Williams Celebrates Stephen Sondheim's Impact on Musical Theater
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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Renowned lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim is known for the remarkable range of musicals he has worked on, from "West Side Story" to "Sweeney Todd" to "Into the Woods." A class of 1950 graduate of Williams College, his life and legacy have influenced generations of people throughout the world — including countless Williams students — and the impact of his contributions to the field of musical theater is immeasurable.
On the occasion of Sondheim's 90th birthday in March 2020, Williams College will present a series of events on campus titled Sondheim@90@Williams. The events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.
Symposium on Sondheim
An academic symposium featuring major Sondheim and Broadway musical scholars, creators and collaborators will explore the works of Sondheim. The event will be held on Friday, March 6, from 1:30 to 5:15 p.m., and on Saturday March 7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall.
Symposium speakers include Geoffrey Block (University of Puget Sound); Todd Decker (Washington University in St. Louis); Mark Eden Horowitz (Music Division, Library of Congress); Jim Lovensheimer (Vanderbilt University); Jeffrey Magee (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign); James O'Leary '04 (Oberlin College and Conservatory); W. Anthony Sheppard (Williams College); Steve Swayne (Dartmouth College); John Weidman (Tony Award-winning librettist); Elizabeth A. Wells (Mount Allison University); and Stacy Wolf (Princeton University).
Williams Alumni Concert
Williams College alumni will perform Sondheim solos, duets and ensemble numbers on Friday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Chapin Hall. Featured performers include Sebastian Arcelus '99; Andrea Axelrod '75; Eric Kang '09, pianist; Claire Leyden '16; Evelyn Consolini Mahon '18; Michelle Rodriguez '12; David Turner '97; and Evan Maltby '11.
Theater Productions
Williams' Department of Theatre presents "Our Time," a new play exploring Williams College in the time of Sondheim. Written by Ilya Khodosh '08 and directed by Omar Sangare. Shows will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the '62 Center's Adams Memorial Theatre on Thursday, March 5; Saturday, March 7; Thursday, March 12; Friday, March 13; and Saturday, March 14. Tickets are $3.
Cap & Bells, Williams' student-run theater group, will present a production of "A Little Night Music." Performances will be held in the '62 Center's Adams Memorial Theatre on Friday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 7 at 3 p.m.; Sunday, March 8 at 3 p.m.; and Sunday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Visiting Artist Series
Williams' Department of Music presents Anthony de Mare, who will perform new works for piano based on Sondheim’s music. The event will be held on Tuesday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. in Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall.
Music Concerts
Williams Chamber Players will perform several Sondheim songs on Thursday, March 5, at 7:30 p.m. in Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall.
The Berkshire Symphony will present its premiere of a commissioned work composed by Kevin Kaska that is based on Sondheim's music. The concert will be held on Friday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Chapin Hall.
Exhibition
An exhibition titled Sondheim Memorabilia from the College Archives will be on view throughout March 2020 in the Special Collections Instruction Gallery, located on the fourth floor of Sawyer Library.
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