May 7-22, 2010 in the Drury Theatre
Directed by Wendy Jones Hill. Music Directed by David Sytkowski.
Side by Side by Sondheim will run in repertory with The Sea Horse.
presented by Four Seasons Theatre in cooperation with MTG
Synopsis
Meghan Randoph, Robert Goderich, and Christine Callsen (l to r). Photo Credit: Marie SchulteThe sophistication, wit, insight, heart and genius of Broadway's most innovative and influential artist is at the center of this tribute to composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim.
Featuring a small cast accompanied by two pianos, the concert includes an array of numbers from landmark shows that revolutionized the musical theatre with their masterful craft and astounding creativity: Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Anyone Can Whistle, and Pacific Overtures. Also included are classics written with musical theatre giants Leonard Bernstein, Jule Styne and Richard Rodgers including West Side Story, Gypsy, and Do I Hear A Waltz and rarities from the television musical Evening Primrose, the film "The Seven Percent Solution," and The Mad Show.
Orginally conceived in 1975 as a fundraising concert for a theatre company in Wavendon, Side by Side by Sondheim went on to a full Broadway run.
Performances
Sarah Melton Blakeslee, Kevin Blakeslee, Jordan Peterson, and Leslie Cao (l to r). Photo Credit: Marie Schulte
Press
You really see the scope and artistry of Sondheim's work in these songs. For those who've long admired his work, the evening is a pleasant stroll down memory lane. I imagine that audience members who aren't as familiar will come away fans -- a successful outcome for the production and a suitable birthday gift to Sondheim.
- Katie Reiser, The Isthmus: Talented cast sings Four Seasons Theatre and Madison Theatre Guild's Side by Side by Sondheim
Who needs catchy, "hummable" melodies? This music is moving, ironic and funny, sometimes all at once. The dozen fine singers in "Side by Side" capture that, over and over again. Happy birthday, Mr. Sondheim — and thank you.
- Lindsay Christians, 77 Square: Four Seasons gets a gimmick (and it's a good thing)
Read "Sing a Song of Sondheim (or many)" an AV Club preview by Jason Albert for The Onion.
Read "Sampling Sondheim," a preview article by Lindsay Christians for 77 Square.
Cast
Rick Henslin, Doug Swenson, Wendy Jones, Tamara Brognano, Marja Barger
Leslie Cao, Sarah Melton Blakeslee, Christine Callsen, Meghan Randolph
Kevin Blakeslee, Jordan Peterson, Bobby Goderich
(l to r) Tamara Brognano, Rick Henslin, Marja Barger, Meghan Randolph, Robert Goderich and Christine Callsen. Photo Credit: Marie Schulte
Songs
- Act I
- Comedy Tonight - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
- Love Is in the Air - Dropped from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
- If Momma Was Married (Music By Jule Styne) - Gypsy: A Musical Fable
- You Must Meet My Wife - A Little Night Music
- The Little Things You Do Together - Company
- Getting Married Today - Company
- I Remember - Evening Primrose
- Can That Boy Foxtrot - Dropped from Follies
- Company - Company
- Another Hundred People - Company
- Barcelona - Company
- Marry Me a Little - Company
- I Never Do Anything Twice - The Seven Percent Solution
- Beautiful Girls - Follies
- Ah, Paree! - Follies
- Buddy's Blues - Follies
- Broadway Baby - Follies
- You Could Drive a Person Crazy - Company
- Act II
- Everybody Says Don't - Anyone Can Whistle
- Anyone Can Whistle - Anyone Can Whistle
- Send in the Clowns - A Little Night Music
- We're Gonna Be All Right (Music By Richard Rodgers) - Do I Hear a Waltz?
- A Boy Like That/ I Have a Love (Music By Leonard Bernstein) - West Side Story
- The Boy From... (Music By Mary Rodgers) - The Mad Show
- Pretty Lady - Pacific Overtures
- You Gotta Have a Gimmick (Music By Jule Styne) - Gypsy: A Musical Fable
- Losing My Mind - Follies
- Could I Leave You? - Follies
- You're Gonna Love Tomorrow - Follies
- Side By Side By Side - Company
Resources
The UW-Madison Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research (located in the Wisconsin Historical Society) has many of Sondheim's original papers including an early score for "Climb High," a musical he wrote in college and lyrics for "West Side Story."
Listen to a recent interview of Stephen Sondheim on NPR.
Learn more about this history of Side by Side by Sondheim.
Listen to samples from the 1976 cast recording.