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Company (1996)Opening Date: Dec 1, 1995
Closing Date: March 2, 1996 Air date: December 10, 1996 Medium: TV Where to watch: DVD, YouTube |
Stage Production Notes
Company marked composer Stephen Sondheim’s seventh full-length musical. The show was developed from a one act play by writer George Furth. In Finishing the Hat, Sondheim describes Company as “the first Broadway musical whose defining quality was neither satire nor sentiment, but irony.”
Following try-outs in Boston, Company opened at the Alvin Theatre in New York on April 26, 1970 and ran for 706 performances. The production won a slew of awards, including the 1971 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Musical.
Company was revived on Broadway in 1995, and again in 2006. The latter production, directed by John Doyle featured a stripped back set and a cast of actor-musicians. It was filmed and screened on PBS, and later made available on DVD.
Across the pond, Company opened on the West End at Her Majesty’s Theatre in January 1972, and ran for 344 performances.
Under the direction of Sam Mendes, the Donmar Warehouse revived Company in a critically acclaimed production that updated the material for a nineties audience.
Described as “bold and irreverent,” the production won three Olivier awards including Best Director (Sam Mendes), Best Actor in a Musical (Adrian Lester), and Best Supporting Performance in a Musical (Sheila Gish).
Shortly after the acclaimed run at the Donmar Warehouse, the production transferred to the West End, opening at the Albery Theatre (now the Noel Coward Theatre) on March 13, 1996. The show closed on June 29, 1996.
Combining revisions from the Broadway revival and Donmar Warehouse productions, Company continues to be performed around the world.
A limited engagement run in 2007 produced by fledgling Australian musical theatre company Kookaburra attracted international attention. Shortly after opening night, the actor playing April became ill, and no understudy had been prepared. In response, artistic director Peter Cousens decided to cut the role entirely for one performance. The cut was reported around the world, and Sondheim threatened to revoke the rights.
A new production directed by Marianne Elliott featuring Rosalie Craig playing a female Bobbie, and Patti LuPone in the role of Joanne, opened on the West End in October 2018. The production received rave reviews, and was scheduled to open on Broadway starring Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone in March 2020. Due to the COVID-19 shutdown, the latest Broadway revival is currently on hold.
Company marked composer Stephen Sondheim’s seventh full-length musical. The show was developed from a one act play by writer George Furth. In Finishing the Hat, Sondheim describes Company as “the first Broadway musical whose defining quality was neither satire nor sentiment, but irony.”
Following try-outs in Boston, Company opened at the Alvin Theatre in New York on April 26, 1970 and ran for 706 performances. The production won a slew of awards, including the 1971 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Musical.
Company was revived on Broadway in 1995, and again in 2006. The latter production, directed by John Doyle featured a stripped back set and a cast of actor-musicians. It was filmed and screened on PBS, and later made available on DVD.
Across the pond, Company opened on the West End at Her Majesty’s Theatre in January 1972, and ran for 344 performances.
Under the direction of Sam Mendes, the Donmar Warehouse revived Company in a critically acclaimed production that updated the material for a nineties audience.
Described as “bold and irreverent,” the production won three Olivier awards including Best Director (Sam Mendes), Best Actor in a Musical (Adrian Lester), and Best Supporting Performance in a Musical (Sheila Gish).
Shortly after the acclaimed run at the Donmar Warehouse, the production transferred to the West End, opening at the Albery Theatre (now the Noel Coward Theatre) on March 13, 1996. The show closed on June 29, 1996.
Combining revisions from the Broadway revival and Donmar Warehouse productions, Company continues to be performed around the world.
A limited engagement run in 2007 produced by fledgling Australian musical theatre company Kookaburra attracted international attention. Shortly after opening night, the actor playing April became ill, and no understudy had been prepared. In response, artistic director Peter Cousens decided to cut the role entirely for one performance. The cut was reported around the world, and Sondheim threatened to revoke the rights.
A new production directed by Marianne Elliott featuring Rosalie Craig playing a female Bobbie, and Patti LuPone in the role of Joanne, opened on the West End in October 2018. The production received rave reviews, and was scheduled to open on Broadway starring Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone in March 2020. Due to the COVID-19 shutdown, the latest Broadway revival is currently on hold.
Filmed Production Notes
The Donmar Warehouse production was filmed live by the BBC in February, 1996.
The production was first aired on BBC2 on December 10, 1996 and again on March 1, 1997. The program included an interview between Sam Mendes and Stephen Sondheim.
The Donmar Warehouse production of Company is available to view on DVD and on YouTube.
The 2006 Broadway revival and the 2011 Lincoln Center production of Company were also filmed live.
The Donmar Warehouse production was filmed live by the BBC in February, 1996.
The production was first aired on BBC2 on December 10, 1996 and again on March 1, 1997. The program included an interview between Sam Mendes and Stephen Sondheim.
The Donmar Warehouse production of Company is available to view on DVD and on YouTube.
The 2006 Broadway revival and the 2011 Lincoln Center production of Company were also filmed live.
