Square One (Musical)
| Square One | |
|---|---|
| Music | Stephen Sondheim |
| Lyrics | Stephen Sondheim |
| Book | David Ives |
| Basis | The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972), The Exterminating Angel (1962) |
| Productions | 2022 Unperformed Broadway Cast |
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Square One was a musical written by David Ives and composed by Stephen Sondheim. It was never produced, however, due to Sondheim’s unexpected death in November of 2021.[1]
Conception
Square One was written early in 2018 or 2019 and was planned to debut in the 2022–23 Off-Broadway season. Sondheim announced the show in 2021, on the Stephen Colbert Late Show. [2] Unfortunately, shortly after the musical was announced, Sondheim died at the age of 91, and production progress has been silent ever since.
Little was genuinely known about the show; we only know its possible cast members and the basis for the show that Sondheim and Ives themselves released. It is also known that it was planned for the debut to be held at Bernard B Jacobs Theatre in New York City. Smaller facts like run-time, amount of shows per week, and even show genre are known as well.[3]
Casting
The show's potential cast consisted of only two big names. Nathan Lane was early attached to the production through Lane himself, who revealed that he’d read for a character. Bernadette Peters was also brought into the mix. These two big names had both read for, and were excited to get into the main characters.[4]
Basis
Before this project, Sondheim and Ives had worked on a project about Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel, in 2017. That project was a blend of Buñuel’s two movies, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and The Exterminating Angel.
The first act of the Buñuel project was based on Discreet Charms. The idea being a group of rich people in search of a place to have dinner. They experience strange and surreal experiences that don’t make a lot of sense, as if in a dream or nightmare. The second act would have been based on Exterminating Angel, in which the same group of wealthy people find their place to eat but are stuck there. And no matter how hard they try to escape, their efforts are futile. The only true idea of a rating it ever received was Ives and Sondheim’s suggestion that the show was not suitable for children. Due to adult subject matter, an audience of 16 or up was advised.[3]
Effects of Sondheim’s death
Aside from Square One, Sondheim had worked on the 2021 Broadway revival of his show, Company, before he died. After his death, a large memorial concert was held with a variety of Broadway talent in attendance and performing. Post-death, two of Sondheim’s greatest works were given new revivals, those being Sweeney Todd, said to debut in 2022–23, and Into the Woods, which debuted in late 2022.[citation needed]
References
- ↑ Evans, Greg (2021-09-16). "Stephen Sondheim Writing New Musical 'Square One', Reveals Plans To Stephen Colbert". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
- ↑ A Tribute To Stephen Sondheim - Extended Interview With Stephen Colbert, retrieved 2022-10-23
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Square One Broadway Show Tickets". NYTIX. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
- ↑ Paulson, Michael (2021-09-16). "Sondheim Is Writing a New Musical, and Hopes to Stage It Next Year". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
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