Pasadena Playhouse has revealed further details for its previously announced Sondheim Celebration, a six-month event built around the late Broadway composer-lyricist and his musicals.
New to the lineup is Larry Owens' Sondheimia, a Sondheim concert that will feature the Off-Broadway A Strange Loop star accompanied by pianist Josh Knight. Playing February 27 and March 6, 2023, the concerts are presented by playwright-producer Jeremy O. Harris.
Eleri Ward will bring her folk takes on Sondheim songs to the California venue March 31 and April 1, 2023, with Eleri Ward: Acoustic Sondheim. The concerts will include live performances of songs from Ward's albums A Perfect Little Death and Keep a Tender Distance.
The Playhouse also revealed details about full productions of Sondheim musicals planned for the celebration. Sarna Lapine will direct the previously announced run of Sunday in the Park With George after helming a Broadway revival of the Sondheim-James Lapine work in 2017. The Pulitzer-winning musical will play the California venue February 14–March 19, 2023, with opening night set for February 19. A Little Night Music, running April 25–May 21, 2023, and opening April 30, will be directed by David Lee and feature the full, original orchestrations.
The celebration will also include productions of Into the Woods, presented by students of Pasadena Unified School District January 26–27, 2023; and Company, with Richard Israel directing the USC School of Dramatic Arts production April 20–26, 2023. Press notes for the latter include a plot synopsis that leaves the gender of its perpetually unmarried protagonist character ambiguous, indicating the production could perhaps be using the revised, gender-swapped script from Marianne Elliott's recent revival.
Also joining the lineup are a choral concert Song by Song by Sondheim, performing April 22, 2023; and an improvised musical revue Sondheim UnScripted, performing May 5–7, 2023.
As previously announced, the celebration will close with Bernadette Peters in Concert June 10–11.
For more details, visit PasadenaPlayhouse.org.