Pbenjay's Blog

Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday is Monday March 22nd.  The parties began last week and why I didn’t get to go should maybe be the subject of another blog.

Sondheim: The Birthday Concert was hosted by the suave star of Broadway, David Hyde Pierce with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Paul Gemginani.  Last Monday and Tuesday at Avery Fisher Hall,  thrilling concerts celebrating the life of  the man and his music  were held.  Performances by an all-star cast including Patti Lupone, Mandy Patinkin, Audra MacDonald and Bernadette Peters, Elaine Stritch and Nathan Gunn thrilled the sold-out concerts.

My friends Helen and Gail went to Monday night’s concert and were delighted with the performances and thoroughly entertained.  Especially moving was the final song; the aisles filled with a chorus of  young Broadway performers clad in black who joined in singing Sunday, the climactic anthem from Sunday in the Park with George. Mr. Sondheim was in the audience and with tears in his eyes acknowledged the thunderous applause.

But did I get to see Mr. Sondheim? NO.  Did I get to hear David Hyde Pierce’ s witty remarks and the running Sweeney Todd jokey references? NO.  Peter attended the Tuesday night concert fortunately as a guest of our friend, Bernie West – Unfortunately, Bernie’s wife,  Joyce who is recuperating from knee surgery wasn’t up to going out and Peter got lucky!!

Stephen Sondheim, known as Broadway’s prodigious boy wonder to it’s beloved aging monarch is probably known best for his big Broadway break as the lyricist for West Side Story. Over the years, he wrote many  spectacular Broadway hits such as: Follies, Sweeney Todd, A Sunday in the Park with George, Gypsy and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. He has been the recipient of an Academy Award, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, numerous Tony Awards

West Side Story

Sweeney Todd

including a Lifetime Achievement Award in Theater.

And in the Only in New York category, Peter and Bernie sat right behind Regis Philban and his wife, Joy and Stephen Sondheim was sitting across the aisle, having the time of his  life –  me too!!! Writing a blog, doing bills, eating left-overs, it was great.