Send in the Sondheim TheatreWorks New Milford Opens Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-Winning Musical ‘A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC’

NEW MILFORD, CONN. (September 16, 2008) – On September 26, TheatreWorks New Milford will open its production of the breathtakingly beautiful A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, with Music and Lyrics by Broadway icon Stephen Sondheim and Book by Hugh Wheeler. The show opens at 8 p.m. and runs for five weeks.

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC deals with the universal subject of love in all its wondrous, humorous, and ironic forms. The play is set in turn-of-the-century Sweden and surrounds several couples in love and in lust with each other. The truth of their liaisons comes to a head when the lovers are ensconced together for a weekend at a country estate. Here, beneath the mysterious summer night, the characters’ passions and desires reach a heartfelt climax. Sondheim’s magnificent score features his most popular song, “Send in the Clowns.”

“A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC is sophisticated, charming, and very comedic,” said director Bradford Blake of New Milford. “Although it’s set in turn-of-the-century Sweden, Sondheim explores some very modern themes: sex, the free expression of desire, self-awareness, chastity, and fidelity. With the music written entirely in 3/4 ‘Waltz time,’ it’s classic and contemporary as well as heartbreaking and humorous.”

“I can’t remember the last time we assembled such a large cast that has gone above and beyond the demands of the story and the score,” said Richard Pettibone, President of TheatreWorks New Milford. “This is, arguably, Sondheim’s most complex and challenging musical. It’s an operetta in many ways and requires angelic voices, adroit performances, gorgeous period costumes…and it appears that we have it.”

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC’s cast features: Ron Dukenski (Goshen); Jane Farnol (Kent); Bruce Tredwell (Brewster, NY); Priscilla Squiers (Danbury); Brendan Padgett (New York City); Greg McMahan (Woodbridge); Jessica Smith (New Fairfield); Mark Feltch and Joel Romanelli (both Newtown); and Bill Hicks, Susan Pettibone, Catherine McCollian, Becca Myhill, Jackie Decho-Holm, Jody Bayer, and Jessica Stewart (all New Milford). Musical direction is by Charles Smith of Danbury.

The production crew includes Marie Gelston, producer; Paula Anderson, Richard Pettibone, and Scott Wyshysnki, set and lighting design; Lesley Neilson-Bowman, costume design; and Stacy-Lee Erickson, stage management.

Inspired by Ingmar Bergman’s 1955 film, SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC debuted on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre on February 25, 1973 and went on to win Tony’s Triple Crown for Best Score, Best Book, and Best Musical. The New York Times called the show “Heady, civilized, sophisticated, and enchanting,” while Time Magazine lauded the production as “A jeweled music box of a show; lovely to look at, delightful to listen to.”

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC runs September 26,27  October 3,4,5  10,11,12  17,18,19  25,26. Curtain time is 8:00 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, with 2:00 p.m. Sunday matinees on October 5,12, and 19. Tickets for all shows are $26.00 for reserved seating.

On Thursday, September 25, senior citizens are invited to a free dress rehearsal at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, October 2, at 8:00 p.m. is TheatreWorks’ Pay-What-You-Want night. At this performance, you name the price for your ticket.

Reservations can be made online at WWW.THEATREWORKS.US or by calling the box office at (860) 350-6863.

TheatreWorks is an award-winning, regional theatre company located on 5 Brookside Avenue, just off Route 202 (next to the CVS), in New Milford, CT.