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A Little Night Music
Original Broadway production poster
Music Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Stephen Sondheim
Book Hugh Wheeler
Based upon 1955 Ingmar Bergman film
Smiles of a Summer Night
Productions 1973 Broadway
1974 West End
1975 Austria
1978 Stockholm
1978 Film
1989 West End revival
1995 West End revival
2001 Barcelona
Awards Tony Award for Best Musical
Tony Award for Best Book
Tony Award for Best Score

A Little Night Music is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Stephen Joshua Sondheim (born March 22 1930 is an American musical and film composer and lyricist winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards (seven Stephen Joshua Sondheim (born March 22 1930 is an American musical and film composer and lyricist winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards (seven Hugh Callingham Wheeler ( 19 March 1912 - 26 July 1987) was a Tony Award -winning English -born Playwright, The year 1955 in film involved some significant events Events November 3 - The musical Guys and Dolls Ernst Ingmar Bergman ( pronounced) (14 July 1918 – 30 July 2007 was a nine-time Academy Award -nominated Swedish film, stage Smiles of a Summer Night (Swedish Sommarnattens leende) is a 1955 film directed by Ingmar Bergman. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) ('stɔkhɔlm is Sweden 's Capital and its largest City. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the parliament, and the Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" A revival is a restaging of a former hit play at a later date Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" A revival is a restaging of a former hit play at a later date Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Musical first awarded in 1949 The Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical is awarded to librettists of the spoken non-sung dialogue and storyline of a musical play The Tony Award for Best Original Score is the Tony Award given to the Composers and Lyricists of the best original score written for a musical Musical theatre is a form of Theatre combining Music, Songs spoken Dialogue and Dance. Stephen Joshua Sondheim (born March 22 1930 is an American musical and film composer and lyricist winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards (seven Hugh Callingham Wheeler ( 19 March 1912 - 26 July 1987) was a Tony Award -winning English -born Playwright, Inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, it involves the romantic lives of several couples, with the music set almost entirely in waltz time. Smiles of a Summer Night (Swedish Sommarnattens leende) is a 1955 film directed by Ingmar Bergman. The musical included the song "Send in the Clowns". "Send in the Clowns" is a Song by Stephen Sondheim, from the 1973 musical A Little Night Music. The title is an English (mis)translation of the German name for Mozart's Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major. The Serenade No 13 for strings in G major, K 525 more commonly known as Eine kleine Nachtmusik ("a small serenade" -- rendered more literally

Contents

Productions

Broadway

A Little Night Music opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre on February 25, 1973, and closed on August 3, 1974 after 601 performances and 12 previews. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. It moved to the Majestic Theatre on Sept. The Majestic Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 245 West 44th Street in midtown Manhattan. 17, 1973 where it completed its run. It was directed by Harold Prince with choreography by Patricia Birch and design by Boris Aronson. Harold Smith Prince (born January 30 1928) is an American Theatrical producer and director associated with many of the best-known Broadway Patricia Birch is an American Choreographer and director for Musical theatre and Film. Boris Aronson ( October 15, 1898 &ndash November 16, 1980) was an influential American Scenic designer for Broadway and The cast included Glynis Johns (Desiree Armfeldt), Len Cariou (Fredrik Egerman), Hermione Gingold (Madame Armfeldt), Victoria Mallory, Mark Lambert, Laurence Guittard, Patricia Elliott, George Lee Andrews, and D'Jamin Bartlett. Glynis Johns (born 5 October, 1923) is a British stage and film actress, Dancer, Pianist and Singer (notably Leonard Joseph "Len" Cariou (born September 30, 1939) is a Canadian Tony Award -winning Actor. Hermione Gingold ( December 9, 1897 &ndash May 24, 1987) was an English actress known for her sharp-tongued eccentric persona Victoria Mallory is an American singer and actress She was born September 20, 1949 in Virginia. Mark Lambert is a Broadway Actor and singer best known for his interpretation of Henrik Egerman in the original Broadway production of Stephen Laurence Guittard is an actor and singer mostly appearing on the Broadway stage Patricia Elliott (born July 21, 1942 in Gunnison, Colorado) is an American actress. It won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and the Tony Award for Best Musical. The New York Drama Critics' Circle is made up of twenty-two Drama Critics from daily Newspapers, Magazines and Wire services The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Musical first awarded in 1949

