LEGENDS #4 BERNADETTE PETERS
In 2011, the yearly Broadway Cares Christmas ornament was Bernadette Peters, lauded for her performance in the Stephen Sondheim / James Lapine musical, "Sunday in the Park With George." This is perhaps the only musical inspired by a painting, namely Georges Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte."
What started out as a workshop, the first act was performed off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizon while the second act was being written. It ultimately evolved, was completed and the whole thing was transferred to Broadway where it got mixed reviews but ultimately won the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama! It was the recipient of ten Tony Awards but only collected two (Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design). The major winners that year were "La Cage Aux Folles"( Best Musical), George Hearn (Best Actor for "La Cage....") and Chita Rivera (Best Actress for "The Rink")
On a personal note, I didn't care for this piece although the music is typically sublime Sondheim, but I found the two acts disjointed even though the stars, Ms. Peters and Mandy Patinkin portray the grandchildren of the characters they were in Act one, ultimately in Act two.
It was revived briefly in 2017 with Jake Gyllenhaal in the role of George to critical acclaim.
As usual, below is the ornament depicting Ms. Peters and a photo (with Mr. Patinkin) of the costume that inspired it.
What started out as a workshop, the first act was performed off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizon while the second act was being written. It ultimately evolved, was completed and the whole thing was transferred to Broadway where it got mixed reviews but ultimately won the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama! It was the recipient of ten Tony Awards but only collected two (Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design). The major winners that year were "La Cage Aux Folles"( Best Musical), George Hearn (Best Actor for "La Cage....") and Chita Rivera (Best Actress for "The Rink")
On a personal note, I didn't care for this piece although the music is typically sublime Sondheim, but I found the two acts disjointed even though the stars, Ms. Peters and Mandy Patinkin portray the grandchildren of the characters they were in Act one, ultimately in Act two.
It was revived briefly in 2017 with Jake Gyllenhaal in the role of George to critical acclaim.
As usual, below is the ornament depicting Ms. Peters and a photo (with Mr. Patinkin) of the costume that inspired it.
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