Company, a revival of one of the most famous
musicals by Stephen Sondheim, opened last night on Broadway. But it was bittersweet, with the
death of the music legend occurring just two weeks ago at the age of 91.
“My very first Broadway show that I ever saw was
Pacific Overtures and it was at the winter garden, which is a huge theatre and
I think I saw it from the very last row,” says Cynthia Nixon.
Company had just begun previews in March of last
year when the pandemic suddenly forced the Broadway production to shut down.
Director Marianne Elliott recalled how Sondheim paid the show a final visit
recently when previews started, again.
While Company is one of Sondheim's most famous
musicals, the production has at least one major change: the lead character
Bobbie, traditionally a male role, is now a woman played by Katrina Lenk. The
cast also includes Patti LuPone.
Company was first performed on Broadway in 1970,
receiving 14 Tony Award nominations, at the time setting a record. Actress Barbara Barri was in the original cast.
“He was a real task master,” says Barri. “When
you worked for him, you learned a lot, and we all did."
More than 50 years after Company first played
Broadway, it, and Sondheim's legacy, live on. Company is being performed at the
Jacobs Theatre.