First Sondheim Experiences

convict24601 · First Sondheim Experiences

The title explains the thread Very Happy

It can be experiences watching a show, or performing in it, or just being exposed to it.

My first Sondheim experience was when I was around 10. In a variety ice show in my community, a skater danced to "Maria" from WSS. I didn't pay too much attention to the soloist, but I did pay attention to the song. It was amazing the first time I heard it. (And this is from sombody who at the time only knew of Disney shows and ALW shows lol.) I was then addicted to WSS. (and eventually growing to appreciate Sondheim in general)

My first experience performing in a Sondheim show is actually right now, in my freshman year. (See my signature.) The first time I listened to the Cast Recording of "Merrily", I was blown away. No surprise, of course, we're taliking Sondheim here. But still, the music was really good. IMO, it's one of the most underrated musicals out there. And I'm really excited to get really into rehersals.

Kaiana

My FIRST sondheim experience was in my theater class in 6th grade, so I guess I was about ten or eleven and we saw "Agony" on the dvd. I remember I thought it was funny but I didn't really think much about it. But then, a couple years ago, I was at my friend's house and she had rented the concert version of Sweeney Todd. We watched it and I was so drawn in by the score, the story, everything. Then, as soon as it was over, I screamed and threw my pillow at the tv screen. That's when I became obsessed. Very Happy

I carried the DVD (the original) around with me for a while after that. Yeah, I'm a dork. Embarassed

Salome

as a little girl i caught the Angela Lansbury/George Hearn "Sweeney Todd on A&E and fell totally in love with the show. i was probably around 10! LOL

Marcellus

1957 - hearing several of the hits from WSS on the radio. Certain easy listing stations back then played maybe 30-50 percent show tunes.

The REAL Ciaron

First Broadway Sondheim experience? "Sunday in the Park With George" OBC.

BroadwayBud

My first experience?

A God-awful production of Into the Woods!

But now I am currently in a production of Into the Woods, and it's going to be awesome, so, all is repaired!

Eponine93

My first Sondhiem (and first theatrical) experience was when my mother played the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods at a community theatre. I was two at the time. Amazing fails to describe the production; I compare the video to the Broadway version. Out of the amazingly talented cast, you may recognize the name of the girl playing Cinderella in it if you were familar with the revival: Laura Benanti. I watched the video of her production of it all throughout my childhood and still pop it in occasionally when I'm bored. While my theatrical knowledge and experiences has grown greatly from then, I still remember that awesome production as my first Sondhiem experience.

ConverseSneaker

Well, I had this horrible sub in elementary and whenever he was in for music he made us watch West Side Story, but no one did. But I first got connected to Sondheim when I did Into the Woods as Little Red. For the auditions I would borrow my director's dvd whenever I could to watch it until I got my own.

bwayluvor31

My first Sondheim experience was when I was seven and saw the West Side Story VHS for the first time. There was only one copy at the video store and it traveled back and forth between me and my counselor at Donlavy Dance Camp for several months.

shakalakababy

when I was 10 and my community theater did a production of it, i loved it. Sweeney Todd was what got me obsessed though

Jekkienumber24601

Company at a college (I didn't know it was Sondheim) Then later on, Assassins and Sweeney at the same time since my singing teacher had me and my brother sing songs from those shows.

krisavalon

In sixth grade I was forced to watch West Side Story in school and I hated it. A few years later, though, I discovered Sweeney Todd and instantly became a Sondheim fan.

Paula74

I was pretty familiar with Sondheim - in some cases, not really realizing it - from various cast recordings over the years...notbaly "Into The Woods."

My first live Sondheim show was the Broadway revival of "Sweeney Todd," followed by the recent Seattle production of "Company."

ADistantMoonAgo

I've known west side story since i was in the womb, but i don't really consider that pure sondheim.
i was introduced to into the woods initially when my sister's college put on a production of it, she played the cd for me. at first i was a little wtf? but it grew and grew on me and now i'm a huge fanatic

music is my life!!!

i got the ItW vocal score from the library and looked thru it. I absolutely loved "i know things now" (i was only abt 11/12 at the time) and i learned Little red's, the witch's and the B Wife's parts because i listened to the OBC non-stop for over a week and i sorta got addicted to Sondheims music.
Also, i'm a musicaian so it's really interesting to see how challenging the music is compared to my normal stuff...
It's cool cuz now i'm checking out Follies and other shows by Sondheim and i recommended them to my friends saying "listen to this, Sondheim is a genius"

music is my life!!!

