The Stephen Sondheim Society (SSS) will join forces on Sunday 17 May 2020 with Jordan Li-Smith (currently assistant MD for City of Angels) for the latest Lockdown Sondheim Quiz Night, raising much-needed funds for Acting for Others.
Since lockdown, Li-Smith has been running his very successful #LockdownMTQuizNight on Sundays. This week, the SSS is sponsoring proceedings, giving it a ‘shot of Sondheim’, and will boost donations for the night by matching whatever is raised by Jordan, up to a value of £1,000.
The Society will also be offering a limited-edition drawing of Stephen Sondheim, signed by the composer himself, for the single highest donation that evening. This original artwork was drawn by the actor Clive Francis and commissioned by the SSS for Sondheim’s 85th Birthday.
Li-Smith has hosted three quizzes so far, raising almost £1,000 for charities such as NHS Charities Together and Cancer Research UK. Over 1,500 people have taken part and the hope is that even more people will join in this week.
Li-Smith will be joined by some very special guest Quizmasters who know their Sondheim:
- SSS Patron Maria Friedman was the only British performer in the recent wonderful Sondheim90 Concert Take me to the World. Triple Olivier award winner Friedman has played roles from Dot in Sunday in the Park With George to Fosca in Passion; and she latterly directed the critically acclaimed Merrily We Roll Along.
- Janie Dee is well known for her Sondheim roles. Recently in Follies as Phyllis at the National Theatre. She also played Fosca in Passion at Montepulciano and appeared in Putting it Together in Guildford and the West End.
- Claybourne Elder was due to play Andy in Company on Broadway and was cover for Jake Gyllenhaal in Sunday in the Park With George. He has also played Giorgio in Passion.
- Alex Young is a previous Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year and has gone on to achieve great success. She played Young Sally in Follies at the National Theatre. She has also had leading roles as Sally Smith in Me and My Girl at Chichester, as well as Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel at the ENO.
Jordan Li Smith is “absolutely thrilled that The Stephen Sondheim Society is sponsoring this very special version of the #LockdownMTQuizNight. I first set these up as light entertainment for my friends and to raise a bit of money for charity. But I have been blown away by the sheer generosity of all the quizzers. I’m just happy to be raising funds for important charities, by hosting a night which brings together theatre-lovers for a night of trivia and fun”.
Craig Glenday, chairman of The Stephen Sondheim Society, said: “We are so pleased and proud to support Jordan in his efforts to raise funds for Acting for Others. In doing so, we hope to give back to performers who have given us so much pleasure over the years and who are facing incredible difficulties with the shutdown of theatres. We are delighted to join fellow theatre-lovers for an evening of fun fact-finding and Sondheim. We challenge others to join us, so we can raise as much money as possible. Take our money! Well, at least up to £1,000 anyway!”
SSS is a charitable trust founded upon the work of composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim to provide education, support and encouragement to up-and-coming young performers and the theatre community.
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lockdown-sondheim-quiz-night
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