Company (1970)
Words & Music: Stephen Sondheim
Book: George Furth
Premise: As Manhattan bachelor – and die-hard commitment-phobe – Robert turns 35, he is forced to examine his relationships and his future in the light of advice from his "good and crazy" married friends.
Major productions:
1995 Criterion Center Stage Right
2006 Ethel Barrymore Theatre
Alvin Theatre (1970)
250 West 52nd Street, NY 10019, USA
Now the Neil Simon Theatre
Previews: 7
Opens: 26 April 1970
Closes: 1 January 1972
Performances: 705
Producer/Director: Harold Prince
Musical Staging: Michael Bennett
Associate Choreographer: Bob Avian
Musical Director: Harold Hastings
Orchestrator: Jonathan Tunick
Dance arranger: Wally Harper
Scenic & Projection Designer: Boris Aronson
Costume Designer: D. D. Ryan
Lighting Designer: Robert Ornbo
Sound Designer: Jack Mann
Hair: Roberto Vega
Cast:
Robert: Dean Jones (26 April–28 May 1970); Larry Kert (29 May–24 December)
Sarah: Barbara Barrie
Harry: Charles Kimborough
Susan: Merle Louise
Peter: John Cunningham
Jenny: Teri Ralston
David: George Coe
Amy: Beth Howland
Paul: Steve Elmore
Joanne: Elaine Stritch
Larry: Charles Braswell
April: Susan Browning
Marta: Pamela Myers
Kathy: Donna McKechnie
Vocal minority: Cathy Corkill, Carol Gelfand, Marilyn Saunders, Dona D. Vaughn
Replacements:
Robert: Larry Kert (29 May 1970), Gary Krawford (27 December 1971)
Sarah: Cynthia Harris (21 July 1971)
Harry: Charles Braswell (29 March 1971), Kenneth Kimmins (31 May 1971)
Susan: Alice Cannon (5 October 1970), Charlotte Frazier (29 March 1971]
Peter: Kenneth Cory (27 April 1971)
Jenny: Jane A. Johnston (13 May 1971), Teri Ralston (returned on 25 October 1971]
David: Lee Goodman (29 March 1971), George Wallace (13 May 1971), Lee Goodman (returned 25 October 1971)
Amy: Marian Hailey (29 March 1971), Beth Howland (returned 25 October 1971)
Joanne: Jane Russell (13 May 1971), Vivian Blaine (1 November 1971)
Larry: Stanley Grover (29 March 1971)
Marta: Annie McGreevey (13 May 1971)
Kathy: Brenda Thomson (13 May 1971), Priscilla Lopez (25 October 1971)
April: Carol Richards (December 1971)
Musical Numbers:
Act One
"Company" – Robert and Company
"The Little Things You Do Together" – Joanne and Company
"Sorry-Grateful" – Harry, David, Larry
"You Could Drive a Person Crazy" – April, Kathy, Marta
"Have I Got a Girl for You" – Larry, Peter, Paul, David, Harry
"Someone Is Waiting" – Robert
"Another Hundred People" – Marta
"Getting Married Today" – Amy, Paul, Jenny, and Company
Act Two
"Side by Side by Side" – Robert and Company
"What Would We Do Without You?" – Robert and Company
"Poor Baby" – Sarah, Jenny, Susan, Amy, Joanne
"Tick Tock" – Instrumental; Danced by Kathy
"Barcelona" – Robert and April
"The Ladies Who Lunch" – Joanne
"Being Alive" – Robert
Recording:
Company - Original Cast Recording
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LP, 1970 [Columbia OS 3550]
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8-track Cartridge, 197? [Columbia 18-12-0052] – deleted 1976
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Cassette, 197? [Columbia 16-12-0052] – deleted 1976
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LP [quadraphonic, different mix], 197? [Columbia SQ 30993]
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8-track Cartridge [quadraphonic], 197? [Columbia SAQ 30993] – deleted 1976
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LP, 1982 [Time-Life Records STL-AM12] [with A Little Night Music and A Funny Thing...]
