( APPLAUSE )
WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE SHOW."
FOLKS, LAST FRIDAY, STEPHEN SONDHEIM, A MAN WHOM I CONSIDER
TO BE THE GREATEST COMPOSER AND LYRICIST IN THE HISTORY OF
AMERICAN THEATER, PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 91.
BUT HIS EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY WILL LIVE ON.
BECAUSE AS THE MAN HIMSELF SAID, "ART IS INFINITE.
IT HAS NO BEGINNING AND NO END."
IN SEPTEMBER, I HAD THE EXTRAORDINARY PRIVILEGE OF
SITTING DOWN WITH THE MAN, AND I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL I HAD
THE CHANCE TO TELL HIM HOW MUCH HIS WORK HAS MEANT TO ME
PERSONALLY.
AND TONIGHT, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU AN EXTENDED VERSION OF
THAT CONVERSATION, BECAUSE I ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT, AND
I HOPE YOU WILL, TOO.
PLEASE WELCOME TO "THE LATE SHOW," STEPHEN SONDHEIM.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
THANK YOU.
♪ ♪ ♪ >> STEPHEN: YOU'VE GOT-- IT'S
NICE-- IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> STEPHEN: I GOT A CHANCE TO INTERVIEW YOU A COUPLE OF TIMES
AT THE "COLBERT REPORT," AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAID TO ME
THEN WAS THAT, AS A YOUNG MAN, YOU WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE
MENTORED BY OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II.
I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE TWO OF YOU RIGHT HERE.
>> OH.
>> STEPHEN: THERE'S HAMMERSTEIN.
THERE'S YOU.
>> 16 YEARS OLD.
>> STEPHEN: YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED AT ALL, KID.
YOU LOOK-- YOU LOOK FANTASTIC.
FOR THE-- YOU KNOW, FOR THE PEOPLE OUT THERE, THE BURGEONING
SONDHEIMS OUT THERE, WHAT IS IT THAT HE TAUGHT YOU THAT STILL
STICKS WITH YOU TODAY AS A COMPOSER AND AS A LYRICIST?
>> MAJORLY, HE TAUGHT ME TO WRITE FOR MYSELF, BECAUSE I
WROTE SONGS THAT IMITATED HIM.
HE SAID, "NO, WRITE WHAT YOU FEEL."
YOU KNOW, HE SAID, "THIS IS WHAT I FEEL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LOVE AND
HUMANITY.
YOU WRITE WHAT YOU FEEL."
AND THAT WAS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE NATURAL,
BUT IT'S NOT.
IT'S NOT, PARTICULARLY, IF YOU THINK HIGHLY OF THE PERSON THAT
YOU'RE IMITATING, WHICH I DID.
>> STEPHEN: HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO-- IT'S NOT A SWITCH YOU
CAN FLIP.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU?
>> NO, NO.
NO, IT TOOK ME-- WELL, I WAS WRITING A SCORE, I WAS WRITING A
MUSICAL RIGHT AFTER I GOT OUT OF COLLEGE, AND IT TOOK ME THE TIME
IT TOOK TO WRITE THAT MUSICAL.
THE MUSICAL ENDED UP NOT VERY GOOD, BUT I HAD LEARNED MY
LESSON.
AND IT SOUNDED LIKE ME, WHICH WASN'T NECESSARILY THE BEST
THING.
( LAUGHTER )
TO BROADWAY.
THIS IS A BROADWAY HOUSE WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
>> RIGHT, IT WAS FOUNDED.
>> Stephen: AND THE ODD THING IS OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II HIS
UNCLE BUILT THIS THEATER.
THIS IS THE HAMMERSTEIN THEATER, ARTHUR HAMMERSTEIN.
AND NAMED IT AFTER OSCAR'S GRANDFAHER, OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN
I.
>> HE BUILT ONE THAT IS NOW A MOVIE HOUSE ON 42nd, THE
HAMMERSTEIN OPERA HOUSE.
>> Stephen: HE LOST THIS IN '29.
>> IS THAT IT.
>> Stephen: AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DEPRESSION.
CBS BOUGHT IT FROM HIM AND TURNED IT INTO A STUDIO.
>> OH, OKAY.
>> Stephen: HENCE, ED SULLIVAN.
THERE YOU.
>> Stephen: ARE YOU STILL WRITING BY THE WAY?
>> YES, I AM.
>> STEPHEN: YOU ARE?
WELL, THAT'S GOOD.
NOT EVERYBODY COMPOSES INTO THEIR 90S.
( APPLAUSE )
FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS WITH A PLAYWRIGHT NAMED DAVID IVES.
AND IT'S CALLED "SQUARE ONE."
AND WE HAD A READING OF IT LAST WEEK, AND WE WERE ENCOURAGED.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD WITH IT, AND WITH ANY LUCK, WE'LL GET
IT ON NEXT SEASON.
>> STEPHEN: YOU AND YOUR COLLABORATOR--
( APPLAUSE )
LUPINE, WROTE A BOOK CALLED, "PUTTING IT TOGETHER," ABOUT THE
TWO OF YOU CREATING "SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE."
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING WITH LUPINE?
>> OH, JAMES IS-- HE'S A GENERATION YOUNGER THAN I.
AND HE WILL GO ANYWHERE.
HE'LL TRY ANYTHING.
I WAS BROUGHT UP MORE CONSERVATIVELY, WHICH-- THE
NUMBER HAS GOT TO BE OR THE SCENE HAS GOT TO BE PERFECT
BEFORE YOU GO INTO REHEARSAL.
AND HE SAID, "NO, LET'S SEE WHERE WE GO.
LET'S SEE HOW IT GOES."
THE IMPROVISATORY ASPECT OF HIS GENERATION, THAT WAS VERY GOOD
FOR ME, LOOSENED ME UP.
AND THAT WAS A GREAT DEAL OF FUN TO WRITE WITH HIM FOR JUST THAT
REASON.
>> STEPHEN: WELL, I WAS-- I WAS-- NICELY ENOUGH, I GOT A
NOTE FROM JAMES LUPINE ASKING ME IF I WOULD BLURB THE BOOK.
>> OH, BOY, THANK YOU.
THAT BLURB WAS GREAT.
>> STEPHEN: AND I WANTED TO READ IT TO THESE PEOPLE.
>> PLEASE.
>> STEPHEN: IT'S A TRUE STORY, AND I WANTED TO SAY IT TO YOU.
YOU MAY KNOW THIS.
WHEN I WAS 19 I READ THE LYRICS OF "PUTTING IT TOGETHER" TO MY
MOTHER TO SAY THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH MY LIFE.
EVEN THOUGH I HAD NO IDEA OF WHAT 'THIS' MIGHT BE.
I COULDN'T SING LIKE MANDY PATINKIN.
I COULDN'T COMPOSE LIKE SONDHEIM.
BUT THAT PLAY WAS A WINDOW FROM THIS WORLD TO THAT, AND I WILL
ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR LAYING OUT THE DESIRE AND THE
BEAUTY OF THE ACT OF CREATION ITSELF, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THAT
MAY TAKE YOU."
>> WHEN I READ THAT, I WAS TOUCHED.
AND I'M TOUCHED AGAIN.
THANK YOU.
( APPLAUSE )
NOW, BROADWAY FULLY OPENED THIS WEEK.
WHICH IS FANTASTIC.
>> YEAH, ISN'T THAT GREAT?
>> STEPHEN: WHICH IS FANTASTIC.
AND SOON "COMPANY," YOUR MUSICAL "COMPANY," IS COMING BACK IN
NOVEMBER, THIS TIME SWAPPING THE GENDER OF MALE-FEMALE OF BOBBIE
AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CAST.
HAVE YOU SEEN IT YET?
>> OH, YEAH, I SAW IT IN LONDON.
AND, ALSO, WE HAD A WEEK OF PREVIEWS HERE BEFORE THE
PANDEMIC CLOSED EVERYTHING DOWN.
SO I SAW IT THERE.
IT'S A WONDERFUL PRODUCTION.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
AND I DON'T USUALLY TOUT MY OWN STUFF, BUT I URGE EVERYBODY HERE
TO SEE IT.
( LAUGHTER )
>> STEPHEN: I HAVE A DATE WITH CHRISTINE BURANSKY.
SHE'S TAKING ME.
SHE ASKED ME TO GO WITH HER.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SUCH A GOOD TIME.
IT'S REALLY ONE OF THE MOST ENTERTAINING EVENINGS I HAD IN
THE THEATER.
IT'S GREAT.
THIS LADY, MARIANNE ELLIOTT, WHO DIRECTED IT, IS REMARKABLE.
>> Stephen: I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
IT'S GOT A LOT TO LIVE UP TO IT.
I WAS IN A PRODUCTION IN LINCOLN CENTER OF "COMPANY" IN 2010.
AND I HAVE A BONE TO PICK WITH ABOUT THAT.
DO YOU KNOW WHY I HAVE A BONE TO PICK WITH YOU?
>> NO.
>> Stephen: WE DIDN'T GET TO REHEARSE WITH EACH OTHER OR THE
ORCHESTRA, LITERALLY, UNTIL THE DAY WE OPENED.
I I WAS WORKING WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAD A T-SHIRT ON THAT SAID
"PATTI LuPONE ON IT, AND REQUEST THE MUSICAL DIRECTOR.
SO I GOT ONE CHANCE TO SING MY SONG, LITERALLY, RIGHT BEFORE
THEY CLOSED THE HOUSE AND BROUGHT THE AUDIENCE IN, TO SING
MY SONG, "SORRY GRATEFUL" WITH THE PHILHARMONIC.
AND I'M ABOUT TO OPEN MY MOUTH, HERE COMES THE SWELLS-- THE
STRAINS, THE LEAD OF THE SHOW, AND STEPHEN SONDHEIM WALKS DOWN
THE AISLE OF THE THEATER AND SITS IN THE FRONT ROW RIGHT
BEFORE MY SONG BEGINS.
AND I HAVE FLOWN WITH THE THUNDERBIRDS.
I HAVE GONE WITH THE-- DOWN A TOBOGGAN WITH THE WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP BOBSLED TEAM.
I HAVE JUMPED OFF OF BRIDGES IN NEW ZEALAND.
AND THE MOST TERRIFYING THING I'VE EVER DONE IS OPEN MY
MOWINGS AND SING SONDHEIM IN FRONT OF STEPHEN SONDHEIM.
YOU HAD TO KNOW THE EFFECT THAT WAS GOING TO HAVE ON ME WHEN YOU
SAT DOWN THERE.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHY I SAT IN THE FRONT ROW?
>> Stephen: WHY.
>> BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE THE LOOK OF THRILL ON YOUR FACE WHEN
YOU HEARD THAT ORCHESTRA BEHIND YOU.
YOU MUST HAVE THOUGHT I'M ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN.
I MEAN -- >> Stephen: IT IS AN
EXTRAORDINARY FEELING TO BE IN FRONT OF PHILHARMONIC AND RIDE
THE WAVE OF ALL THAT BEAUTY.
>> OH, MAN.
ABSOLUTELY.
>> Stephen: YOU'RE JUST AFRAID YOU MIGHT DROWN.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW YOU DID ALL THOSE ATHLETIC THINGS.
THAT'S NEWS TO ME.
>> Stephen: OH, YES, YES.
I'M A REAL ATHLETE.
YOU SHOULD WATCH THE SHOW MORE.
( LAUGHTER )
>> NO, NO, YOU'RE FEARLESS, OBVIOUSLY.
>> Stephen: I'M VERY SPORTY.
IN DECEMBER, WE'LL GET TO SEE STEPHEN SPIELBERG'S VERSION OF
"WEST SIDE STORY," AND YOU VISITED THE SET.
HERE WE GO.
THERE'S ANOTHER.
THERE YOU ARE WITH STEPHEN SPIELBERG ON THE SET.
YOU VISITED WHILE THEY WERE SHOOTING.
>> YEAH.
>> STEPHEN: WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
>> OH, IT'S TERRIFIC.
AGAIN, TOUTING MY OWN WORK.
NO, IT'S REALLY TERRIFIC.
EVERYBODY, GO.
YOU'LL REALLY HAVE A GOOD TIME.
( LAUGHTER )
THE SHOW, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME REAL SURPRISES IN IT,
BECAUSE TONY KUSHNER, WHO WROTE THE SCREENPLAY, HAS DONE SOME
REALLY IMAGINATIVE AND SURPRISING THINGS WITH THE WAY
THE SONGS ARE USED IN THE STORY.
AND THE WHOLE THING IS-- HAS REAL SPARKLE TO IT AND REAL
ENERGY.
AND IT FEELS FRESH.
IT'S JUST-- IT'S REALLY FIRST RATE.
AND MOVIE MUSICALS ARE HARD TO DO, AND THIS ONE, SPIELBERG AND
KUSHNER REALLY NAILED IT.
>> STEPHEN: IT'S LOVELY TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
THANK YOU FOR COMING ON.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> STEPHEN: I LOOK FORWARD TO "SQUARE ONE."
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> "SQUARE ONE," INDEED.