(19 Mar 2025)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
New York – 24 January 2025
1. Push in Sondheim Old Friends signage
2. Various of Cameron Mackintosh addressing the room
3. Push out on prop cart
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Cameron Mackintosh, theatrical producer – on how the project began:
"Well, in the pandemic, Steve Sondheim was up in his house in Connecticut, and I was in my country house in England, in Somerset. But we would chat regularly, as always. And, you know, none of us knew when the theaters were going to reopen. And one day in conversation, Steve said, ‘Cameron, I think we should do a new show. We should do a third review,’ because I had done first – my first show with him was when I met him with ‘Side by Side by Sondheim,’ which brought his work to the greater British public and why he fell in love with Britain."
4. Cameron Mackintosh addressing the room
5. Wide of rehearsal room
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Cameron Mackintosh, theatrical producer – on continuing after Sondheim died:
"When he sadly left us, over a few days I sat at my desk and somehow though, I’m sure he’d be throwing ideas from above, it all landed on the page and with hardly any changes, it suddenly… there was the show. And we did a gala performance, and it miraculously completely held together. I didn’t change anything. The only thing I’ve done is add one extra number for Bernadette Peters here. That’s all. And it’s a nice addition to the show."
7. Cameron Mackintosh addressing the room
8. Cast posing
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Cameron Mackintosh, theatrical producer – on the unique approach of the musical:
"It’s our version of the show. We’re not trying to compete for the best version of ‘Sweeney Todd,’ or this. But the miraculous – you suddenly think you’re watching the show. And that’s what makes it different to any other show. And apart from a few introductory words that I’ve written and the odd off-stage performance I do, every word of this is Steve. And I wanted that to happen because this is all about Steve. It’s all about our love for Steve and the genius that he is."
10. Cameron Mackintosh addressing the room
11. Cast posing
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Cameron Mackintosh, theatrical producer – on the magic of Sondheim:
"It does, but this one also is very personal. I’ve chosen the songs that mean – that came out of our professional relationship, but mostly our personal relationship. We had a relationship which absolutely was full of laughter and terrible puns. And Steve was the most wonderful, ordinary man. He was an extraordinary, ordinary man. Of course he was a great intellect. But he wasn’t intellectual in that way. He really wanted his work to be enjoyed by everybody. And this is a celebration of that"
13. Cameron Mackintosh posing with producer Daryl Roth
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Cameron Mackintosh, theatrical producer – on many actors appearing in his shows over the years:
15. Various of cast
AP VIDEO: Guido Neira
PRODUCTION: John Carucci
STORYLINE:
Legendary theatrical producer Cameron Mackintosh wanted to honor his late friend Stephen Sondheim by bringing an idea the two of them had had to Broadway this season.
“Old Friends” plays as a review of Sondheim’s musical catalog.
The whole concept dates back to a telephone conversation between the friends during the pandemic.
“Steve Sondheim was up in his house in Connecticut, and I was in my country house in England, in Somerset. But we would chat regularly, as always. And, you know, none of us knew when the theaters were going to reopen. And one day in conversation, Steve said, ‘Cameron, I think we should do a new show,’” Mackintosh said.
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