London

The London production opened at the Adelphi Theatre on April 15, 1975 and starred Jean Simmons, Joss Ackland, David Kernan, Liz Robertson, and Diane Langton, with Hermione Gingold reprising her role as Madame Armfeldt. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Jean Merilyn Simmons OBE (born January 31 1929 is an Oscar -nominated English actress Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland CBE (born February 29 1928) known as Joss Ackland, is an English Actor who has appeared Liz Robertson (born May 4, 1954) is a British actress and singer Diane Langton (born May 31, 1947 in Somerset) is an English Actress. Hermione Gingold ( December 9, 1897 &ndash May 24, 1987) was an English actress known for her sharp-tongued eccentric persona It ran for 406 performances. During the run, Angela Baddeley replaced Gingold, and Virginia McKenna replaced Simmons. Angela Baddeley, CBE (born Madeline Angela Clinton-Baddeley; 4 July 1904 &ndash 22 February 1976) was an English Virginia McKenna OBE (born 7 June 1931, London) is an English stage and screen actress Author and Wildlife

A new London revival opened on October 6, 1989 at the Piccadilly Theatre, directed by Ian Judge, designed by Mark Thompson, and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) The Piccadilly Theatre is a West End theatre located at 16 Denman Street behind Piccadilly Circus and adjacent to the Regents Palace Hotel in the City See also, Choreography (literally "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" (circular dance see chorea) and "γραφή" It starred Lila Kedrova as Madame Armfeldt, Dorothy Tutin as Desiree Armfeldt, Peter McEnery and Susan Hampshire. Lila Kedrova (Ли́ля Кедро́ва ( October 9, 1918 &ndash February 16, 2000) was a Academy Award - and Tony Award Dame Dorothy Tutin DBE, ( 8 April, 1930 &ndash 6 August, 2001) was a highly-regarded English Actor of stage Peter McEnery (b 21 February 1940, Walsall, England, UK) is an English stage and film actor Susan Hampshire Lady Kulukundis, OBE (born on 12 May 1937 in London) is an English actress best known for her many The production ran for 144 performances, closing on February 17, 1990.

In 1995, a revival by the Royal National Theatre opened at the Olivier Theatre on September 26, 1995 in a production directed by Sean Mathias, with set designed by Stephen Brimson Lewis, costumes by Nicky Gilabrand, lighting by Mark Henderson and choreography by Wayne McGregor. The Royal National Theatre, located on the South Bank in the London Borough of Lambeth, England. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Sean Gerard Mathias (born 14 March 1956) is a British Theatre director, Film director, Writer and Actor. Wayne McGregor (born 12 March 1970, Stockport, Cheshire, England) is a multi-award winning British Choreographer It starred Judi Dench (Desiree), Sian Phillips (Madame Armfeldt), Joanna Riding, Laurence Guittard and Patricia Hodge. Dame Judith Olivia Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA, (born 9 December, 1934) usually known as Judi Dench, is an English Siân Phillips CBE (pronounced ʃɑːn 'fɪlɪps born Jane Elizabeth Ailwên Phillips; May 14, 1933) is a Welsh actress Laurence Guittard is an actor and singer mostly appearing on the Broadway stage Patricia Ann Hodge (born on 29 September, 1946 in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire) is an English actress. The production closed on August 31, 1996. Dench received the Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Actress in a Musical. The Laurence Olivier Award is regarded as the most prestigious award in British theatre and is presented in recognition of artistic achievement in London theatre

According to an article in Variety (2/15/08), there are talks to revive A Little Night Music at the Menier Chocolate Factory. Variety is a weekly entertainment trade newspaper founded in New York in 1905 by Sime Silverman The Menier Chocolate Factory is an award-winning 190 seat fringe studio theatre restaurant and gallery The article states: "Dates are not fixed and contracts are still unsigned, but Trevor Nunn has committed to direct Stephen Sondheim's 'A Little Night Music,' the first London revival of the show since a 1995 National Theater production. " [1]

