Sondheim Society marks anniversary with God, a celebration and parody

As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, the Stephen Sondheim Society will be paying tribute to the composer/lyricist with a brand new show called God, premiering at London Theatre Workshop for only six performances in July (8-12 July). With tongue very firmly in cheek, there will be gentle parodies that serve to demonstrate Sondheim’s art, songs that emphasise his genius, and brand new compositions inspired by Sondheim and written by some of the most exciting UK new musical theatre composers.

God will be directed by Alastair Knights who will work alongside musical director Alex Parker (both had great success recently with Putting It Together at St James Theatre, London).

The cast features previous Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year contestants including winners Corrine Priest (2014) and Kris Olsen (2012) and finalists Emma Odell (2009) and Jay Worley (2014). Material will be featured from writers such as Jonathan Larson, Michael Bruce and John Bucchino – but will also reflect Sondheim’s great support for new musical theatre writing with commissions from Eamon O’Dwyer, Theo Jamieson and Matt Board – all finalists in this year’s Best New Song Prize awarded by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Alex Parker will also write a song exclusively for the show.

Director Knights promises: “A night of affectionate celebration of the much-loved and lauded genius that is Stephen Sondheim. You will laugh and cry – but above all you will remember why you love Sondheim’s work and why he has achieved such a level of critical acclaim and reverence. I am thrilled to be directing this show as part of the Sondheim Society’s 20th anniversary. I cannot think of a better way to honour the great man himself than by reflecting on his career and celebrating how his work continues to inspire a future generation of musical theatre artists.”

Director Alastair Knights’ most recent project was working with Elaine Paige, staging the musical numbers for The Elaine Paige Show on Sky Arts. Earlier this year he directed the West End premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s Putting It Together at St James Theatre, after having directed the show at GLive Studio in Guildford.

Musical director Alex Parker’s credits include A Little Night Music (Yvonne Arnaud), Marguerite (Tabard), Once Upon a Mattress (Union) and Follies (Yvonne Arnaud). As a producer, Parker recently co-produced and was musical supervisor for the London premiere of Putting It Togther at the St James Theatre. Recently, Parker’s musical Amateur Dramatics: A Musical Comedy had its premiere at the Electric Theatre in Guildford.

Emma Odell is a BBC Fame Academy Bursary and Performers’ Fund winner, and a Stephen Sondheim Society Student of the Year finalist (2009). Recent credits include The Last Five Years (Battersea Barge), Prom 19: Sondheim At 80 (Royal Albert Hall) and Cinderella/Flute in Into the Woods (Upstairs at the Gatehouse).

Kris Olsen won the Stephen Sondheim Student Society Performer of the Year award in 2012. Credits include Les Misérables (Norwegian premiere), HMS Headwind (Landor Theatre) and most recently Holby City (BBC).

Corrine Priest won the Stephen Sondheim Student Society Performer of the Year award 2014 – only the second girl in its eight-year history. Recent credits include From Page to Stage (Landor Theatre). In training she played Viv Nicholson in Spend Spend Spend (musical).

Jay Worley was a finalist in the Stephen Sondheim Student Society Performer of the Year award 2014. He was also a finalist in the Carlton Hobbs Radio Award 2014. He is graduating this year from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Final year shows at RWCMD include Moss and Kaufman’s You Can’t Take It With You directed by Robin Belfield.

www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/60789