And my best m8 is already hooked on West Side Story and i auditioned for it in the summer, but sadly i didn't get a part Mad

Oh well, i'll keep auditioning until i get a part! and er... probably for the rest of my time performing... Rolling Eyes

Mark

First film experience - 1961 - West Side Story though I thought of it as Leonard Bernstein music at the time.
First Broadway experience - 1973? A Little Night Music - Glynis Johns, Len Cariou, Hermoine Gingold... it was pure magic (sorry to be trite) but I left the theatre floating on a cloud
Best Broadway experience ever = Sweeney Todd 1979? - with Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou- it hasn't been matched since.

Mara

I loved Bernstein as a kid and once I found out Sondheim did the lyrics for WSS I was hooked on him too.

kozafluitmusique

ITW, Jr...hah.

I didn't know it was by Sondhiem.

But then when I was older, I saw an ad for "Into the Woods". I was like, "I want to see that!" But my mom told me I couldn't!

Then...I just saw a community theatre production last year that was awesome.

JulieJordan

Apart from "West Side Story" and "Gyspy" which I was already familiar with from the films and cast recordings, it was "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Forum" at the National Theatre in 2004. The perfect introduction to Sondheim's work.

musicalfan07

When I was six I was the clarinet boy in Gypsy and it's now one of my fav musicals. But what now makes me a true sondheim fan was getting Into the Woods and SITPWG on DVD this Christmas. Sunday is now my joint fav musical with Billy Elliot. I could watch Sunday all day long and not get bored, if only for BP but sondheim's score and lyrics, Lapine's book and direction, the design, IT'S AMAZING! I'm trying to find the Sweeney DVD (lansbury, hearn) on a region disc as I really want to see a full production of the show not the concert (unfortunantly.) If anyone could show me in the right direction of finding one, I would be eternally grateful.
thanks,
mf07

BroadwayObssessed

Two years ago I saw our high school's production of West Side Story, and I loved the music...I now have like 5 Sondheim songs on my mp3 player that I listen to constantly and pretty much know by heart. Smile

jessiemil42

The first Sondheim show I've ever seen was Assassins, and it was amazing! After watching it, I bought the OBC and I now know the entire show by heart!

The first Sondheim show I've acted in was Into The Woods, as Little Red. This was amazing as well. My church [which also was somewhat of a community theatre] did this show, and integrated it with their sermons. It was a fabulous show. I remember looking up to the woman who played the Witch because she was the best actress I had ever seen or met.

Being in a Sondheim show, defintely made me grow into the musical theatre performer I am today.

I love it!

