Doyle's Company to Play Barrymore Theatre | Playbill

News Doyle's Company to Play Barrymore Theatre The revival of Stephen Sondheim's Company, directed by 2006 Tony Award winner John Doyle, has found its new home: The Barrymore Theatre.

Variety reports that the production, which began life at Cincinnati's Playhouse in the Park, will play the Barrymore, whose most recent tenant was the short-lived Johnny Cash musical Ring of Fire. Producer Richard Frankel announced the news to the industry paper.

As previously reported, the original cast of the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park production will make the transfer to Broadway intact.

"We didn't want to get into any Broadway recast kind of behavior," director Doyle previously explained to Playbill.com. "I just thought so many people in that show came to Cincinnati to do that piece with me, some of them — with no disrespect to Cincinnati — might not have gone to Cincinnati under other circumstances. So, my loyalty to them is huge."

The decision also seemed right to the director for other reasons: "Mr. Sondheim is thrilled with them, so why would we want to change?," he posed, adding, "and anyway, how many people are there walking around who can play the French horn and sing 'Getting Married Today'? You know, it's a limited pool."

The acclaimed production — which uses the same technique as the director's current Broadway mounting of Sweeney Todd — casts actor-musicians in the roles of the Stephen Sondheim musical. Following its recent Ohio run, The Routh/Frankel/Viertel/Baruch Group will produce the revival on Broadway in November. Raul Esparza lead Company as Bobby with an ensemble that included: Barbara Walsh as Joanne; Keith Buterbaugh as Harry; Matt Castle as Peter; Robert Cunningham as Paul; Angel Desai as Marta; Kelly Jeanne Grant as Kathy; Kristin Huffman as Sarah; Amy Justman as Susan; Heather Laws as Amy; Leenya Rideout as Jenny; Fred Rose as David; Bruce Sabath as Larry; Elizabeth Stanley as April.

Doyle reset the action of the work in 2006 with characters dressed in very upscale, very urban black costumes.

Mary-Mitchell Campbell, the respected Manhattan music director and arranger, serves as the production's music supervisor and orchestrator.

In addition to Doyle and Campbell, the creative team includes David Gallo (set designer), Ann Hould-Ward (costume designer) and Thomas C. Hase (lighting designer).

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park billed the show as "a revolutionary, unconventional look at love and commitment in a complex modern world. The show is a remarkably honest, clever and sophisticated portrayal of five married couples as seen through the eyes of their mutual friend Bobby, a bachelor weighing the pros and cons of wedded life."

The original 1970 Broadway production was honored with the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best musical as well as six Tony Awards, including those for music and lyrics (Stephen Sondheim's first), book, scenic design, director and best musical.

Company, according to Variety, is capitalized at approximately $4 million.

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/9f803e808c5bfec06d13f4025aab8771-company2_1150378092.jpg
Raul Esparza (top) and Angel Desai (left), Bruce Sabath, Kristin Huffman, Heather Laws, Fred Rose, Elizabeth Stanley and Keith Buterbaugh in Company at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Photo by Sandy Underwood
 
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