#sondheim unplugged

[aquitainequeen]

Eric Michael Gillett sings "Ariadne" from The Frogs at 54 Below

[droughtofapathy]

"Welcome to the Theatre": Diary of a Broadway Baby

Sondheim Unplugged: The Final Season

April 27/28, 2026 | 54 Below | Concert | Evening | 1H 10M

Combining these two together because they had a back-to-back showing last week to make up for the one missed due to the snowstorm in February. In both cases, I happened to be seated in the same place, so it might as well have been one long show. I just love when we get Passion and Pacific Overtures. I don't believe we've ever had "I Wish I Could Forget You" before, and I was in tears. Also, shoutout to our usually-camp host Rob Maitner for taking on "No One Has Ever Loved Me" with beautiful sincerity. There's only one more night of this beautiful series coming up in June, and I will be a mess.

Verdict: You Can Pry This Show Out of My Cold Dead Hands

A Note on Ratings

[droughtofapathy]

"Welcome to the Theatre": Diary of a Broadway Baby

Sondheim Unplugged

November 23, 2025 | 54 Below | Evening | Cabaret | Series | 1H 15M

Sondheim Unplugged, my beloved. What'll I do when you are far away and I am blue? The second of just six more shows, it was yet another wonderful evening with songs from Evening Primrose, Sweeney Todd, Gypsy, and Follies. Lovely to see Liz McCartney and daughter Keira Moynahan duet "One Last Kiss." And I think this must be the closest to flawless Lucia Spina and Rob Maitner have ever come in duetting "A Little Priest." Huge respect to Evan Harrington. I think this performance of "Epiphany" was the most chilling I've ever witnessed. How am I meant to wait three more months?

Verdict: My Soul Transcended Space and Time

A Note on Ratings

[droughtofapathy]

"Welcome to the Theatre": Diary of a Broadway Baby

Sondheim Unplugged

September 28, 2025 | 54 Below | Evening | Cabaret | Series | 1H 10M

This is it, folks. The beginning of the end. And what a strong start. I sat in one of the booths with Mark Lambert, the original Henrik from A Little Night Music and we ended up chatting like old friends. What a nice gentleman. Even now, eleven years later, he loves his late wife so much and it was incredibly moving to watch as his eyes glistened while he spoke of how they met and fell in love. He's also working on a novel (for twenty years, not theatre-related). Which was how we got on the subject of creative writing. And well, let's just say that Henrik knows all about my fanfiction career.

But onto the show. Oh, I love it when we get the rare treat of hearing "Opening Doors" from Merrily. Also on the night's roster: Company, West Side Story, and even a cheeky Assassins inclusion. But of course, as expected, my highlights were two new arrangements by Marquee Five. I adore them. I'm deeply in love with all three women, and they looked stunning up there. "Cool" sung in five-part harmony is somehow even more sexual than usual. And who doesn't love a good "Old Friends/Side By Side" medley? I haven't been totally enchanted by a night of theatre in so many months. How am I meant to wait until November for the next one?

Verdict: My Soul Transcended Space and Time

A Note on Ratings

[droughtofapathy]

FINAL SEASON! After fifteen glorious years as a celebrated New York City event (It’s a Hit!), the time has come to say Goodbye for Now to Sondheim Unplugged, created in 2010 by series creator and original host Phil Geoffrey Bond, who continues as Executive Producer. At the time of closing, Sondheim Unplugged will have played 150 performances in NYC and dozens more nationally, internationally, and for broadcast.

[droughtofapathy]

"Welcome to the Theatre": Diary of a Broadway Baby

Sondheim Unplugged

May 25, 2025 | 54 Below | Evening | Cabaret | Series | 1H 20M

The second annual Ladies in Red special edition concert returned as a rousing success. I love women. I love women in red. I love women in red singing Sondheim. Excellent performances overall, but Karen Mason, my beloved. Nothing more attractive than a silver-haired woman singing both "Loving You" and "I'm Still Here" with her cleavage out. The later brought the house down. I just think all Sondheim should be women-only for a while. Yeah, I'm gatekeeping. Sue me.

Verdict: You Can Pry This Show Out of My Cold Dead Hands

A Note on Ratings

[droughtofapathy]

"Welcome to the Theatre": Diary of a Broadway Baby

Sondheim Unplugged

April 27, 2025 | 54 Below | Evening | Cabaret | Series | 1H 10M

Okay, not my favorite in this series, let's start there. The concept for this show was cut Sondheim songs, and I always enjoy these little snippets. All were performed well, and all were lovely. But I'm tired of men singing women's songs. It's not cute and fun anymore. "There's Always a Woman" is pretty misogynistic, but it's funny as all hell when two women get to be catty with one another. When it's two gay guys, it's just sexist. And would it kill these men to stop singing Phyllis songs? I don't want to hear "Uptown/Downtown" from a man.

Thank god Sierra Rein was here to give me the "Ah, But Underneath" I've wanted.

Verdict: A Lovely Night

A Note on Ratings

[droughtofapathy]

"Welcome to the Theatre": Diary of a Broadway Baby

Sondheim Unplugged

March 30, 2025 | 54 Below | Evening | Cabaret | 1H 20M

To think that Cameron Mackintosh (derogatory) could have saved time and effort in avoiding those West End visas if he'd just gone to literally any of the Sondheim Unplugged cabarets and picked people at random. He'd have gotten better talent, that's for damn sure. We got songs from Follies, we got Woods, we got Sunday. But oh, my darling readers, we *finally* got Pacific Overtures. From the moment the cast list came out and I saw three whole Asians, I was desperately hoping they would. And they did. Three songs. A feast. We don't get Pacific Overtures ever. Not here, not in concert, not anywhere. And tonight we got "Someone in a Tree" and I wept. Sondheim himself is on record for saying that song is--was--his favorite. But because god forbid the fancy Sondheim concerts have to cast more than a single Asian at a time (if that), we don't get this. When we do, it's white people. They performed this song at a Lincoln Center American Songbook concert ten years ago, and look who's there. I just- Kate Baldwin, I love you dearly, but what the hell are you doing here? And playing a young Michael Cerveris? I feel like I stepped into the Twilight Zone.

And the only reason we got a full four-Asian performance for the 90th was because it was all zoom. AND AND did you know that for Sondheim's 70th, the final segment of the Library of Congress concert was partially based on his personal suggestions? He suggested "Sunday", "Finishing the Hat," and THIS ONE. And take a wild guess at the only song they passed on. But at last I've finally seen it.

Verdict: My Soul Transcended Space and Time

A Note on Ratings