Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
Porchlight Music Theatre
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Each week, Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Director Michael Weber joins 3 special guests to discuss the many works of Stephen Sondheim. "West Side Story," "Into The Woods," "Sweeney Todd" 'and so much more! Join us Saturdays at 7pm CST on YouTube and Facebook for video premieres, or right here on your favorite Podcast platform!
YouTube.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre | Facebook.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre | Learn more at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org
Available episodes
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Apr 10, 2021
Desert Island Playlist - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
The final episode in the 20-episode series! Join this fun Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable with host Michael Weber where the topic is "Sondheim Desert Island Playlist." This episode shares what songs are on the MUST HAVE "Desert Island Playlist" of former Sondheim @ 90 guests. Joining Michael with their personal choices are Roberta Duchak (award-winning music director; U.S. Music Supervisor for “Six: The Musical”), Peter Filichia (author & columnist; critic emeritus for Newark's “Star-Ledger” and News 12) and John Yap (founder of Jay Records which recently released the first complete recording of "Anyone Can Whistle").
Edited by Remington Cleve
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Mar 27, 2021
The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia – Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
Join us tonight for an encore with an all-new episode of Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable with Michael Weber! Weber is joined by the author of the soon to be released “The Stephen Sondheim Encyclopedia,” Rick Pender, to discuss this new work encompassing Sondheim’s career from past to present and looks to the future of what we can expect from one of our most prolific and admired composer and lyricist.
Edited by Remington Cleve
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Feb 6, 2021
Company - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
“Company," music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, is the topic for tonight's final episode of "Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable." Joining Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber for a lively discussion on the award-winning musical, its development, its popularity and its recent revivals are Raúl Esparza (four-time Tony Award nominee, star of Broadway’s "Company," TV’s "Law & Order: SVU"), Robert Falls (Tony Award-winning artistic director at The Goodman Theatre) and Lonny Price (Porchlight Artistic Advisory board member, Broadway’s original "Charley Kringas,” in "Merrily We Roll Along," director of "Sweeney Todd," "Company" and "Sondheim! The Birthday Concert" with the New York Philharmonic).
Edited by Remington Cleve
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Jan 30, 2021
Passion - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
Sondheim’s 1994 musical “Passion” is the focus of this week’s “Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable with Michael Weber.” “Passion” tells the story of a love triangle and is adapted from Ettore Scola's 1981 film “Passione d'Amore” and its source material, Iginio Ugo Tarchetti's 1869 novel "Fosca.” Weber’s guests this week, discussing what many consider Sondheim’s most personal work, are John Doyle (Tony Award-winning director; Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company), Judy Kuhn (multiple Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award nominee; "Passion" at the Kennedy Center Sondheim Festival) and Kathy Voytko, (Broadway's "The Frogs" and "Passion" at Chicago Shakespeare).
Edited by Remington Cleve
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT!
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Jan 16, 2021
Saturday Night - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
Sondheim's "Saturday Night" on "Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable!" "Saturday Night" has music and lyrics from a 24-year old Stephen Sondheim, and book, based on the play "Front Porch in Flatbush" by brothers Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein. Sondheim was to make his Broadway debut with "Saturday Night" during the 1954-55 season, but unforseen circumstances delayed its opening night in New York - for 45 years!
Hear about the stories behind this fascinating production and some of its modern iterations when Michael Weber is joined by his guests Frankie Leo Bennett (Porchlight's "In The Heights," Porchlight Revisits "1776"), Andréa Burns (selected by Sondheim to create the role of "Celeste" in the New York premiere at Off-Broadway Second Stage Theatre in 2000) and Nik Kmieck ("New Faces Sing Broadway 1941" and numerous Porchlight Revisits productions).
Edited by Remington Cleve
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT!
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Jan 9, 2021
Do I Hear A Waltz? - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
"Do I Hear a Waltz?" is the subject of this week’s Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable. Michael Weber is joined by Cheryl Coons (Director of the Music Theater Program at Chicago Dramatists), Anthony Crivello (Tony Award-winner for Broadway's Kiss of the Spider Woman, LA Ovation Award Nomination as "Renato Di Rossi" in "Do I Hear a Waltz?" at Pasadena Playhouse) and Kelli Harrington (Three-time Jeff Award-recipient who starred as "Leona Samish" in "Do I Hear a Waltz?" at The Music Theatre Company) to discuss this musical and its history, including Sondheim working with Richard Rodgers for his one and only time.
