As previously announced, on March 19, 2005, Symphony Space will present its 35th Wall to Wall concert at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre. Wall to Wall Stephen Sondheim is set to begin at 11 AM and will continue for 12 hours at the New York City landmark. Hundreds of artists — from the worlds of Broadway, jazz and classical music — will interpret Sondheim's work, some played by a full orchestra, others featuring intimate jazz arrangements.
Among those currently scheduled to be part of the event include George Lee Andrews, Ivy Austin, Christine Baranski, Barbara Barrie, Polly Bergen, Pat Birch, Kate Burton, Michael Cerveris, Melissa Errico, Raul Esparza, Joel Fram, Paul Gemignani, Joanna Gleason, Jonathan Hadary and Phyllis Newman.
Admission to the concert is free, and patrons may sample a few moments or stay several hours. Symphony Space began its Wall to Wall series in 1978 with Wall to Wall Bach. Later versions of the marathon concept have focused on Mozart, Beethoven, John Cage, Aaron Copland, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin and Richard Rodgers.
Composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim has written a plethora of musicals, including A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, A Little Night Music, Into the Woods, Merrily We Roll Along, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George and Passion. He also contributed lyrics to West Side Story and Gypsy, and his new musical, Bounce, recently played Chicago and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. His revised production of The Frogs — starring Nathan Lane — was on stage earlier this season at Lincoln Center Theater, and the 2004 staging of Assassins won five Tonys, including one for Best Revival of a Musical. Sondheim was also celebrated at the Kennedy Center with all-star stagings of six of his musicals — Company, Sweeney, Merrily, Night Music, Sunday and Passion.
Wall to Wall Stephen Sondheim will play the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space, located in Manhattan at 2537 Broadway at 95th Street. For more information, visit www.symphonyspace.org.
