With this year’s Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year (SSSSPOTY) shelved due to the Covid-19 crisis, the organisers are launching the Sondheim Sessions, a series of free online concerts celebrating the timeless work of Stephen Sondheim this weekend.
SSSSPOTY 2017 prize-winner Oscar Conlon-Morrey will take centre stage on Sunday (7 June 2020) for Another Vodka Stinger, a cabaret-style concert showcasing Sondheim numbers arranged by Sondheim-specialist orchestrator Jason Carr. The show will also include a song from one of the young composers championed by the Society, Eamonn O’Dwyer.
Announcing the initiative, Craig Glenday, chair of The Stephen Sondheim Society, said: “Sondheim Sessions is another opportunity to platform musical theatre talent and Sondheim’s work. We are particularly delighted to welcome back Oscar Conlon-Morrey, who in 2017 impressed Julia McKenzie so much that she had to create a special prize for him!
“He has since gone on to great success, and only this year was nominated for a WhatsOnStage Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, for Only Fools and Horses. It was also very important to us, when developing these events, that we ensure all parties are paid for their work, as these are difficult times. It is our chance to support the theatre industry and we will be looking for more opportunities to fund projects in the future. So watch this space!”
Conlon-Morrey added: “I am so grateful to be asked to do this inaugural Sondheim Session. I’ve been sat at home alone, befriending my bedside lamp and my taxidermy bullfrog Anthony Hopkins, so this has been a welcome relief!
“They are a remarkable group of kind and caring people and SSSSPOTY has provided many people, myself included, with a wonderful springboard into the industry. I dearly hope people will enjoy this concert. I’ve spent the best part of three weeks searching my wardrobe for many fabulous jackets. So please raise your Vodka Stinger and enjoy!”
Sondheim Sessions will be available free of charge via Crowdcast HERE. Society members will also have exclusive access to a Q&A Zoom session with Conley-Morrey following the concert.
Viewers will be invited to donate HERE to help fund the development of the new Sondheim Masterclasses and workshops set up to support young performers.
The @SondheimSociety presents “The Sondheim Sessions – Another Vodka Stinger” Sunday 7th June at 19:00. Save your space by visiting the following link: https://t.co/E0yAZp55t0 Join @Oscar_C_M_ as he belts out a few of his favourite songs…you haven’t seen anything like this! pic.twitter.com/eYhOjHoEia
— Sondheim Society (@SondheimSociety) June 5, 2020
Co-produced by The Stephen Sondheim Society and Mercury Musical Developments, the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year usually concludes with a gala performance featuring 12 of the top student performers from musical theatre and drama schools across the UK each performing a classic song by Stephen Sondheim and a new musical theatre song, written by members of Mercury Musical Developments (MMD).
Now in its 14th year, previous winners include Taron Egerton and finalists such as Cynthia Erivo. Last year’s winner Stuart Thompson appeared as Geoff in A Taste of Honey, National Theatre tour and Trafalgar Studios; and finalists included Lily Kerhoas, Cosette in Les Misérables, The Concert and West End; Cameron Burt, Sky in Mamma Mia! and Oisin Nolan-Power, Ben in Rags the Musical, Park Theatre and cast recording.
Angela Thomas
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