‘”STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S OLD FRIENDS: A CELEBRATION” RECORDED LIVE AT THE SONDHEIM THEATRE’ TO BE RELEASED

CAMERON MACKINTOSH AND FIRST NIGHT RECORDS

ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF

“STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S

OLD FRIENDS: A CELEBRATION”

RECORDED LIVE AT LONDON’S SONDHEIM THEATRE

FEATURING 41 SENSATIONAL SONDHEIM SONGS

AVAILABLE AS A 2-DISC CD SET

AND IN DIGITAL FORMATS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8

THE SHOW IS CURRENTLY RUNNING IN

LONDON’S WEST END AT THE GIELGUD THEATRE

Cameron Mackintosh and First Night Records celebrate the life of the great Stephen Sondheim with the release of the spectacular cast recording Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends: A Celebration (Live at the Sondheim Theatre), which will be available as a 2-disc CD set and digital and streaming formats on Friday, December 8. The CD, which will be available in both the US and the UK, features a 16-page booklet with color photography and essays by Cameron Mackintosh and David Benedict. One of the most talked about theatrical events of last year, it took place at The Sondheim Theatre in London on May 3, 2022.  Featuring Broadway, West End and movie legends, the star-studded performance celebrated the life and works of one of the world’s greatest composers and lyricists. The album, which features 41 songs, was produced  by  Lee  McCutcheon,  Stephen  Metcalfe,  and  Cameron  Mackintosh.  Pre-save  or  order Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends at https://FirstNight.lnk.to/SondheimOldFriends

Stephen  Sondheim’s  Old  Friends  –   winner   of   the   “Best   Theatrical   Event”   honor   at   the   2023 WhatsOnStage Awards – is currently running in London’s West End at the Gielgud Theatre. The current cast  is  led  by  Broadway  Legends  Bernadette  Peters and  Lea  Salonga.  They  are  joined  by  Christine AlladoClare BurtJanie DeeDamian HumbleyBradley JadenBonnie LangfordGavin LeeJason PennycookeJoanna RidingJeremy SecombJac YarrowMarley Fenton, and Beatrice Penny-Touré.  The  company  also  includes  Harry  Apps,  Bella  Brown,  Richard  Dempsey,  and Monique Young, completing a cast that is truly the best of the West End and Broadway. The engagement runs through January 6, 2024. Tickets are available at SondheimOldFriends.com.

Devised and produced by Cameron Mackintosh, the 2022 Gala was staged by Matthew Bourne and Maria Friedman. The one-night event sold out in hours, leaving thousands of disappointed fans unable to attend the evening so a live broadcast was arranged at the Prince Edward Theatre, down the road. The album features an array of sensational stars including Shan AkoChristine AlladoMichael BallRob BrydonAshley CampbellHelena Bonham CarterAnna-Jane CaseyDesmonda CathabelPetula ClarkRosalie CraigJanie Dee,  Judi  Dench,  Daniel  Evans,  Maria  Friedman,  Josefina  Gabrielle,  Louis  Gaunt,  Amy GriffithsHaydn Gwynne, Rob Houchen, Holly-Anne Hull, Bradley Jaden, Bonnie Langford, Damian Lewis, Julia  McKenzie,  Ian McLarnon, Julian  Ovenden,  Bernadette  Peters,  Siân  Phillips,  Jon  Robyns,  Clive  RoweJenna RussellJeremy Secomb, Jordan Shaw, Imelda StauntonCharlie StempMatthew White, Gary Wilmot, and Michael D. Xavier, students from Mountview, and The Royal Academy Musical Theatre Company.

Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends is packed with many of the composer and lyricsist’s legendary songs including “Send in the Clowns,” “I’m Still Here,” “Comedy Tonight,” “Company,” “Into the Woods,” “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd,” “You Could Drive a Person Crazy,” “Side by Side by Side,” “Getting Married Today,” “Hello, Little Girl,” “Pretty Women,” “The Ladies Who Lunch,” “You Gotta Get a Gimmick,” “Losing My Mind,” “Sunday,” “Children Will Listen,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Being Alive,” “Old Friends,” “Not a Day Goes By,” “Broadway Baby” and many more.

Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends – Track Listing DISC ONE

1)     Opening – Side by Side – Ashley Campbell, Rosalie Craig, Daniel Evans, Josefina Gabrielle, Amy Griffiths, Bradley Jaden, Julia McKenzie, Jenna Russell

2)     Introduction – Cameron Mackintosh

3)     Comedy Tonight – Rob Brydon, Clive Rowe, Gary Wilmot, Full Company

4)     Company – Full Company

5)     The Little Things You Do Together – Haydn Gwynne, Rob Brydon

6)     You Could Drive a Person Crazy – Anna-Jane Casey, Janie Dee, Josefina Gabrielle

7)     Live Alone and Like It – Clive Rowe

8)    Loving You – Michael Ball

9)     Getting Married Today – Anna-Jane Casey, Holly-Anne Hull, Jon Robyns, Full Company

10)  Into the Woods – Full Company

11)   Agony – Julian Ovenden, Michael D. Xavier

12)  I Know Things Now – Bernadette Peters

13)  Hello, Little Girl – Bernadette Peters

14)  Children Will Listen – Bernadette Peters

15)  A Weekend in the Country – Full Company

16)  Send In the Clowns – Judi Dench

17)  The Ballad of Sweeney Todd – Michael Ball, Full Company

18)  The Worst Pies in London – Michael Ball, Maria Friedman

19)  My Friends – Michael Ball

20) Pretty Women – Michael Ball, Jeremy Secomb

21)  A Little Priest – Michael Ball, Maria Friedman

22) The Ladies Who Lunch – Haydn Gwynne

23) Sunday – Daniel Evans, Bernadette Peters, Full Company

DISC TWO

1)     Entr’acte – Overture from Merrily We Roll Along – Orchestra

2)     Tonight Quintet – Christine Allado, Shan Ako, Louis Gaunt, Rob Houchen, and Students from Mountview and The Royal Academy Musical Theatre Company

3)     Broadway Baby – Helena Bonham Carter, Rosalie Craig, Maria Friedman, Bonnie Langford, Cameron Mackintosh, Julia McKenzie, Bernadette Peters, Jenna Russell, Gary Wilmot, Full Company

4)     Everybody Ought to Have a Maid – Rob Brydon, Julian Ovenden, Siân Phillips

5)     You Gotta Get a Gimmick – Anna-Jane Casey, Bonnie Langford, Bernadette Peters

6)     Waiting for the Girls Upstairs – Ashley Campbell, Rob Houchen, Bradley Jaden, Charlie Stemp

7)     I’m Still Here – Petula Clark

8)    Could I Leave You? – Michael Ball

9)     Buddy’s Blues – Gary Wilmot

10)  The Boy From… – Janie Dee

11)   Losing My Mind – Bernadette Peters

12)  Everything’s Coming Up Roses – Imelda Staunton

13) Duelling Pianos

14)  Not a Day Goes By – Michael BallRosalie Craig, Maria Friedman, Julia McKenzie, Bernadette Peters, Jenna Russell, Full Company

15)  Being Alive – Rosalie Craig, Bradley Jaden, Julian Ovenden, Jenna Russell, Jeremy Secomb, Full Company

16)  Old Friends – Full Company

17)  Our Time – Students from Mountview and The Royal Academy Musical Theatre Company

18)  Love Is in the Air – Stephen Sondheim