Company (musical)

1970 musical comedy by Stephen Sondheim

Company

Original Broadway playbill

Music| Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics| Stephen Sondheim
Book| George Furth
Premiere| March 24, 1970 (1970-03-24): Shubert Theatre, Boston
Productions| 1970 Broadway
1971 North American tour
1972 West End
1995 Broadway revival
1995 London revival
2006 Broadway revival
2018 West End revival
2021 Broadway revival
2023 North American tour
Awards| 1971 Tony Award for Best Musical
1971 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical
1971 Tony Award for Best Score (music)
1971 Tony Award for Best Lyrics
2007 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical
2019 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival
2022 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical

Company is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth. The original 1970 production was nominated for a record-setting 14 Tony Awards, winning six. Company was among the first book musicals to deal with contemporary dating, marriage, and divorce,[1] and is a notable example of a concept musical lacking a linear plot.[2] In a series of vignettes, Company follows bachelor Bobby interacting with his married friends, who throw a party for his 35th birthday.[3]

## Background

[edit]

George Furth wrote 11 one-act plays planned for Kim Stanley. Anthony Perkins was interested in directing and gave the material to Sondheim, who asked Harold Prince for his opinion. Prince said the plays could be a good basis for a musical about New York marriages with a central character to examine those marriages.[4]

## Synopsis

[edit]

In the early 1990s, Furth and Sondheim revised the libretto, cutting and altering dialogue that had become dated and rewriting the end of act one. This synopsis is based on the revised libretto.

### Act I

[edit]

Robert is a well-liked single man living in New York City whose friends are married or engaged couples. The couples are Joanne and Larry, Peter and Susan, Harry and Sarah, David and Jenny, and Paul and Amy. It is Robert's 35th birthday and the couples have gathered to throw him a surprise party. When Robert fails to blow out any candles on his birthday cake, the couples promise him that his birthday wish will still come true, although Robert wished for nothing, and said that his friends are all he needs ("Company").

What follows is a series of disconnected vignettes in no chronological order, each featuring Robert visiting with one of the couples or alone on a date with a girlfriend.

In the first vignette, Robert visits Sarah, a foodie who is dieting, and her husband, Harry, a recovering alcoholic. Sarah and Harry taunt each other on their vices, escalating toward karate-like fighting and thrashing that may or may not be playful. This prompts the caustic Joanne, the oldest, most cynical, and most-often divorced of Robert's friends, to sarcastically comment to the audience that it is the little things that make a marriage work ("The Little Things You Do Together"). Harry explains, and the men concur, that most people are both thankful and regretful about getting married, and that marriage changes both everything and nothing about the way they live ("Sorry – Grateful").

Robert is next with Peter and Susan, on their apartment terrace. Peter is an Ivy League graduate, and Susan is a Southern belle; the two seem to be a perfect couple, yet they surprise Robert with the news of their upcoming divorce. At the home of the uptight Jenny and chic David, Robert has brought along some marijuana that the three share. The couple turns to grilling Robert on why he has not yet gotten married. Robert claims he is not against the notion, but three women he is currently dating—Kathy, Marta, and April—appear and proceed, Andrews Sisters-style, to chastise Robert for his reluctance to being committed ("You Could Drive a Person Crazy"). After Jenny asks for another joint, but is discouraged by David, David privately tells Robert that Jenny does not actually like marijuana, but partakes in it as a show of her love for him.

All of Robert's male friends are deeply envious about his commitment-free status, and each has found someone they find perfect for Robert ("Have I Got a Girl for You"), but Robert is waiting for someone who merges the best features of all his married female friends ("Someone Is Waiting"). Robert meets his three girlfriends in a small park on separate occasions, as Marta sings of the city: crowded, dirty, uncaring, yet somehow wonderful ("Another Hundred People"). Robert first gets to know April, a slow-witted airline flight attendant. Robert then spends time with Kathy. They had dated previously and both admit that they had each secretly considered marrying the other. They laugh at this coincidence before Robert suddenly considers the idea seriously. However, Kathy reveals that she is leaving for Cape Cod with a new fiancé. Finally, Robert meets with Marta; she loves New York, and babbles on about topics both highbrow and lowbrow. Robert is left stunned.

The scene turns to the day of Amy and Paul's wedding; they have lived together for years, but are just now getting married. Amy has gotten an overwhelming case of cold feet, and as the upbeat Paul harmonizes rapturously, a panicking Amy breaks the fourth wall and confesses to the audience that she can't go through with it ("Getting Married Today"). Robert, the best man, and Paul watch as Amy complains and self-destructs over every petty thing she can possibly think of, and then finally explicitly calls off the wedding. Paul dejectedly storms out into the rain and Robert tries to comfort Amy, but emotionally winds up offering an impromptu proposal to her himself. His words jolt Amy back into reality, and she runs out after Paul, at last ready to marry him. Before she leaves, Robert tosses Amy’s bouquet over to her. She catches it, joyfully exclaiming: “I’m the next bride!”

The setting returns to the scene of the birthday party, where Robert is given his cake and tries to blow out the candles again. He wishes for something this time ("Marry Me A Little").

### Act II

[edit]

The birthday party scene is reset, and Robert goes to blow out his candles. This time, he gets them about half out, and the couples have to help him with the rest. The couples share their views on Robert – both complimentary and unflattering – with each other as Robert reflects on being the third wheel ("Side By Side By Side"), soon followed by the up-tempo paean to Robert's role as the perfect friend ("What Would We Do Without You?"). In a dance break in the middle of the number, each man, in turn, does a dance step that is answered by his wife. Robert likewise does a step but he has no partner to answer it.

Robert brings April to his apartment for a nightcap, after a date. She marvels at how homey his place is, and he casually leads her to the bed, sitting next to her on it and working on getting her into it. She earnestly tells him of an experience from her past, involving the death of a butterfly; he counters with a bizarre remembrance of his own, obviously fabricated and designed to put her in the mood to succumb to his seduction. Meanwhile, the married women worry about Robert's single status and the unsuitable qualities they find in the women he dates ("Poor Baby"). As Robert and April have sex, we hear Robert and April's thoughts, interspersed with music that expresses and mirrors their increasing excitement ("Tick-Tock"). In some productions, including the original Broadway production, this is accompanied by a solo dance by Kathy.[5] The next morning, April rises early, to report for duty aboard a flight to Barcelona. Robert tries to get her to stay, at first wholeheartedly, parrying her apologetic protestations that she cannot with playful begging and insistence. As April continues to reluctantly resist his entreaties, and sleepiness retakes him, Bobby loses conviction, agreeing that she should go; that change apparently gets to her, and she joyfully declares that she will stay, after all. This takes Robert by surprise, and his astonished, plaintive "Oh, God!" is suffused with fear and regret ("Barcelona").

Robert and Marta visit Peter and Susan, and learn that Peter flew to Mexico to get the divorce, but he phoned Susan and she joined him there for a vacation. Though they are divorced, they are still living together, claiming they have too many responsibilities to actually leave each other's lives, and that their relationship has actually been strengthened. Susan takes Marta inside to make lunch, and Peter asks Robert if he has ever had a homosexual experience. They both admit they have, and Peter hints at the possibility that Robert and he could have such an encounter, but Robert uncomfortably laughs off the conversation as a joke.

Joanne and Larry take Robert out to a nightclub, where Larry dances, and Joanne and Robert sit watching, getting thoroughly drunk. She blames Robert for always being an outsider, only watching life rather than living it, and also persists in berating Larry. She raises her glass in a mocking toast, passing judgment on various types of rich, middle-aged women wasting their lives away with mostly meaningless activities ("The Ladies Who Lunch"). Her harshest criticism is reserved for those, like herself, who "just watch",[6] and she concludes with the observation that all these ladies are bound together by a terror that comes with the knowledge that "everybody dies". Larry returns from the dance floor, taking Joanne's drunken rant without complaint and explains to Robert that he still loves her dearly. When Larry leaves to pay the check, Joanne bluntly invites Robert to begin an affair with her, assuring him that she will "take care of him". Robert's reply, "But who will I take care of?" seems to surprise even him, and strikes Joanne as a profound breakthrough on his part. Robert insists he has been open to marriages and commitment, but questions "What do you get?" Upon Larry's return, Robert asks again, angrily, "What do you get?" Joanne declares, with some satisfaction, "I just did someone a big favor". She and Larry go home, leaving Robert lost in frustrated contemplation.

