Chatsworth, CA – Image Entertainment is proud to share a celebration of the life and wondrous work of one of Broadway’s greatest legends – the incomparable Stephen Sondheim. For the master composer and lyricist’s 80th birthday, scores of the musical theater’s brightest stars gathered to perform more than two dozen sensational numbers from Sondheim’s unsurpassed canon. Many of these enduring songs are rarely heard and several are performed by the original Broadway cast members. David Hyde Pierce hosts this magical event with Sondheim’s longtime collaborator Paul Gemignani conducting the New York Philharmonic. Directed for the stage and television by Lonny Price and filmed live March 15–16, 2010 at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City, this is a must-have addition for every musical theatre aficionado. SONDHEIM! The Birthday Concert will be available at an SRP of $24.98 for the DVD and $29.98 for the Blu-ray; the concert will also be available via digital download. Pre-book is October 19, 2010.
The cast, with a treasury of Tony® Awards among them, delight in performing classic as well as less often heard gems from Sondheim’s many Broadway shows. Joanna Gleason and Chip Zien reunite from Into the Woods, Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin perform chilling pieces from Sunday in the Park with George and Patti Lupone, George Hearn and Michael Cerveris team together for a special take on their Sweeney Todd showstoppers, among many others. The “Beautiful Girls” sextet of performances alone is reason enough to collect this offering.
SONDHEIM! The Birthday Concert will be available on DVD, Blu-ray™ and digital download before the national television premiere on PBS’ “Great Performances” series November 24th.
Performances Include:
•”America” (Dancers, West Side Story) •”Something’s Coming” (Alexander Gemingnani, West Side Story) •”We’re Gonna Be Alright” (Marin Mazzie, Jason Danieley, Do I Hear a Waltz?) •”Don’t Laugh” (Victoria Clark, Hot Spot) •”Johanna”(Nathan Gunn, Sweeney Todd) •”You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow” and “Love Will See Us Through” (Matt Cavenaugh, Jenn Colella, Laura Osnes, Bobby Steggert, Follies) •”Too Many Mornings” (Nathan Gunn, Audra McDonald, Follies) •”The Road You Didn’t Take” (John McMartin, Follies) •”It Takes Two” (Joanna Gleason, Chip Zien, Into the Woods) •”Growing Up” (Jim Walton, Merrily We Roll Along) •”Finishing the Hat” (Mandy Patinkin, Sunday in the Park with George) •”Move On” (Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Sunday in the Park with George) •”Pretty Women” (Michael Cerveris, George Hearn, Sweeney Todd) •”A Little Priest” (Michael Cerveris, George Hearn, Patti LuPone, Sweeney Todd) •“Theme from ‘Reds’” with Pas De Deux (NY Philharmonic, ABT Dancers Maria Riccetto and Blaine Hoven) •”So Many People” (Laura Benanti, Saturday Night) •”Beautiful Girls” (David Hyde Pierce) •”Ladies Who Lunch” (Patti LuPone, Company) •”Losing My Mind” (Marin Mazzie– Follies) •”The Glamorous Life” (Audra McDonald, A Little Night Music) •”Could I Leave You” (Donna Murphy, Follies) •”Not a Day Goes By” (Bernadette Peters, Merrily We Roll Along) •”I’m Still Here” (Elaine Stritch, Follies) •”Sunday” (Broadway Chorus, Sunday in the Park with George) •”Happy Birthday” (All Cast).
In addition, Image has also recently released, through PS Classics, the original Broadway cast recording of SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, starring Barbara Cook, Vanessa Williams and Tom Wopat in a lavish 2-CD set.
