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Six by Sondheim
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Wikipedia article
'Six by Sondheim' is an HBO television documentary which pays tribute to Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. The film was directed and co-produced by James Lapine, based on an idea by Frank Rich and "centers on the backstory of six great Sondheim songs".Wontorek, Paul. [http://www.broadway.com/buzz/173143/james-lapine-on-making-six-by-sondheim-his-hollywood-dreams-for-sunday-in-the-park-and-getting-sondheim-to-actually-sing-on-screen/ "James Lapine on Making 'Six by Sondheim', His Hollywood Dreams for 'Sunday in the Park' and Getting Sondheim to Actually Sing on Screen"] broadway.com, December 8, 2013
Film
The film has performances of six of Sondheim's signature songs:
# "Something's Coming" ('West Side Story'),
# "Opening Doors" ('Merrily We Roll Along'),
# "Send in the Clowns" ('A Little Night Music'),
# "I'm Still Here" ('Follies'),
# "Being Alive" ('Company') and
# "Sunday" ('Sunday in the Park with George').[http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-st-six-by-sondheim-review-20131206,0,6262435.story#axzz2n5Xp9tIP "Review: HBO's 'Six by Sondheim' is a stylish salute to a Broadway legend"] latimes.com, December 6, 2013
In the documentary, Sondheim himself performs along with Audra McDonald, Jeremy Jordan, Darren Criss, America Ferrera, Jackie Hoffman and Laura Osnes.[http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-mondays-tv-highlights-six-by-sondheim-on-hbo-20131206,0,4807950.story#axzz2n5Xp9tIP Monday's TV Highlights: 'Six by Sondheim' on HBO] latimes.com, December 6, 2013 The documentary contains archival footage as well as footage shot for a revue of Sondheim's music that played on Broadway in 2010 titled 'Sondheim on Sondheim'.[https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/12/09/six-by-sondheim-director-james-lapine-on-the-composers-music/ "Six by Sondheim Director James Lapine on the Composers Music"], 'Wall Street Journal', (December 9, 2013).
The documentary consists of both original short films of several of the songs plus existing material. For example, Lapine directed the part on "Opening Doors" which features Criss, Jordan, Ferrera, and Osnes; Todd Haynes directed the film on "I'm Still Here" which has Jarvis Cocker; and Autumn De Wilde directed McDonald and Will Swenson in "Send in the Clowns."Simonson, Robert. [http://www.playbill.com/features/article/184851-James-Lapine-Frank-Rich-and-Stephen-Sondheim-Discuss-Six-by-Sondheim-New-HBO-Film-About-Composer/pg3 "James Lapine, Frank Rich and Stephen Sondheim Discuss 'Six by Sondheim,' New HBO Film About Composer"] playbill.com, November 25, 2013 The film was edited by Miky Wolf who gave an interview to 'The Red Room Podcast' on episode 68. This interview was then published in the Summer 2014 'The Sondheim Review'.
Reception
National Public Radio highly recommended the documentary stating that 'Six' is "a superbly compiled work, overseen by two of the people most intimately familiar with the composer himself...If you're new to the works of Stephen Sondheim, this TV special should entice you. If you're already a fan, it should delight you."David Bianculli, [https://www.npr.org/2013/12/06/249237313/delightful-six-by-sondheim-leaves-you-wanting-six-more Delightful 'Six By Sondheim' Leaves You Wanting Six More], 'NPR', (December 06, 2013). TV Guide stated, "Sondheim exults in the 'agonizing fun' of his craft. We can only marvel at the results."Roush, Matt. [http://www.seattlepi.com/entertainment/tv/tvguide/article/Monday-Review-Six-by-Sondheim-5047987.phpMonday Review: Six by Sondheim], 'TV Guide', December 8, 2013 The documentary was one of several Peabody Award winners in 2014.[http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/six-by-sondheim-hbo 73rd Annual Peabody Awards], May 2014.
References
Category:2013 television films
Category:2013 films
Category:HBO documentary films
Category:Documentary films about music and musicians
Category:Films about musical theatre
Category:Stephen Sondheim
Category:Peabody Award-winning broadcasts
Category:Documentary films about Broadway theatre
Category:Films directed by James Lapine
Category:2010s American films
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