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Now we know why Stephen Sondheim answered so many letters. Remember, Sondheim said of mentor Oscar Hammerstein II, “If he’d had been a geologist, I would have become a geologist.” In that spirit, we can infer that Hammerstein’s policy of faithfully answering his mail inspired Sondheim to do the same. If there ever were any […]

Ran into Evans Haile, the erudite executive director of The York Theatre Company. It’s now in Theatre at St. Jean’s, after a terrible flood had forced the plucky troupe out of its Citicorp Building home. It’s a cruel irony that York should be plagued by a calamity that occurred in one of their “Musicals in […]

“Drugs?? The Beatles??” So why does Steven Suskin, in his memoir OFFSTAGE OBSERVATIONS, give a pair of question marks after each of those entries? Wouldn’t one suffice? It’s Suskin’s way of stressing that he had no idea why his Baby Boomer contemporaries would relish certain substances and songs such as “Sun King” when they could […]

At a reading of a spectacular new musical called BROOKYLN’S BRIDGE, a line of dialogue came between one of Ray Roderick and Joseph Baker’s majestic songs – a remark that made me smile. Actually, I was smiling throughout, for this recounting of how the bridge was built was unstintingly compelling. Who’d expect that a woman […]

It wasn’t the greatest Broadway resume. In fact, only a quick glance would reveal how far down the theatrical food chain it would rank. Take a look. The role by which he made his Broadway debut was “One of the Killers.” More than a year later, he was billed twice, although “Ensemble Dancer” and “Saw […]