Editing Stephen Sondheim (section)

===1990–2021: Later work===
==== ''Assassins'' ====
''[[Assassins (musical)|Assassins]]'' opened off-Broadway at [[Playwrights Horizons]] on December 18, 1990, with a book by [[John Weidman]]. The show explored, in [[revue|revue form]], a group of historical figures who tried (with varying success) to assassinate the President of the United States. The musical closed on February 16, 1991, after 73 performances. The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' reported the show "has been sold out since previews began, reflecting the strong appeal of Sondheim's work among the theater crowd."<ref>Fox, David.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-29-ca-251-story.html "Critics Say 'Assassins' Will Have to Bite the Bullet : Stage: Some reviewers find Stephen Sondheim's Off Broadway musical fails to hit the target."] ''Los Angeles Times'', January 29, 1991</ref> In his review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Frank Rich]] wrote, "''Assassins'' will have to fire with sharper aim and fewer blanks if it is to shoot to kill."<ref>Evans, Greg. "Crix Hang 'Assassins;' B'way Out of Range?" Variety (February 4, 1991): 95. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter. Vol. 147. Detroit: Gale Group, 2002</ref><ref>Rich, Frank.[https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/28/theater/review-theater-sondheim-and-those-who-would-kill.html?scp=1&sq=&pagewanted=1 "Review/Theater; Sondheim and Those Who Would Kill"], ''The New York Times'', January 28, 1991.</ref> ''Assassins'' was eventually staged on Broadway in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Grady|first=Constance|date=November 26, 2021|title=In Sondheim's Assassins, cornball Americana can't cover a seething mass of violent rage|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/22796368/assassins-review-stephen-sondheim-john-doyle-classic-stage-company|access-date=November 29, 2021|website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]|language=en}}</ref>

''Saturday Night'' was shelved until its 1997 production at London's [[Bridewell Theatre]]. The next year, its score was recorded; a revised version, with two new songs, ran off-Broadway at [[Second Stage Theatre]] in 2000 and at London's [[Jermyn Street Theatre]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/119611-Sondheims-Saturday-Night-to-Play-Londons-Jermyn-Street-Theatre-in-2009 |title=Sondheim's Saturday Night to Play London's Jermyn Street Theatre in 2009 |work=Playbill |access-date=October 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227144112/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/119611-Sondheims-Saturday-Night-to-Play-Londons-Jermyn-Street-Theatre-in-2009 |archive-date=December 27, 2011}}</ref>

==== ''Road Show'' ====
Sondheim and Weidman reunited during the late 1990s for ''Wise Guys'', a musical comedy based on the lives of colorful businessmen [[Addison Mizner|Addison]] and [[Wilson Mizner]]. A Broadway production starring [[Nathan Lane]] and [[Victor Garber]], directed by [[Sam Mendes]], and planned for spring 2000,<ref>{{cite news|last=Bahr|first=David|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_1999_Oct_12/ai_55983616|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807171726/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1589/is_1999_Oct_12/ai_55983616|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 7, 2013|title=Everything's coming up Sondheim|publisher=The Advocate|date=October 12, 1999 |access-date=March 19, 2007 }}</ref> was delayed. Renamed ''Bounce'' in 2003, the show premiered at the [[Goodman Theatre]] in Chicago and the [[Kennedy Center]] in Washington, D.C., in a production directed by Harold Prince, his first collaboration with Sondheim since 1981.<ref name="Jones">{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Kenneth |title=Sondheim and Prince Reunite for Musical Comedy, Bounce, Bowing in Chicago Prior to DC |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/sondheim-and-prince-reunite-for-musical-comedy-bounce-bowing-in-chicago-prior-to-dc-com-113869 |access-date=December 5, 2021 |work=Playbill |date=June 20, 2003}}</ref> Poor reviews prevented ''Bounce'' from reaching Broadway, but a revised version opened off-Broadway as ''[[Road Show (musical)|Road Show]]'' at [[the Public Theater]] on October 28, 2008. Directed by [[John Doyle (director)|John Doyle]], it closed December 28, 2008.<ref>{{cite news
|last=Jones |first=Kenneth |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/sondheim-weidmans-bounce-is-now-called-road-show-cast-announced-com-152408 |title=Sondheim & Weidman's ''Bounce'' Is Now Called ''Road Show''; Cast Announced |work=Playbill |date=August 12, 2008 |access-date=June 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.publictheater.org/content/view/145/153 |title=Public Theater 2008–09 listing |publisher=[[The Public Theater]] |access-date=August 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801000300/http://www.publictheater.org/content/view/145/153 |archive-date=August 1, 2008 |url-status=dead
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hetrick |first=Adam |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/sondheim-and-weidmans-road-show-pulls-into-the-public-oct-28-com-154657|title=Sondheim and Weidman's ''Road Show'' Pulls Into the Public Oct. 28 |work=Playbill |date=October 28, 2008}}</ref> The production won the 2009 [[Obie Award]] for Music and Lyrics<ref>{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Kenneth |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/groff-nottage-sondheim-cromer-pisoni-korins-among-2009-obie-award-winners-com-161006# |title=Groff, Nottage, Sondheim, Cromer, Pisoni, Korins Among 2009 OBIE Award Winners |work=Playbill |date=May 19, 2009 |access-date=June 24, 2019}}</ref> and the [[Drama Desk Award]] for Outstanding Lyrics.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gans |first=Andrew |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/ruined-and-billy-elliot-win-top-honors-at-drama-desk-awards-com-160988# |title=Ruined and Billy Elliot Win Top Honors at Drama Desk Awards |work=Playbill |date=May 18, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref>