The couples' recurrent musical motif begins yet again, as they all again invite Robert to "drop by anytime...". Rather than the cheery, indulgent tone he had responded with in earlier scenes, Robert suddenly, desperately, shouts "STOP!" He sings, openly enumerating the many traps and dangers he perceives in marriage. Speaking their disagreements, his friends counter his ideas, one by one, encouraging him to dare to try for love and commitment. Finally, Robert's words change, expressing a desire, increasing in urgency, for loving intimacy, even with all its problems, and the wish to meet someone with whom to face the challenge of living ("Being Alive").

The opening party resets a final time; Robert's friends have waited two hours, with still no sign of him. At last, they all prepare to leave, expressing a new hopefulness about their absent friend's chances for loving fulfillment, and wishing him a happy birthday, wherever he may be, as they leave. Robert then appears alone, smiles, and blows out his candles ("Finale").

## Principal casts

[edit]

Character  | Broadway  | North American tour  | West End  | Broadway revival  | West End revival  | Kennedy Center  | Broadway revival  | New York Philharmonic concert  | West End revival[a] | Broadway revival[b] | North American tour[c]

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1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1995 | 1996 | 2002 | 2006 | 2011 | 2018 | 2021 | 2023
Robert[note 1] | Dean Jones | George Chakiris | Larry Kert | Boyd Gaines | Adrian Lester | John Barrowman | Raúl Esparza | Neil Patrick Harris | Rosalie Craig
(as Bobbie) | Katrina Lenk
(as Bobbie) | Britney Coleman
(as Bobbie)
Joanne  | Elaine Stritch | Debra Monk | Sheila Gish | Lynn Redgrave | Barbara Walsh | Patti LuPone | Judy McLane
Larry  | Charles Braswell  | Robert Goss  | Timothy Landfield  | Paul Bentley | Walter Charles | Bruce Sabath | Jim Walton | Ben Lewis | Terence Archie  | Derrick Davis
Amy  | Beth Howland | Veanne Cox | Sophie Thompson | Alice Ripley | Heather Laws  | Katie Finneran | Jonathan Bailey
(as Jamie) | Matt Doyle
(as Jamie) | Matt Rodin
(as Jamie)
Paul  | Steve Elmore  | Del Hinkley  | Steve Elmore  | Danny Burstein | Michael Simkins  | Matt Bogart  | Robert Cunningham  | Aaron Lazar | Alex Gaumond | Etai Benson | Ali Louis Bourzgui
Sarah  | Barbara Barrie | Marti Stevens | Kate Burton | Rebecca Front | Keira Naughton  | Kristin Huffman  | Martha Plimpton | Mel Giedroyc | Jennifer Simard | Kathryn Allison
Harry  | Charles Kimbrough | Charles Braswell  | Kenneth Kimmins  | Robert Westenberg | Clive Rowe | David Pittu | Keith Buterbaugh  | Stephen Colbert | Gavin Spokes  | Christopher Sieber | James Earl Jones II
Susan  | Merle Louise | Milly Ericson  | Joy Franz | Patricia Ben Peterson | Clare Burt | Christy Baron | Amy Justman  | Jill Paice | Daisy Maywood  | Rashidra Scott  | Marina Kondo
Peter  | John Cunningham  | Gary Krawford  | J. T. Cromwell  | Jonathan Dokuchitz | Gareth Snook  | Dan Cooney  | Matt Castle  | Craig Bierko | Ashley Campbell | Greg Hildreth  | Javier Ignacio
Jenny  | Teri Ralston  | Diana Canova | Liza Sadovy | Emily Skinner | Leenya Rideout  | Jennifer Laura Thompson | Jennifer Saayeng  | Nikki Renée Daniels  | Emma Stratton
David  | George Coe | Lee Goodman  | John Hillner  | Teddy Kempner  | Marc Vietor  | Fred Rose  | Jon Cryer | Richard Henders | Christopher Fitzgerald | Matt Bittner
April  | Susan Browning | Bobbi Jordan | Carol Richards  | Jane Krakowski | Hannah James  | Kim Director  | Elizabeth Stanley | Christina Hendricks | Richard Fleeshman
(as Andy) | Claybourne Elder
(as Andy) | Jacob Dickey
(as Andy)
Marta  | Pamela Myers | LaChanze | Anna Francolini | Marcy Harriel | Angel Desai | Anika Noni Rose | George Blagden
(as PJ) | Bobby Conte Thornton
(as PJ) | Tyler Hardwick
(as PJ)
Kathy  | Donna McKechnie | Charlotte d'Amboise | Kiran Hocking  | Elizabeth Zins  | Kelly Jeanne Grant  | Chryssie Whitehead | Matthew Seadon-Young
(as Theo) | Manu Narayan
(as Theo) | David Socolar
(as Theo)

### Notable replacements

[edit]

Broadway (1970–1972)

* Robert: Larry Kert
* Joanne: Vivian Blaine, Jane Russell
* Larry: Stanley Grover
* Amy: Marian Haley
* Sarah: Cynthia Harris
* Harry: Kenneth Kimmins
* David: George D. Wallace
* Kathy: Priscilla Lopez

1st Broadway revival (1995)

* Robert: Bradley Dean (s/b)

3rd Broadway revival (2020-2022)

* Joanne: Jennifer Simard
* David: Jeff Kready
* Theo: Kyle Dean Massey[7]

## Song list

[edit]

Act I

* "Company" – Robert and Company
* "The Little Things You Do Together" – Joanne and Couples
* "Sorry-Grateful" – Harry, David and Larry
* "You Could Drive a Person Crazy" – Kathy, April and Marta
* "Have I Got a Girl for You" – Larry, Peter, Paul, David, Harry
* "Someone Is Waiting" – Robert
* "Another Hundred People" – Marta
* "Getting Married Today" – Amy, Paul, Choirgirl,[note 2] and Company
* "Marry Me a Little"[note 3] – Robert

Act II

* "Side by Side by Side"/"What Would We Do without You?" – Robert and Couples
* "Poor Baby" – Sarah, Jenny, Susan, Amy, Joanne
* "Have I Got a Girl for You" (Reprise)[note 4] – Larry, Peter, Paul, David, Harry
* "Tick-Tock"[note 5][8] – Kathy (Instrumental)
* "Barcelona" – Robert and April
* "The Ladies Who Lunch" – Joanne
* "Being Alive"[note 6][9] – Robert and Couples
* "Finale" – Company

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## Productions

[edit]

Beth Howland as Amy introduced the song "Getting Married Today" on Broadway in 1970, while Jonathan Bailey performed the song as Jamie, originating the gender-swapped role in the 2018 West End revival.[10]

### Original Broadway production

[edit]

Company opened in Boston in out-of-town tryouts, receiving mixed reviews.[11]

Directed by Hal Prince, the musical opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on April 26, 1970, and closed on January 1, 1972, after 705 performances and 12 previews.[12][13] The opening cast included Dean Jones, who replaced Anthony Perkins early in the rehearsals, Donna McKechnie, Susan Browning, George Coe, Pamela Myers, Barbara Barrie, Charles Kimbrough, Merle Louise, Beth Howland, and Elaine Stritch.[14] Musical staging was by Michael Bennett, assisted by Bob Avian. The set design by Boris Aronson consisted of two working elevators and various vertical platforms that emphasized the musical's theme of isolation.[12]

Displeased with the show and struggling with personal issues, Jones left the show on May 28, 1970, and was replaced by understudy Larry Kert, who had created the role of Tony in West Side Story.[15]

In his September 2, 2015, obituary for Jones in The New York Times, Mike Flaherty reported that "he quit the production, citing stress and depression related to the recent collapse of his own marriage." Flaherty quotes Jones' 1982 autobiography, Under Running Laughter, in which he wrote of Company: "It was a clever, bright show on the surface, but its underlying message declared that marriage was, at best, a vapid compromise, insoluble and finally destructive."[16]

Kert earned rave reviews for his performance, and the Tony Awards committee decided that he was eligible to compete for Best Actor in a Musical, an honor usually reserved for the actor who originates a role.[17]

Original replacement cast members included John Cunningham, the original Peter, as Bobby, and Vivian Blaine and Jane Russell, as Joanne.[12][18]

#### Original Cast Album: Company

[edit]

Main article: Original Cast Album: Company

Award-winning documentary filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker captured the making-of the original cast recording shortly after the show opened on Broadway. His 1970 film Original Cast Album: Company earned early accolades, as well as a cult following, for its unvarnished look at a grueling recording session.[19][20] Stritch, Sondheim, and producer Thomas Z. Shepard are featured prominently.

