Here We Are (musical)
| Here We Are | |
|---|---|
 Original Off-Broadway windowcard | |
| Music | Stephen Sondheim |
| Lyrics | Stephen Sondheim |
| Book | David Ives |
| Basis | The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie by Luis Buñuel Jean-Claude Carrière The Exterminating Angel by Luis Buñuel Luis Alcoriza |
| Premiere | October 22, 2023: The Shed, New York City |
| Productions | 2023 Off-Broadway |
Here We Are is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by David Ives[1] inspired by two films of Luis Buñuel.
Development[edit]
Sondheim announced that he was working with Ives on a project in February 2012, saying he had "about 20–30 minutes of the musical completed".[2][3][4][5][6] By October 2014, plans were underway for a Sondheim and Ives musical based on two Luis Buñuel films, The Exterminating Angel and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, to open in previews at The Public Theater in 2017.[7] An August 2016 reading for the musical was held at The Public Theater, and it was reported that only the first act was finished, which cast doubt on the speculated 2017 start of previews.[8] A November 2016 workshop included Matthew Morrison, Shuler Hensley, Heidi Blickenstaff, Sierra Boggess, Gabriel Ebert, Sarah Stiles, Michael Cerveris, and Jennifer Simard.[9] After media outlets mistakenly reported that the show had the working title Buñuel, Sondheim clarified the show title had yet to be decided.[10]
In June 2019, The Public Theatre denied reports that it would be part of its 2019–20 season, as it was still in development, but would be produced "when it is ready".[11] On April 27, 2021, it was reported that the musical was no longer in development.[12] However, on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on September 15, 2021, Sondheim announced he was working on a musical called Square One in collaboration with Ives.[1] The same day, Nathan Lane revealed that he and Bernadette Peters were involved in a reading of this new work.[13] Before his death on November 26, 2021, Sondheim's final interview confirmed that Square One was adapted from the Buñuel films.[14] Subsequently titled Here We Are, the musical would premiere posthumously off-Broadway at The Shed in September 2023.[15]
Cast and characters[edit]
| Character | Off-Broadway[16] |
|---|---|
| 2023 | |
| Marianne Brink | Rachel Bay Jones |
| Leo Brink | Bobby Cannavale |
| Fritz | Micaela Diamond |
| Claudia Bursik-Zimmer | Amber Gray |
| Paul Zimmer | Jeremy Shamos |
| Raffael Santello Di Santicci | Steven Pasquale |
| Bishop | David Hyde Pierce |
| Man | Denis O'Hare |
| Woman | Tracie Bennett |
| Soldier | Jin Ha |
| Colonel Martin | Francois Battiste |
Musical numbers[edit]
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Productions[edit]
Here We Are premiered at The Shed's Griffin Theatre in previews on September 28, 2023, officially opening on October 22, 2023 and running until January 21, 2024 (after being extended from January 7). The production, directed by Joe Mantello, featured a cast including Francois Battiste, Tracie Bennett, Bobby Cannavale, Micaela Diamond, Amber Gray, Jin Ha, Rachel Bay Jones, Denis O'Hare, Steven Pasquale, David Hyde Pierce, and Jeremy Shamos.[16] Reviews were positive, if largely restrained.[17][18]
The Original Cast Recording, produced at Power Station, will be released May 17, 2024 on CD and digital by Concord Theatricals, with a double-LP vinyl release scheduled for September 6.[19]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Evans, Greg (2021-09-16). "Stephen Sondheim Writing New Musical 'Square One', Reveals Plans To Stephen Colbert". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
- ^ Lewis, Jessica (February 29, 2012). "Powerhouse Scribes Stephen Sondheim & David Ives at Work on New Musical!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Healy, Patrick; Kepler, Adam W. (2012-02-29). "Rolling Along: Sondheim Discloses He's Working on a New Show". ArtsBeat. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ "Stephen Sondheim has '20 or 30 minutes' written of a new musical". Los Angeles Times. 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ Lewis, Jessica (February 29, 2012). "BWW Exclusive: Stephen Sondheim Drops Hint About New Musical with David Ives!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (February 29, 2012). "Stephen Sondheim Collaborating With David Ives on New Musical". Playbill. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ "Stephen Sondheim and David Ives at Work on New Musical Based on Films of Luis Buñuel". Playbill. October 11, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Riedel, Michael (2016-08-23). "Stephen Sondheim is halfway done with his new musical". New York Post. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ Viagas, Robert (January 4, 2017). "Matthew Morrison Says Sondheim's New Buñuel Musical Is "Challenging"". Playbill. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Wong, Wayman (April 26, 2017). "BWW Exclusive: Sondheim Knocks Riedel's Reporting; Says His New Musical Was Never Called BUNUEL". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Paulson, Michael (2019-06-06). "'For Colored Girls' and 'Soft Power' Will Be Part of Public Theater Season". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (April 27, 2021). "Stephen Sondheim Musical Buñuel No Longer in Development". Playbill. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Major, Michael (September 15, 2021). "VIDEO: Nathan Lane Talks Reading of a New Sondheim Musical With Bernadette Peters". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
- ^ Paulson, Michael (2021-11-27). "Days Before Dying, Stephen Sondheim Reflected: 'I've Been Lucky'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ Evans, Greg (2023-03-16). "Final Stephen Sondheim Musical 'Here We Are' To Make Off Broadway World Premiere This Fall With Joe Mantello Directing". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ^ a b "Bobby Cannavale, Micaela Diamond, Amber Gray, Denis O'Hare, More Will Star in World Premiere of Sondheim's Here We Are". Playbill. July 17, 2023.
- ^ Scheck, Frank (2023-10-23). "Here We Are: A Minor But Welcome Final Addition to the Sondheim Canon". New York Stage Review. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- ^ Sommers, Michael (2024-01-04). "Here We Are: Sondheim's Non Finito Musical, or Sunday in the Dark with Brunch". New York Stage Review. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
- ^ Green, Jesse (February 29, 2024). "Cast Album Roundup: 'Sweeney Todd,' 'Parade,' 'Camelot' and More". The New York Times. Retrieved March 24, 2024.