Edited by Remington Cleve
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT! Video premieres available on YouTube and Facebook.
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Jan 2, 2021
Assassins - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
Sondheim's politically charged "Assassins" is the focus of this episode of Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable. Michael Weber is joined by Anika Chapin (artistic associate and resident dramaturg at Goodspeed Musicals), Jermaine Hill (Jeff Award-winner, music direction, "Sophisticated Ladies') and Stef Tovar (Jeff Award-winning actor and instructor) to discuss this tour-de-force musical featuring Sondheim's signature blend of intelligently stunning lyrics and beautiful music with a story focusing on America's fascination with celebrity via the assassins and would-be assassins of American presidents.
Edited by Remington Cleve
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT! Video premieres available on YouTube and Facebook.
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Dec 26, 2020
The Frogs - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
This episode of Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable has Victoria Bussert (director of music theatre at Baldwin-Wallace University, director of "The Frogs" at Pegasus Players), Christopher Pazdernik (Porchlight Music Theatre's casting & company manager, director of numerous Porchlight Revisits) and Christie Chiles Twillie (music director for Porchlight Revisits "Minnie's Boys" and a music director, piano conductor, sound designer and composer) discussing the musical send up of Greek comedy and satire "The Frogs." Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and "freely adapted" by Burt Shevelove, with host Michael Weber.
Loosely based on a comedy written in 405 B.C. by Aristophanes, "The Frogs" playfully explores the great challenges of human existence: confronting fears, understanding life and death and challenging the distractions that can prevent us from achieving our goals.
Edited by Remington Cleve
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT! Video premieres available on YouTube and Facebook.
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Dec 19, 2020
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
It's more than comedy tonight in this week’s Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable, as Michael Weber is joined by Anika Chapin (Goodspeed Musicals artistic associate and a NYC-based dramaturg and writer), Ross Lehman ("A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" at the Goodman as well as Broadway's St. James Theatre) and Linda Madonia (music director for Porchlight Music Theatre's "A Funny Thing...," "A Chorus Line," "A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder") to discuss Sondheim's "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Forum is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus (251–183 BC).
Join Porchlight Music Theatre for something familiar, something peculiar, something for everyone: Sondheim @ 90!
Edited by Daniel De León
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT! Video premieres available on YouTube and Facebook.
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Dec 12, 2020
A Little Night Music - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
In this episode, Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable delves into Sondheim’s work inspired by the 1955 Ingmar Bergman’s “Smiles of a Summer Night” and involves the romantic lives of several couples – it’s "A Little Night Music!"
Joining Weber are Brianna Borger ("Into the Woods," "The King & I"), Nick Bowling (founding artistic director of TimeLine Theatre Company and director of the Chicago premiere of Porchlight Music Theatre’s Sondheim on Sondheim for which he won the Jeff Award) and Christie Chiles Twillie (music director, piano conductor, accompanist and vocal coach for musical theatre) to discuss the eventful weekend in the country that Sondheim created.
Edited by Daniel De León
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT!
Also available with video on YouTube and Facebook.
YouTube.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre
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Dec 7, 2020
Road Show - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
Porchlight's popular series Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable with Michael Weber is back with an incredible line up and great conversation.