Europe

Zarah Leander played Madame Armfeldt in the original Austrian staging (in 1975) as well as in the original Swedish staging in Stockholm in 1978 (here with Jan Malmsjö as Fredrik Egerman), performing Send In The Clowns and Liaisons in both stagings. Zarah Leander ( March 15, 1907 &ndash June 23, 1981) was a Swedish actress and singer Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. ('stɔkhɔlm is Sweden 's Capital and its largest City. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the parliament, and the Jan Malmsjö, born May 29 1932 in Lund, Sweden, is a highly acclaimed Swedish stage actor musical star and singer The successful Stockholm-staging was directed by Stig Olin. Stig Olin ( September 11, 1920 &ndash June 28 2008) was a Swedish Actor, Theatre director, Songwriter

Film version

In 1978, a film version of A Little Night Music was made, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Lesley-Anne Down, and Diana Rigg, with Len Cariou, Hermione Gingold, and Laurence Guittard reprising their Broadway roles. Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, DBE (born 27 February 1932) is a two-time Academy Award -winning English-American actress Lesley-Anne Down (born 17 March 1954 is an English actress who is best known for her roles as Georgina Worsley in the ITV period drama Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg DBE (born 20 July 1938 is an English actress. Leonard Joseph "Len" Cariou (born September 30, 1939) is a Canadian Tony Award -winning Actor. Hermione Gingold ( December 9, 1897 &ndash May 24, 1987) was an English actress known for her sharp-tongued eccentric persona Laurence Guittard is an actor and singer mostly appearing on the Broadway stage The setting for the film was moved from Sweden to Austria, and was filmed on location. Stephen Sondheim wrote lyrics for the "Night Waltz" theme ("Love Takes Time") and wrote an entirely new version of "The Glamorous Life" which has been incorporated into several subsequent productions of the stage musical. Stephen Joshua Sondheim (born March 22 1930 is an American musical and film composer and lyricist winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards (seven The film marked legendary Broadway director Hal Prince's second time as a motion picture director. Harold Smith Prince (born January 30 1928) is an American Theatrical producer and director associated with many of the best-known Broadway Critical reaction to the film was mixed to negative, with much being made of Miss Taylor's wildly fluctuating weight from scene to scene. There was praise for Diana Rigg's performance, and orchestrator Jonathan Tunick received an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score. Jonathan Tunick (born 19 April 1938) is an orchestrator musical director and composer one of very few persons to have won all four major American show business "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. A soundtrack recording was released on LP, and the film was, for a time, available on VHS and laserdisc. A DVD release was issued in June of 2007. (For more information see A Little Night Music at the Internet Movie Database. )

Opera companies

This work has also become part of the repertoire of several opera companies. The New York City Opera has performed it in 1990, 1991, and 2003, the Houston Grand Opera in 1999, and the Los Angeles Opera in 2004. New York State Theater by David Shankbonejpg|thumb| New York State Theater]] The New York City Opera (NYCO is based in Philip Johnson 's New York State Houston Grand Opera (HGO was founded in 1955 through the joint efforts of Maestro Walter Herbert and Houston cultural leaders Mrs The Los Angeles Opera is an Opera company in Los Angeles California, United States

Cast recording of 1995 National Theatre revival starring Judi Dench
Cast recording of 1995 National Theatre revival starring Judi Dench

Cast recordings

In addition to the original Broadway and London cast recordings, and the motion picture soundtrack (no longer available), there are recordings of the 1990 studio cast, the 1995 Royal National Theatre revival (starring Judi Dench), and the 2001 Barcelona cast recording sung in Catalan. The Royal National Theatre, located on the South Bank in the London Borough of Lambeth, England. Dame Judith Olivia Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA, (born 9 December, 1934) usually known as Judi Dench, is an English Catalan ˈkætəˌlæn ( català kətəˈla or) is a Romance language, the national and official language of Andorra, and a co-official In 1997 an all-jazz version of the score was recorded by Terry Trotter.