#### First national tour

[edit]

The first national tour opened on May 20, 1971, at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California, with George Chakiris as Bobby, and closed on May 20, 1972, at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C.[21]

### Original London production

[edit]

The first West End production opened on January 18, 1972, at Her Majesty's Theatre, where it closed on November 4, 1972, after 344 performances. The original cast, directed by Harold Prince with choreography by Michael Bennett, featured Larry Kert, Elaine Stritch, Joy Franz (Susan), Beth Howland (Amy) and Donna McKechnie (Kathy). Dilys Watling (Amy) and Julia McKenzie (April) were replacements, later in the run.[22]

With so many Broadway cast members reprising their roles, producers chose not to record a new cast album; instead, they re-released the original cast album, replacing Jones's vocals with Kert's, and branded it the London cast album.[23]

### Original Australian production

[edit]

The Sydney Theatre Company presented the first Australian production at the Sydney Opera House's Drama Theatre in January and February 1986. Directed by Richard Wherrett, it featured John O'May as Bobby, Geraldine Turner as Joanne, with other cast members, including Tony Sheldon, Simon Burke, Terence Donovan, and Barry Quin.[24][25]

### 1993 reunion concerts

[edit]

Most members of the original Broadway cast reunited in California for a concert to benefit Actors Fund of America AIDS charities and the Long Beach Civic Light Opera.[26] Angela Lansbury served as host for the January 23, 1993, performance at the Terrace Theater, with narration by George Hearn. The reunion concert was repeated for two New York performances in April 1993, at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, directed by Barry Brown, with Patti LuPone as host.[27][28] The excitement of the reunion concerts resonated, even in comparison to later full-scale revivals.[29]

### 1995 Broadway revival

[edit]

After 43 previews, a revival for the Roundabout Theatre, directed by Scott Ellis and choreographed by Rob Marshall, opened October 5, 1995, at the Criterion Center Stage Right, where it ran for 68 performances. The cast included Boyd Gaines (Bobby), Kate Burton, Robert Westenberg (Harry), Diana Canova, Debra Monk (Joanne), LaChanze, Charlotte d'Amboise, Jane Krakowski, Danny Burstein (Paul), and Veanne Cox (Amy). This production was nominated for the Tony Award, Best Revival of a Musical.[30][31]

### 1995 London revival

[edit]

A London revival directed by Sam Mendes at the Donmar Warehouse opened December 13, 1995, and closed there March 2, 1996;[32][33] the production quickly transferred to the Albery Theatre, with previews starting March 7, opening March 13, and closing June 29.[34][32] The cast included Adrian Lester, as the first Black actor to play Bobby in a major production of the show.[33]

A videotaped recording of the Donmar Warehouse production was broadcast by BBC Two on March 1, 1997. On Sunday, November 7, 2010, a one-off concert of Company, starring most of the 1995 London revival cast, including Adrian Lester as Bobby, was held at the Queen's Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.

### Kennedy Center production

[edit]

A production for the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., presented as part of a summer-long celebration of Sondheim musicals, opened May 17, 2002, for a limited run of 17 performances. Directed by Sean Mathias, the cast included John Barrowman as Robert, Emily Skinner, Walter Charles, Alice Ripley, and Lynn Redgrave.[35][36] The production used the book from the original Broadway production, instead of the 1995 revision.[35]

### 2006 Broadway revival

[edit]

A new revival had try-outs at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Robert S. Marx Theatre in March through April 2006. The cast featured Raúl Esparza (Bobby) and Barbara Walsh (Joanne), with direction and choreography by John Doyle.[37][38]

This production opened on Broadway on November 29, 2006, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.[2] The actors themselves provided the orchestral accompaniment.[38] For example, Esparza plays percussion, Walsh plays Orchestra Bells and percussion, and Heather Laws (Amy) plays French horn, trumpet and flute.[39] The production won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.[40][2] The musical closed on July 1, 2007, after 34 previews and 246 performances.[2] The production was filmed for Great Performances and broadcast in 2008,[41][40] with a subsequent DVD release.

### 2007 Australian production

[edit]

Kookaburra Musical Theatre mounted a production directed by Gale Edwards in Sydney in June 2007, starring David Campbell as Bobby, with a cast including Simon Burke, Anne Looby, James Millar, Pippa Grandison, Katrina Retallick, Tamsin Carroll and Christie Whelan. The show was well-received, and Sondheim travelled to Australia for the first time in thirty years to attend the opening night.[42] However, the production caused major controversy when Whelan was out sick for one performance and (with no understudy) Kookaburra chief executive Peter Cousens insisted the show be performed anyway, but without the character of April. This involved cutting several numbers and scenes with no explanation, and that night's performance ended twenty minutes early. Following complaints from the audience, there was considerable negative press attention to the decision, and Sondheim threatened to revoke the production rights for the show.[43]

### 2011 New York Philharmonic concert

[edit]

Main article: Company (2011 film)

In April 2011, Lonny Price directed a staged concert production,[44] with Neil Patrick Harris as Robert, Stephen Colbert as Harry, Craig Bierko as Peter, Jon Cryer as David, Katie Finneran as Amy, Christina Hendricks as April, Aaron Lazar as Paul, Jill Paice as Susan, Martha Plimpton as Sarah, Anika Noni Rose as Marta, Jennifer Laura Thompson as Jenny, Jim Walton as Larry, Chryssie Whitehead as Kathy, and Patti LuPone as Joanne. Paul Gemignani conducted a 35-piece orchestra, which used similar orchestrations to the first Broadway production. This concert followed a long tradition of Stephen Sondheim concert productions at the New York Philharmonic, including Sweeney Todd and Passion.[45][46] The cast reunited on June 12, 2011, to perform "Side by Side by Side" on the 65th Tony Awards, hosted by Harris.[47]

A filmed presentation of the three-night concert production saw limited theatrical release on June 15, 2011,[48] with DVD and Blu-ray releases on November 13, 2012.[49]

### 2018 West End gender-bent production

[edit]

> "It's thrilling from beginning to end. And the last scene of Act I (which is now two guys) will completely shatter you, as well as it being one of the funniest scenes on record. All due to [Jonathan Bailey], the guy who plays Jamie, the Amy-equivalent. I only wish George Furth [the book's writer] could see it, as it definitively proves what Judy Prince said about him: he's J. D. Salinger."

–Stephen Sondheim after watching the first gender-swapped production of Company in the West End in 2018[50]

A West End revival was staged at the Gielgud Theatre which started previews from September 26, 2018, and opened officially, on October 17. The production was part of Elliott & Harper Productions' debut season, a production company formed by director Marianne Elliott and producer Chris Harper.[51] The revival/remake featured changes to the genders of several characters.[52] The character of Bobby was changed to Bobbie, a female role, and was played by Rosalie Craig. Additionally, the production featured a same-sex couple for the first time, with Jonathan Bailey as cold-footed groom Jamie (originally written as the female character Amy) and Alex Gaumond as his devoted fiancé Paul.[53] Sondheim approved the changes and worked on revisions of the script with director Elliott.[54] Patti LuPone, Ben Lewis and Mel Giedroyc also starred.

Company topped the list of the 2019 Olivier Award nominations, alongside Come from Away, with nine nominations, winning Best Musical Revival.[55] It also won Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical (LuPone), Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical (Bailey).

The cast recording was made available for digital release and streaming by Warner Classics on February 1, 2019.[56] The production closed on March 30, 2019.[57][50]

> When I was auditioning in London, I couldn't find the person [to play Amy]. I also felt like this woman wasn't now, wasn't a very modern woman. So then I did a crazy thing — I asked a friend of mine, Jonathan Bailey... 'Would you mind just coming in and trying something for me? It's a bit crazy.'
> We worked for maybe an hour and a half, and it wasn't perfect, but I felt (gasp), this is exciting, there's a potential here. So I then immediately got on the email to Steve, and I said, 'Steve, you have to be sitting down. You have to be having a glass of wine in your hand. And take a deep breath, but I'm going to say something to you: I think possibly we should change Amy into a man.' And Steve's reply sums him up, really, as a collaborator. He basically said, 'Marianne, you need to be sitting down, you need to have a glass of wine in your hand, you need to take a deep breath: I think it's a great idea.'

