Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends: A Celebration (Live at the Sondheim Theatre), which was recorded live May 3, 2022, will be available as a two-disc CD set and in digital and streaming formats from First Night Records beginning December 8 in both the U.S. and and the U.K.
Devised and produced by Cameron Mackintosh, the 2022 gala was staged by Matthew Bourne and Maria Friedman. The one-night-only event featured Shan Ako, Christine Allado, Michael Ball, Rob Brydon, Ashley Campbell, Helena Bonham Carter, Anna-Jane Casey, Petula Clark, Rosalie Craig, Janie Dee, Judi Dench, Daniel Evans, Maria Friedman, Josefina Gabrielle, Louis Gaunt, Amy Griffiths, Haydn Gwynne, Rob Houchen, Holly-Anne Hull, Bradley Jaden, Bonnie Langford, Damian Lewis, Julia McKenzie, Ian McLarnon, Julian Ovenden, Bernadette Peters, Sian Phillips, Jon Robyns, Clive Rowe, Jenna Russell, Jeremy Secomb, Imelda Staunton, Charlie Stemp, Matthew White, Gary Wilmot, and Michael D. Xavier plus students from Mountview and The Royal Academy Musical Theatre Company.
The forthcoming recording, which includes a 16-page booklet with color photography and essays by Mackintosh and David Benedict, is produced by Lee McCutcheon, Stephen Metcalfe, and Mackintosh. Pre-save or order Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends by clicking here.
Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends subsequently transferred to the Gielgud Theatre, where it is currently playing a limited engagement through January 6, 2024. The current cast features Tony winners Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga (Salonga is not featured on the recording), plus Christine Allado, Clare Burt, Janie Dee, Damian Humbley, Bradley Jaden, Bonnie Langford, Gavin Lee, Jason Pennycooke, Joanna Riding, Jeremy Secomb, Jac Yarrow, Marley Fenton, and Beatrice Penny-Touré. The company also includes Harry Apps, Bella Brown, Richard Dempsey, and Monique Young
The track listing for the recording follows:
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 Gabriel
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, Jeremy Secomb
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, The Royal Academy Musical Theatre Company3
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 – Anna-Jane Casey, Bonnie Langford, Bernadette Peters
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 Ball, Rosalie 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
Company of Old Friends
Marley Fenton and Janie Dee in Old Friends
Lea Salonga in Old Friends
Jason Pennycooke in Old Friends
Company of Old Friends
Lea Salonga and Bernadette Peters in Old Friends
Janie Dee and company of Old Friends
Gavin Lee, Damian Humbley, and Jason Pennycooke in Old Friends
Janie Dee, Bonnie Langford, and Joanna Riding in Old Friends
Lea Salonga and Jeremy Secomb in Old Friends
Jeremy Secomb and Lea Salonga in Old Friends
Bernadette Peters in Old Friends
Jeremy Secomb and company of Old Friends
Company of Old Friends
Company of Old Friends
Bradley Jaden and Bernadette Peters in Old Friends
Bonnie Langford in Old Friends
Damian Humbley and Jac Yarrow in Old Friends
Clare Burt and Gavin Lee in Old Friends
Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga, and company of Old Friends
Christine Allado, Jac Yarrow, and Beatrice Penny Toure in Old Friends
