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Artwork for Loving You: The Untold Sondheim

Loving You: The Untold Sondheim

Martin Milnes & Peter E Jones

Made by Steve's friends, with Steve friends.

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13 episodes
Updated May 21

Episodes13

May 21 · 1 hr 31 min
Move On | 'Goodbye for Now' from Sondheim's Friends and Family
In our series finale, Steve’s loved ones unite ‘one last time’ - retracing the final weeks, days and moments prior to Steve’s passing on November 26th 2021. Recalling final memories and precious encounters, we celebrate not ‘Sondheim The Icon’, but our friend Steve. ‘I think we choose our friends. Somehow their presence in your life makes you feel good. Steve made me feel good. And when you embrace a friend, you know if the feeling is real. And I want to believe, anyway, that he knew that.’ – John Kander Steve’s legendary interpreter Bernadette Peters then joins Martin and PJ to share what Steve has meant to her – and how Steve appeared to Bernadette after his death. But how do Martin and PJ feel about Steve now that their two-year quest to discover The Untold Sondheim has finally reached its conclusion? ‘You’re always there for me. Even though you’re gone. Thank you. Thank you. For you’re always there for me.’ – Bernadette Peters CHAPTERS 00:00 Maria & PJ: ‘Now you’re on your own’ 02:15 A Pageantry of Celebration 06:44 Time Catches Up with Steve 15:14 The Final Meetings 27:55 ‘Titan of The American Musical’ 37:36 Missing Steve 50:22 Bernadette Peters: ‘I Had A Dream’ 1:02:28 PJ & Martin: 'You can never say thank you enough’ 1:18:22 The Next Collaboration: PJ's New Musical 1:26:14 Credits with Mehran James McCullough 1:28:58 Stephen Sondheim: 'Anyone Can Whistle' Subscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Apple and all good podcast apps to get every episode the moment it is released. SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Instagram. CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in partnership with: Creative Kin Mixing and Mastering: Chris Traves Directed, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes CAST AND VOICE ACTORS Alistair McGowan, Sarah Simmons, Maya Post, Jonathan Christopher, James Gower-Smith, Mehran James McCullough DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENTS Written by: Martin Milnes Produced by: Peter E. Jones MUSIC AND SCORE Original Score Composed by: Peter E. Jones Music and Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim: Courtesy of The Stephen Sondheim Trust Sondheim and Bernstein Instrumental Tracks: Provided by Broadway Studio Orchestra Music of Stephen Sondheim: Played by Colm Molloy FEATURED SONGS & VOCAL PERFORMANCES ‘Finale’ from Passion (Sondheim): Sung by Maria Friedman and Michael Ball Selections from Tim (Cohen & Jones): Sung by Shane O’Riordan and Charlotte Page. Produced by Chris Traves with Musical Direction by Andy Massey. ‘Anyone Can Whistle’ (Sondheim): Sung by Stephen Sondheim THANK YOU TO ALL OUR LISTENERS! KEEP IN TOUCH: lovingyousondheimpodcast@gmail.com / @lovingyousondheimpodcast
May 14 · 1 hr 6 min
No One Has Ever Loved Me | The Love Story of Stephen Sondheim and Peter E. Jones: Act Two
In the second of two deeply special episodes, Peter E. Jones shares the story of his life and love with Stephen Sondheim – for the first time in over 25 years. In what will be PJ’s official – and only – record of events, he shares the honest and accurate story of how their love transformed both their lives. “I know the love – the deep, deep, deep love – that Steve had for PJ. He always said, ‘I’ll never be able to love, I’ll never be in love.’ And then it was unlocked, and he was in love.’ – Maria Friedman 30 years on, what can Maria and Mia’s observations tell PJ about the relationship? What was the incredible gesture made by Steve to PJ – which, at the time, PJ didn’t even realise was so special? And reflecting on a lifetime of love and friendship with Steve, what would PJ say to Steve now? “We had something that never went away. There were times when it made things complicated, but I learned so much from it.” – Peter E. Jones CHAPTERS: 00:00 Maria Friedman: ‘He was in love’ 02:08 Steve & PJ - The Story So Far ... 04:16 ‘Passion’ and ‘Peyton Place’ 11:15 Maria and Mia 17:56 ‘To PJ, With Love’ 20:06 'Just Another Love Story’ 31:00 ‘No One Has Ever Loved Me’ 34:26 ‘Sunset Boulevard in a Weird Twist’ 45:44 PJ & Steve: ‘Songs I Wish I’d Written’ 50:01 ‘Bluellow’ from ‘Peyton Place’ by Peter E. Jones 58:13 PJ: ‘You are your choices’ Subscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Apple and all good podcast apps to get every episode the moment it is released. SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Instagram. CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in partnership with: Creative Kin Mixing and Mastering: Chris Traves Directed, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes CAST AND VOICE ACTORS Matt Bartlett, Mehran James McCullough. DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENTS Written by: Martin Milnes Produced by: Peter E. Jones MUSIC AND SCORE Original Score Composed by: Peter E. Jones Music and Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim: Courtesy of The Stephen Sondheim Trust Sondheim Instrumental Tracks: Provided by Broadway Studio Orchestra Music of Stephen Sondheim: Played by Colm Molloy Theme from Now, Voyager (Steiner): Played by the National Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Charles Gerhardt FEATURED SONGS & VOCAL PERFORMANCES Excerpts from Passion (Sondheim): Sung by Maria Friedman, Jere Shea and Marin Mazzie ‘Numbers’ from Numbers (Peter E. Jones): Sung by James Martin, Angela Parks, Diann Hinson and Peter E. Jones ‘Bluellow’ from Peyton Place (Peter E. Jones): Sung by Lauren Jones and Shane O’Riordan. Produced by Chris Traves with Musical Direction by Gareth Valentine and piano accompaniment by Sam Young
May 7 · 1 hr 1 min
Something Just Broke | The Love Story of Stephen Sondheim and Peter E. Jones: Act One
In the first of two deeply special episodes, Peter E. Jones shares the story of his life and love with Stephen Sondheim – for the first time in over 25 years. In what will be PJ’s official – and only – record of events, he shares the honest and accurate account of how their love transformed both their lives. “PJ was the love of his life. The first person that he really, really, really deeply loved – and wanted it to work out. Big time.” – Mia Farrow How did a letter from a 24-year-old songwriter lead to Stephen Sondheim falling in love – for the first time in his life? What made this a unique meeting of minds and hearts? And what did Mia Farrow observe about Steve and PJ’s love – which only now PJ can understand for himself? “He saw what I couldn’t see in me, certainly. He saw an individual. He saw aspects of himself, I would say, of lacking self-worth but being talented” – Peter E. Jones CHAPTERS: 00:00 Mia Farrow: ‘PJ was the love of his life’ 02:00 Introducing Steve & PJ 05:10 PJ in Wyoming and Denver: ‘A Little Songwriter’ 15:02 A Letter to Stephen Sondheim 20:14 Meeting Steve at 246 29:39 A Weekend In The Country 38:47 A Meeting Of Minds 43:10 Steve’s Inner Circle 54:05 PJ & Mia: ‘The Valley Of Regret’ Subscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Apple and all good podcast apps to get every episode the moment it is released. SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Instagram. CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in partnership with: Creative Kin Mixing and Mastering: Chris Traves Directed, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes CAST AND VOICE ACTORS Alistair McGowan, Eddie Andrews, Charlotte Page, Arthur Magee, Victoria Ward, Jonathan Christopher, Mehran James McCullough – and featuring Steven Clar as himself (by special arrangement with Claire Stevens). DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENTS Written by: Martin Milnes Produced by: Peter E. Jones MUSIC AND SCORE Original Score Composed by: Peter E. Jones Music and Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim: Courtesy of The Stephen Sondheim Trust Sondheim Instrumental Tracks: Provided by Broadway Studio Orchestra Music of Stephen Sondheim: Played by Colm Molloy FEATURED SONGS & VOCAL PERFORMANCES ‘Beautiful Briny’ (Sherman & Sherman): Sung by Mike Sammes ‘Perfect Strangers’ (Rodgers & Charnin): Sung by Jane Powell and Hugh O’Brian. Excerpts from Passion (Sondheim): Sung by Donna Murphy and Peter E. Jones
April 30 · 53 min
Children and Art | Sondheim: The Father Figure
Stephen Sondheim longed to be a father. Sadly, this dream was denied him. Yet although Steve never had children of his own, he was a father figure to countless loved ones – and their children. Join Sondheim’s chum Martin Milnes and Steve’s first love Peter E. Jones as they chat to the children – and parents – whose lives were touched by Steve’s love. “He was terribly into magic. Steve would put on these little magic shows for us. Traditional magic tricks: the wand with the handkerchiefs coming out.” – Walter E. Sondheim What did Steve’s half-brother Walter accidentally discover about his family history? What was the common bond shared by mother and son Mia and Ronan Farrow in their friendships with Steve? And what has Steve’s love meant to Maria and her children? “He found a lot of lost souls, lost people searching, and gave them a meaning and a way forward. It gave them an opportunity to find and make friends with themselves as fallible, fractured people.” – Maria Friedman 00:00 Dame Julie Andrews: ‘Oh, Steve! I’m pregnant!’ 02:40 Martin & PJ: Steve’s Regret 04:12 Walter E. Sondheim: ‘Steve’s really my half-brother!’ 15:02 Jamie Bernstein: ‘But we didn’t lose Steve!’ 24:38 Mia Farrow: ‘The Old Woman in the Shoe’ 27:38 Ronan Farrow: ‘This Extraordinary Polymath’ 35:10 Mia Farrow: ‘I’ll never have anyone remotely like that’ 38:38 Maria Friedman: ‘Stephen Song-Guy The Sandwich Man’ 48:50 Walter E. Sondheim: ‘We’re going to see Uncle Steve!’ Subscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Apple and all good podcast apps to get every episode the moment it is released. SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Instagram. CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in partnership with: Creative Kin Mixing and Mastering: Chris Traves Directed, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes CAST AND VOICE ACTORS Daniel Cane, Arthur Magee, Tess Hollins, Rebecca Ridout, James Gower-Smith, Mehran James McCullough DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENTS Written by: Martin Milnes Produced by: Peter E. Jones MUSIC AND SCORE Original Score Composed by: Peter E. Jones Music and Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim: Courtesy of The Stephen Sondheim Trust Sondheim Instrumental Tracks: Provided by Broadway Studio Orchestra Music of Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein: Played by Colm Molloy ‘How Are Things In Glocca Mora?’ (Lane & Harburg) and ‘Somewhere’ (Bernstein & Sondheim): Played by Steve Ross as Herbert Sondheim FEATURED SONGS & VOCAL PERFORMANCES ‘No One Is Alone’ (Sondheim): Sung by Chip Zien and Kim Crosby ‘Lucky To Be Me’ (Bernstein, Comden & Green): Sung by Lauren Bacall, accompanied by Leonard Bernstein
April 23 · 1 hr 6 min
You Could Drive A Person Crazy | Sondheim: Intimidating & Prickly?
The world views Steve as an icon – and to many an icon is 'intimidating'. Steve’s presence and reputation seemed to bring theatrical giants to their knees ... but was this label as a scary intellectual really warranted? Join Sondheim’s chum Martin Milnes and Steve’s first love Peter E. Jones for a unique investigation. With the aid of a glittering cast – including Patti LuPone, Mia Farrow, Christine Baranski, Maria Friedman, Adam Guettel, Ronan Farrow and Dame Judi Dench – can Martin and PJ solve the Sondheim mysteries which for decades have baffled and been misunderstood? “His being socially uncomfortable would read to people as if he was mean, or off-putting. It was never that. He just wasn’t a mean guy. The most talented people are the least mean.” – Adam Guettel Why did Steve object to Mia’s striped socks? How did Christine overcome her fear of singing in front of Steve? And what answers can PJ provide Patti about her bumpy moments with Sondheim ‘The Genius’? “But can I just tell you one thing, now that Steve has passed, that has people laughing their ass off?” – Patti LuPone CHAPTERS: 00:00 Christine Baranski: ‘That’s what it meant to me’ 05:06 ‘Intimidating’ & ‘Prickly’: Debating The Myth 11:25 Andre, Maria & Frank: Understanding Steve 17:31 The Cocktail Party & Adam’s Callers 22:53 Steve & Mary and Mia’s Socks 26:22 Rivalries: Menotti, Lenny and Gilbert 30:43 Introducing Laurence Guittard 32:08 Steve & Larry: ‘An unanswerable question’ 43:57 In Praise of ‘Winterset’ 49:24 Patti LuPone: ‘Steve Sondheim is yelling at me!’ 1:00:26 A Black Onyx Heart: Our Investigation Concludes Subscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Apple and all good podcast apps to get every episode the moment it is released. SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Instagram. CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in partnership with: Creative Kin Mixing and Mastering: Chris Traves Directed, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes CAST AND VOICE ACTORS Dame Judi Dench, Yeukayi Ushe, Melissa Redman, Jonny-James Kajoba, Sarah Simmons, Ann Wakefield, Jonathan Christopher, Rebecca Ridout, James Gower-Smith, Mehran James McCullough. DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENTS Written by: Martin Milnes Produced by: Peter E. Jones MUSIC AND SCORE Original Score Composed by: Peter E. Jones Music and Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim: Courtesy of The Stephen Sondheim Trust Sondheim Instrumental Tracks: Provided by Broadway Studio Orchestra Music of Stephen Sondheim: Played by Colm Molloy ‘Well, Did You Evah?’ (Porter) and ‘Isn’t It Romantic?’ (Rodgers & Hart): Played by Steve Ross FEATURED SONGS & VOCAL PERFORMANCES ‘Everybody Wants To Do A Musical’ (Strouse & Maltby): Sung by Christine Baranski ‘Celebration’ (Schmidt & Jones): Sung by Keith Charles ‘Teresa! Oh, Little Word So Glibly Spoken’ from The Mountebanks (Gilbert & Guittard): Sung by Martin Milnes, produced by Chris Traves, with Musical Direction by Gareth Valentine ‘Love Duet’ from Winterset (Guittard): Sung by Rebecca Pitcher and Chad Johnson, with Musical Direction by Jack Lee and piano accompaniment by Jean Browne
April 16 · 45 min
Me And You, Pal | Sondheim's Collaborators & Interpreters
What was it like to collaborate with Stephen Sondheim writing musical masterpieces? For actors, how did it feel to work with Steve, interpreting that art? And what is Steve’s legacy to those close personal friends who were also his dearest colleagues? Join Steve’s chum Martin Milnes, and first love Peter E. Jones, for a series of poignant and intimate chats, as Sondheim's book writers and definitive performers reveal the personal sides to Sondheim’s genius. “His book writers were his family. They were his brothers, his sisters, his children, his family. They were the gold star. You do not get between him and them.” – Maria Friedman Discover how Steve’s collaborations with James Lapine and John Weidman developed into enduring friendships; Steve’s lunchtime visit to a high school which became a formative experience for Lin-Manuel Miranda; and how Dame Judi Dench felt about singing ‘Send In The Clowns’ for Steve’s 80th birthday. “I would email him the dumbest stuff like an ice-cream truck in Queens that plays ‘Send In The Clowns’ – to which his response was ‘Very upsetting. Thank you so much.’” – Lin-Manuel Miranda CHAPTERS: 00:00 Side By Side: Millicent Martin & Julia McKenzie 06:58 Introducing Steve’s Collaborators 10:02 ‘Stepbrothers’: James Lapine & John Weidman 25:26 ‘What was it like?’: Lin-Manuel Miranda 31:42 ‘The care that went into it’: Jeremy Sams 38:46 ‘Send In The Clowns’: Len Cariou and Dame Judi Dench Subscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Apple and all good podcast apps to get every episode the moment it is released. SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Instagram. CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in partnership with: Creative Kin Mixing and Mastering: Chris Traves Directed, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes CAST AND VOICE ACTORS Alistair McGowan, Karcsi Wright, Jérôme Giquel, Nathalie Mrgudovic, Mehran James McCullough. DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENTS Written by: Martin Milnes Produced by: Peter E. Jones MUSIC AND SCORE Original Score Composed by: Peter E. Jones Music and Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim: Courtesy of The Stephen Sondheim Trust Sondheim and Bernstein Instrumental Tracks: Provided by Broadway Studio Orchestra Music of Jule Styne: Played by Colm Molloy
April 9 · 1 hr 4 min
Come Play Wiz Me | Sondheim's Parties, Puzzles, Games & Ambivalence
A rib-tickling whirlwind tour exploring how Stephen Sondheim’s passions for puzzles, games and parties reveal the man behind the myth. Steve’s glorious humour and skill are celebrated by Sondheim’s chum Martin Milnes and Steve’s first love Peter E. Jones, alongside Ronan Farrow, Mia Farrow, Patti LuPone, Adam Guettel, Jamie Bernstein, James Lapine, John Weidman and more. “What happens when two dames from Planet S come from Outer Space hit Earth? Your sides will explode with merry Martian marital mix-ups!” – Stephen Sondheim Discover how Patti bonded with Steve during Mia’s magical ‘Full Moon Parties’; Steve’s excitement over his and Ronan’s favourite video game; why Steve used pot while writing; and much, much more … including untold stories about ‘It’! “He loved games because there are solutions. There are solutions that there aren't in real life. There's a way to get the answer. There's no bloody answer in real life.” – Maria Friedman CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Ronan Farrow: Steve & Video Games 02:46 - Games & Puzzles: Steve’s ‘Perspicacity’ 12:23 - Cryptics & Treasure Hunts 18:35 - Anagrams & Parlour Games 27:54 - Musical Parties: Steve, Hal & Lena 32:36 - ‘Full Moon’ Parties: Steve, Mia & Patti 37:17 - Steve & Pot: ‘The most audacious thing I had ever seen’ 42:26 - Ambivalence, Acceptance & Spatulas 50:23 - Joshua & Mia: ‘It’ and ‘Serious Consideration’ 58:13 - Laying Rumours To Rest Subscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Apple and all good podcast apps to get every episode the moment it is released. SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Instagram. CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in partnership with: Creative Kin Mixing and Mastering: Chris Traves Directed, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes CAST AND VOICE ACTORS Alistair McGowan, Daniel Cane, Charlotte Page, Arthur Magee, Yeukayi Ushe, Tom Hopcroft, James Gower-Smith, Samuel Black, Rebecca Ridout, Jude Peters, Melissa Redman, Mehran James McCullough, Becky Hopcroft, Maya Post, Rosanna Roscoe, Colm Molloy, Jonathan Christopher, Simon Butteriss. DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENTS Written by: Martin Milnes Produced by: Peter E. Jones MUSIC AND SCORE Original Score Composed by: Peter E. Jones Music and Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim: Courtesy of The Stephen Sondheim Trust Sondheim and Bernstein Instrumental Tracks: Provided by Broadway Studio Orchestra Music of Stephen Sondheim: Played by Colm Molloy ‘Come Play Wiz Me’ (Sondheim): Played by The National Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by John Owen Edwards The Good Life Theme Music: Composed by Burt Rhodes FEATURED SONGS & VOCAL PERFORMANCES "Thanks A Lot, But No Thanks” (Previn, Comden & Green): Sung by Dolores Gray
April 2 · 1 hr 1 min
Anything You Do, Let It Come From You | Sondheim: The Mentor
Presenting the exclusive story of Stephen Sondheim’s Oxford University Masterclass. For six months in 1990, Steve personally mentored 13 hand-picked young composer-lyricists in a classroom setting. In this episode, for the first time ever, Steve’s protegees’ reunite to share their never-before-heard testimony about how Steve shaped not just their careers – but their entire lives. “To a musical theatre writer, studying with Stephen Sondheim is like a Christian meeting Jesus. And I measure my life in before and after.” Leslie Arden Steve always said ‘Teaching is the sacred profession’ – but how did it feel to receive Sondheim’s committed mentorship? For his students, what was the long-term personal impact of Steve’s dedicated teaching? And discover how Steve’s six months in Oxford became just as important to him as it did to his protegees. “This is not just about musicals. He changed our lives. He changed the direction and scent of our lives.” Ed Hardy Join Sondheim’s chum Martin Milnes – and first love Peter E. Jones – for a unique tribute to Steve The Mentor. With guest appearances from Sondheim protegee Lin-Manuel Miranda, Steve’s contemporaries Maltby & Shire, and Olivier Award-winning choreographer Bill Deamer. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Lin-Manuel: Larson & Sondheim 02:01 - The Sacred Profession: Maltby & Shire and Bill Deamer 09:24 - Introducing The 1990 Oxford Masterclass 13:56 - ‘He changed our lives’: Ed Hardy and Leslie Arden 19:43 - January 1990: The Masterclass Begins 25:41 - Sondheim: The Teacher 30:49 - Steve Meets Julian and Lionel 33:24 - A Day In The Death of Joe Egg 37:59 - Sunday & Ed’s Confession 45:26 - The Masterclass Concludes 48:32 - ‘Move On’: Life after Oxford 53:00- ‘What That Masterclass Meant To Us’ Subscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Apple and all good podcast apps to get every episode the moment it is released. SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Instagram. CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in partnership with: Creative Kin Mixing and Mastering: Chris Traves Directed, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes CAST AND VOICE ACTORS Susan Fleet, Jonny-James Kajoba, Rebecca Ridout, James Gower-Smith, James Bentham, Mehran James McCullough – and – Sondra Lee. DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENTS Written by: Martin Milnes Produced by: Peter E. Jones MUSIC AND SCORE Original Score Composed by: Peter E. Jones Music and Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim: Courtesy of The Stephen Sondheim Trust Sondheim Instrumental Tracks: Provided by Broadway Studio Orchestra Music of Stephen Sondheim, Jonathan Larson & Jule Styne: Played by Colm Molloy Selections from Salad Days (Slade & Reynolds): Played by Julian Slade on Minnie The Magic Piano FEATURED SONGS & VOCAL PERFORMANCES "The Morning After” (Maltby & Shire): Sung by Barbra Streisand "I Want It All” (Maltby & Shire): Sung by Beth Fowler "If I Sing” (Maltby & Shire): Sung by George Dvorsky "Robert Dreams” (Arden): Sung by Leslie Arden “Move On” (Sondheim): Sung by Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin "Intelligent Beautiful Person” (James & Mason): Sung by John Winfield, Guitar by Richard Bolton, Drums by Ralph Salmins "Isn’t She Sweet?” (James & Mason): Sung by Paul James
March 26 · 57 min
And He's Into Making Movies | Sondheim: Director, Actor, Screenwriter, Composer
Join Steve’s chum Martin Milnes and first love Peter E. Jones to explore Sondheim’s life both behind – and in front – of the camera. From directing Leonard Bernstein’s family in home movies and acting in his own work on screen, through to writing screenplays, his Oscar-win, and investigating the abandoned Hollywood movie of a cult Sondheim musical. ‘I've got a treatment of Anyone Can Whistle, set in the Swiss Alps, called Anyone Can Yodel. If you know anyone who might be interested in producing, give me a call.' – Sondheim's email to Lin-Manuel Miranda How did Madonna react to Warren Beatty choosing Steve’s songs over hers? What did Steve feel about the Oscar-winning movie versions of his shows? And just what exactly happened that memorable night between Katharine Hepburn, Michael Jackson, Tom Stoppard and Steve? ‘Mr. Sondheim – you are a sombre fellow. Couldn't you put a ray of hope into your show by having a ballerina in white coming down from the flies – and dancing across the stage - in such a dark piece as the one you've written?’ – Katharine Hepburn on Assassins CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Jamie Bernstein: Steve The Director 04:03 - James Lapine: Sondheim Acts in ‘Opening Doors’ 06:53 - Tom Fitzsimmons: Sondheim Acts in June Moon 11:05 - Steve & Martin: Movie Wordplay Puzzles 18:33 - Katharine Hepburn: The Prickly Next-Door-Neighbour 25:44 - Anthony Perkins: Co-writing The Last of Sheila 27:18 - Madonna & The Oscar: ‘Sooner Or Later’ 31:25 - Lin-Manuel Miranda: Movie Versions of Steve’s Shows 35:30 - Exploring The Sondheim Movie-That-Never-Was 44:37 - Follies: 1974 50:50 - Steve & Martin: ‘A Beautiful Friendship’ Subscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Apple and all good podcast apps to get every episode the moment it is released. SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Instagram. CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in partnership with: Creative Kin Mixing and Mastering: Phoebe Murdoch, Chris Traves Directed, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes CAST AND VOICE ACTORS Alistair McGowan, Charlotte Page, Eddie Andrews, James Gower-Smith, Rebecca Ridout, Daniel Cane and Mehran James McCullough. With Special Appearances by Tom Fitzsimmons, Gary Raymond – and – Elizabeth Seal. DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENTS Written by: Martin Milnes Produced by: Peter E. Jones Follies Screenplay by: Hugh Wheeler (with thanks to the Estate of Hugh Wheeler) MUSIC AND SCORE Original Score Composed by: Peter E. Jones Music and Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim: Courtesy of The Stephen Sondheim Trust Sondheim and Bernstein Instrumental Tracks: Provided by Broadway Studio Orchestra Music of Stephen Sondheim: Played by Colm Molloy "Give Another Regis Toomey" and Music by Ravel: Played by Gareth Valentine "Night and Day" and "From This Moment On" (Porter): Played by Steve Ross FEATURED SONGS & VOCAL PERFORMANCES "Vissi D’arte” (Puccini): Sung by Maria Callas "The Glory of Love” (Hill): Played by Benny Goodman and his Orchestra "Love Me Tonight” (Rodgers & Hart): Sung by Jeanette MacDonald "I Love The Way You Say Goodnight” (Wyle & Pola): Sung by Doris Day and Gene Nelson "Our Language of Love” (Monnot, More, Henecker & Norman): Sung by Elizabeth Seal "Always Mademoiselle” (Previn & Lerner): Attempted by Katharine Hepburn
March 19 · 1 hr 5 min
In The Movies | Sondheim & Golden Age Hollywood
In this unprecedented exploration, hosts Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones discover – in Sondheim’s own words – how Golden Age Hollywood profoundly shaped his personal world view in addition to his work. Featuring never-before-released emails between Steve and Martin, a 1953 letter from Steve in Hollywood, and the premieres of two unknown Sondheim songs in their first official recordings. "Did I tell you about the silent movie stars, all ladies, who I grew up with as they played Mahjong etc in our living room?" – Stephen Sondheim to Martin Milnes Steve and Martin’s mutual encyclopaedic knowledge of old movies sparked ‘a beautiful friendship’ unlike any since Steve’s college days with his movie-mad chums. From playing chess with Humphrey Bogart and imitating Bette Davis, to being star-struck around obscure character actors, Martin and PJ affectionately celebrate Steve’s unexpected love of camp and glittering life among the stars. With special appearances from renowned Script Supervisor Angela Allen (who met Sondheim in 1952 on the set of a notorious camp classic) and Broadway legend Patti LuPone, who recalls how Steve shared with her the original musical version of Sunset Boulevard. "Don’t show it to anyone. In fact, once you’ve read it, burn this email." – Stephen Sondheim to Martin Milnes CHAPTERS: 00:00 - “And Introducing” Steve, Martin, Spielberg & Hitler 05:34 - Steve’s Love of Gossip and “Life In Movie Terms” 15:58 - Steve’s Home Movie and The Origins of Pot in Company 20:26 - “Let’s Go To The Movies”: Influencing Steve’s Work 29:27 - Sunset Boulevard: Swanson, Steve & Patti 34:14 - “I’ll Never Forgive Myself”: Steve’s Shyness 37:01 - Bette Davis: Mayhem at Williams College 42:27 - Margaret Sullavan: “No Sad Songs For Me” 47:05 - Maggie at “The Party Of The Stars”: A Sondheim World Premiere 53:50 - “Lunch With Hats”: The College Chums 56:43 - Torch Song: Steve’s Letter From Hollywood, 1953 Subscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Apple and all good podcast apps to get every episode the moment it is released. SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Instagram. CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in partnership with: Creative Kin Mixing and Mastering: Phoebe Murdoch, Chris Traves Directed, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes CAST AND VOICE ACTORS Alistair McGowan, Daniel Cane, Michael Aspel, Harry James-Taylor, Pauline Milnes, Martin’s Niece Tess, Melissa Redman, Rebecca Ridout, Rosanna Roscoe, Victoria Ward, Arthur Magee, Rosalind Russell, Karsci Wright, Theo Bracey, Sam Trotman, Jonathan Christopher, Samuel Black, Mehran James McCullough – and – legendary 1930s child star of British movie musicals – Hazel Ascot. DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENTS Written by: Martin Milnes Produced by: Peter E. Jones MUSIC AND SCORE Original Score Composed by: Peter E. Jones Music and Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim: Courtesy of The Stephen Sondheim Trust Songs Produced & Mastered by: Chris Traves Musical Direction: Gareth Valentine Sondheim Instrumental Tracks: Provided by Broadway Studio Orchestra Music of Stephen Sondheim: Played by Colm Molloy Main Title from Beyond The Forest: Composed by Max Steiner “Concerto Macabre” from Hangover Square: Composed by Bernard Herrmann Music from Deception: Composed by Erich Wolfgang Korngold FEATURED SONGS & VOCAL PERFORMANCES "My Funny Valentine” (Rodgers & Hart): Sung by Mary Martin "I’m Still Here” (Sondheim): Sung by Nancy Walker "Let’s Go To The Movies” (Styne & Sondheim), “No Sad Songs For Me” and “The Party Of The Stars” (Sondheim): Sung by Martin Milnes "Those Wonderful People” (Hughes & Stapley): Sung by Gloria Swanson "Turn Me Loose On Broadway" (Duke, Cahn, Nash): Sung by Bette Davis "The Sound of Music” (Rodgers & Hammerstein): Sung by Jean Bayless
March 12 · 57 min
Talent | Sondheim's Friends: The Broadway Musical Giants
Sondheim's list of 'Songs I Wish I’d Written (At Least In Part)' sparks memories and insights from Broadway's finest musical talents. Hosts Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones sit down with a powerhouse line-up of Broadway giants to explore the private, generous, and highly sentimental side of Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim's esteemed friends and colleagues John Kander, Richard Maltby Jr, David Shire, Jonathan Tunick and Maury Yeston offer an unprecedented and unique view of Sondheim's musicianship, artistry and love of his friends' work. From glittering 1960s parties to intimate evenings drinking wine and listening to records in Sondheim's study, we learn, including through unpublished Sondheim emails, the respect and support this legendary composer-lyricist offered his peers. Hear how a young Jonathan Tunick was hired to orchestrate Company over 10 scotches, the true origins of the song "Being Alive," and how Steve's list of 'Songs I Wish I'd Written (At Least In Part)' served as his ultimate love letter to his peers. "Everybody thinks that Steve is actually as complicated as his music is ... He was a bubi! He was the sweetest man in the world." – Maury Yeston CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introduction: John Kander on Sondheim's Compassion and Generosity 05:16 - "Songs I Wish I'd Written": Exploring Sondheim’s Famous List 08:29 - Falling in Love Over Music: Peter E Jones and Stephen Sondheim 10:50 - The Prince Parties and Early Broadway Struggles: Maltby & Shire 17:35 - Sondheim's Secret Sentimentality 24:04 - Jonathan Tunick: Orchestrating the Genius of Stephen Sondheim 30:12 - "He Played What He Wrote": The Unique Process of Orchestrating Sondheim 35:29 - Maury Yeston: Sondheim’s Generosity and Modesty 43:42 - Peter E. Jones' Song On The List: "Bluellow" 46:31 - John Kander: A 70-year Friendship Subscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Apple and all good podcast apps to get every episode the moment it is released. SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Instagram. CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in partnership with: Creative Kin Mixing and Mastering: Phoebe Murdoch, Chris Traves Directed, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes CAST AND VOICE ACTORS Alistair McGowan, Eddie Andrews, Rebecca Ridout, Nathanael Hodgkiss, Taaron Jeram, Jude Peters, Melissa Redman, Mitchell Walsh, Jonathan Christopher, Mehran James McCullough DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENTS Written by: Martin Milnes Produced by: Peter E. Jones MUSIC AND SCORE Original Score Composed by: Peter E. Jones Songs Produced & Mastered by: Chris Traves Musical Direction: Gareth Valentine Piano Accompaniment: Sam Young Sondheim Instrumental Tracks: Provided by Broadway Studio Orchestra Music of Stephen Sondheim: Played by Colm Molloy "Comedy Tonight": Played by Gareth Valentine "How Does the Wine Taste?" (Vamp): Composed by Harold Karr "Make A Wish" (Overture): Composed by Hugh Martin "A Hero's Love" (from The Sap of Life): Played by David Shire "Matchmaker, Matchmaker": Played by Steve Ross "Marlowe's Theme" (from Farewell, My Lovely) & "Salsatian" (from Saturday Night Fever): Composed by David Shire FEATURED SONGS & VOCAL PERFORMANCES "Travel" (by Maltby & Shire): Sung by Chloe Hopcroft, Nic Myers and Kit Pakapom "New Words" (by Maury Yeston): Sung by Lauren Jones "The Golden Willow Tree" (by Aaron Copland): Sung by Bruce Graham "Home" (by Kander and Ebb): Sung by Mildred Natwick and the original Broadway cast of 70 Girls, 70 "I'll Never Go There Anymore" (by Moose Charlap and Eddie Lawrence): Screeched by Moose Charlap on the original composers' demo tape "Hard Hearted Hannah" (by Milton Ager, Jack Yellen, Bob Bigelow and Charles Bates): Sung by Belle Baker "To Be Alive" and "How Do You Do I Love You?": Sung by Richard Maltby Jr and played by David Shire Excerpt from "Bluellow" (by Peter E. Jones): Sung by Lauren Jones and Shane O'Riordan
March 5 · 1 hr 4 min
Something's Coming | Discovering Stephen Sondheim: The Man, The Friend, The Partner
In this unprecedented tribute to legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, hosts Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones open a deeply personal window onto the Sondheim they knew and loved. Peter – known affectionately as PJ – was Stephen Sondheim's former partner and first love. For 30 years, PJ remained at Steve's side as his lifelong trusted ally. Martin was Steve's close friend in the last six years of his life, bonding over a shared passion for obscure old movies. Together, PJ and Martin draw back the curtain on Stephen Sondheim's life away from spotlight; sharing the 'Steve' which only his friends got to see. "We're going to embark on a quest, like going Into The Woods! To find not 'Stephen Sondheim' - but Steve. And share what a wonderful human being he was with the world." – Peter E. Jones They share intimate memories from inside Stephen Sondheim's New York townhouse at 246 East 49th Street, including the famous "Six O'Clock Slot" – a cherished time when Sondheim loved to entertain guests with pure conversation and drinks. And previously unheard stories of celebrity visitors, including Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, and Bradley Cooper. Stephen Sondheim's passion for Golden Age movies is uncovered, as well as the profound difference between his carefully curated public persona and the private optimist his friends knew. As a finale, Martin and PJ welcome a very special guest: Dame Julie Andrews. As a global musical theatre icon famed for landmark Broadway roles including Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and Queen Guinevere in Camelot, Dame Julie was a peer and lifelong friend of Stephen Sondheim. She recalls shared holidays - and how she would always "weep at Sondheim". "I think because one knew that Steve overcame so much in his youth, and then wrote so brilliantly and beautifully and wittily, and wickedly... it made me cry for so many reasons." – Dame Julie Andrews Subscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Apple and all good podcast apps to get every episode the moment it is released. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introducing Stephen Sondheim: The man behind the legend 08:10 - Stephen Sondheim’s first love: Peter E Jones 11:59 - The "Six O'Clock Slot": Inside Sondheim’s New York townhouse 14:03 - Famous Faces: Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand & Bradley Cooper 18:05 - Sondheim's Obsession with Golden Age Cinema 29:28 - The Public Persona vs. The Private Optimist 34:07 - Sondheim, Bernstein and Robbins: Making West Side Story 38:17 - Professional Jealousy & The Complexities of Being an Icon 43:00 - Sondheim’s Early Years: A Complicated Childhood 47:20 - Julie Andrews: A Six-Decade Friendship SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Instagram. CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in association with: Creative Kin Mixing and Mastering: Phoebe Murdoch, Chris Traves Directed, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes Cast & Voice Actors Newscasters: Samuel Black, Maya Post, Jonathan Bruce-King, James Gower Smith, Rebecca Ridout, Bruce Graham, Yeukayi Ushe, Elen Mon Wayne, Susan Fleet and Jonathan Christopher Julie & Steve's Alderney Photographer: Alan Milnes Credits: Mehran James McCullough Music & Score Original Podcast Score: Composed by Peter E. Jones Instrumental Tracks (Sondheim and Bernstein): Provided by Broadway Studio Orchestra Music of Stephen Sondheim: Played by Colm Molloy "Too Many Mornings": Played by Gareth Valentine Party Pianist: Steve Ross (Played "How About You?" by Burton Lane and Ralph Freed) Featured Songs & Vocal Performances: "Some Enchanted Evening" (Rodgers & Hammerstein) & "Luck Be A Lady" (Frank Loesser): Sung by Barbra Streisand "If You Hadn't, But You Did" (Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green): Sung by Martin Milnes "You're Just in Love" (Irving Berlin): Sung by Ethel Merman "Soliloquy" (Rodgers & Hammerstein): Sung by John Raitt "Epiphany" (Stephen Sondheim): Sung by Len Cariou "I Have a Love" (Bernstein & Sondheim): Sung by Dame Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett "Then You May Take Me to the Fair" (Lerner and Loewe): Sung by Dame Julie Andrews "As Time Goes By": Written by Herman Hupfeld "Something Good": Composed by Richard Rodgers "33 Sondheim Numbers in 5 Minutes": Performed by Ferris and Milnes (Official music video available on YouTube) Acknowledgements & Permissions Lena Horne Audio: Used by kind permission of Ms. Horne's granddaughter, Jenny Lumet, and her daughter, the late Gail Lumet Buckley. Special Thanks to: Joshua Ellis, James L. Nederlander, and Christina Selby.
February 2 · 1 min
Loving You: The Untold Sondheim - Season 1 Trailer
Featuring exclusive unpublished emails and personal memories from Sondheim's inner circle.