Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends - A Celebration

A tribute concert celebrating Sondheim will be staged at the Sondheim Theatre on Tuesday 3rd May.

Cameron Mackintosh has announced that STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S OLD FRIENDS will feature a glittering line-up that includes Judi Dench, Petula Clark, Michael Ball, Hannah Waddingam, Adrian Lester, Damian Lewis, Elaine Paige, Clive Rowe and two Society patrons, Julia McKenzie and Bernadette Peters.

The tribute will be directed by Society patron Maria Friedman and Matthew Bourne, and feature a 26-piece orchestra led by MD Alfonso Casado Trigo. Stephen Mear will choreograph the gala and Cameron himself will produce.

All profits from the evening will go to the Stephen Sondheim Foundation, which the legendary composer and lyricist established under his Will to receive future income from his copyrights and intellectual property. The proceeds to be used principally for the support of playwrights, composers and lyricists in the early stages of their careers to assist in the development and advancement of their work, as well as for sustaining other aspects of the musical theatre craft and arts education.

Patrons can sign up for priority booking at sondheimoldfriends.com. Tickets will go on sale on 15th March to DMT Plus members at 11 am, the Priority List at 12 noon, with public booking opening at 1 pm.

Cameron Mackintosh said:

It is impossible to overstate the influence and contribution Stephen Sondheim has made to Musical Theatre, both personally and professionally. He was as great a teacher as he was an incomparable writer and the Little Things that he did for so many people forged legions of friendships throughout his long life. I was lucky enough to be Steve’s friend and occasional collaborator for over 45 years since I first produced Side By Side By Sondheim at the Wyndham’s Theatre in 1976. It was a friendship full of laughter, gossip and glorious insightful camaraderie.

Steve was so prolific and profound as a writer that it’s impossible to put together a definitive list of his greatest songs, as everyone has their own favourites, so our choice of songs will purely reflect the joy and love I have for one of the greatest Broadway Babies of all time.

The show is to be staged at the Sondheim Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue on the evening of Tuesday 3rd of May. For a chance to register for tickets, visit sondhemoldfriends.com. The Society has applied for a tranche of seats, so members should check their emails for an annoucement.