about The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia. Host Michael Monks was a very astute interviewer. The program additionally featured three individuals associated with the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), one of America’s most revered musical theater training programs: Pamela Myers, who originated the role of Marta in Company’s original Broadway production in 1970, faculty member Vince DeGeorge who will stage Sunday in the Park with George at CCM in April, and Jessica Hendy, a regular Broadway performer. The program was aired a 2nd time in November, and I’ve been pleased by the response of listeners.
Speaking of Sunday in the Park with George, I hope that many Sondheim fans have dug into James Lapine’s fascinating new book, Putting It Together: How Stephen Sondheim and I created Sunday in the Park with George, published by Farrar, Strauss and Giroux. It’s full of countless insights about Sondheim and Lapine’s remarkable collaboration on their Pulitzer Prize-winning show.
Please be reminded that the “Friends & Family” 30% discount is still in place for anyone purchasing the Encyclopedia using the link to Rowman and Littlefield on my website and entering the coupon code: RLFANDF30