November 2, 2023: The Frogs (1974) and Pacific Overtures (1976)
Class Preparation
- Related readings in the texts:
- Broadway: The American Musical (none)
- Finishing the Hat: The Frogs (Chapter 10, pp. 284-301) and Pacific Overtures (Chapter 11, pp.302--329)
- Class 8 Lyrics This handout include songs either to be featured in class or which I think are remarkable. ALL of the lyrics for The Frogs and Pacific Overtures--including cut songs and alternate versions--are in Finishing the Hat. The lyrics to the two additional songs are published in Sondheim's second volume of memoirs: Look, I Made a Hat. You're welcome!
- Handout of key class 8 slides
YouTube Links and Playlists
Playlists:
- The Frogs (2000 World Premiere Recording) This is Nonesuch Records' studio recording of the songs (and some of the dialogue) as originally presented in 1974 at the Yale School of Drama (in a swimming pool). The recording features Nathan Lane as Dionysos, Brian Stokes Mitchell as Xanthias and Pluto, and Davis Gaines as Shakespeare.
- The Frogs (2004 Original Broadway Cast Recording) The show was presented on Broadway in 2004. Nathan Lane "freely adapted" Burt Shevelove's "freely adapted" version of Aristophanes's 405 BCE comedy. Sondheim added some songs and revised some of the lyrics for a "dry land" setting. Writing in Finishing the Hat, Sondheim said that "it suffered from inflation."
- Pacific Overtures (1976 Original Broadway Cast Recording)
- Side by Side by Sondheim (Original 1976 London Cast Recording)--I will reference this revue during Class 8; the link and a description of the show are also on the "Preview Playlists" page of this website.
- Class 8 Videos
- The Frogs is back in the news! A MasterVoices concert version--narrated by Nathan Lane and conducted by Ted Sperling is playing in New York this weekend. This linked Playbill article provides a lot of information about the history of this musical.
- Pacific Overtures (Entire show!)--The original 1976 Broadway production was filmed for presentation on Japanese television. It was not broadcast in the US. Someone has uploaded it to YouTube.