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Alliance to produce new “iSondheim” revue in 2009
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Alliance Theatre will end its 40th anniversary season next spring with a celebration of Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim.
“iSondheim: aMusical Revue,” a world premiere to be written and directed by long-time Sondheim collaborator James Lapine, will open in April in the slot originally dedicated to a new musical by mystery writer Stephen King and rock star John Mellencamp.
The Sondheim project will mark the Alliance’s second partnership with Lapine in recent years. In 2006, the Alliance launched the national tour of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” which Lapine directed.
Alliance artistic director Susan V. Booth says the title’s iPod reference is intentional. “It’s radical multimedia,” Booth said, explaining that the piece will combine film, video and other media in ways that should appeal to younger audiences.
After launching the 2008-2009 programming Sept. 6 with August Wilson’s “Gem of the Ocean” and “Radio Golf,” Booth says she is jazzed about ending the year with a Sondheim tribute.
“I am thinking about the bookending of opening the season with a really deep, deep exploration of one of the greatest American playwrights and closing the season with a really joyful look at a living master of the American musical form,” Booth said. “And that’s just really satisfying.”
Sondheim, who will turn 79 next March, is the eminence grise of American musical theater and the author of “Sweeney Todd,” “Pacific Overtures” and “Assassins,” among numerous other Broadway offerings.
Booth said that the “iSondheim” has the composer’s blessing and that Lapine has been interviewing the composer about his creative process. “These are two old friends and frequent collaborators.”
“I truly look forward to returning to the Alliance Theatre where I had a great experience directing ‘Spelling Bee,’ ” Lapine said in a statement. “I enjoyed the Atlanta audiences and am thrilled that they will be the first to see this new production.”
The most famous of the Sondheim-Lapine co-creations is “Sunday in the Park with George,” which won the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. After that, the duo authored the cerebral fairy-tale collection “Into the Woods” (1987) and the operatic love story “Passion” (1994), both of which picked up Tony Awards for Sondheim’s music and lyrics and Lapine’s librettos.
“iSondheim” begins previews April 15 and runs through May 10. The revue is likely to have a future beyond Atlanta, and there’s talk that the show could eventually find a home on Broadway.
The project by King and Mellencamp, titled “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County,” has been postponed to allow time for more development.
For more information about the Alliance season, alliancetheatre.org
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Theater
Comments
By Mutter
September 12, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
I saw Sweeney Todd on Broadway, and HATED IT!…I walked out at intermission. Something about Sondheim musicals I do not like. Oh well.
By skeeter
September 12, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
I simply adore Sondheim! Can’t wait to see this next year.
By Blanca
September 12, 2008 7:18 PM | Link to this
I liked the Sondhime show about the donkey.