— Marianne Elliott on reimagining Amy as a man[58]

### 2021 Broadway gender-bent revival

[edit]

Branding of the 2021 Broadway revival, as seen on the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre

A Broadway transfer of the 2018 West End revival opened December 9, 2021, to acclaim.[59][60][61] Marianne Elliott once again directed,[58] and Patti LuPone reprised her role as Joanne, with Katrina Lenk as Bobbie,[62] choreography by Liam Steel, music supervision and direction by Joel Fram, scenic and costume designs by Bunny Christie, and lighting design by Neil Austin.[63]

Originally slated to open on Sondheim's 90th birthday (March 22, 2020), the production began previews at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on March 2. After nine preview performances, the production came to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic.[64] All Broadway shows went dark, and theatre closures were subsequently extended numerous times.[65][66][67][68] The production resumed previews November 15, 2021,[69] with Sondheim in attendance shortly before his death.[70] The cast, musicians, and crew then dedicated their entire run to the late composer.[71][72]

Five days before he died, Sondheim discussed the revival's change of the lead character's gender from male (Bobby) to female (Bobbie). He expressed how theater is distinguished from film and video because "you can do it in different ways from generation to generation… What keeps theater alive is the chance always to do it differently, with not only fresh casts, but fresh viewpoints. It's not just a matter of changing pronouns, but attitudes."[58]

The production became the most nominated revival of the season, winning five of nine Tony Award nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Matt Doyle's performance as Jamie.[73] The documentary film Keeping Company with Sondheim aired on Great Performances in May 2022, examining this production alongside the show's previous incarnations. The production closed July 31, 2022, after 265 performances and 32 previews.[74]

#### Second national tour

[edit]

The second North American tour opened on October 8, 2023, at the Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady, New York and closed on October 6, 2024, at the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas. The tour was led by Britney Coleman, who understudied Bobbie in the 2021 Broadway revival.[75]

### International productions

[edit]

* A 1997 production was staged in the Philippines, by the Repertory Philippines as part of its 55th season. The production starred Cocoy Laurel as Bobby and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Joanne.[76]
* A Brazilian production opened on February 8, 2001, at the Teatro Villa-Lobos in Rio de Janeiro, closed April 22, opened April 27 at the Teatro Alfa in São Paulo, then returned to the Teatro Villa-Lobos in Rio.[77]
* A 2010 production opened in Norway, at the National Venue of Norway (Den Nationale Scene) in Bergen. The cast included Jon Bleiklie Devik, Karoline Krüger/Ragnhild Gudbrandsen, Wenche Kvamme, and Monica Hjelle, among others.[78]
* A 2011 Israeli production opened on May 28, 2011, at the Beersheba Theatre.
* A 2011 production by Sheffield Theatres opened at the Crucible Theatre, starring Daniel Evans (actor) as Bobby and Rosalie Craig as Marta, among others.[79]
* A 2012 production opened in Lima, Peru, directed by Alberto Ísola. The cast included Rossana Fernández-Maldonado, Marco Zunino, Tati Alcántara and Paul Martin.
* A 2012 production in Singapore, directed by Hossan Leong, was staged at the Drama Centre, November 1–16, 2012.[80] The cast included Peter Ong, Seong Hui Xuan, Mina Ellen Kaye, Tan Kheng Hua and Petrina Kow.[81]
* A 2013 production opened in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at Teatro La Comedia. Cast members included Alejandro Paker, Cecilia Milone and Natalia Cociuffo.[82]
* A 2019 production in Slovenia, translated into Slovenian and directed by Nejc Lisjak, opened on September 27, 2019, in the Kulturni Dom in Radomlje. It starred Lisjak as Robert, Anja Strajnar as Joanne, and Špela Prenar as Amy, among others.[83]
* A 2019 production in Brazil, directed by João Fonseca [pt], was staged at the Teatro Sesc Ginástico [pt]. It opened on August 30 and closed on September 29.
* A 2019 production in the Philippines, directed by Topper Fabregas, was staged at Maybank Theater, BGC Arts Center. The production starred OJ Mariano as Bobby and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, reprising her role as Joanne. The production ran from September 13 to 22.[84][76]
* A 2021 production in Spain, directed by and starring Antonio Banderas, opened November 17 at Teatro del Soho Caixabank in Malaga, with subsequent (2022) runs at the Teatre Apolo in Barcelona, and the Teatro Albéniz in Madrid.[85] Sondheim reportedly approved Banderas changing Bobby's age from 35 to 50.[86]
* A 2022 production in Poland, directed by Michał Znaniecki and translated into Polish by Maciej Glaza, opened March 26 at Basen Artystyczny in Warsaw.[87]
* A 2022 production in Panama, directed by Jose Alberto Batista, was staged at the Theatre Guild of Ancon in Panama City, running October 18 to 29.

Cast of the South African premiere of Company (2024)

* A 2024 production in South Africa.[88] KickstArt Theatre Productions; director Steven Stead, musical director Roland Perold, choreographer Simone Mann, set design Greg King, lighting design Tina le Roux, sound design Stephanie Pais, costumiere Shanti Naidoo. Cast: Bryan Hiles as Robert, Charon Williams-Ros as Joanne, Peter Court as Larry, Jessica Sole as Amy, Anthony Downing as Paul, Lyle Buxton as Harry, Lisa Bobbert as Sarah, Roland Perold as Peter, Liesl Coppin as Susan, Anne-Marie Clulow as Annie, Yamikani Mahaka-Phiri as David, Roshanda Lewis as Kathy, Keryn Lynne Scott as April & Leah Mari as Marta.
* A 2024 production in Sweden,[89] based on Marianne Elliott's gender-swapped version, directed by Maria Sid and featuring Frida Modén Treichl as Bobbie and Gunilla Backman as Joanne. The translation contains additional minor changes to reference modern technology and social media.

## Recordings

[edit]

See also: Original Cast Album: Company

The original Broadway cast album features Jones, having been recorded prior to Kert assuming the role of Bobby. When the cast traveled to London to reprise their roles, Columbia Records took Kert into the studio to record new vocal tracks, then mixed out Jones' original vocals. This recording featuring the new Kert vocals laid over the Broadway backing tracks was released as the Original London Cast recording. After Sony Music acquired the Columbia catalogues, a newly remastered CD of the original Broadway cast recording was released in 1998, featuring Kert's rendition of "Being Alive" as a bonus track.[90] The original Broadway cast album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.

Selections from the show were broadcast on PBS in 1979 on Musical Comedy Tonight, hosted by Sylvia Fine, with songs performed by Carol Burnett, Richard Chamberlain, Sandy Duncan, and Bernadette Peters.[91][92]

Revival cast recordings for both the 1995 Broadway and London productions were released; audio recordings also followed the 2006 actor-orchestra Broadway cast, the 2018 gender-swapped London cast, and the 2021 Spanish cast.[85]

Video recordings were released for the 1995 London, 2006 Broadway, and 2011 New York Philharmonic revivals.

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

### Original Broadway production

[edit]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Nominee  | Result

|
|
|
|

1971  | Tony Award[93] | Best Musical | Won
Best Book of a Musical | George Furth | Won
Best Score (music)[note 7] | Stephen Sondheim | Won
Best Lyrics | Stephen Sondheim | Won
Best Actor in a Musical | Larry Kert | Nominated
Best Actress in a Musical | Elaine Stritch | Nominated
Susan Browning | Nominated
Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Charles Kimbrough | Nominated
Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Barbara Barrie | Nominated
Pamela Myers | Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical | Harold Prince | Won
Best Choreography | Michael Bennett | Nominated
Best Scenic Design | Boris Aronson | Won
Best Lighting Design | Robert Ornbo  | Nominated
Drama Desk Award[93] | Outstanding Book of a Musical | George Furth | Won
Outstanding Director of a Musical | Harold Prince | Won
Outstanding Lyrics | Stephen Sondheim | Won
Outstanding Music | Won
Outstanding Set Design | Boris Aronson | Won
Theatre World Award[93] | Susan Browning | Won
New York Drama Critics' Circle Award[94] | Best Musical  | Won

### 1995 Broadway revival

[edit]

Source: Internet Broadway database[30]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Nominee  | Result

|
|
|
|

1996  | Tony Award | Best Revival of a Musical | Nominated
Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Veanne Cox | Nominated
Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Veanne Cox | Nominated

### 1995 London revival

[edit]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Nominee  | Result

|
|
|
|

1996  | Laurence Olivier Award[95] | Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | Adrian Lester | Won
Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Sheila Gish | Won
Sophie Thompson | Nominated
Best Director | Sam Mendes | Won

### 2006 Broadway revival

[edit]

