r/Sondheim

Hi everyone! I’m graduating from community college in a couple weeks and am about to transfer to a university for a degree in theatre. I have a background in musical theatre and am a huge Sondheim fan, as I’m obsessed with his lyricism.

I’m thinking of putting a Sondheim quote on my grad cap when I decorate it this week!

My question is, do any of you have any suggestions for quotes that I could use to decorate my grad cap? It could be a direct quote from Stephen himself, or come from a song he wrote. I’m particularly a fan of Company, Into the Woods, and Merrily We Roll Along. But any of his shows would do!
I appreciate the suggestions ahead of time, thanks all!

https://preview.redd.it/fdf44ujw4w1h1.png?width=1200&format=png&auto=webp&s=75640e058821ef64a87f25472a24ad5af25508ba

Hi all.

Does anyone know how to access the proshot recording of National Theatre's 2017 production of Follies? I've heard rumors about one circulating around the internet and thought I'd do some investigating. I've always wanted to see this staging and am hoping it is not lost media at this point.

At first she was interesting but there’s something about Sondheim stripped of story context that annoys me in a way I can’t define.

Is there canonical dialogue for the trio in "Old Friends" during the (loudest) argument section of the piece? I haven't found anything in any librettos or arrangements beyond "They squabble," and my ears can't make out clear words.

And it just occurred to me that I have to get through “No One is Alone” without making a fool of myself.

Has this happened to you? Bawling over a song in the theater? I know there’s more than one Sondheim song that would do this to me.

I recently did a production of into the woods and found a cool detail in the script. I’ve never seen anyone talk about it but I’m sorry if this is some common knowledge I missed

So In the act one opening in the last part there is a moment when the Baker and Cinderella both break from the rest of the music to say “There’s something in the glade there.” What I, and probably a majority of people think after hearing that is it is just a general line about fear and uncertainty in the woods but it is actually foreshadowing of both of their partners infidelity. In act two, right after Moments in the woods, the stage directions indicate the Bakers Wife and Cinderellas Prince go off into the woods, but it also says an exact location. The glade! This thing that seems at first to be just building of an atmosphere really is subtle foretelling of events. What a Sondheim move to have what appeared to be a throw away line come back into play almost and act and a half later! Just so awesome

I really want to like this show because I love dark and somewhat sexual themes in musicals and I love Sondheim. I can concede that Giorgio does fall for Fosca, despite my initial misgivings of me feeling there being no reason for why he does- i’ll buy it for the theatricality of the show. here’s where i get confused- if you truly love someone with every fiber of your being, you probably want to maintain their health and have them live a longer time, right?
This being the case and Fosca being a weak and ill individual- why the hell would Giorgio risk her life to consummate their passion? yes it’s also Fosca wanting it and expressing her passion too but I don’t know, I feel like if Giorgio really did love Fosca, he wouldn’t sleep with her if he knew it would cause her death. Has anyone read the book? I am curious if he was aware of this if the book has a similar ending.

sorry if i seem naive about this - i just would love to hear other peoples opinion :)