Here We Are
Original Off-Broadway poster
MusicStephen Sondheim
LyricsStephen Sondheim
BookDavid Ives
BasisThe Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
by Luis Buñuel
Jean-Claude Carrière
The Exterminating Angel
by Luis Buñuel
Luis Alcoriza
PremiereOctober 22, 2023: The Shed, New York City
Productions2023 Off-Broadway

Here We Are is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by David Ives.[1] It is based on two films by Luis Buñuel: The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and The Exterminating Angel.

Background and development

In February 2012, it was announced that Stephen Sondheim would collaborate on a new musical with David Ives, and he had "about 20–30 minutes of the musical completed".[2][3][4][5][6] On October 11, 2014, it was reported that Sondheim and Ives would collaborate on a musical based on two Luis Buñuel films, The Exterminating Angel and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, which would reportedly open in previews at The Public Theater in 2017.[7] In August 2016, a reading for the musical was held at The Public Theater, and it was reported that only the first act was finished, which cast doubt on the speculated 2017 start of previews.[8] A workshop was held in November 2016, with the participation of Matthew Morrison, Shuler Hensley, Heidi Blickenstaff, Sierra Boggess, Gabriel Ebert, Sarah Stiles, Michael Cerveris, and Jennifer Simard.[9] The working title was reported to be Buñuel by the New York Post and other outlets, but Sondheim later clarified that they still had no title.[10]

In June 2019, The Public Theatre denied reports that it would be part of its 2019–20 season, as it was still in development, but would be produced "when it is ready".[11] On April 27, 2021, it was reported that the musical was no longer in development.[12] However, on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on September 15, 2021, Sondheim announced he was working on a musical called Square One in collaboration with Ives.[1] The same day, Nathan Lane revealed that he and Bernadette Peters were involved in a reading of this new work.[13] Sondheim died on November 26, 2021. In Sondheim's final interview before his death, he confirmed that Square One was adapted from the Buñuel films.[14] In March 2023, it was announced that the musical, now titled Here We Are, would premiere posthumously off-Broadway at The Shed in September 2023.[15]

Productions

Off-Broadway (2023)

Here We Are premiered at The Shed's Griffin Theatre in previews on September 28, 2023 and officially opened on October 22, 2023 running until January 21, 2024 (after being extended from January 7). The production, directed by Joe Mantello, features a cast including Francois Battiste, Tracie Bennett, Bobby Cannavale, Micaela Diamond, Amber Gray, Jin Ha, Rachel Bay Jones, Denis O'Hare, Steven Pasquale, David Hyde Pierce, and Jeremy Shamos.[16]

Cast and characters

Character Off-Broadway[16]
2023
Colonel Martin Francois Battiste
Woman Tracie Bennett
Leo Brink Bobby Cannavale
Fritz Micaela Diamond
Claudia Bursik-Zimmer Amber Gray
Soldier Jin Ha
Marianne Brink Rachel Bay Jones
Man Denis O'Hare
Raffael Santello Di Santicci Steven Pasquale
Bishop David Hyde Pierce
Paul Zimmer Jeremy Shamos

References

  1. 1 2 Evans, Greg (2021-09-16). "Stephen Sondheim Writing New Musical 'Square One', Reveals Plans To Stephen Colbert". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  2. ↑ Lewis, Jessica (February 29, 2012). "Powerhouse Scribes Stephen Sondheim & David Ives at Work on New Musical!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  3. ↑ Healy, Patrick; Kepler, Adam W. (2012-02-29). "Rolling Along: Sondheim Discloses He's Working on a New Show". ArtsBeat. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  4. ↑ "Stephen Sondheim has '20 or 30 minutes' written of a new musical". Los Angeles Times. 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  5. ↑ Lewis, Jessica (February 29, 2012). "BWW Exclusive: Stephen Sondheim Drops Hint About New Musical with David Ives!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  6. ↑ Jones, Kenneth (February 29, 2012). "Stephen Sondheim Collaborating With David Ives on New Musical". Playbill. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Stephen Sondheim and David Ives at Work on New Musical Based on Films of Luis Buñuel". Playbill. October 11, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  8. ↑ Riedel, Michael (2016-08-23). "Stephen Sondheim is halfway done with his new musical". New York Post. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  9. ↑ Viagas, Robert (January 4, 2017). "Matthew Morrison Says Sondheim's New Buñuel Musical Is "Challenging"". Playbill. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  10. ↑ Wong, Wayman (April 26, 2017). "BWW Exclusive: Sondheim Knocks Riedel's Reporting; Says His New Musical Was Never Called BUNUEL". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  11. ↑ Paulson, Michael (2019-06-06). "'For Colored Girls' and 'Soft Power' Will Be Part of Public Theater Season". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  12. ↑ Gans, Andrew (April 27, 2021). "Stephen Sondheim Musical Buñuel No Longer in Development". Playbill. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  13. ↑ Major, Michael (September 15, 2021). "VIDEO: Nathan Lane Talks Reading of a New Sondheim Musical With Bernadette Peters". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  14. ↑ Paulson, Michael (2021-11-27). "Days Before Dying, Stephen Sondheim Reflected: 'I've Been Lucky'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  15. ↑ Evans, Greg (2023-03-16). "Final Stephen Sondheim Musical 'Here We Are' To Make Off Broadway World Premiere This Fall With Joe Mantello Directing". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  16. 1 2 "Bobby Cannavale, Micaela Diamond, Amber Gray, Denis O'Hare, More Will Star in World Premiere of Sondheim's Here We Are". Playbill. July 17, 2023.
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