Song:Company
Album:Company: 2006 Broadway Cast
Most folks are vaguely aware of songwriter Stephen Sondheim but I'm willing to bet most have never seen one of his shows or listened to any of his music. Fortunately, this 2006 revival of his 1970 show Company is available on DVD and CD. Sondheim was born Mar. 22, 1930 in New York City. Of course his first hit show was West Side Story. Company was written in 1970. Playwright George Furth had written a series of one act plays that Anthony Perkins was interested in directing. Producer Hal Prince suggested that Sondheim could turn it into a musical. The story is a contemporary one of Bobby's 35th birthday party and his personal relationships. Perkins was supposed to direct and star but dropped out and was replaced by Dean Jones. He got sick and was replaced soon after opening by Larry Kert. This production won seven Tony awards. Company was also produced on Broadway in 1995. This 2006 revival was directed by Scottish director John Doyle who also directed Sondheim's Sweeney Todd in 2005. It was first produced at Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park and then moved to Broadway Nov. 29, 2006. It won the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical and closed July 1, 2007. The show was taped and aired on PBS. As with Sweeney Todd, Doyle had the actors playing musical instruments on stage. Raul Esparza starred as Bobby. He was born Oct. 24, 1970 in Wilmington, DE. Though unknown to most, he has received a lot of acclaim for his Broadway performances including a Tony nomination for Taboo in 2003. You may have seen him in a recurring role in the 2007 TV series Pushing Daisies and he made his film debut in the 2010 film My Soul To Take. He continues to appear on Broadway. This production of Company is available on DVD and Nonesuch released a cast CD. Here's Raul Esparza performing The Opening and Company from the DVD of Company.
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