Source: Internet Broadway Database[96]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Nominee  | Result

|
|
|
|

2007  | Tony Award | Best Revival of a Musical | Won
Best Actor in a Musical | Raúl Esparza | Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical | John Doyle | Nominated
Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Won
Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Raúl Esparza | Won
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Barbara Walsh | Nominated
Outstanding Director of a Musical | John Doyle | Nominated
Outstanding Orchestrations | Mary Mitchell Campbell  | Won

### 2018 West End revival

[edit]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Nominee  | Result

|
|
|
|

2018  | Evening Standard Theatre Award[97] | Best Musical  | Nominated
Best Musical Performance  | Rosalie Craig | Won
Best Director  | Marianne Elliott | Won
Best Design  | Bunny Christie | Nominated
Critics' Circle Theatre Award[98] | Best Musical | Won
Best Designer | Bunny Christie | Won
2019  | Laurence Olivier Award[99] | Best Musical Revival | Won
Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Rosalie Craig | Nominated
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Patti LuPone | Won
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Jonathan Bailey | Won
Richard Fleeshman | Nominated
Best Director | Marianne Elliott | Nominated
Best Set Design | Bunny Christie | Won
Best Lighting Design | Neil Austin | Nominated
Best Theatre Choreographer | Liam Steel  | Nominated
South Bank Sky Arts Award[100] | Theatre  | Nominated

### 2021 Broadway revival

[edit]

Year  | Award  | Category  | Nominee  | Result

|
|
|
|

2022  | Tony Awards[101] | Best Revival of a Musical | Won
Best Direction of a Musical | Marianne Elliott | Won
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Matt Doyle | Won
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical | Patti LuPone | Won
Jennifer Simard | Nominated
Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Bunny Christie | Won
Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Neil Austin | Nominated
Best Sound Design of a Musical | Ian Dickinson for Autograph | Nominated
Best Orchestrations | David Cullen | Nominated
Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Won
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Matt Doyle | Won
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Patti LuPone | Won
Jennifer Simard | Nominated
Outstanding Director of a Musical | Marianne Elliott | Won
Outstanding Choreography | Liam Steel | Nominated
Outstanding Scenic Design for a Musical | Bunny Christie | Nominated
Outstanding Sound Design for a Musical | Ian Dickinson for Autograph | Nominated
Drama League Award[102] | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Won
Outstanding Direction of a Musical  | Marianne Elliott | Won
Distinguished Performance Award  | Matt Doyle | Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards[103] | Outstanding Revival of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway) | Won
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical  | Matt Doyle | Won
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical  | Patti LuPone | Won

* Due to a performer only being allowed to win the Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance once in their lifetime, LuPone wasn't able to be officially nominated again; she was however given an honorable mention for her work in Company.

## Unproduced film

[edit]

Sondheim approached William Goldman to write a screenplay adaptation of the musical; the director Herbert Ross reportedly talked Sondheim out of doing the film.[104] Speculation arose in 2010 about Neil LaBute working on a film version of the show.[105]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Sometimes referred to as "Bobby"
2. ^ Played in most productions by the actor who plays Susan or Jenny.
3. ^ In the 1990s, "Marry Me a Little" was restored permanently to close Act I and added to the 1995 and 2006 revivals, it is also included in the official composer's edition of the vocal selections, published in 1996 (ISBN 0-7935-6763-7).
4. ^ Added in for the 1995 Broadway Revival.
5. ^ The dance number "Tick-Tock" (arranged by David Shire) was abridged for the first Broadway revival, and afterward deleted entirely from the score. However, it has since been restored in some productions, such as the 2004 Reprise! production in Los Angeles, the 2011 New York Philharmonic staging, and the 2021 Broadway revival.
6. ^ The song "Multitude of Amys" was the original finale but was cut due to major structural changes in the script. "Marry Me a Little" was started as a replacement but subsequently moved to the end of the first act. "Happily Ever After" was used as the finale for the first few performances before being replaced by "Being Alive".
7. ^ For the only time in its history, the Tony Awards for Music and Lyrics were split into two categories. Sondheim won both awards.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Broadway: the American musical, episode 5: "Tradition (1947–1979)", 2004.
2. ^ a b c d Company, 2006 Playbill (vault), accessed January 1, 2020
3. ^ Sondheim, Finishing the Hat (2010), p. 166.
4. ^ Zadan, Craig. Sondheim & Co. (1986) ISBN 0-06-015649-X, p. 116.
5. ^ "Fynsworth Alley: Donna McKechnie". David Levy. February 14, 2001. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
6. ^ "Elaine Stritch "The Ladies Who Lunch" Performance is the Best Way to Remember Her". Bustle. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
7. ^ Kyle Dean Massey played the role during the 2020 previews before the COVID-19 shutdown, but did not return, since he and his husband were expecting their first child.
8. ^ Kendt, Rob. "Theater Review", Los Angeles Times, May 21, 2004.
9. ^ (no author)"In Tune: Being Alive", carlinamerica.com, accessed August 16, 2011. Archived February 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
10. ^ Chu, Henry (April 7, 2019). "Come from Away, Company, The Inheritance Score at Olivier Awards". Variety. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
11. ^ Citron, Stephen. "Prince and Company" Sondheim and Lloyd-Webber: The New Musical, Oxford University Press US, 2001, ISBN 0-19-509601-0, p. 172.
12. ^ a b c "Company Cast and Replacements, Pro Info" Playbill (vault), accessed January 1, 2020
13. ^ ​Company​ at the Internet Broadway Database
14. ^ Kelly, Kevin. One Singular Sensation: The Michael Bennett Story, Doubleday, 1990, ISBN 0-8217-3310-9, page 68.
15. ^ "News From ME – Mark Evanier's blog". www.newsfromme.com. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
16. ^ Flaherty, Mike (September 2, 2015). "Dean Jones, Affable Star in Love Bug and a Disney Fixture, Dies at 84". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
17. ^ "Obituary. Larry Kert" The New York Times, June 7, 1991
18. ^ ​Company​ at the Internet Broadway Database
19. ^ Brody, Richard (July 10, 2020). "The Unstrung Power of Elaine Stritch in Original Cast Album: Company". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
20. ^ Saltz, Rachel (October 11, 2014). "Invincible Bunch, 44 Years Later". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
21. ^ "1971 National Touring Production", sondheimguide.com, accessed January 11, 2016.
22. ^ "Company London, 1972", sondheimguide.com, accessed January 1, 2020
23. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan. "9 Original Cast Albums Featuring Replacement Performers", Playbill, November 17, 2022
24. ^ "Company". AusStage. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
25. ^ "Archive: STC Musicals". Sydney Theatre Company. May 9, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
26. ^ "Revisiting Company of Days Past : Original Cast, Creators of 1970 Musical Gather for Reunion Benefit". Los Angeles Times. January 25, 1993. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
27. ^ ​Company​ Broadway Special – 1993 Revival at the Internet Broadway Database
28. ^ " Company in Concert" Archived November 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine sondheimguide.com, accessed January 2, 2020
29. ^ "Ken Mandelbaum's Aisle View: Donmar Company on TV". Playbill. March 16, 1997. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
30. ^ a b Company, 1995" ibdb.com, accessed January 2, 2020
31. ^ Canby, Vincent. "Theater Review. A Revival Both Familiar and New" The New York Times, October 6, 1995
32. ^ a b Company Donmar" sondheimguide.com, accessed January 1, 2020
33. ^ a b "Color-blind Company", Variety, December 10, 1995
34. ^ Benedict, David. "Musical; Company; Albery Theatre, London" The Independent, March 15, 1996
35. ^ a b "'Company' listing, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2002" Sondheimguide.com, accessed August 18, 2011.
36. ^ Pressley, Nelson. "Rollicking Good Company" The Washington Post, May 21, 2002
37. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "John Doyle's Company Begins in Ohio; Esparza, Walsh Play Along" Playbill, March 14, 2006
38. ^ a b Jones, Chris. "Reviews. Company Variety, March 20, 2006
39. ^ "Inside the Playbill" Playbill (vault), accessed January 1, 2020
40. ^ a b "Sondheim Guide, 2006 Broadway Revival" Sondheimguide.com, accessed March 25, 2011
41. ^ Gans, Andrew and Jones, Kenneth. "Playbill News: Tony-Winning Revival of Company to Be Filmed for Great Performances Broadcast" Archived July 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Playbill, June 28, 2007.
42. ^ (no author). "Stephen Sondheim to Visit Sydney" Australian Stage, June 10, 2007.
43. ^

* Dunn, Emily."Send Off The Clowns" The Sydney Morning Herald, July 21, 2007.
* Barbara McMahon (July 22, 2007). "Sondheim angered by cuts to his musical". The Observer. Retrieved November 2, 2024.