Plot

Based on the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, the play is set in Sweden at the turn of the century. Ernst Ingmar Bergman ( pronounced) (14 July 1918 – 30 July 2007 was a nine-time Academy Award -nominated Swedish film, stage Smiles of a Summer Night (Swedish Sommarnattens leende) is a 1955 film directed by Ingmar Bergman. It tells the story of the middle aged Fredrik Egerman, a successful lawyer. A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law as an attorney, Counsel or Solicitor; a person He has recently married an 18-year-old trophy wife named Anne, a vain girl who is wholeheartedly in love with Fredrik, but too immature to grasp the concept of marriage. A trophy wife is commonly used to describe any wife who is considered a Status symbol. NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** The two have been married for eleven months, but Anne still refuses to sacrifice her virginity. Fredrik sings of his inability to make love to his wife ("Now"). Sexual intercourse, in its biological sense is the act in which the male reproductive organ (in humans and other higher animals enters the female reproductive tract Meanwhile, his son Henrik, who is older than his stepmother by one year, is feeling extremely frustrated with himself. He is a seminary student and has such acquired a rather negative world view ("Later"). A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is a specialized and often live-in Higher education institution for the purpose of instructing students Anne is intrigued by his actions, but fails to understand the subtext of what he is saying. The next morning, Anne promises her husband that she will consent to sex shortly ("Soon"). Anne's maidservant Petra, a blunt girl slightly older than the teen herself, offers her rather crass advice on the situation. Maid is also a shortened form of " Maiden " an archaic word for an unmarried woman or a Virgin.

Meanwhile, another important character is revealed--Desiree Armfeldt, a prominent actress. An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works She and Fredrik were lovers many years ago. Desiree is a rather selfish woman who has shipped her daughter Fredrika to live with her grandmother, the aging and severe Madame Armfeldt. Selfishness denotes the precedence given in thought or deed to the Self, i Fredrika misses her mother, but Desiree continually puts off going to see her ("The Glamorous Life"). Upon learning that her theater company will be performing near Fredrik's estate, the actress cannot resist inviting him to the play. He brings Anne along, and she is instantly suspicious of Desiree's amorous actions. Claiming to have a headache, Anne demands that Fredrik bring her home immediately. A headache ( cephalalgia in medical terminology is a condition of pain in the Head; sometimes Neck or upper back pain may also be interpreted At home, Petra has been trying to seduce Henrik.

That night, Fredrik's old memories of Desiree float back to the surface of his mind ("Remember"). He slips out to see her, and the two share a happy but obviously strained reunion. They reflect on their new lives, and Fredrik tries to explain how much he loves Anne ("You Must Meet My Wife"). Desiree responds with a sarcastic tone. Sarcasm is stating the opposite of an intended meaning especially in order to sneeringly slyly jest or mock a person situation or thing She happily boasts of her own adultery--she has been seeing a married count. Adultery is the voluntary Sexual intercourse between a married person and another person who is not his or her Spouse, though in many places it is A count is a Nobleman in European countries The word count comes from French comte, itself from Latin Upon learning that Fredrik has had to go for eleven months without sex, though, Desiree agrees to accommodate him--as an old favor for a friend.

The scene moves to the home of Mme. Armfeldt, who offers advice to young Fredrika. The elderly woman reflects poignantly on her own checkered past, and wonders what happened to the typical tryst ("Liaisons"). Courtship is the traditional dating period before engagement and marriage Back in Desiree's apartment, Count Carl-Magnus Malcom announces his arrival in his typical booming voice. Fredrik and Desiree fool the suspicious but gullible count into believing that nothing went on between the pair, but the military man is still suspicious. He takes an instant disliking to Fredrik and goes back to his own wife, the Countess Charlotte. Charlotte is apparently aware of her husband's infidelity, but Carl is too absorbed in his own thoughts about Desiree to talk to her ("In Praise of Women"). When she persuades him to blurt out the whole story, a twist is revealed--Charlotte's little sister is a school friend of Anne's.

