Stephen Sondheim honored with a Broadway theater

[September 16, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Stephen Sondheim has received a belated birthday gift: His name on a Broadway theater.

The 1,055-seat venue on West 43rd Street that is currently named after actor-producer Henry Miller was formally renamed Wednesday night and lit in Sondheim's honor.

"I'm deeply embarrassed. I'm thrilled, but deeply embarrassed," said Sondheim, who teared up as the sun fell over Times Square.

Sondheim, who turned 80 in March, also admitted that he has never really liked the sound of his last name. "It just doesn't sing."

Joining the Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist of such shows as "Company" and "Follies" were Sondheim's longtime collaborators Patti LuPone, Nathan Lane and John Weidman.

"He is a true gentleman of the theater, a theatrical legend," said Lane. "I have to say -- don't take this the wrong way -- this is so much more moving to christen a theater the Stephen Sondheim as opposed to the British Petroleum Playhouse."

The original theater opened April 1, 1918. Among its hit tenants were the anti-war drama "Journey's End" in 1929 and Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" in 1938. The venue was abandoned as a legitimate Broadway theater after 51 years and later suffered disrepair, becoming an adult movie house, a disco and later a dance hall.

The Roundabout Theatre Company reclaimed the space for its 1998 Tony-winning revival of "Cabaret." The musical "Urinetown" also later moved into the space before it underwent a massive renovation in which a new, environmentally friendly theater was constructed behind the restored neo-Georgian facade.

The 50,000-square-foot theater reopened last year as a joint venture of the Durst Organization and Bank of America. It is being leased by the nonprofit Roundabout, which plans to produce "The Pee-Wee Herman Show" and the Cole Porter romp "Anything Goes" with Sutton Foster as the first shows in the new Sondheim theater.

"I honestly can't think of any other artist who has done more for musical theater or who deserves this honor more," said Roundabout artistic director Todd Haimes.

The theater dedication is just the latest tribute celebrating the birthday of a man who reshaped America's musical theater. There have been productions of "A Little Night Music" and "Sondheim on Sondheim" on Broadway, as well as a birthday concert by the New York Philharmonic. The Roundabout put on a star-studded tribute in March and a production of the composer's "Passion" has begun at London's Donmar Warehouse.

Sondheim, who wrote the lyrics for "West Side Story" and "Gypsy," has won Tony Awards for the scores of "Passion," "Into the Woods," "Sweeney Todd," "A Little Night Music," "Follies" and "Company." His "Sunday in the Park with George" was awarded the Pulitzer Prize.

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Online:

http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/

[Associated Press; By MARK KENNEDY]

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