44. ^ Holden, Stephen."A Bachelor, Five Couples and All Their Tuneful Discontents" The New York Times, April 8, 2011.
45. ^ Gans, Andrew."Neil Patrick Harris to Star in New York Philharmonic Company Concerts" Archived December 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Playbill.com, December 10, 2010.
46. ^ "Patti LuPone Gets Ready for Company With Neil Patrick Harris", Broadway.com, January 13, 2011.
47. ^ "Cast of Neil Patrick Harris Led Company to Perform on Tony Awards Telecast", BroadwayWorld, June 2, 2011.
48. ^ Gans, Andrew."Philharmonic's Company, With Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone, Will Hit Cinemas in June" Archived April 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Playbill, April 9, 2011.
49. ^ "Company (Stephen Sondheim) (2011)". Amazon. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
50. ^ a b "Bonny Jonny". Retrieved May 4, 2022.
51. ^ Chow, Andrew R. (November 27, 2016). "Marianne Elliott to Direct Sondheim and Furth's Company, with a Gender Twist". The New York Times. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
52. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Richard Fleeshman, George Blagden, More Will Join Patti LuPone in Gender-Swapped Company", Playbill, June 29, 2018
53. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Alex Gaumond and Jonathan Bailey Will Play Same-Sex Couple in London's Gender-Swapped Company" Playbill, July 12, 2018
54. ^ Dex, Robert. Ackerman, Naomi. "Stephen Sondheim gives his blessing to Company's first same-sex couple, Evening Standard, July 12, 2018
55. ^ McPhee, Ryan (March 5, 2019). "2019 Olivier Award Nominations: London's Company and Come from Away Lead the Pack". Playbill. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
56. ^ "Company – 2018 London Cast Recording released". LondonTheatre1. January 31, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
57. ^ "Company at the Gielgud Theatre". Royal National Theatre. August 30, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
58. ^ a b c Paulson, Michael (December 1, 2021). "'I Was Skeptical.' How Sondheim Agreed to Change Company". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
59. ^ "Interest in Stephen Sondheim's Music, Books and Shows Soar After His Death". The New York Times. December 8, 2021. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
60. ^ "Review: In a Gender-Flipped Revival, Company Loves Misery". The New York Times. December 9, 2021. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
61. ^ Marks, Peter (December 9, 2021). "Review – It's a welcome return of Company to Broadway – with another Sondheim memory to savor". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
62. ^ Paulson, Michael (August 30, 2019). "Company Returning to Broadway, with a Woman at its Center". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
63. ^ McPhee, Ryan (August 30, 2019). "London's Gender-Bent Company Will Play Broadway With Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone". Playbill. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
64. ^ Kennedy, Mark (March 12, 2020). "Broadway shuts its doors over ongoing coronavirus concerns". Associated Press. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
65. ^ Paulson, Michael (April 8, 2020). "Broadway Will Remain Closed at Least Until June, and Probably Longer". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
66. ^ Paulson, Michael (May 12, 2020). "Curtains for Broadway: No Shows Until Labor Day, at Least". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
67. ^ McPhee, Ryan (June 29, 2020). "Broadway Will Officially Remain Closed Through 2020". Playbill. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
68. ^ McPhee, Ryan. "In Comes Company: Gender-Swapped Revival Confirms Return to Broadway", Playbill, May 10, 2021
69. ^ Evans, Greg (July 6, 2021). "'Company' Returning To Broadway Sooner Than Expected: New Dates, Cast Confirmed". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
70. ^ "Stephen Sondheim, Titan of the American Musical, Is Dead at 91". The New York Times. November 26, 2021. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
71. ^ Matt Stevens; Sadiba Hasan; Julia Jacobs (November 27, 2021). "Praise for Stephen Sondheim at Company and Assassins". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
72. ^ "Watch as Company Dedicates Performance & Run to Sondheim". BroadwayWorld.com. November 27, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
73. ^ Paulson, Michael (May 9, 2022). "Highlights of the 2022 Tony Nominations: A Strange Loop Has a Strong Showing". The New York Times.
74. ^ Cutler, Grace (July 31, 2022). "Company Takes Its Final Bow Today with Plans for a North American Tour". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
75. ^ Paulson, Michael (June 21, 2022). "Tony-Winning Company Revival Will End Broadway Run July 31". The New York Times. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
76. ^ a b "Sondheim Musical "Company" Full Cast Announced". May 18, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
77. ^ 2001 Brazil Production" sondheimguide.com, accessed April 14, 2011.
78. ^ Company Archived July 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Den Nationale Scene, (in Norwegian), accessed April 14, 2011.
79. ^ 'Sheffield Theatres Production' Archived December 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine of Company.
80. ^ "SISTIC Singapore". Sistic. Archived from the original on April 18, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
81. ^ Pew, Gwen (October 28, 2012). "You've Got Company". Archived from the original on July 23, 2013.
82. ^ "Company de Stepehn Sondheim llega a Buenos Aires con Alejandro Paker como protagonista – Musicales Baires" (in Spanish). Retrieved March 8, 2020.
83. ^ "DRUŠČINA glasbena konedija", accessed October 3, 2019
84. ^ "Upstart Productions: Company". August 3, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
85. ^ a b Culwell-Block, Logan (October 28, 2022). "Antonio Banderas-Led, Spanish-Language Company Releases Cast Album October 28". Playbill. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
86. ^ "With Company, Antonio Banderas Brings Sondheim to Spain". The New York Times. December 14, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
87. ^ ""Company" / Stephen Sondheim – Polska Premiera!". Warszawska Opera Kameralna (in Polish). Retrieved April 16, 2022.
88. ^ Estelle Sinkins (April 11, 2024). "Theatre reviews: Company will make you feel alive". The Witness. Pietermaritzburg. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
89. ^ "Kulturhuset Stadsteatern". arkiv.kulturhusetstadsteatern.se. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
90. ^ "A Kert Reply". News From ME. September 24, 2005. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
91. ^ Peter J. Boyle (October 1, 1979). "Carson special, PBS musical make prime time". Lawrence Journal-World (Kansas). Associated Press. p. 31. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
92. ^ "Highlights - "Musical Comedy Tonight"". Telegraph-Herald (Iowa). September 28, 1979. p. 6 (Entertainment section). Retrieved March 12, 2025.
93. ^ a b c "Company Awards 1970" ibdb.com, accessed January 2, 2020
94. ^ "New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards Past Winners". New York Drama Critics' Circle. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
95. ^ "Olivier Awards 1996" officiallondontheatre.com, accessed January 2, 2020
96. ^ "Company 2006" ibdb.com, accessed January 2, 2020
97. ^ McPhee, Ryan. "West End Company, Hamilton, The Inheritance Among 2018 Evening Standard Theatre Award Winners" Playbill, November 18, 2018
98. ^ "2018 Results | Critics' Circle Theatre Awards". Critics' Circle Theatre Awards - Founded in 1989. January 29, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
99. ^ "Olivier Winners 2019", officiallondontheatre.com, accessed January 2, 2020
100. ^ "Lily Allen, Grayson Perry and Danny Boyle join prestigious list of artists hoping to scoop awards as nominations unveiled for The South Bank Sky Arts Awards 2019". www.skygroup.sky. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
101. ^ "2022 Tony Award Nominations". Tony Awards. May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
102. ^ Rosky, Nicole. "2022 Drama League Awards Nominations Announced- Full List!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
103. ^ "The Lehman Trilogy, Kimberly Akimbo & Harmony Lead 2022 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations". Broadway.com. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
104. ^ Chris Gore, The 50 Greatest Movies Never Made, St Martins 1999, p. 186.
105. ^ "Neil LaBute May Direct Film Version of Stephen Sondheim's Musical Company" by Oliver Lyttelton The Playlist, November 25, 2010, accessed June 14, 2013.

1. ^ Gender bent production
2. ^ Gender bent production
3. ^ Gender bent production

## Further reading

[edit]

* Hutchins, Michael H. (June 7, 2006). The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide. sondheimguide.com. Retrieved on October 4, 2007.
* Ilson, Carol. Harold Prince: A Director's Journey (2004), Limelight Editions, ISBN 0-87910-296-9.
* Mandelbaum, Ken. A Chorus Line and the Musicals of Michael Bennett (1990), St Martins Press, ISBN 0-312-04280-9.
* Prince, Harold. Contradictions: Notes on twenty-six years in the theater (1974), Todd, Mead, ISBN 0-396-07019-1.
* Rich, Frank. The Theater Art of Boris Aronson (1987), Knopf. ISBN 0-394-52913-8.
* "Interview with Barbara Walsh". Downstage Center (a collaboration of the American Theatre Wing and XM Satellite Radio). First aired January 12, 2007. Retrieved on February 4, 2007. Via SoundCloud.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Company (musical).