Charlotte goes to Anne, who is talking with Petra. Charlotte explains what Fredrik did; Anne reacts with shock and horror. The older woman explains to Anne that such is the lot of a wife, and that no pain is greater ("Every Day A Little Death"). Meanwhile, Desiree goes to her mother and requests that Madame Armfeldt host a party for Fredrik, Anne, and Henrik. A party is a Social gathering for Celebration and Recreation. Though reluctant, the elderly woman agrees. She sends out a personal invitation; upon receiving it, the Egerman household is sent into a frenzy ("A Weekend in the Country"). Anne does not want to accept the invitation, but Charlotte convinces her to do so to make Desiree look old compared to the teen's youth. Meanwhile, the Count has plans of his own--as a birthday present to his wife, the pair will attend the party uninvited. Birthday is the name given to the date of the anniversary of a person's birth Carl plans to defeat Fredrik in a duel during the event, while Charlotte hopes to seduce the lawyer into sex to make her husband insanely jealous and end his insalubrious activities. As practiced from the 11th to 20th centuries in Western societies a duel is an engagement in combat between two individuals with matched weapons in accordance with their combat

Act Two opens on Mme. Armfeldt's estate, which is bathed in the golden glow of perpetual sunset due to the summer season ("Night Waltz One and Two"). Sunset, also called sundown in some American English Dialects is the instant when the trailing edge of the Sun 's disk disappears below Everyone arrives, each holding their own purposes and desires--except, perhaps, Petra, who catches the eye of Mme. Armfeldt's fetching manservant, Frid. A domestic worker, domestic, servingman, servingwoman, or servant is one who works and often also lives within the employer's household All of the women begin to act against each other. Henrik meets Fredrika, and confesses his deep love for Anne to her. Meanwhile, in the garden, Fredrik and Carl reflect on how difficult it is to be annoyed with Desiree ("It Would Have Been Wonderful"). Dinner is served, and all characters believe that the future hinges on that meal ("Perpetual Anticipation").

At dinner, Charlotte begins to flirt with Fredrik, while Anne and Desiree trade insults. Soon, everyone is shouting and scolding everyone else--except Henrik, who finally stands up for himself. He shrieks at them for being completely amoral, and flees the scene. Amorality is the quality of existence in which the concept of Morality (or Right and wrong) is invalid Stunned, everyone reflects on the situation and wanders away. Fredrika tells Anne of Henrik's secret love, and the two dash off searching for him. Meanwhile, Desiree meets Fredrik and asks if he still wants to be "rescued" from his life. Fredrik answers honestly--he loves Desiree, but only as a dream. Dreams are the images sounds thoughts and feelings experienced while Sleeping, particularly strongly associated with Rapid eye movement sleep. Hurt and bitter, Desiree can only reveal her opinions on the nature of life through the play's most famous song ("Send in the Clowns"). "Send in the Clowns" is a Song by Stephen Sondheim, from the 1973 musical A Little Night Music.

At the lake on the estate, Anne finds Henrik, who is ready to commit suicide. The clumsy boy cannot complete the task, and Anne tells him that she has feelings for him, too. The pair begins to kiss, which leads to Anne's first sexual encounter. Meanwhile, not far away from the young couple, Frid sleeps in Petra's lap. The maid thinks of the joy and freedom that she longs to have before she is trapped in marriage forever ("The Miller's Son"). Henrik and Anne, full of happiness, leave on a train to start a new life together. Fredrik finds out, but is surprisingly calm about the situation. Charlotte confesses her plan to the lawyer, and the two embrace in a goodbye. Carl sees this and is flooded with jealousy. He challenges Fredrik to a game of Russian Roulette, and the lawyer injures his ear. Russian roulette (Русская рулетка is a potentially lethal Game of chance in which participants place a single round in a Revolver, spin the Feeling victorious, Carl begins to romance Charlotte, granting her wish at last. Desiree descends and asks about the situation. Now free of the bonds that once held him, Fredrik is able to confess his love for the actress. Desiree reveals that Fredrika is Fredrik's daughter, and the two promise to start a new life together ("Finale").

