That Was the Week That Was

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The biggest theatre news of the week — and the saddest — was the passing of Stephen Sondheim last Friday, a true God of the musical theatre whose influence has cast the longest shadow over the genre on Broadway for over 70 years now.

Just this time last week I posted a column here saying, “We’re never very far these days from a major Sondheim revival in London or New York.” I’d just last weekend seen two major New York revivals, of Company (1970) and Assassins (1990), respectively on and off-Broadway.

Today I’ve also just posted my 2004 public interview with Sondheim that I conducted on the stage of the National Theatre here: https://shentonstage.com/my-2004-interview-with-stephen-sondheim/

Much has been written already since Friday’s news about Sondheim’s impact and influence, and I’ve been personally immensely touched by the personal stories I’ve encountered on Facebook from artists — actors, directors, even critics — whose lives he touched both through his work and his kindness and openness.

Earlier this year as part of my ShenTens podcast series I chose my own top ten Sondheim songs that you can read about here: https://shentonstage.com/january-29-shentens-my-favourite-sondheim-songs/

There are links to more tributes and tweets below, in farewells of the week.

MY COLUMNS AND REVIEWS OF THE WEEK

  • Tuesday November 23:

My ShentonSTAGE Daily Newsletter: https://shentonstage.com/shentonstage-daily-for-tuesday-nov-23/

  • Wednesday November 24:

My ShentonSTAGE Daily Newsletter: https://shentonstage.com/shentonstage-daily-for-wednesday-nov-24/


Other shows I’ve seen:


REVIEWS AND REVIEW TWEETS OF THE WEEK

  • Manor at National Theatre:
  • Susannah Clapp in Observer:

COVID NEWS TWEETS OF THE WEEK :

LONDON HEADLINES OF THE WEEK

INTERVIEWS OF THE WEEK

Andrew Lloyd Webber on Front Row:


https://twitter.com/ShentonStage/status/1463850129107136517?s=20

More interviews:

REGIONAL HEADLINES OF THE WEEK

BROADWAY (AND BEYOND) HEADLINES OF THE WEEK

EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE WEEK:

SOME THEATRE BIRTHDAYS OF THE WEEK:

FAREWELL OF THE WEEK:

AND FINALLY, SOME FAVOURITE (AND SOME DESPAIRING) TWEETS OF THE WEEK

Final tally of my New York trip:

Departing New York last Monday and arriving back in London last Tuesday morning:

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ShentonSTAGE Daily for FRIDAY JULY 22July 22, 2022
Theatre Openings: from w/c February 13February 13, 2023
ShentonSTAGE Daily for WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 15September 15, 2021