The celebrations of Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday continue with tonight's New York City Center Gala honoring the composer, featuring the stars of A Little Night Music—just nominated for three Outer Critics Circle Awards—along with a host of performers who, collectively, have appeared in over 75 Sondheim shows. John Doyle directs. The benefit will help fund New York City Center’s artistic and education programs and Young Playwrights Inc.
Last week, Stephen Sondheim appeared on NPR's Fresh Air to discuss his storied career and some of the ongoing festivities surrounding his 80th birthday. The celebrations continue tonight with the New York City Center Gala honoring the composer and featuring the three principals of the current Broadway revival of A Little Night Music, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angela Lansbury, and Alexander Hanson. Just this morning, A Little Night Music was nominated for three awards for the 60th annual Outer Critics Circle Awards: Outstanding Revival of a Musical, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Zeta-Jones), Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Lansbury).
Tonight's show also includes a host of artists who, collectively, have appeared in over 75 Sondheim shows. A number of these performers are featured in the Nonesuch Sondheim catalog, including Michael Cerveris (Sweeney Todd), Raúl Esparza (Company), and Nathan Lane (The Frogs). The benefit will help fund New York City Center’s artistic and education programs. In addition, a portion of the evening’s proceeds will go to Young Playwrights Inc.
John Doyle, the Tony Award-winning director behind the recent revivals of Sweeney Todd and Company, helms tonight's proceedings as well. “I am so delighted to be invited to play some part in the celebrations for Stephen Sondheim,” he says. “City Center is taking a look back, in concert, at moments from all the shows for which Steve wrote both the words and the music. Highlights will be sung by some of Broadway’s most shining stars—all of whom either originated or revived major roles in these shows. We can never celebrate Steve enough. He has done more than any other artist to influence the development of musical theatre. This is simply City Center’s way of saying, ‘Thank You.'"
For more information on tonight's event, visit nycitycenter.org.
Famed New York department store Bergdorf Goodman has gotten in on the birthday celebrations as well, creating five window displays inspired by his works. You can see photos of the displays at playbill.com. Stop by the storefront on 5th Avenue and 58th Street in Manhattan to get a good look.
For more on the Nonesuch Sondheim catalog, visit the Nonesuch Store.
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