3.4 Company!

The Gospel of Musical Theatre

We're moving into the great Sondheim musicals of the 70s & 80s, starting with the groundbreaking Company (1970) – and its perennial questions about gender, sexuality, monogamy, and the changing nature of marriage & human relationships.

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We talk about:

- "New morality” in the works of John A.T. Robinson, Harvey Cox, and how it is explored in the work of Sondheim

- Loneliness. The isolation & verticalization of urban life in the 1960s and 70s.

- Inertia. Bobby’s questions about human relationships—sexual, romantic, platonic—and the deep ambivalence he represents

- Gender. Attempts to update Company—often by changing gender roles

- The Ladies. The women of Company – especially Joanne and her great number “The Ladies Who Lunch”

- Marriage. The changing nature of marriage and commitment – in society and in the church

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You’ll Hear:

- “Company,” “The Little Things You Do Together,” “Sorry-Grateful”, “Getting Married Today,” “The Ladies Who Lunch” and “Being Alive” from the Original Broadway Production on the 1970 cast album

- “Marry Me A Little” sung by Raul Esparza from the 2006 Broadway Revival Album.

- “Happily Ever After” sung by Craig Lucas on the 1986 album “A Collector’s Sondheim”

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Check out some of our all-time favorites!

• Phantom of the Opera
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
• Jesus Christ Superstar!
• Schmigadoon! (Season 1 / Season 2)
• West Side Story!
• Yentl!
• Frozen!
• Barbie!

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Continue the conversation with us on Instagram (@gospelofmt).