In the play's quiet and powerful final moments, Mme. Armfeldt sits alone with Fredrika, and asks about what has happened over the course of that night. She then follows with a surprising question-"What is it all for?" Fredrika sits silently before choosing love as her answer; though it is difficult and causes strange things to happen, it is necessary- "because, in the end, I think that's the only thing that's real". Love is any of a number of Emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong Affection. Mme. Armfeldt smiles at this response and comments that the "night has already smiled twice"-on the young, and on the fools. A jester, joker, jokester, fool, wit-cracker, prankster, or buffoon is a member of a profession that came into popularity As the two wait for the "third smile", Mme. Armfeldt closes her eyes, nods off to sleep, and dies peacefully.

Characters

Harold Prince (producer-director) explained that these characters represent ". . . people in the show who aren't wasting time. . . the play is about wasting time. " (New York Times, Mel Gussow, p. 54, 3/27/73)

Sondheim, Wheeler and Harold Prince (who directed the film version) created a work that is far more complex and sophisticated than first appearances might suggest. Harold Smith Prince (born January 30 1928) is an American Theatrical producer and director associated with many of the best-known Broadway The characters, from royalty to bourgeoisie to servant, present a cross section of Swedish society at that particular place and time. The characters' ages range from adolescent (Desiree's daughter) to elderly (Madame Armfeldt). Each character's views on life, love and sex are explored in depth and with great compassion and humor. (Sondheim went so far as to write a song for the otherwise mute manservant Frid, which was cut in previews, because, as Prince barked at him one evening, "Who cares what Frid thinks?")

The "Weekend in the Country" that the characters spend is at the height of midsummer, which in Sweden means that the sun never sets completely. The MUTE Network (or MUTE-net) is a Peer-to-peer and Friend-to-friend File sharing network developed with anonymity in mind Midsummer may simply refer to the period of time centered upon the summer solstice, but more often refers to specific European celebrations that accompany the actual solstice The characters wander around the vast estate and grounds bathed in a golden twilight. This hazy, limbo-like setting allows them to explore their passions and realize who it is and what it is that they truly desire. See also Intermediate state Purgatory|Heaven|Sheol|Hades in Christianity|Hell in Christianity In Roman Catholic theology Limbo (Latin limbus

Music

Virtually all of the music in the show is written in waltz (3/4) time or variants thereof (such as compound meter, a time signature like 12/8, for example); brief passages in "Overture", "Glamorous Life", "Liaisons", and "The Miller's Son" are in duple meter. The waltz is a ballroom and folk Dance in time, performed primarily in Closed position. The time signature (also known as " meter signature" is a notational convention used in Western Musical notation to specify how many beats The time signature (also known as " meter signature" is a notational convention used in Western Musical notation to specify how many beats The work is often performed as an operetta in many professional opera companies; the score makes heavy demands on performers, with extensive use of counterpoint. Operetta is a genre of light Opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter In Music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and Rhythm, and interdependent in Harmony There is an oblique Mozart reference in the title — A Little Night Music is an occasionally used translation of Eine kleine Nachtmusik, the nickname of Mozart's Serenade No. The Serenade No 13 for strings in G major, K 525 more commonly known as Eine kleine Nachtmusik ("a small serenade" -- rendered more literally 13 for strings in G major, K. 525. The elegant, harmonically-advanced music in this musical pays indirect homage to the compositions of Maurice Ravel, especially his Valses nobles et sentimentales (whose opening chord is "borrowed" for the opening chord of the song "Liaisons"); part of this effect stems from the style of orchestration that Jonathan Tunick used. In Western music, harmony is the use of different pitches simultaneously and chords actual or implied in Music. Jonathan Tunick (born 19 April 1938) is an orchestrator musical director and composer one of very few persons to have won all four major American show business The score contains Sondheim's best-known song, "Send in the Clowns", as well as such songs as "The Glamorous Life," "You Must Meet My Wife," "Every Day a Little Death," "Liaisons," "In Praise of Women," "A Weekend in the Country," and "The Miller's Son". "Send in the Clowns" is a Song by Stephen Sondheim, from the 1973 musical A Little Night Music.

