Sondheim on Sondheim: new musical to star Barbara Cook and Vanessa Williams

Roundabout Theatre Company will present Sondheim on Sondheim, a new original Broadway musical starring Barbara Cook, Vanessa Williams, Michael Arden and Leslie Kritzer. Music & lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim, conceived & directed by James Lapine.

Sondheim on Sondheim will open at Studio 54 on 22 Apr 2010, following previews from 19 Mar and will run through to 13 Jun 2010.

Sondheim has brought us 'Into The Woods,' 'Company,' 'Sweeney Todd,' 'A Little Night Music,' 'Sunday in the Park with George,' 'A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum,' 'West Side Story' and 'Gypsy' (to name a few). By writing songs that reflect the complexity of his characters, he has changed the way we define a great musical. But even though millions of fans know his songs by heart, few know much about Stephen Sondheim himself.

Sondheim on Sondheim is an intimate portrait of the composer in his own words... and music. Through the use of exclusive interview footage, the musical presents an inside look at Sondheim's personal life and artistic process. An ensemble cast will perform brand-new arrangements of over two dozen Sondheim tunes, ranging from the beloved to the obscure.

Directed by frequent Sondheim collaborator James Lapine,Sondheim on Sondheim will take you inside the life and mind of an ordinary New Yorker... with an extraordinary talent.

It has been over 37 years since Barbara Cook appeared in a Broadway musical. Cook won the 1958 Tony Award for her portrayal of 'Marian Paroo' in 'The Music Man. 'She has been called one of the greatest interpreters of the work of Mr. Sondheim and received a Tony Award' nomination for Best Theatrical Event for her solo, limited engagement concert 'Mostly Sondheim' in 2002.

Vanessa Williams received a 2002 Tony Award nomination for her performance of the 'Witch' in 'Into the Woods' and made her Broadway debut in 1994 in 'Kiss of the Spider Woman.'

Additional cast members will be announced shortly.

The design team includes Beowulf Boritt (Sets), Susan Hilferty (Costumes), Ken Billington (Lights) and Dan Moses Schreier (Sound).

Roundabout has a long relationship with Stephen Sondheim having produced five Tony Award nominated Sondheim revivals including 'Company' (1995), 'Follies' (2001), Tony Award winning 'Assassins' (2004), P'acific Overtures' (2004) and 'Sunday in the Park with George' (2008). This production of Sondheim on Sondheim marks the fourth Sondheim musical produced by Roundabout Theatre Company at Studio 54, where 'Assassins,' 'Pacific Overtures' and 'Sunday in the Park with George' all played.

James Lapine (Director) also returns to Roundabout Theatre Company and Studio 54 after the 2008 Tony Award nominated production of 'Sunday in the Park with George' starring Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell.