Sondheim is the best and these days Tribute Reviews are the thing to do especially since the Sondheim estate has allowed theater companies to craft individualized reviews (unlike the Pre-existing Side by Side by Sondheim, for example), subject to certain restrictions (Sondheim must have written both music and lyrics, no more than 3 songs from any one show and no show dialogue may be used). Theo has taken the privilege and challenge of creating a review in a unique way that showcases 5 uber-talented performers and allows them to tell their stories (not a Sondheim biography) with messages for us all to take away.

In this interview, Paul goes behind the curtain with the musical director and on-stage pianist, Carolyn Brady, along with the complete cast: Elya Bottiger, Maliha Sayed, Max DeTogne, Ismael Garcia, and Joe Giovannetti, who are all candid, engaging and connect with each other and the audience. Theo is an intimate space where the entire audience is only feet away from this talented cast, and they sing many known (and some lesser known) Sondheim classics such as “Class”, “Not a Day Goes By”, “Could I Leave You”, “You Could Drive a Person Crazy”, “No One is Alone”, “Broadway Baby” and “Being Alive”. They carry such power, joy and emotion. Sondheim songs survive outside their original show context often with new and powerful meaning.

You don’t want to miss Theo Theatre’s Sondheim Tribute, playing through April 28th and tickets can be purchased at: www.theo-u.com