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Stephen Sondheim’s first new musical since “Road Show” in 2008 had a ”top secret” reading in New York last week, and The New York Post quotes a source saying, “The music was gorgeous.” Inspired by two surrealist films by Spanish director Luis Buñuel, the musical is being developed at The Public Theater—incubator of “Hair,” “A Chorus Line” and “Hamilton”—under the working title “Buñuel.” The reading was performed by a cast that included Norm Lewis, Shuler Hensley, Sierra Boggess, Nancy Opel and Marc Kudisch. The Post’s unnamed source was quoted saying, “It reminded me of [Sondheim’s 1994 show] ‘Passion,’ where Steve’s music flows in and out of the storyline. It’s not an old-fashioned Sondheim show — you know, song, dialogue, then a song. It’s much more seamless.”

Another source called Ives’ script “nonlinear.” Post reporter Michael Riedel wrote, ”It moves backward and forward in time. I hear it’s a bit tricky to follow on the page, but, with Sondheim’s songs, is clear and funny on the stage.”

Fans were hoping it would be ready for an Off-Broadway premiere in 2017, but the Post reports that only Act I is complete. Sondheim suggested the 2017 time frame during a talk back at the Glimmerglass Festival earlier this year.

by Brendan Lemon | 8/24/16 | Leave a comment |