Weber is joined by Deanna Dunagan (Tony Award-winning actor for "August: Osage County," who appeared in the world premiere of "Bounce" at the Goodman, directed by Hal Prince), Chris Jones (Chicago Tribune chief theater critic and culture columnist, New York Daily News Broadway and WBBM-TV critic) and Michael Mahler (Jeff Award-winning actor, music director, composer/lyricist whose credits include creating additional lyrics for the Broadway revival of "Miss Saigon" as well as music direction for "Road Show" at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) to talk about "Road Show," previously titled "Bounce" and before that "Gold!" and "Wise Guys." With music and lyrics by Sondheim and book by John Weidman, this show has a fascinating history, a complex evolution and has never appeared on the Great White Way but had productions in Chicago, Washington D.C. and off-Broadway.…
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Jul 2, 2020
Anyone Can Whistle - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
"Anyone Can Whistle," music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents, tells the story of a small town mayor, who, in an attempt to draw tourists, creates a “fake” miracle. Weber’s guests include Victoria Bussert (director, Music Theatre Program; professor of theatre, Baldwin Wallace University), Cheryl Coons (director, Music Theater Program, Chicago Dramatists) and Porchlight’s Casting & Company Manager Christopher Pazdernik (Director of the inaugural production of the Porchlight Revisits series, "Anyone Can Whistle") discussing this Sondheim show that has rarely been produced since its opening but its score has endured, becoming a much performed part of Sondheim's canon including the title song, "Everybody Says Don't" and "There Won't Be Trumpets."
Edited by Austin Packard
Originally premiered Saturday, July 2, 2020 at Facebook.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre.
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT! Watch with video at YouTube.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre
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Jun 20, 2020
Pacific Overtures - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
Telly Leung, (Roundabout Theatre’s "Pacific Overtures," Chicago’s "Wicked," TV’s “Glee"), Richard Manera (Lyric Opera’s "Das Rheingold," Marriott Theatre’s "The King & I," Chicago Shakespeare and London's Donmar Warehouse productions of "Pacific Overtures") and Amanda Green (Tony Award, Two Drama Desk Awards (music, lyrics) and an Outer Critics Circle Award nominee, "Hands on a Hardbody" and co-lyricist "Bring It On!") join Weber for this edition of Sondheim @ 90 to talk about "Pacific Overtures," music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman. Considered by many to be the artistic pinnacle of the legendary Sondheim/Hal Prince collaborations, this exploration of culture and imperialism pushed the boundaries of musical theatre further than ever before.
Edited by Austin Packard
Originally premiered Saturday, June 20, 2020 at Facebook.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre.
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT! Watch with video at YouTube.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre
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Jun 13, 2020
Merrily We Roll Along - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
Michael Weber discusses "Merrily We Roll Along," lyrics and music by Sondheim and book by George Furth based on the 1934 play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. "Merrily" is a legendary production that is told backwards in time and ran for 44 previews and only 16 performances in 1981 telling the story of three friends and the ups and downs of their 19 year relationship. Weber is joined by Marcia Milgrom Dodge (director and choreographer, Helen Hayes Award-winner for "Ragtime" at the Kennedy Center and on Broadway), Chris Jones (Chicago Tribune chief theater critic and culture columnist, New York Daily News Broadway and WBBM-TV critic) and Lonny Price (Porchlight Artistic Advisory board member, Broadway’s original "Charley Kringas,” "Merrily We Roll Along," director of Broadway’s "Sunset Boulevard," "Sweeney Todd," "Company" and "Sondheim! The Birthday Concert").
Edited by Austin Packard
Originally premiered Saturday, June 13, 2020 at Facebook.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre.
New e…
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May 30, 2020
Into The Woods - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
This week’s episode is about Sondheim’s modern twist on the Grimm fairy tales, "Into the Woods," music and lyrics by Sondheim and book by James Lapine. David Cromer (MacArthur fellow and Tony Award-winning director of "The Band’s Visit"), Sean Allan Krill (currently in the cast of "Jagged Little Pill" and whose other Broadway credits include "Honeymoon in Vegas," "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" and "Mamma Mia!") and Jessie Mueller (Jeff Award and Tony Award-winning star of Broadway's "Beautiful: the Carole King Musical," "Waitress," "Carousel," "Mystery of Edwin Drood" and "The Minutes") join Weber for a journey to a far-off kingdom in this week’s “Sondheim @ 90.”
Edited by Austin Packard
Originally premiered Saturday, May 30, 2020 at Facebook.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre.