==== ''Sondheim on Sondheim'' and ''Six by Sondheim'' ====
Asked about writing new work, Sondheim replied in 2006: "No ... It's age. It's a diminution of energy and the worry that there are no new ideas. It's also an increasing lack of confidence. I'm not the only one. I've checked with other people. People expect more of you and you're aware of it and you shouldn't be."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Edwardes |first=Jane |date=May 9, 2006 |title=Stephen Sondheim: Interview |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/features/303.html |magazine=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228091937/http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/features/303.html |archive-date=December 28, 2008}}</ref> In December 2007, he said that in addition to continuing work on ''Bounce'', he was "nibbling at a couple of things with John Weidman and James Lapine".<ref>{{cite web |title=2007 Interview: Stephen Sondheim for "Sweeney Todd" |url=http://darkhorizons.com/news07/sondheim.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214180303/http://www.darkhorizons.com/news07/sondheim.php |archive-date=December 14, 2007 |access-date=September 28, 2014 |publisher=Darkhorizons.com}}</ref>

Lapine prepared the multimedia production ''iSondheim: aMusical Revue'', which was scheduled to open in April 2009 at the [[Alliance Theatre]] in [[Atlanta]]; it was canceled due to "difficulties encountered by the commercial producers attached to the project&nbsp;... in raising the necessary funds".<ref>Hetrick, Adam. [https://playbill.com/article/lapine-to-create-isondheim-amusical-revue-for-alliance-theatre-com-153257 "Lapine to Create iSondheim: aMusical Revue for Alliance Theatre"] ''Playbill'', September 12, 2008.</ref><ref>Hetrick, Adam. [https://playbill.com/article/liz-callaway-cast-in-world-premiere-of-isondheim-amusical-revue-com-157672 "Liz Callaway Cast in World Premiere of iSondheim: aMusical Revue"] ''Playbill'', February 4, 2009.</ref><ref>Gans, Andrew and Hetrick, Adam. [https://www.playbill.com/article/atlantas-alliance-theatre-cancels-isondheim-revue-brel-will-play-instead-com-158415 "Atlanta's Alliance Theatre Cancels Sondheim Revue; Brel Will Play Instead"] ''Playbill'', February 26, 2009.</ref> Later revised as ''[[Sondheim on Sondheim]]'', the revue was produced at [[Studio 54]] by the [[Roundabout Theatre Company]]; previews began on March 19, 2010, and ran from April 22 to June 13. The revue's cast included [[Barbara Cook]], [[Vanessa L. Williams]], [[Tom Wopat]], [[Norm Lewis]], and [[Leslie Kritzer]].<ref>Jones, Kenneth. [https://www.playbill.com/article/sondheim-on-sondheim-a-new-musical-reflection-of-a-life-in-art-begins-on-broadway-com-166910 "Sondheim on Sondheim, a New Musical Reflection of a Life in Art, Begins on Broadway"] ''Playbill'', March 19, 2010.</ref>

[[File:Danya Polykov and Stephen Sondheim, 04.2014, NYC (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Stephen Sondheim (2014)]]
In 2013, Lapine directed the HBO feature-length documentary ''[[Six by Sondheim]]'', which he executive produced with former ''New York Times'' theater critic [[Frank Rich]], a longtime champion of Sondheim's work.<ref name="Rooney2013">{{cite news |last1=Rooney |first1=David |title=Six by Sondheim: TV Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/six-by-sondheim-tv-review-660845/ |access-date=November 29, 2021 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=December 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129000729/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/six-by-sondheim-tv-review-660845/ |archive-date=November 29, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sondheim himself acts and sings in the documentary as Joe, the cynical theater producer in the song "Opening Doors".<ref name="Wontorek2013">{{cite web |last1=Wontorek |first1=Paul |title=James Lapine on Making Six by Sondheim, His Hollywood Dreams for Sunday in the Park and Getting Sondheim to Actually Sing on Screen |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/173143/james-lapine-on-making-six-by-sondheim-his-hollywood-dreams-for-sunday-in-the-park-and-getting-sondheim-to-actually-sing-on-screen/ |website=Broadway.com |access-date=November 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211043052/http://www.broadway.com/buzz/173143/james-lapine-on-making-six-by-sondheim-his-hollywood-dreams-for-sunday-in-the-park-and-getting-sondheim-to-actually-sing-on-screen/ |archive-date=December 11, 2013 |language=en |date=December 8, 2013}}</ref>

Sondheim collaborated with [[Wynton Marsalis]] on ''A Bed and a Chair: A New York Love Affair'', an [[Encores!]] concert on November 13–17, 2013, at [[New York City Center]]. Directed by [[John Doyle (director)|John Doyle]] with choreography by Parker Esse, it consisted of "more than two dozen Sondheim compositions, each piece newly reimagined by Marsalis".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/181139-Stephen-Sondheim-and-Wynton-Marsalis-Collaboration-for-City-Center-Has-New-Title-Parker-Esse-Will-Choreograph |title=Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis' Collaboration for City Center Has New Title; Parker Esse Will Choreograph |work=Playbill |access-date=September 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109192533/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/181139-Stephen-Sondheim-and-Wynton-Marsalis-Collaboration-for-City-Center-Has-New-Title-Parker-Esse-Will-Choreograph |archive-date=November 9, 2013}}</ref> The concert featured [[Bernadette Peters]], [[Jeremy Jordan (actor, born 1984)|Jeremy Jordan]], [[Norm Lewis]], [[Cyrille Aimée]], four dancers, and the [[Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra]] conducted by [[David Loud]].<ref>Champion, Lindsay. [http://www.broadway.com/buzz/172920/meet-the-jazzy-cast-of-sondheim-marsalis-a-bed-and-a-chair-starring-bernadette-peters-jeremy-jordan/ "Meet the Jazzy Cast of Sondheim & Marsalis' 'A Bed and a Chair', Starring Bernadette Peters & Jeremy Jordan"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109052417/http://www.broadway.com/buzz/172920/meet-the-jazzy-cast-of-sondheim-marsalis-a-bed-and-a-chair-starring-bernadette-peters-jeremy-jordan/ |date=November 9, 2013 }} broadway.com, November 7, 2013</ref> In ''Playbill'', Steven Suskin called the concert "neither a new musical, a revival, nor a standard songbook revue; it is, rather, a staged-and-sung chamber jazz rendition of a string of songs&nbsp;... Half of the songs come from ''Company'' and ''Follies''; most of the other Sondheim musicals are represented, including the lesser-known ''Passion'' and ''Road Show''".<ref>Suskin, Steven. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/184418-Stephen-Sondheim-and-Wynton-Marsalis-Offer-a-Comfortable-Bed-and-a-Chair-at-City-Center?tsrc=hph "Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis Offer a Comfortable Bed and a Chair at City Center"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212104538/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/184418-Stephen-Sondheim-and-Wynton-Marsalis-Offer-a-Comfortable-Bed-and-a-Chair-at-City-Center?tsrc=hph |date=December 12, 2013 }} playbill.com, November 14, 2013</ref>

For the [[Into the Woods (film)|2014 film adaptation of ''Into the Woods'']], Sondheim wrote the new song "She'll Be Back", sung by The Witch, which was cut from the film.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-Meryl-Streep-Performs-INTO-THE-WOODS-Deleted-Song-Shell-Be-Back-20150227|title = Video: Meryl Streep Performs ''Into the Woods'' Deleted Song 'She'll Be Back'!|work = [[BroadwayWorld]]|date = February 27, 2015|access-date = November 27, 2021|last = Robbins|first = Caryn}}</ref>

