"...Just when I stopped
Opening doors,
Finally knowing
The one that I wanted was yours,
Making my entrance again
With my usual flair
Sure of my lines,
No one is there..."
A Little Night Music opened February 25, 1973 at the
Shubert Theatre. It's based upon the Igmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, which deals with love, lovers,
foolishness and age. