Old Friends Review – A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim

Devised and originally produced by Cameron Mackintosh, OLD FRIENDS grew out of an idea from the brilliant but bored minds of Mackintosh and Stephen Sondheim as each sat alone pondering the world during the Covid-19 world-wide pandemic. What could possibly bring people back to the theater after the pandemic ran its course? The result was OLD FRIENDS, a musical tribute to Sondheim’s many groundbreaking contributions to musical theater. Initially, the show was planned as a one-night performance which would be live-streamed and later broadcast on BBC. Sad to say, during the development of the all-star concert in 2021, Sondheim died in November and never saw the final production, which premiered in London in 2022. In 2023, Mackintosh spearheaded another well-received production of the show in London’s West End. Now, Center Theatre Group, in association with CMI and Daryl Roth, proudly presents the North American debut of the Cameron Mackintosh production of Sondheim’s OLD FRIENDS at the Ahmanson Theatre.

Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga – Photo by Matthew Murphy

With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, skilled direction and musical staging by Matthew Bourne, and a 15-piece orchestra conducted by music director Annbritt du Chateau, OLD FRIENDS is clearly ready to dazzle and entertain audiences. OLD FRIENDS stars Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga, two talented, experienced, and revered performers with the vocal wallop to shake the rafters. The production co-stars Jacob Dickey, Kevin Earley, Jasmine Forsberg, Kate Jennings Grant, Bonnie Langford, Beth Leavel, Gavin Lee, Jason Pennycooke, Joanna Riding, Jeremy Secomb, Kyle Selig, Maria Wirries, and Daniel Yearwood – all gifted with superb voices and gifted toes choreographed by Stephen Mear. The cast takes the audience on a fantastic journey through Sondheim’s luminous career, including scenes from “West Side Story,” “Sundays in the Park with George,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Gypsy,” “Into the Woods,” – and others too numerous to list. Sondheim certainly was a prolific composer who wowed any audience regardless of the topic he was immersed in at the moment, a true Renaissance musical genius.

Jasmine Forsberg, Jacob Dickey, Kyle Selig, Maria Wirries, and Daniel Yearwood perform in “West Side Story” – Photo by Matthew Murphy

Not to be outdone, Matt Kinley’s scenic design is spectacular – and as “moving” as many of Sondheim’s songs – and coordinates very well with Jill Parker’s glittering costumes, George Reeve’s projection design, Warren Letton’s lighting, and Mick Potter’s sound. This is an incredibly impressive production which will delight everyone who enters the theater. It is intense, at times fierce – and at other times gentle – a must-see production well worth the excursion to downtown Los Angeles. OLD FRIENDS is a lasting tribute to Sondheim’s formidable talents, vision, and contributions to musical theater everywhere. Besides, who can resist such an amazing lineup of talent, music, and dance? OLD FRIENDS will delight on multiple levels – visual, auditory, and maybe even through some nostalgic memories.

Jacob Dickey and Bernadette Peters perform in “Into the Woods” – Photo by Matthew Murphy

OLD FRIENDS runs through March 9, 2025, with performances at 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Sundays. The Ahmanson Theatre is located at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Tickets begin at $25. For information and reservations, call 213-628-2772 or go online.