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT! Watch with video at YouTube.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre
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May 23, 2020
Sweeney Todd - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
The man behind the demon barber of Fleet Street is the focus of this week’s episode, "Sweeney Todd," music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler. This week's guests include Jim Corti, (Artistic Director of Paramount Theatre and recipient of the Jeff Award for his direction of "Sweeney Todd" whose Broadway credits include "Candide," "A Chorus Line," "Music Is" and "Ragtime"), David Girolmo (Jeff Award-winning actor whose work on Broadway includes "War Paint" and "Candide" and who appeared as the title character in Porchlight's "Sweeney Todd") and James Earl Jones II (Currently in the national tour of "Come From Away" and Jeff Award-nominee for Porchlight’s "Sondheim by Sondheim").
Edited by Austin Packard
Originally premiered Saturday, May 23, 2020 at Facebook.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre.
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT! Watch with video at YouTube.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre
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May 16, 2020
Gypsy - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
Here she is, world! This week’s episode delves into Gypsy, for which Sondheim wrote lyrics with music by Jule Styne and a book by Arthur Laurents. Weber’s guests include Klea Blackhurst (Gypsy and Hazel at Drury Lane Theatre and known for her award- winning tribute to Ethel Merman: Everything The Traffic Will Allow), E. Faye Butler (Porchlight’s own Jeff Award-winning "Madame Rose") and Marc Robin (Artistic Director of Pennsylvania's historic Fulton Theatre and recipient of 16 Joseph Jefferson Awards with 42 nominations).
Edited by Austin Packard
Originally premiered Saturday, May 16, 2020 at Facebook.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre.
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT! Watch with video at YouTube.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre
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May 9, 2020
Follies - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
This episode highlights "Follies," music and lyrics by Sondheim and book by James Goldman, which was inspired by a New York Times article about a gathering of former showgirls from the Ziegfeld Follies. The Follies roundtable includes Weber and guests David H. Bell (multi-award-winning director whose credits include Broadway, Off Broadway, Carnegie Hall, The National Theatre, London's West End and The Kennedy Center) ), Gary Griffin (director of Broadway’s "The Color Purple," "The Apple Tree" and "Honeymoon in Vegas" and London’s "Pacific Overtures" for which he received the Olivier Award) and Hollis Resnik (multi-award-winning actor whose appearances include Porchlight’s "Sunset Boulevard," "Sweeney Todd," "Follies," "Into the Woods" and "A Little Night Music").
Edited by Austin Packard
Originally premiered Saturday, May 9, 2020 at Facebook.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre.
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT! Watch with video at YouTube.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre
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May 2, 2020
Sunday In The Park With George - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
In the second episode of "Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable," Artistic Director Michael Weber is joined by Nick Bowling (founding artistic director of TimeLine Theatre Company and director of the Chicago premiere of Porchlight Music Theatre’s "Sondheim on Sondheim" for which he won the Jeff Award), David Cromer (MacArthur fellow and Tony Award-winning director of "The Band’s Visit") and Heidi Kettenring (Jeff Award-winner who has appeared in "Sunday in the Park with George" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and "Sweeney Todd" at Drury Lane). They will discuss "Sunday in the Park with George," music and lyrics by Sondheim and book by James Lapine, the production that was inspired by Georges Seurat's painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.”
Edited by Austin Packard
Originally premiered Saturday, May 2, 2020 at Facebook.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre.
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT! Watch with video at YouTube.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre
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Apr 25, 2020
West Side Story - Sondheim @ 90 Roundtable
The debut episode of Sondheim at 90 Roundtable! Artistic Director Michael Weber and his guests Gary Griffin (director of Broadway’s "The Color Purple," "The Apple Tree" and "Honeymoon in Vegas" and London’s "Pacific Overtures" for which he received the Olivier Award), Mark Hoebee (producing artistic director of Paper Mill Playhouse) and Diana Martinez (director at McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage) discuss "West Side Story," the musical retelling of William Shakespeare’s "Romeo and Juliet" and Sondheim's Broadway debut as a lyricist.
Edited by Austin Packard
Originally premiered Saturday, April 25, 2020 at Facebook.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre.
New episodes every Saturday at 7pm CT! Watch with video at YouTube.com/PorchlightMusicTheatre
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