Very Happy

convict24601	First Sondheim Experiences The title explains the thread It can be experiences watching a show, or performing in it, or just being exposed to it. My first Sondheim experience was when I was around 10. In a variety ice show in my community, a skater danced to "Maria" from WSS. I didn't pay too much attention to the soloist, but I did pay attention to the song. It was amazing the first time I heard it. (And this is from sombody who at the time only knew of Disney shows and ALW shows lol.) I was then addicted to WSS. (and eventually growing to appreciate Sondheim in general) My first experience performing in a Sondheim show is actually right now, in my freshman year. (See my signature.) The first time I listened to the Cast Recording of "Merrily", I was blown away. No surprise, of course, we're taliking Sondheim here. But still, the music was really good. IMO, it's one of the most underrated musicals out there. And I'm really excited to get really into rehersals.
Kaiana	My FIRST sondheim experience was in my theater class in 6th grade, so I guess I was about ten or eleven and we saw "Agony" on the dvd. I remember I thought it was funny but I didn't really think much about it. But then, a couple years ago, I was at my friend's house and she had rented the concert version of Sweeney Todd. We watched it and I was so drawn in by the score, the story, everything. Then, as soon as it was over, I screamed and threw my pillow at the tv screen. That's when I became obsessed. I carried the DVD (the original) around with me for a while after that. Yeah, I'm a dork.
Salome	as a little girl i caught the Angela Lansbury/George Hearn "Sweeney Todd on A&E and fell totally in love with the show. i was probably around 10! LOL
Marcellus	1957 - hearing several of the hits from WSS on the radio. Certain easy listing stations back then played maybe 30-50 percent show tunes.
The REAL Ciaron	First Broadway Sondheim experience? "Sunday in the Park With George" OBC.
BroadwayBud	My first experience? A God-awful production of Into the Woods! But now I am currently in a production of Into the Woods, and it's going to be awesome, so, all is repaired!
Eponine93	My first Sondhiem (and first theatrical) experience was when my mother played the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods at a community theatre. I was two at the time. Amazing fails to describe the production; I compare the video to the Broadway version. Out of the amazingly talented cast, you may recognize the name of the girl playing Cinderella in it if you were familar with the revival: Laura Benanti. I watched the video of her production of it all throughout my childhood and still pop it in occasionally when I'm bored. While my theatrical knowledge and experiences has grown greatly from then, I still remember that awesome production as my first Sondhiem experience.
ConverseSneaker	Well, I had this horrible sub in elementary and whenever he was in for music he made us watch West Side Story, but no one did. But I first got connected to Sondheim when I did Into the Woods as Little Red. For the auditions I would borrow my director's dvd whenever I could to watch it until I got my own.
bwayluvor31	My first Sondheim experience was when I was seven and saw the West Side Story VHS for the first time. There was only one copy at the video store and it traveled back and forth between me and my counselor at Donlavy Dance Camp for several months.
shakalakababy	when I was 10 and my community theater did a production of it, i loved it. Sweeney Todd was what got me obsessed though
Jekkienumber24601	Company at a college (I didn't know it was Sondheim) Then later on, Assassins and Sweeney at the same time since my singing teacher had me and my brother sing songs from those shows.
krisavalon	In sixth grade I was forced to watch West Side Story in school and I hated it. A few years later, though, I discovered Sweeney Todd and instantly became a Sondheim fan.
Paula74	I was pretty familiar with Sondheim - in some cases, not really realizing it - from various cast recordings over the years...notbaly "Into The Woods." My first live Sondheim show was the Broadway revival of "Sweeney Todd," followed by the recent Seattle production of "Company."
ADistantMoonAgo	I've known west side story since i was in the womb, but i don't really consider that pure sondheim. i was introduced to into the woods initially when my sister's college put on a production of it, she played the cd for me. at first i was a little wtf? but it grew and grew on me and now i'm a huge fanatic
music is my life!!!	i got the ItW vocal score from the library and looked thru it. I absolutely loved "i know things now" (i was only abt 11/12 at the time) and i learned Little red's, the witch's and the B Wife's parts because i listened to the OBC non-stop for over a week and i sorta got addicted to Sondheims music. Also, i'm a musicaian so it's really interesting to see how challenging the music is compared to my normal stuff... It's cool cuz now i'm checking out Follies and other shows by Sondheim and i recommended them to my friends saying "listen to this, Sondheim is a genius"
music is my life!!!	And my best m8 is already hooked on West Side Story and i auditioned for it in the summer, but sadly i didn't get a part Oh well, i'll keep auditioning until i get a part! and er... probably for the rest of my time performing...
Mark	First film experience - 1961 - West Side Story though I thought of it as Leonard Bernstein music at the time. First Broadway experience - 1973? A Little Night Music - Glynis Johns, Len Cariou, Hermoine Gingold... it was pure magic (sorry to be trite) but I left the theatre floating on a cloud Best Broadway experience ever = Sweeney Todd 1979? - with Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou- it hasn't been matched since.
Mara	I loved Bernstein as a kid and once I found out Sondheim did the lyrics for WSS I was hooked on him too.
kozafluitmusique	ITW, Jr...hah. I didn't know it was by Sondhiem. But then when I was older, I saw an ad for "Into the Woods". I was like, "I want to see that!" But my mom told me I couldn't! Then...I just saw a community theatre production last year that was awesome.
JulieJordan	Apart from "West Side Story" and "Gyspy" which I was already familiar with from the films and cast recordings, it was "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Forum" at the National Theatre in 2004. The perfect introduction to Sondheim's work.
musicalfan07	When I was six I was the clarinet boy in Gypsy and it's now one of my fav musicals. But what now makes me a true sondheim fan was getting Into the Woods and SITPWG on DVD this Christmas. Sunday is now my joint fav musical with Billy Elliot. I could watch Sunday all day long and not get bored, if only for BP but sondheim's score and lyrics, Lapine's book and direction, the design, IT'S AMAZING! I'm trying to find the Sweeney DVD (lansbury, hearn) on a region disc as I really want to see a full production of the show not the concert (unfortunantly.) If anyone could show me in the right direction of finding one, I would be eternally grateful. thanks, mf07
BroadwayObssessed	Two years ago I saw our high school's production of West Side Story, and I loved the music...I now have like 5 Sondheim songs on my mp3 player that I listen to constantly and pretty much know by heart.
jessiemil42	The first Sondheim show I've ever seen was Assassins, and it was amazing! After watching it, I bought the OBC and I now know the entire show by heart! The first Sondheim show I've acted in was Into The Woods, as Little Red. This was amazing as well. My church [which also was somewhat of a community theatre] did this show, and integrated it with their sermons. It was a fabulous show. I remember looking up to the woman who played the Witch because she was the best actress I had ever seen or met. Being in a Sondheim show, defintely made me grow into the musical theatre performer I am today. I love it!

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First Sondheim Experiences