Company PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Donmar Warehouse
Producer: Donmar Warehouse
Book: George Furth
Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Director: Sam Mendes
Musical Director: Paddy Cunneen
Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick
Choreography: Jonathan Butterell
Design: Mark Thompson
Lighting Design: Paul Pyant
Sound Design: John A. Leonard
Stage Manager: Jools Gardner
Conductor: Gareth Valentine
Cast: (in alphabetical order)
Paul Bentley (Larry), Clare Burt (Susan), Anna Francolini (Marta), Rebecca Front (Sarah), Sheila Gish (Joanne), Kiran Hocking (Kathy), Hannah James (April), Teddy Kempner (David), Adrian Lester (Robert), Clive Rowe (Harry), Liza Sadovy (Jenny), Michael Simkins (Paul), Gareth Snook (Peter), Sophie Thompson (Amy)
Theatre: Donmar Warehouse
Producer: Donmar Warehouse
Book: George Furth
Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Director: Sam Mendes
Musical Director: Paddy Cunneen
Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick
Choreography: Jonathan Butterell
Design: Mark Thompson
Lighting Design: Paul Pyant
Sound Design: John A. Leonard
Stage Manager: Jools Gardner
Conductor: Gareth Valentine
Cast: (in alphabetical order)
Paul Bentley (Larry), Clare Burt (Susan), Anna Francolini (Marta), Rebecca Front (Sarah), Sheila Gish (Joanne), Kiran Hocking (Kathy), Hannah James (April), Teddy Kempner (David), Adrian Lester (Robert), Clive Rowe (Harry), Liza Sadovy (Jenny), Michael Simkins (Paul), Gareth Snook (Peter), Sophie Thompson (Amy)
Sources
- Dan Bacalzo, “Company to Be Filmed for PBS' Great Performances,” TheaterMania (June 28, 2007)
- Ben Brantley, “A Revival Whose Surface of Tundra Conceals a Volcano,” New York Times (Nov 30, 2006)
- Andrew R. Chow, “Marianne Elliott to Direct Sondheim and Furth’s ‘Company,’ With a Gender Twist,” New York Times (Nov 27, 2016)
- David Cuthbert, “PBS 'Company' a stunning Broadway revival,” The Times-Picayune (Feb 20, 2008)
- Glenn Erickson, “Company: A Musical Comedy: Savant Blu-ray Review” DVDTalk (June 4, 2008)
- Andrew Gans, Kenneth Jones, “Tony-Winning Revival of Company to Be Filmed for "Great Performances" Broadcast” Playbill (June 28, 2007)
- Andrew Gans, Kenneth Jones, “Company — with Esparza — to Make PBS Debut in February 2008,” Playbill (Dec 11, 2007)
- Sophie Gilbert, “An Updated Company for an Era of Single Women,” The Atlantic (Nov 29, 2016)
- Mel Gussow, “British Renew a Love Affair with Sondheim,” New York Times (Jan 3, 1996)
- Bryce Hallett, “Why this Kookaburra isn’t laughing,” Sydney Morning Herald (July 23, 2007)
- Adam Hetrick, “Company, Starring Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone, Released on DVD and Blu-ray Nov. 13,” Playbill (Nov 13, 2012)
- Adam Hetrick, “Sondheim Gives Blessing for Company Revival with Female “Bobbie”,” Playbill (Nov 25, 2016)
- Stephen Holden, “A Bachelor, Five Couples and All Their Tuneful Discontents,” New York Times (April 8, 2011)
- Linda Holmes, “Stephen Sondheim's 'Company': Can Theater-To-Film Take Off?” NPR, (June 20, 2011)
- David Karger, “Neil Patrick Harris: 'Company' Man,” Entertainment Weekly (May 20, 2011)
- Jane Klain, “Sondheim on TV: The List Goes On and On, The Sondheim Review (Spring, 2001)
- Barbara McMahon, “Sondheim angered by cuts to his musical,” The Guardian (July 21, 2007)
- Noel Murray, “Stephen Sondheim’s Company With The New York Philharmonic,” A.V. Club (Nov 14, 2012)
- Michael Reuben, “Company Blu-ray Review: Bobby, Won't You Play the Piano?,” Blu-Ray.com (Dec 31, 2011)
- David Rooney, “Review: ‘Company’” Variety (Nov 29, 2006)
- David Rooney, “COMPANY: THEATER REVIEW,” Hollywood Reporter (April 8, 2011)
- Christopher Rudolph, “Stephen Sondheim Weighs In On A Female Bobby In “Company”,” New Now Next (July 21, 2017)
- Jeff Turner, “Commercial Necessities: Reviving Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company at the Turn of the Millenium,” in Theatre Symposium (Vol 22): Broadway and Beyond: Commercial Theatre Considered, University of Alabama Press (2014)
Websites
- Donmar Warehouse, “Past productions,” Accessed via: https://www.donmarwarehouse.com/about/past-productions/
- MTI, “Company,” Accessed via: http://www.mtishows.com/company
- New York Philharmonic, “In Comes Company”, Accessed via: http://nyphil.tumblr.com/post/35714273575/in-comes-company-its-here-the-philharmonics
- New York Philharmonic, Company program, Accessed via: http://archives.nyphil.org/index.php/artifact/73173a58-bd6a-4609-87fb-b02215b3a424
- Olivier Awards, “Olivier Winners 1996,” Accessed via: http://www.olivierawards.com/winners/view/item98530/olivier-winners-1996/
- PBS, “Great Performances: Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” with the New York Philharmonic,” Accessed via: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/sondheims-company-with-the-new-york-philharmonic-about-the-show/1885/
- The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide, “Company,” Accessed via: http://www.sondheimguide.com/company.html#London
Written by Luisa Lyons (August, 2017, updated April 2020)