# Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends

Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends is a tribute revue honoring musical theatre composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim devised and produced by Cameron Mackintosh.
Originally designed as a one-night performance, the revue premiered at the Sondheim Theatre in London on 3 May 2022. Over a year later, Mackintosh began producing a limited West End run. This run began previews on 21 September 2023 and opened on 3 October at the Gielgud Theatre.

## Background

The idea for the concert came about during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown where Sondheim suggested to Mackintosh a follow-up of their revue productions Side by Side by Sondheim and Putting It Together. During the development of the concert, Sondheim died in November 2021.

## Productions
### Gala Performance (2022)

The concert was announced to be performed for one night only on 3 May 2022 at the Sondheim Theatre in London's West End. It was staged by Matthew Bourne and Maria Friedman with a 26-piece orchestra conducted by Alfonso Casado Trigo. The line-up included Michael Ball, Petula Clark, Judi Dench, Daniel Evans, Bonnie Langford, Damian Lewis, Julia McKenzie, Bernadette Peters, Clive Rowe and Imelda Staunton. The concert sold out immediately and was simultaneously live screened at the Prince Edward Theatre and later broadcast on BBC Two on 31 December 2022. On 12 February 2023, the concert won the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Theatre Event.

### West End (2023)

At the 2023 WhatsOnStage Awards, Mackintosh announced that the revue would return for a 16-week run at the Gielgud Theatre from 16 September 2023 until 6 January 2024, starring Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga. In addition to Peters, Janie Dee, Bonnie Langford, and Jeremy Secomb returned and were joined by Salonga, Joanna Riding, Jac Yarrow, Gavin Lee, and Christine Allado. On September 7, 2023, it was announced that the show's first preview had been postponed due to the withdrawal of Haydn Gwynne, who later passed away in October. On 12 September 2023, it was announced that Clare Burt had joined the production as Gwynne's replacement. The production, staged and directed by Matthew Bourne and Julia McKenzie, choreographed by Stephen Mear, conducted by Alfonso Casado Trigo, musical supervision by Stephen Brooker, musical arrangements by Stephen Metcalfe, set design by Matt Kinley, projection design by George Reeve, lighting design by Warren Letton, and sound design by Mick Potter, began previews on 21 September and officially opened on 3 October.

### Los Angeles (2025)

The show had its North American premiere in Los Angeles. The show began performances on February 8, 2025 at the Ahmanson Theatre with an official opening on February 13. It is scheduled to run through March 9. Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga reprise their performances from London. The rest of the cast was announced in October 2024 and will also include Beth Leavel, Gavin Lee, Ryan McCartan, Jasmine Forsberg, Kate Jennings Grant, David Harris, Bonnie Langford, Jason Pennycooke, Joanna Riding, Jeremy Secomb, Maria Wirries, Daniel Yearwood, Kevin Earley, Paige Faure, Alexa Lopez, and Peter Neureuther. In November 2024, it was announced McCartan would no longer be performing in the production and would instead replace Jeremy Jordan in The Great Gatsby on Broadway. On January 16, it was announced Kyle Selig and Jacob Dickey joined the cast.

### Broadway (2025)

Following the run in Los Angeles, the show is scheduled to transfer to Broadway in 2025 with Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga and the rest of the Los Angeles cast expected to reprise their performances. The show is scheduled to begin performances on March 29, 2025 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre with an opening night planned for April 8.

## Cast

| London Gala | West End | Los Angeles |
| 2022 | 2023 | 2025 |
| Bernadette Peters |||
| Maria Friedman | Lea Salonga | Lea Salonga |
| Michael Ball | Christine Allado | Beth Leavel |
| Helena Bonham Carter | Clare Burt | Jasmine Forsberg |
| Janie Dee | Janie Dee | Kate Jennings Grant |
| Rob Brydon | Damian Humbley | David Harris |
| Petula Clark | Bradley Jaden | Kyle Selig |
| Bonnie Langford |||
| Anna-Jane Casey | Gavin Lee | Gavin Lee |
| Judi Dench | Jason Pennycooke | Jason Pennycooke |
| Hadyn Gwynne | Joanna Riding | Joanna Riding |
| Rosalie Craig | Jeremy Secomb | Jeremy Secomb |
| Damian Lewis | Jac Yarrow | Kevin Earley |
| Julia McKenzie | Marley Fenton | Maria Wirries |
| Julian Ovenden | Beatrice Penny-Touré | Paige Faure |
| Daniel Evans | Harry Apps | Daniel Yearwood |
| Siân Phillips | Bella Brown | Alexa Lopez |
| Jon Robyns | Richard Dempsy | Peter Neureuther |
| Clive Rowe | Monique Young | Jacob Dickey |
| Jenna Russell | — | — |
| Imelda Staunton | — | — |
| Charlie Stemp | — | — |
| Gary Wilmot | — | — |
| Michael D. Xavier | — | — |