Coming Alive

Available for 29 days

All this week, Donald Macleod will be reflecting back on an interview he did with Stephen Sondheim in 2010 and updating the story of how Sondheim revolutionised the world of Musical Theatre. It all began when, in an unimaginable stroke of luck, Oscar Hammerstein became a surrogate father figure to the young and drifting youngster. Sondheim credited Hammerstein with having taught him virtually everything he knew about lyric writing. And it was through Hammerstein that Sondheim came to the attention of Leonard Bernstein, who was looking for someone to write the lyrics for West Side Story, and famously the young Sondheim got the job. The seeds were sown and dice were cast. A Little Night Music: Send in the Clowns Frank Sinatra Saturday Night: It's That Kind of Neighbourhood Maurice Yeoman, Simon Grieff, Jeremy David, Ashleigh Sendin, Tracie Bennett, James Millard, Mark Haddigan Saturday Night: What More Do I Need? Anna Francolini, Sam Newman, Saturday Night World Premiere Recording Company West Side Story: Jet Song Max Goberman, Mickey Calin, Original Broadway Cast of West Side Story Leonard Bernstein: Conductor West Side Story: Something's Coming: Larry Kert, Max Goberman, Original Broadway Cast of West Side Story Leonard Bernstein: Conductor A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum: Free Nathan Lane A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum: Lovely Jessica Bogart, Jim Stanek A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum: Pretty Little Picture Jessica Bogart, Jim Stanek, Nathan Lane Anyone Can Whistle: There's Always a Woman Madeline Kahn, Bernadette Peters American Theatre Orchestra Paul Gemignani, Conductor Do I Hear a Waltz? Elizabeth Allen Company: Barcelona Dean Jones, Susan Browning Company Orchestra Harold Hastings, conductor Company: Ladies Who Lunch Elaine Stritch Company Orchestra Harold Hastings, conductor Company: Being Alive Dean Jones Company Orchestra Harold Hastings, conductor Producer: Rosie Boulton