23rd December 2024

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On the Steps of the Shubert: “Sondheim: A Musical Tribute”

Sondheim Musical Tribute

On March 11th, 1973, at 7:22pm EST the curtain went up on a seminal moment in Broadway history. “Sondheim: A Musical Tribute” was the first ever Tribute Concert that gave Stephen Sondheim his deserved praise as the visionary genius he was and was produced by Broadway veteran Kurt Peterson.

The concert featured a jaw dropping array of Theatrical luminaries and tonight you’re in for a rare treat. Working with Kurt on this commemorative short film has been a dream come true and has ignited my love and deep admiration for him and Sondheim both. We spent several hours at the Shubert Theater Friday before last filming amongst those hallowed halls and it will go down as one of my most cherished filming experiences.

MARCH 11, 2023 (New York, NY) James William Productions and Stephenie Skyllas present Broadway veteran Kurt Peterson in On the Steps of the Shubert, a video filmed & edited by Michael Lee Stever commemorating the 50th Anniversary of “Sondheim: A Musical Tribute”, the first celebration of Stephen Sondheim’s work, originally presented at the Shubert Theatre, Sunday, March 11, 1973.

Narrated by Kurt from the steps inside Broadway’s Shubert Theatre in the rear orchestra where he sat beside Stephen Sondheim that evening, the launch of the video will debuted on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at 7:22pm EST (the exact time the concert started).

“As producer of the evening and in honor of my producing associates Craig Zadan and Neil Appelbaum, as well as the talented colleagues who were part of the historic evening, and of course, Stephen Sondheim, this tribute offers a “backward glance” at the very first celebration of this brilliant man who was yet to be fully recognized and appreciated,” said Kurt Peterson.

Kurt continued, “It is the full story of how this accidental, now legendary evening came to be. Beginning with the first phone call, it’s incredible blossoming from a small dinner to what it became, how it was almost derailed and the groundswell of support for a man who was often ignored, dismissed and misunderstood up until this point and event.”

Sondheim Musical Tribute

Peterson (the original “Young Ben” in Follies) was approached in late 1972 by AMDA (American Music and Dramatic Academy), as one of its alumni, to help produce the event. Directed by Burt Shevelove (A Funny Thing…Forum), with choreography by Donna McKechnie, music direction by Paul Gemignani and orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, the event was staged on Boris Aronson’s country-garden set for A Little Night Music, where it opened two weeks before to rapturous acclaim.

The concert brought together more than 30 stars of his shows including Angela Lansbury, Larry Kert, Chita Rivera, Dorothy Collins, Alexis Smith, Len Cariou, Nancy Walker and others. It crystallized for Broadway that Sondheim’s body of work was not just impressive, but extraordinary. The video features unknown highlights of the star-studded night, musical gems not on the original cast LP or CD.

Many never-before-seen pics, humorous introductions by artists whose careers were more recognized than him – Jule Styne, Sheldon Harnick, Hal Prince and Leonard Bernstein. There is also a collection of folks who were there and testimonials on how the evening affected them including Jack Viertel, Lonny Price, Angela Lansbury, Donna McKechnie, Paul Gemignani and Frank Rich.

Along with other rave reviews, as well as those influenced by the recording for this legendary evening are Sondheim’s own comments. On the Steps of the Shubert is produced by James William Productions and Stephenie Skyllas.

Playbill: Sondheim A Musical Tribute Shubert Theatre Vault

Recording: Sondheim: A Musical Tribute – March 11, 1973

Special thanks to the Shubert Organization, Robert E. Wankel, Mark Schweppe, Neil Meron, Mark Maxwell Abushady, Ted Chapin & Van Williams. Associate Producer Claire-Frances Sullivan.

STANDBY

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