Sondheim classic comes to Redwood Symphony at Cañada College

Back because Dean worked on the symphony’s production of Sondheim’s “Follies” in 2023, which was the symphony’s first production by the late composer and lyricist. So too did Eric Kujawsky, the symphony’s music director, who founded it in 1985.

“What makes this show particularly important is we are premiering a new version of the score by the original orchestrator,” Kujawsky said. “It was originally for a pit of 25, and now it’s been expanded to a full opera orchestra-size orchestration by Jonathan Tuning. For this performance, we’ll have about 60 people and it’s a semi-staged performance, which means we are doing all the show with the dialogue but no action. There will be costume production, and props, but the orchestra will be on stage with the singers, so no sets. … So this will be a very rare opportunity to hear the show this way, with the full orchestration.”

“A Little Night Music” was written in 1955, inspired by a contemporaneous Ingmar Bergman film titled “Smiles of a Summer Night,” which in turn was inspired by Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Kujawsky said. Incidentally, the Bergman film inspired a 1982 Woody Allen film titled “A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy.”

It’s the third of Sondheim’s works to be presented by the orchestra – the second was “Sweeney Todd,” Kujawsky said.

“I just love all of Sondheim’s shows, and last year I read in The New York Times a review of this version of the score, and the Redwood Symphony is known for doing local premieres,” he said. “We have an audacious repertoire, so the opportunity to do the premiere was irresistible and I very quickly arranged for this performance to take place.”

Annmarie Macry plays Desiree Armfeldt in the show. She also worked with the orchestra on “Follies.” She was approached by Dean for this particular role.

“Desiree is an aging stage performer – she’s middle ages by now – and she has led a life that’s been kind of trouper vagabond, has had many lovers, but has always been unattached, unmarried and she reunited with an old flame of hers in this show,” Macry said. “His name is Fredrik and they have a history together, and that reuniting stirs it up and the antics that come from there.”

Macry called it a “tremendous privilege” to be involved.

“It’s a role I’ve always wanted to play, and [Dean] encouraged me to audition as she’s my friend in the theater community,” she continued. “The opportunity to sing with a 40+ person orchestra is a rare treat, so I jumped at it.”

Kujawsky said that the orchestra’s members have been practicing for about eight weeks. They will be performing at Cañada College in Redwood City.

“We’ve been meeting virtually the entire 40 years on Wednesday evenings,” he said. “We’re very, very lucky to have a home at Cañada College.”

The performance will be at 7:30 p.m. both May 29 and May 30 at the Cañada College Main Theater, which is at 4200 Farm Hill Boulevard in Redwood City. Seats are available online at redwoodsymphony.org/concert/a-little-night-music-in-concert. Adults pay $45 in advance, seniors $40 and students $20. Minors enter for free with an adult or senior.