RSO to work on world premiere Sondheim revue


In August, RSO will begin work on a new Sondheim musical revue written and conceived by Broadway’s Billy Porter (Dreamgirls in Concert, Grease revival) at the Westport Playhouse.  Music Director and Co-Orchestrator James Sampliner (Legally Blonde) will help Mr. Porter reinterpret Sondheim’s greatest hits into new idioms including soul, jazz, blues, R&B, hip-hop, and gospel; RSO will serve as Music Assistant and Copyist on the first new non-concert Sondheim revue since Putting it Together (1992).

From Wesport’s website: “A brand new musical revue, conceived and directed by award-winning musical theatre performer Billy Porter, Being Alive! blends the songs of Stephen Sondheim with the poetry of William Shakespeare to tell the universal story of man’s seven ages in African-American musical idioms including soul, jazz, blues, R&B, hip-hop, and gospel. Featuring songs, including ‘Anyone Can Whistle,’ ‘Send in the Clowns,’ ‘Pretty Women,’ ‘Children Will Listen’ and ‘Being Alive,’ that will take you on an emotional journey.”

Being Alive! plays August 24 through September 9, 2007.
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