Research Catalog

Title

Stephen Sondheim on writing lyrics [sound recording] ; and excerpts from symposium on West Side story.

Author

Sondheim, Stephen

Publication

1985.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Robbins, Jerome
• Bernstein, Leonard, 1918-1990
• Laurents, Arthur
• Lazarus, Paul.
• Dramatists Guild.

Description

1 sound disc (ca. 61 min.) : digital; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

• Track 1 (ca. 29 min.) This radio program features Stephen Sondheim speaking about writing lyrics, interspersed with excerpts from his songs. Sondheim, in excerpts taped in front of an audience, discusses his first attempt at writing lyrics; advice he received from Oscar Hammerstein II; the failure of A funny thing happened on the way to the forum in tryouts, and Jerome Robbins' contribution to the show's opening number, Comedy tonight; how lyrics differ from other kinds of writing; how lyrics can change when set to music; building character through lyrics; the function of rhyme. Songs played and/or discussed in this segment include Broadway baby, Love is in the air, Comedy tonight, Maria, Ladies who lunch, I feel pretty. [ca. 19 min.]
• In the second part of the program, host Paul Lazarus interviews Stephen Sondheim in Sondheim's New York home. Sondheim discusses ambivalence in his lyrics; the influence of Arthur Laurents on his work; subtext in lyrics; the song I'm still here (from Follies); whether his lyrics are personal. The songs Sorry-grateful, The road you didn't take, I'm still here, and Anyone can whistle are played in this segment. [ca. 10 min.]
• Track 2 (ca. 32 min.) [Begins abruptly] Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents discuss West Side story at a Dramatists Guild symposium. These excerpts were selected for use in an episode of the radio program Anything goes. Questions from moderator Terrence McNally are not included on this tape. Robbins discusses the origin of his concept of a modern version of Romeo and Juliet, his search for collaborators and producers, and his desire to bring the best of the arts to Broadway. Bernstein and Laurents discuss the initial conception as East Side story, focussing on a conflict between Jews and Catholics, and how they eventually decided to focus on Puerto Rican immigrants. Bernstein and Sondheim discuss Bernstein's intention to write lyrics as well as music, and how Sondheim joined the project. Robbins, Bernstein and Laurents discuss their collaboration; the input of Richard Rodgers; the origin of the song "Something's coming." Robbins and Sondheim discuss the show's book and the difficulty of adapting Shakespeare. Laurents discusses Robbins' choreography. Sondheim and Robbins discuss changes to the show during rehearsals. Robbins and Bernstein talk about the cast of the show. Bernstein discusses the difficulty of presenting a tragic musical, and describes unsuccessfully auditioning the score with Sondheim at Columbia Records.
• Bernstein and Laurents discuss finding producers for the show. Bernstein and Robbins discuss their experiences as collaborators. Sondheim discusses the order of "Cool" and "Gee, Officer Krupke" in the stage and film versions of the show. Sondheim discusses Robbins' decision to keep actors portraying the Sharks and Jets separate during rehearsals. Sondheim and Robbins discuss the innovative use of individual characters in the chorus. Sondheim discusses the influence of motion pictures on the show's staging.

Donor/Sponsor

Oral History Archive.

Series Statement

Jerome Robbins Collection

Alternative Title

Anything goes, a celebration of the American musical theatre past, present and future.

Subjects

• Sondheim, Stephen > Contributions in songwriting
• Lyrics and lyricists
• Musical comedies > West Side story
• Musical theater
• Artistic collaboration
• Audiotapes > Robbins, J

Access (note)

• Permission required.

Event (note)

• Track 1 broadcast on WBAI-FM in New York, date unidentified. Track 2 recorded at a Dramatists Guild symposium, in New York, on Apr. 18, 1985.

Funding (note)

• Preservation made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biography (note)

• Anything goes: a celebration of the American musical theatre past, present future was a radio series hosted and produced by Paul Lazarus for WBAI-FM and National Public Radio. It ran from 1978 to 1986.

Call Number

*MGZTL 4-3301 JRC

OCLC

NYPT04-R171

Author

Sondheim, Stephen, speaker.

Title

Stephen Sondheim on writing lyrics [sound recording] ; and excerpts from symposium on West Side story.

Imprint

1985.

Series

Jerome Robbins Collection

Access

Permission required.

Event

Track 1 broadcast on WBAI-FM in New York, date unidentified. Track 2 recorded at a Dramatists Guild symposium, in New York, on Apr. 18, 1985.

Funding

Preservation made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biography

Anything goes: a celebration of the American musical theatre past, present future was a radio series hosted and produced by Paul Lazarus for WBAI-FM and National Public Radio. It ran from 1978 to 1986.

Local Note

For the radio program that incorporates some of these excerpts, see The making of West Side story, *MGZTL 4-3302 JRC. For a recording of the complete symposium, see West Side story symposium *MGZTL 4-3284 JRC.

Archive original: *MGZTCO 3-3301 JRC

Preservation master: *MGZTP 10-3301 JRC

Dubbing master: *MGZTD 4-3301 JRC

Local Subject

Audiotapes -- Robbins, J.

Musical comedies. West Side story.

Added Author

Robbins, Jerome, interviewee.

Bernstein, Leonard, 1918-1990, interviewee.

Laurents, Arthur, interviewee.

Lazarus, Paul. Host. Producer

Dramatists Guild.

Research Call Number

*MGZTL 4-3301 JRC