* Official website for 2023 North American tour
* ​Company​ at the Internet Broadway Database
* Company at the Sondheim Database
* Company (1996) at IMDb, filmed stage revival starring Adrian Lester
* Company (2007) at IMDb, filmed stage revival starring Raul Esparza
* Company (2011) at IMDb, filmed stage revival starring Neil Patrick Harris
* Company (2013)—licensed version from Music Theatre International
* Company cast recordings at CastAlbums.org
* Musical Cyberspace: Company

* v
* t
* e

Company

Songs|

* "Company"
* "Getting Married Today"
* "The Ladies Who Lunch"
* "Being Alive"

Personnel|

* George Furth (book)
* Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics)

Films|

* Original Cast Album: Company (1970)
* Company (2011)

Related|

* Original Cast Album: Co-Op

Awards for Company

* v
* t
* e

Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical

* She Loves Me (1994)
* The King and I (1996)
* Chicago (1997)
* Cabaret (1998)
* You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1999)
* Kiss Me, Kate (2000)
* 42nd Street (2001)
* Into the Woods (2002)
* Nine (2003)
* Assassins (2004)
* La Cage aux Folles (2005)
* Sweeney Todd (2006)
* Company (2007)
* South Pacific (2008)
* Hair (2009)
* La Cage aux Folles (2010)
* Anything Goes (2011)
* Follies (2012)
* Pippin (2013)
* Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2014)
* The King and I (2015)
* She Loves Me (2016)
* Hello, Dolly! (2017)
* My Fair Lady (2018)
* Fiddler on the Roof (Fidler Afn Dakh) (2019)
* Little Shop of Horrors (2020)
* No Award (2021)
* Company (2022)
* Parade (2023)
* I Can Get It for You Wholesale (2024)
* Gypsy (2025)

* v
* t
* e

Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album

1950s|

* The Music Man (1959)

1960s|

* Gypsy / Redhead (1960)
* The Sound of Music (1961)
* How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1962)
* No Strings (1963)
* She Loves Me (1964)
* Funny Girl (1965)
* On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1966)
* Mame (1967)
* Cabaret (1968)
* Hair (1969)

1970s|

* Promises, Promises (1970)
* Company (1971)
* Godspell (1972)
* Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope (1973)
* A Little Night Music (1974)
* Raisin (1975)
* The Wiz (1976)
* Bubbling Brown Sugar (1977)
* Annie (1978)
* Ain't Misbehavin' (1979)

1980s|

* Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1980)
* Evita: Premier American Recording (1981)
* Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music (1982)
* Dreamgirls: Original Broadway Cast Album (1983)
* Cats: Complete Original Broadway Cast Recording (1984)
* Sunday in the Park with George (1985)
* West Side Story (1986)
* Follies in Concert (1987)
* Les Misérables (1988)
* Into the Woods (1989)

1990s|

* Jerome Robbins' Broadway (1990)
* Les Misérables: The Complete Symphonic Recording (1991)
* The Will Rogers Follies (1992)
* Guys and Dolls (1993)
* The Who's Tommy (1994)
* Passion (1995)
* Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller (1996)
* Riverdance (1997)
* Chicago: The Musical (1998)
* The Lion King (1999)

2000s|

* Annie Get Your Gun (2000)
* Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida (2001)
* The Producers (2002)
* Hairspray (2003)
* Gypsy: A Musical Fable (2004)
* Wicked (2005)
* Monty Python's Spamalot (2006)
* Jersey Boys (2007)
* Spring Awakening (2008)
* In the Heights (2009)

2010s|

* West Side Story (2010)
* American Idiot (featuring Green Day) (2011)
* The Book of Mormon (2012)
* Once: A New Musical (2013)
* Kinky Boots (2014)
* Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (2015)
* Hamilton (2016)
* The Color Purple (2017)
* Dear Evan Hansen (2018)
* The Band's Visit (2019)

2020s|

* Hadestown (2020)
* Jagged Little Pill (2021)
* The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical (2022)
* Into the Woods (2023)
* Some Like It Hot (2024)
* Hell's Kitchen (2025)

* v
* t
* e

Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival

* Show Boat (1991)
* The Boys from Syracuse (1992)
* Carousel (1993)
* Sweeney Todd (1994)
* She Loves Me (1995)
* The Who's Tommy (1997)
* Chicago (1998)
* Oklahoma! (1999)
* Candide (2000)
* Singin' in the Rain (2001)
* My Fair Lady (2002)
* Anything Goes (2003)
* Pacific Overtures (2004)
* Grand Hotel (2005)
* Guys and Dolls (2006)
* Sunday in the Park with George (2007)
* The Magic Flute (2008)
* La Cage aux Folles (2009)
* Hello, Dolly! (2010)
* Into the Woods (2011)
* Crazy for You (2012)
* Sweeney Todd (2013)
* Merrily We Roll Along (2014)
* City of Angels (2015)
* Gypsy (2016)
* Jesus Christ Superstar (2017)
* Follies (2018)
* Company (2019)
* Fiddler on the Roof (2020)
* No Ceremony (2021)
* Cabaret (2022)
* Oklahoma! (2023)
* Sunset Boulevard (2024)
* Fiddler on the Roof (2025)

* v
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* e

Tony Award for Best Musical

1949–1975|

* Kiss Me, Kate (1949)
* South Pacific (1950)
* Guys and Dolls (1951)
* The King and I (1952)
* Wonderful Town (1953)
* Kismet (1954)
* The Pajama Game (1955)
* Damn Yankees (1956)
* My Fair Lady (1957)
* The Music Man (1958)
* Redhead (1959)
* The Sound of Music / Fiorello! (1960)
* Bye Bye Birdie (1961)
* How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1962)
* A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1963)
* Hello, Dolly! (1964)
* Fiddler on the Roof (1965)
* Man of La Mancha (1966)
* Cabaret (1967)
* Hallelujah, Baby! (1968)
* 1776 (1969)
* Applause (1970)
* Company (1971)
* Two Gentlemen of Verona (1972)
* A Little Night Music (1973)
* Raisin (1974)
* The Wiz (1975)

1976–2000|

* A Chorus Line (1976)
* Annie (1977)
* Ain't Misbehavin' (1978)
* Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979)
* Evita (1980)
* 42nd Street (1981)
* Nine (1982)
* Cats (1983)
* La Cage aux Folles (1984)
* Big River (1985)
* The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1986)
* Les Misérables (1987)
* The Phantom of the Opera (1988)
* Jerome Robbins' Broadway (1989)
* City of Angels (1990)
* The Will Rogers Follies (1991)
* Crazy for You (1992)
* Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993)
* Passion (1994)
* Sunset Boulevard (1995)
* Rent (1996)
* Titanic (1997)
* The Lion King (1998)
* Fosse (1999)
* Contact (2000)

2001–present|

* The Producers (2001)
* Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002)
* Hairspray (2003)
* Avenue Q (2004)
* Monty Python's Spamalot (2005)
* Jersey Boys (2006)
* Spring Awakening (2007)
* In the Heights (2008)
* Billy Elliot the Musical (2009)
* Memphis (2010)
* The Book of Mormon (2011)
* Once (2012)
* Kinky Boots (2013)
* A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (2014)
* Fun Home (2015)
* Hamilton (2016)
* Dear Evan Hansen (2017)
* The Band's Visit (2018)
* Hadestown (2019)
* Moulin Rouge! (2020/21)
* A Strange Loop (2022)
* Kimberly Akimbo (2023)
* The Outsiders (2024)
* Maybe Happy Ending (2025)

* v
* t
* e

Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical

* Carousel (1994)
* Show Boat (1995)
* The King and I (1996)
* Chicago (1997)
* Cabaret (1998)
* Annie Get Your Gun (1999)
* Kiss Me, Kate (2000)
* 42nd Street (2001)
* Into the Woods (2002)
* Nine (2003)
* Assassins (2004)
* La Cage aux Folles (2005)
* The Pajama Game (2006)
* Company (2007)
* South Pacific (2008)
* Hair (2009)
* La Cage aux Folles (2010)
* Anything Goes (2011)
* Porgy and Bess (2012)
* Pippin (2013)
* Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2014)
* The King and I (2015)
* The Color Purple (2016)
* Hello, Dolly! (2017)
* Once on This Island (2018)
* Oklahoma! (2019)
* No Award (2020/21)
* Company (2022)
* Parade (2023)
* Merrily We Roll Along (2024)
* Sunset Boulevard (2025)

