Stephen Sondheim - Into The Woods

Image Not Available Starring: Bernadette Peters, Joanna Gleason Dvd Release: 10th April, 2006 Number Of Discs: 1 Format: PAL, Region 0 Encoding

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Stephen Joshua Sondheim is an American musical theater lyricist & composer. Sondheim was born in New York City & grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan & later on a farm in Pennsylvania. An only child in a well-to-do family, Sondheims childhood has been described as isolated & emotionally-neglected. His parents, Herbert & Janet Foxy Sondheim, were non-religious Jews, though Foxy had grown up in an Orthodox family; Sondheim had no formal religious education or association, did not have a Bar Mitzvah & reportedly did not set foot in a synagogue until he was 17. Herbert & Foxy Sondheim divorced when their son was young, a traumatic event which would have major repercussions on both his private life & his public work. Under the laws of the day, Sondheims mother retained full custody, which was perhaps unfortunate; Foxy Sondheim was narcissistic, emotionally abusive, a hypochondriac & became sexually predatory towards her son as a substitute for his absent father.

Into the Woods appeared in San Francisco as a musical in 1986 & had a rough start on Broadway in 1987. Music & lyrics were written by the famous composer, Stephen Sondheim & author James Lapine, who released the book in 1989. Choreography by Lar Lubovitch. Bernadette Peters performance as the witch brought acclaim to the production as it continued its run on Broadway tour. Inspired by Bruno Bettelheim s The Uses of Enchantment, the musical intertwines a collection of uncensored fairy tale versions of the 18th century Brothers Grimm. The tale of the Baker & His Wife takes center stage as a common thread. The tales of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack & the Beanstalk, Rapunzel & Cinderella, interfere on the Baker & his wifes happy, sylvan existence. The first act opens with a wish, a witch & a curse. The separate tales are carefully included in the story, each one depending somehow on a weakness or strength of another. The plays conflicts are motivated by selfish wishes made for the betterment of individual characters. In the second act, we see what happens when selfish wishes are granted.

Bernadette Peters is the stage name of Bernadette Lazarra, an actress & singer. Her outstanding characteristics are her flawless complexion, bee-stung lips, kewpie-doll voice & gift for light comedy. Her mother started her off in show business by putting her on the television show Juvenile Jury at the age of three & a half years. She later appeared on Name That Tune & The Horn & Hardart Childrens Hour. She took tap lessons & at the age of nine got her Equity Card. In her teen years she appeared in The Most Happy Fella, was an understudy for Dainty June in the touring company of Gypsy & was in The Penny Friend & The Girl In The Freudian Slip. She first attracted critical notice in the Off-Broadway spoof of 1930s musicals, Dames at Sea. In films she is remembered mainly for the movies she made with Steve Martin. In theatre, she has come to be associated with Stephen Sondheim s music, appearing in his Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and, in 2003, returning to Gypsy as Mama Rose. 1985 for Song & Dance & 1999 for Annie Get Your Gun. Posters Of Bernadette Peters

Editors Choice: Bernadette Peters, Into The Woods, Alice, Sunday In The Park With George, Slaves Of New York, The Jerk, Stephen Sondheim, View DVDology

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