Music to the Ears

Stephen Sondheim and Michael Kerker

Music legend Stephen Sondheim appeared at the Center on Friday, July 13 to discuss his life, his works and his thoughts on creating great musical theater with ASCAP Vice President Michael Kerker. Performing a number of his songs were Tony Award®-winners Christine Ebersole and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Sondheim is the eight time Tony Award-winning composer for shows such as Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Company, Sunday in the Park with George, Merrily We Roll Along, Into the Woods and the lyrics for Gypsy and West Side Story.

Christine Ebersole and Brian Stokes Mitchell

Photos by Doug Gifford

Christine Ebersole featured in new Broadway Legends book

Robert Viagas, the founding editor of Playbill.com and host of Playbill Radio, profiles many of Broadway's greatest performers in "I'm the Greatest Star: Broadway's Top Musical Legends From 1900 to Today". The book profiles many celebrated stars from Broadway's Golden era including Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, Jerry Orbach, Zero Mostel and Gwen Verdon along with some wonderful backstage stories. Two-time Tony winner Christine Ebersole, who opens our 2009-2010 Cabaret Series in Samueli Theater this Thursday, is featured as well. Anyone who has seen this incomparable talent knows why she's considered a legend.

You can read more about the book here or buy a copy at Amazon.com