* v
* t
* e

Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical

1950–1975|

* South Pacific by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan (1950)
* Hello, Dolly! by Michael Stewart (1964)
* Fiddler on the Roof by Joseph Stein (1965)
* Company by George Furth (1971)
* Two Gentlemen of Verona by John Guare and Mel Shapiro (1972)
* A Little Night Music by Hugh Wheeler (1973)
* Candide by Hugh Wheeler (1974)
* Shenandoah by James Lee Barrett, Peter Udell and Philip Rose (1975)

1976–2000|

* A Chorus Line by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante (1976)
* Annie by Thomas Meehan (1977)
* On the Twentieth Century by Betty Comden and Adolph Green (1978)
* Sweeney Todd by Hugh Wheeler (1979)
* Evita by Tim Rice (1980)
* Woman of the Year by Peter Stone (1981)
* Dreamgirls by Tom Eyen (1982)
* Cats by T. S. Eliot (1983)
* La Cage aux Folles by Harvey Fierstein (1984)
* Big River by William Hauptman (1985)
* The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes (1986)
* Les Misérables by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg (1987)
* Into the Woods by James Lapine (1988)
* No Award (1989)
* City of Angels by Larry Gelbart (1990)
* The Secret Garden by Marsha Norman (1991)
* Falsettos by William Finn and James Lapine (1992)
* Kiss of the Spider Woman by Terrence McNally (1993)
* Passion by James Lapine (1994)
* Sunset Boulevard by Don Black and Christopher Hampton (1995)
* Rent by Jonathan Larson (1996)
* Titanic by Peter Stone (1997)
* Ragtime by Terrence McNally (1998)
* Parade by Alfred Uhry (1999)
* James Joyce's The Dead by Richard Nelson (2000)

2001–present|

* The Producers by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan (2001)
* Urinetown by Greg Kotis (2002)
* Hairspray by Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell (2003)
* Avenue Q by Jeff Whitty (2004)
* The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by Rachel Sheinkin (2005)
* The Drowsy Chaperone by Bob Martin and Don McKellar (2006)
* Spring Awakening by Steven Sater (2007)
* Passing Strange by Stew (2008)
* Billy Elliot the Musical by Lee Hall (2009)
* Memphis by Joe DiPietro (2010)
* The Book of Mormon by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone (2011)
* Once by Enda Walsh (2012)
* Matilda the Musical by Dennis Kelly (2013)
* A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder by Robert L. Freedman (2014)
* Fun Home by Lisa Kron (2015)
* Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda (2016)
* Dear Evan Hansen by Steven Levenson (2017)
* The Band's Visit by Itamar Moses (2018)
* Tootsie by Robert Horn (2019)
* Jagged Little Pill by Diablo Cody (2020/21)
* A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson (2022)
* Kimberly Akimbo by David Lindsay-Abaire (2023)
* Suffs by Shaina Taub (2024)
* Maybe Happy Ending by Will Aronson and Hue Park (2025)

* v
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* e

Tony Award for Best Original Score

1947–1975|

* Street Scene by Kurt Weill (1947)
* Kiss Me, Kate by Cole Porter (1949)
* South Pacific by Richard Rodgers (1950)
* Call Me Madam by Irving Berlin (1951)
* No Strings by Richard Rodgers (1962)
* Oliver! by Lionel Bart (1963)
* Hello, Dolly! by Jerry Herman (1964)
* Fiddler on the Roof by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (1965)
* Man of La Mancha by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion (1966)
* Cabaret by John Kander and Fred Ebb (1967)
* Hallelujah, Baby! by Jule Styne, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green (1968)
* Company by Stephen Sondheim (1971)
* Follies by Stephen Sondheim (1972)
* A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim (1973)
* Gigi by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner (1974)
* The Wiz by Charlie Smalls (1975)

1976–2000|

* A Chorus Line by Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban (1976)
* Annie by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin (1977)
* On the Twentieth Century by Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green (1978)
* Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim (1979)
* Evita by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice (1980)
* Woman of the Year by John Kander and Fred Ebb (1981)
* Nine by Maury Yeston (1982)
* Cats by Andrew Lloyd Webber and T. S. Eliot (1983)
* La Cage aux Folles by Jerry Herman (1984)
* Big River by Roger Miller (1985)
* The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes (1986)
* Les Misérables by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Herbert Kretzmer, and Alain Boublil (1987)
* Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim (1988)
* No Award (1989)
* City of Angels by Cy Coleman and David Zippel (1990)
* The Will Rogers Follies by Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green (1991)
* Falsettos by William Finn (1992)
* Kiss of the Spider Woman by John Kander and Fred Ebb / The Who's Tommy by Pete Townshend (1993)
* Passion by Stephen Sondheim (1994)
* Sunset Boulevard by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black, and Christopher Hampton (1995)
* Rent by Jonathan Larson (1996)
* Titanic by Maury Yeston (1997)
* Ragtime by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (1998)
* Parade by Jason Robert Brown (1999)
* Aida by Elton John and Tim Rice (2000)

2001–present|

* The Producers by Mel Brooks (2001)
* Urinetown by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis (2002)
* Hairspray by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (2003)
* Avenue Q by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx (2004)
* The Light in the Piazza by Adam Guettel (2005)
* The Drowsy Chaperone by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison (2006)
* Spring Awakening by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater (2007)
* In the Heights by Lin-Manuel Miranda (2008)
* Next to Normal by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (2009)
* Memphis by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro (2010)
* The Book of Mormon by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone (2011)
* Newsies by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman (2012)
* Kinky Boots by Cyndi Lauper (2013)
* The Bridges of Madison County by Jason Robert Brown (2014)
* Fun Home by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron (2015)
* Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda (2016)
* Dear Evan Hansen by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (2017)
* The Band's Visit by David Yazbek (2018)
* Hadestown by Anaïs Mitchell (2019)
* A Christmas Carol by Christopher Nightingale (2020/21)
* Six by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss (2022)
* Kimberly Akimbo by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire (2023)
* Suffs by Shaina Taub (2024)
* Maybe Happy Ending by Will Aronson and Hue Park (2025)

* v
* t
* e

Stephen Sondheim

* Works
* Awards and nominations

Musicals|

* Saturday Night
* West Side Story (lyrics only)
* Gypsy (lyrics only)
* A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
* Anyone Can Whistle
* Do I Hear a Waltz? (lyrics only)
* Evening Primrose
* The Race to Urga (unproduced, lyrics only)
* Company
* Follies
* A Little Night Music
* The Frogs
* Pacific Overtures
* Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
* Merrily We Roll Along
* Sunday in the Park with George
* Into the Woods
* Assassins
* Passion
* Road Show
* Here We Are

Film adaptations|

* West Side Story (1961)
* Gypsy (1962)
* A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)
* A Little Night Music (1977)
* Gypsy (1993)
* Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
* Company (2011)
* Into the Woods (2014)
* West Side Story (2021)
* Merrily We Roll Along (TBA)

Musical revues|

* Side by Side by Sondheim
* Marry Me a Little
* Putting It Together
* Sondheim on Sondheim
* Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends

Songs|

* "Something's Coming"
* "Maria"
* "Tonight"
* "America"
* "Cool"
* "One Hand, One Heart"
* "Tonight Quintet"
* "I Feel Pretty"
* "Somewhere"
* "Gee, Officer Krupke"
* "A Boy Like That"
* "Let Me Entertain You"
* "Everything's Coming Up Roses"
* "Together, Wherever We Go"
* "You Gotta Get a Gimmick"
* "Rose's Turn"
* "The Boy From..."
* "Company"
* "Getting Married Today"
* "The Ladies Who Lunch"
* "Being Alive"
* "I'm Still Here"
* "Could I Leave You?"
* "Losing My Mind"
* "Send In the Clowns"
* "Not While I'm Around"
* "No One Is Alone"
* "Sooner or Later"

Books|

* Finishing the Hat

Documentaries|

* Original Cast Album: Company (1970)
* Six by Sondheim (2013)
* Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened (2016)

Screenplays|

* Topper (1953–54)
* The Last of Sheila (1973)

Plays|

* Getting Away with Murder (1996)

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work
* 2

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