==== ''Here We Are'' ====
Sondheim began collaborating with [[David Ives]] in 2014 on a musical based on the [[Luis Buñuel]] films ''[[The Exterminating Angel]]'' and ''[[The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie]]'', initially slated for previews at the [[Public Theater]] in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 12, 2014|title=Stephen Sondheim and David Ives at Work on New Musical Based on Films of Luis Buñuel|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/stephen-sondheim-and-david-ives-at-work-on-new-musical-based-on-films-of-luis-buuel-333041|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115141429/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/stephen-sondheim-and-david-ives-at-work-on-new-musical-based-on-films-of-luis-buuel-333041|archive-date=November 15, 2014|access-date=November 29, 2014|work=Playbill}}</ref> That date was cast into doubt after an August 2016 reading for the musical had only the first act finished.<ref>Riedel, Michael [https://nypost.com/2016/08/23/stephen-sondheim-is-halfway-done-with-his-new-musical/ "Stephen Sondheim is halfway done with his new musical"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063845/https://nypost.com/2016/08/23/stephen-sondheim-is-halfway-done-with-his-new-musical/|date=February 9, 2018}} New York Post, August 26, 2016</ref> A November 2016 workshop included [[Matthew Morrison]], [[Shuler Hensley]], [[Heidi Blickenstaff]], [[Sierra Boggess]], [[Gabriel Ebert]], [[Sarah Stiles]], [[Michael Cerveris]], and [[Jennifer Simard]].<ref>Viagas, Robert. [http://www.playbill.com/article/matthew-morrison-says-sondheims-new-bunuel-musical-is-challenging# "Matthew Morrison Says Sondheim's New Buñuel Musical Is "Challenging" "] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116081313/http://www.playbill.com/article/matthew-morrison-says-sondheims-new-bunuel-musical-is-challenging|date=January 16, 2018}} Playbill, January 4, 2017</ref> After media outlets mistakenly reported that the show had the working title ''Buñuel'', Sondheim said that it still lacked a title in 2017.<ref>Wong, Wayman. [https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Exclusive-Sondheim-Knocks-Riedels-Reporting-Says-His-New-Musical-Was-Never-Called-BUNUEL-20170426 "BWW Exclusive: Sondheim Knocks Riedel's Reporting; Says His New Musical Was Never Called Bunuel"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209064205/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Exclusive-Sondheim-Knocks-Riedels-Reporting-Says-His-New-Musical-Was-Never-Called-BUNUEL-20170426|date=February 9, 2018}} ''BroadwayWorld.com'', April 26, 2017</ref> The Public Theatre denied reports that the show would be part of its 2019–20 season, but hoped to produce the musical "when it is ready".<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Paulson|first1=Michael|date=June 6, 2019|title='For Colored Girls' and 'Soft Power' Will be Part of Public Theater Season|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/06/theater/public-theater-season.html|url-status=live|access-date=July 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724220907/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/06/theater/public-theater-season.html|archive-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref> Development reportedly ceased for a time,<ref>{{cite web|last=Gans|first=Andrew|date=April 27, 2021|title=Stephen Sondheim Musical Buñuel No Longer in Development|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/stephen-sondheim-musical-bunuel-no-longer-in-development|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501180053/https://www.playbill.com/article/stephen-sondheim-musical-bunuel-no-longer-in-development|archive-date=May 1, 2021|access-date=May 2, 2021|website=Playbill}}</ref> but resumed for a September 2021 reading of the show, then called ''Square One''.<ref>Sondheim shared news of the reading during a September 15, 2021, appearance on ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]''. {{Citation|title=Stephen Sondheim Is Still Writing New Works, As "Company" Returns To Broadway| date=September 16, 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKSYeMgamIA| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/GKSYeMgamIA| archive-date=October 30, 2021|language=en|access-date=September 16, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Nathan Lane]] and [[Bernadette Peters]] were involved in a reading of this new work,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Major|first=Michael|title=Video: Nathan Lane Talks Reading of a New Sondheim Musical With Bernadette Peters|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-Nathan-Lane-Talks-Reading-of-a-New-Sondheim-Musical-With-Bernadette-Peters-20210915|access-date=September 16, 2021|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en|archive-date=September 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916144446/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-Nathan-Lane-Talks-Reading-of-a-New-Sondheim-Musical-With-Bernadette-Peters-20210915|url-status=live}}</ref> and Sondheim discussed adapting the Buñuel films in the final interview before his death.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Paulson|first=Michael|date=November 27, 2021|title=Days Before Dying, Stephen Sondheim Reflected: 'I've Been Lucky'|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/26/theater/stephen-sondheim-final-interview.html|access-date=November 29, 2021|ref=none}}</ref> A posthumous production of the collaboration, directed by [[Joe Mantello]], premiered at [[The Shed (arts center)|The Shed]] in September 2023 as ''[[Here We Are (musical)|Here We Are]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |date=March 16, 2023 |title=Final Stephen Sondheim Musical ''Here We Are'' to Make Off Broadway World Premiere This Fall with Joe Mantello Directing |url=https://deadline.com/2023/07/stephen-sondheim-final-musical-here-we-are-off-broadway-joe-mantello-1235301303/ |access-date=March 16, 2023 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>