Cameron Mackintosh will present Old Friends, a tribute to the late Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, May 3 at 8 PM at London's Sondheim Theatre.
Matthew Bourne and Maria Friedman will stage the evening with choreography by Stephen Mear and a 26-piece orchestra conducted by Alfonso Casado Trigo.
Celebrating the creator of Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sunday in the Park With George, Into the Woods, Passion, and more will be Michael Ball, Petula Clark, Judi Dench, Daniel Evans, Bonnie Langford, Adrian Lester, Damian Lewis, Julia McKenzie, Bernadette Peters, Elaine Paige, Clive Rowe, Imelda Staunton, and Hannah Waddingham as well as a company of West End stars.
READ: Everybody Rise! Remembering Stephen Sondheim
Mackintosh says, “It is impossible to overstate the influence and contribution Stephen Sondheim has made to musical theatre, both personally and professionally. He was as great a teacher as he was an incomparable writer, and the 'little things' that he did for so many people forged legions of friendships throughout his long life. I was lucky enough to be Steve’s friend and occasional collaborator for over 45 years since I first produced Side By Side By Sondheim at the Wyndham’s Theatre in 1976. It was a friendship full of laughter, gossip, and glorious insightful camaraderie.
"Steve was so prolific and profound as a writer that it’s impossible to put together a definitive list of his greatest songs, as everyone has their own favorites, so our choice of songs will purely reflect the joy and love I have for one of the greatest 'Broadway Babies' of all time.”
Profits will go to the Stephen Sondheim Foundation, which the composer and lyricist established in his will to receive future income from his copyrights and intellectual property. Proceeds from the Foundation will be used principally for the support of playwrights, composers, and lyricists in the early stages of their careers to assist in the development of their work, as well as for sustaining other aspects of the musical theatre craft and arts education.
Tickets will go on sale March 15. Visit SondheimOldFriends.com.
