Opening scene and song of COMPANY, orig. cast
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- The original 1970 cast of Company (with one exception) recreated the show's opening scene, song, and choreography for this January 23, 1993 reunion concert in Los Angeles. Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by George Furth, choreography by Michael Bennett.
!["Side by Side by Side" - Company - In Concert [1993]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TlOvr3nPiZQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Wow. What fun. This is the January 23, 1993 "Original Cast in Concert" one-time only performance produced and staged by Barry Brown, the stage manager for the original Broadway production in 1970. This special event was so successful, he brought it to New York 3 months later for 2 additional performances at Lincoln Center. Noteworthy is every original cast member performed their roles again 23 years later at the Long Beach California Terrace theater, something never done before this time.
I could be very wrong on this, but my understanding is that there are tapes of pretty much every Broadway show's original cast (or at least all the Sondheim shows) locoated at some library in New York in which you must get special permission to view them. I'll have to remember the next time I contact Sondheim to ask him about this. Wouldn't it be awesome to view that historic Boris Aronson set with the elevators?!
+Gregory McCarthy You are somewhat wrong. Many shows are preserved in the NYPL's Theatre on Film and Tape Collection, but not much before the 1980s... There is no video of the original productions of Company, though I have seen video of the first national tour in 1972...
Unfortunately New Line is correct. If you don't believe me the New York City Public Library lists all its holding online. You'll find the 1972 tape of the national tour (Washington D.C.) but that's it for the original production. It's a shame.
Gregory Gnoffo do u know Stephen Sondheim omg
I saw the original Broadway production, which was unforgettable.My memory was that there were TWO elevators in Boris Aronson's set.Here is my memory of the opening number:Bobby stands center downstage during the "Bobby , Bobby : section while the five couples are in their various levels on the set, singing. Spotlight hits Bobby as he sings "Phone Rings , Door Chimes etc.". Afterwards, the three girlfriends enter and join the couples with "Bobby, Bobby section" and they all move to the center level in back of Bobby. (Joanne sits with her legs dangling off the upper level.On the long "LOOOOOOVE" , Bobby gets on one elevator and rides to the upper level, and the couples and girlfriends get on the other elevator and ride down to stage level. On the big "YOOUU!" , Bobby has taken the group's place on the upper center level, and the couples and girlfriends are downstage center in Bobby's former spot.The staging of Prince and Bennett is stunning.
yeah, next time i see steve i'll ask if he knows "greg"
High school senior trip, 1971, saw this. Have loved it ever since. Want to see Donna McKechnie's full dance routine, it was fabulous, memorable
this choreography is so simple but somehow fabulous
perhaps the best "contemporary" broadway show... that has ever been. Genius!! (And very special for those of us with the name of Bobby or Robert. ) Love it!!! and the great works of Stephen Sondheim. I see this show live!! every chance I can. "Being Alive" is priceless!! This being added here on the day that Sondheims 90th birthday is to be celebrated computerwide!! Legend!!
My favorite show .I was there on opening night & at this reunion: Two of the greatest theatrical nights ever with an extraordinary Dean Jones (never a better Bobby) and a spectacular, perfect cast ( never better) . Thanks for posting.
Wow!
Do you remember which cast gal danced that very pretty number by herself?
The one missing is Charles Braswell(Larry), who passed away in 1974. Stanley Grover played Larry for this concert.
Awww that's too bad. FOr me, for no particular reason he has the most chilling cool line in the whole show. "Bob, we're having people in Saturday Night!"...he just NAILS that line! I hope I get Larry.
I am so thrilled to see this! Never knew it had been posted. I was fortunate enough to have been there that night in Long Beach. My best friend bought tickets for my wife and me because he knew I was such a fan of the original cast album. We couldn't have been luckier - 8th or 9th row just off center. And who was sitting a few seats down from us in the center of our row? Both Hal Prince and Steven Sondheim!!! Right in front of me was Barry Manilow. It was such an exciting night! Angela Landsbury was the hostess, doing some reading to speed up the plot from time to time. And to see Dean Jones, who had not only left the original cast soon after the show had opened, but who had pretty much been AWOL from show biz for many years - well that was the creme de la creme!!!
I just found this today also. I was also there that night in Long Beach in 1993 with my late partner. We were sitting next to Alexis Smith and in front of Hal Prince and Steven Sondheim who were both weeping at one moment.
No matters the poor quality image... Thanks a lot for posting this. Truly thank you.
Correction, Fritz Holt, Barry Brown's partner, was the stage manager of the 1970 production. Both the Long Beach and Lincoln Center audiences were buzzed to the max at these benefit performances...which were dazzling. Glad someone preserved a bit of history here. It was thrilling. Barry later on presented full productions of Company and Follies at the Terrace...and both had some spectacular performances.
Such a musical! Congratulations to the cast in being involved with such a gem of a show. Mr Sondheim...thank you!
I had no idea this existed and so happy for ALL involved they got to do this again! :)
LOVE this cast! There was none better.
Saw this show years and years ago. Loved every minuted of it. So new, theatrical, biting and just the best. I had to see it after hearing that original cast album. Got my tickets right off.
I love this! Thank you!
Nice, really nice. So perfectly cast, artfully directed.
Dean was Magnificent.
I don't think he was aware of his Greatness.
I very lucky to see him In the original production.
AMAZING!
THRILLING!
goosebumps!
Lovely posting !!!!!
I would absolutely LOVE to see the opening number from the original Broadway production. I haven't seen anything at all from it on here. Surely, there must be something?!
There is video of the first national tour (different cast, but original staging), but as far as I know, no other film or video of the original cast onstage.
New Line Theatre Great! Is it on here?
New Line Theatre That, I think, is my Holy Grail of musical theatre. To see that cast do that staging on that set.
tommytimp There's got to be someone out there who has some footage. I can't believe a Tony Award winning show like that would be completely unrecorded. I want to see Boris Aronson's set and how the cast used it - particularly for this number.
tommytimp One of the oldest tapes you can view in the Lincoln Center Theatre on tape archive is a B&W shot tape of the last stop of the original tour. Full set (minus elevators) great cast but only McKechnie is from the original. Still for a company freak like me it was brilliant to see--clearly filmed.
Wow, that rarity! Long ago I wanted to see this show. Did you have the videos for "You Could drive a person crazy" and "Not getting married today?"
Thank you very much!
shear magic, love dean jones and all!
The Rutles' movie cam out in 1978 - 6 years before Spinal Tap. Eric Idle for the win!
Sondheim belongs on Mount Rushmore...
Where is Susan Browning? I tried looking for her, and I can't even find anyone in the cast that even resembles what she probably looked like in 1993. The short blonde takes over her line when she comes out with the girlfriends during the second verse.
Who was the "one exception"?
over an hour of the rehearsal here: ruclips.net/video/e6z259HvYJk/видео.html
Which one is Merle Louise?
Focus wouldn't been nice
Didn't realize the original cast was all white. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised.