YouTube and "Company": Sondheim Videos You'll Enjoy
Must-watch clips that teach about, interpret, and celebrate The Master’s work
This month on StageStreams: Sondheim on YouTube
Now that Merrily We Roll Along closed July 7, it’s the first time in 45 years (since 1979!) that there has not been a Stephen Sondheim or Andrew Lloyd Webber show playing on Broadway. “Not to worry, not to worry” (yeah, a Sweeney Todd reference), since there are a few Sondheim projects on the horizon (Gypsy later this year and Sondheim’s Old Friends next year). In the meantime, here are some YouTube videos from the last 12 months discussing all things Sondheim.
• KevinY’s “How Do We Deal With the Legacy of Stephen Sondheim?” puts Sondheim in the broader landscape of classical music; asks “What makes Sondheim Sondheim?”; places Sondheim’s work in the context of musical theater yesterday and today; and finally asks, how do we (as artists, directors, and audience) honor to continue Sondheim’s legacy?
• MsMojo compiled its “Top 10 Most Underappreciated Songs By Stephen Sondheim” (as well as some honorable mentions). These are great songs that often get overlooked because they drive the plot and are not often stand-alone standards, but include some of Sondheim’s most heartfelt music. Not to be missed: numbers from less-known shows like Anyone Can Whistle, Evening Primrose, and Passion.
• In a very recent, very lengthy video essay, Lola Sebastian sliced deeply into “How Tim Burton Failed Sweeney Todd.” She explores the concepts of the movie musical and why they succeed or fail (hint: it’s often due to marketing); how live performances differ from film; and the resentment people have towards musicals and specifically movie musicals.
• Howard Ho pitches Sondheim’s wit and love for brainteasers in Sondheim Hid a Puzzle in INTO THE WOODS. Howard shows some of the ways Sondheim and his collaborators encourage the audiences to step up and look for multiple meanings that the authors hid in their work.
• Just last week, Jared Goldsmith did a fantastic job of Dissecting “Merrily We Roll Along” by covering the show’s history from flop to major hit; the innovative backward storytelling; and the poignant exploration of ambition, friendship, and the passage of time.
• The Broadway Maven, which publishes StageStreams, has a Stephen Sondheim playlist with more than 50 videos. The most recent one came out yesterday, a Piano Talk about “The Witch’s Chord” in Into the Woods. Other popular videos include The MEANING of Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns" and Connecting the Dots: How Sondheim's "Sunday" 🎨 Draws on Seurat.
What’s YOUR favorite Sondheim content on YouTube? Leave your answers in the comments.
This month’s featured videos:
Channel spotlight:
Into the Hoods is a standout channel dedicated to dissecting the intricacies of well-crafted musical theatre songs and productions. It delves into the history of various shows and uncover the hidden meanings within their music. Its videos are notable for their clear, accessible breakdowns and vibrant annotations, making them a valuable resource for Broadway enthusiasts. With deep music-theory expertise and polished presentation, Into the Hoods' channel is essential viewing for any fan of Broadway on YouTube.
NOTE: StageStreams will be selecting five videos a month to highlight (in addition to the opening essay). If you'd like to ensure your video is included, please reach out to our publisher at DavidBenkof@gmail.com for promotional and sponsorship opportunities.
StageStreams is edited by Haley Roady, a pun-loving Broadway Baby, teacher of board games, and enthusiast for the strange and unusual (particularly odd history and art). It is published by The Broadway Maven.
Recent videos at The Broadway Maven YouTube channel include a Piano Talk about major and minor keys in Fiddler on the Roof, exploration of themes and morals in Broadway shows, and a clips reel of 40 songs from 40 shows from a century of Broadway. Upcoming classes at the Broadway Maven include a FREE series on Rodgers & Hammerstein every Monday in August at Noon and 7 pm ET and a Stephen Schwartz course every Tuesday in August at Noon ET.
The Broadway Maven also publishes MARQUEE, a must-read substack Broadway appreciation newsletter. Every Thursday, 10,000 subscribers receive essays, reviews, Piano Talks, YouTube gems, quizzes, games, surveys, “Broadway Blasts,” and more.
Weekly subscriptions are FREE, and there’s a Premium version with much more content that costs $5 a month or $36 a year.