What was your first encounter with a Sondheim show or score?
It must have been Into the Woods, right? Everyone's was Into the Woods. It might actually have been West Side Story. I remember watching the movie as a kid, and then I was one of the newsboys in Gypsy, and then Billy in Assassins, and then Jack in Into the Woods. I didn't see [the recording] until after I'd done it. Maybe that was a good thing, but now I'm wondering what my parents were thinking for twelve years.
What is your favorite Sondheim musical and why?
Can anyone truly decide on one favorite that they're happy with? Sondheim on Sondheim, because you get all of them. It changes, from time to time, but I've been coming back to Sunday [in the Park with George] more recently. Someone once told me it's the greatest art about art. It certainly feels the most accurate sometimes.
What is your favorite Sondheim song and why?
"The Rum Tum Tugger". No contest.
spotted: james fornarola hanging all over blair overstreet while back in los angeles for sondheim on sondheim rehearsals. have they forgotten everyone knows blair's a lesbian already? are they preparing for james' announcement that he's trans so blair can have extra ally cred on her side?
waving--backatyou:
sometimes i think about how james fornarola recorded demos for grunin and rulin back in the day and how he could have played evan hansen but didn't and now probably never will and i get so sad
i bet he's sad too, bitch could've had a tony by now if he didn't insist on making shitty remakes instead
remember how james fornarola was supposed to be on glee
and then he was supposed to be in american horror story
and then he was supposed to be in the normal heart
just think if he'd said yes to ryan murphy on anything except the biggest flop of his career he could finally be living out his dreams of being a clown
The Hollywood Bowl has announced complete casting for its benefit performance of Sondheim on Sondheim, which will be presented July 23 at 7:30 PM.
As previously reported, the evening will feature Lewis Cleale, Carmen Cusack, Claybourne Elder, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ruthie Ann Miles, Matthew Morrison, and Solea Pfeiffer. Newly announced for the performance are Sarah Uriarte Berry, Phillip Boykin, and James Fornarola.
Sondheim on Sondheim, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, was conceived and directed on Broadway by James Lapine.
The Hollywood Bowl staging will be directed by Sarna Lapine (Sunday in the Park with George) with Gustavo Dudamel conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and YOLA, who will perform "Children Will Listen" alongside the Philharmonic. The production will be choreographed by Michele Lynch with lighting design by Ken Billington, new orchestrations by Michael Starobin, arrangements by David Loud, and video created and designed by Peter Flaherty.
The Hollywood Bowl production benefits the LA Philharmonic's flagship program, Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA), and its other educational initiatives.
Seen on Broadway in 2010, the musical journey through the life and career of Sondheim features tunes from Follies, Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Passion, and more. Stage and screen star Williams was part of the Broadway cast, which also included Tony winner Barbara Cook.
Subscriptions and single tickets for performances during the Hollywood Bowl 2017 summer season are available at HollywoodBowl.com.