Musical numbers

Act I
  • Overture -- Mr. Lindquist, Mrs. Nordstrom, Mrs. Anderssen, Mr. Erlanson and Mrs. Segstrom
  • Night Waltz -- Company
  • Now -- Fredrik Egerman
  • Later -- Henrik Egerman
  • Soon -- Anne Egerman, Henrik Egerman and Fredrik Egerman
  • The Glamorous Life -- Fredrika Armfeldt, Desiree Armfeldt, Malla, Madame Armfeldt and Chorus
  • Remember? -- Chorus
  • You Must Meet My Wife -- Desiree Armfeldt and Fredrik Egerman
  • Liaisons -- Madame Armfeldt
  • In Praise of Women -- Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm
  • Every Day a Little Death -- Countess Charlotte Malcolm and Anne Egerman
  • Weekend in the Country -- Company
Act II
  • Night Waltz I (The Sun Won't Set) -- Chorus
  • Night Waltz II (The Sun Sits Low)
  • It Would Have Been Wonderful -- Fredrik Egerman and Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm
  • Perpetual Anticipation -- Mrs. Nordstrom, Mrs. Segstrom and Mrs. Anderssen
  • Send in the Clowns -- Desiree Armfeldt
  • Silly People -- Frid (cut in rehearsals}
  • The Miller's Son -- Petra
  • Send in the Clowns (reprise)
  • Last Waltz -- Company

Awards and nominations

1973 Tony Awards

1973 Drama Desk Awards

1973 Theatre World Awards

Olivier Awards

References

  1. ^ http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117981019.html?categoryid=15&cs=1 Variety article, 2/15/08, Menier Chocolate Factory on a roll]

External links


Awards
Preceded by
Follies
by Stephen Sondheim		 Tony Award for Best Original Score
1973
by Stephen Sondheim		 Succeeded by
Gigi
by Frederick Loewe and
Alan Jay Lerner
Preceded by
Two Gentlemen of Verona
by John Guare and Mel Shapiro		 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical
1973
by Hugh Wheeler		 Succeeded by
Candide
by Hugh Wheeler
Patricia Elliott (born July 21, 1942 in Gunnison, Colorado) is an American actress. Laurence Guittard is an actor and singer mostly appearing on the Broadway stage The Laurence Olivier Award is regarded as the most prestigious award in British theatre and is presented in recognition of artistic achievement in London theatre The Internet Broadway Database ( IBDB) is an online Database of Broadway theatre productions and their personnel Follies is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. Stephen Joshua Sondheim (born March 22 1930 is an American musical and film composer and lyricist winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards (seven The Tony Award for Best Original Score is the Tony Award given to the Composers and Lyricists of the best original score written for a musical Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Stephen Joshua Sondheim (born March 22 1930 is an American musical and film composer and lyricist winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards (seven Gigi is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. Alan Jay Lerner ( August 31, 1918 &ndash June 14, 1986) was an American Broadway Lyricist and Librettist Two Gentlemen of Verona is an award-winning rock musical with a book by John Guare and Mel Shapiro, lyrics by Guare and music by John Guare (pronounced gwâr born 5 February 1938 is an American Playwright. Mel Shapiro is an American Theatre director and Writer, college Professor, and Author. The Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical is awarded to librettists of the spoken non-sung dialogue and storyline of a musical play Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Hugh Callingham Wheeler ( 19 March 1912 - 26 July 1987) was a Tony Award -winning English -born Playwright, Candide (1956 is an Operetta with music composed by Leonard Bernstein, based on the Novella of the same name by Voltaire Hugh Callingham Wheeler ( 19 March 1912 - 26 July 1987) was a Tony Award -winning English -born Playwright,
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