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Cassette, 1982 [Time-Life Records 4TL-AM12] [with A Little Night Music and A Funny Thing...]
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Compact Disc, 1990 [Columbia CK 3550] [57:23 mins]
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Cassette reissue, 1990 [Columbia JST 3550]
Producer: Thomas Z. Shepard
Engineer: Fred Plaut, Robert Waller, Ted Brosnan, and John Guerriere
Recorded at: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC, on 3 May 1970
Liner notes: Charles Burr
Selections: "Company" (5:34), "The Little Things We Do Together" (3:09), "Sorry Grateful" (3:32), "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" (2:35), "Have I Got a Girl for You" (2:33), "Someone is Waiting" (2:54), "Another Hundred People" (2:45), "Getting Married Today" (4:10), "Side by Side by Side" / "What Would We Do Without You" (8:41), "Poor Baby" (3:04), "Barcelona" (3:19), "The Ladies Who Lunch" (4:30), "Being Alive" (4:48), "Finale" (1:45).
Grammy Award winner for Best Original Cast Show Album
O'Rourke Center for the Performing Arts (1999)
1145 W. Wilson Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60640
Previews: 14 May 1999
Opens: 19 May 1999
Closes: 18 July 1999
Performances: xx
Director: Carol Metcalfe and Clive Paget
Musical Director/Orchestrator: Peter Corrigan
Set and Costume Designer: Bridget Kimak
Music Supervisor: Mark Warman
Musical Staging: Tim Flavin
Lighting Designer: Geoff Spain
Production Manager: Pete Bull
Cast:
Bobby: James Millard
Dino: Maurice Yeoman
Artie: Jeremy David
Ray: Simon Greiff
Celeste: Tracie Bennett
Hank: Mark Haddigan
Gene: Sam Newman
Fantasy Man/Male Vocalist/Clune: Gavin Lee
Fantasy Woman/Miss Fletcher/Florence/Usherette/Dakota Doran/Female Vocalist: Rae Baker
Police Lieutenant/Fantasy Butler: Paul Brereton
Mildred: Ashleigh Sendin
Helen: Anna Francolini
Musical Numbers:
Act One
"Saturday Night" – Dino, Bobby, Ray and Artie
"Class" – Gene and Company
"Love's a Bond" – Male Vocalist
"Isn't It?" – Helen
"In the Movies" – Celeste, Mildred, Usherette, Artie, Ray, Dino and Hank
"Exhibit A" – Bobby
"A Moment With You" – Male Vocalist, Helen and Gene
"Saturday Night" (reprise) – Dino, Ray, Artie and Bobby
"So Many People" – Helen, Gene
"One Wonderful Day" – Celeste, Bobby, Hank, Dino, Artie, Ray, Mildred, Florence, Gene, Helen
Act Two
"Saturday Night" (reprise) – Dino, Ray and Artie
"I Remember That" – Hank, Celeste
"Love's a Bond" (reprise) – Female Vocalist
"All for You" – Helen
"It's That Kind of a Neighbourhood" – Dino, Ray, Artie, Mildred, Celeste, Hank
"What More Do I Need?" – Helen, Gene and Company
"One Wonderful Day" (reprise) – Company
Recording:
Saturday Night – A Stephen Sondheim World Premiere Cast Recording
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Compact Disc, 1998 [First Night [UK] CD65] (52:50)
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Compact Disc, 1998 [RCA Victor [US] 09026-633182-2]
Producer: Chris Walker
Engineer: David Hunt, assisted by Niall Alcott
Orchestrator: Peter Corrigan
Conductor: Mark Warman
Recorded at: Angel Studios, London, 10–11 February 1998
Selections: "Saturday Night", "Class", "Love's A Bond", "Isn't It", "In the Movies", "Exhibit A", "A Moment With You", "Saturday Night (Reprise)", "So Many People", "One Wonderful Day", "Saturday Night (Reprise)", "I Remember That", "All For You", "It's That Kind of a Neighborhood", and "What More Do I Need?"
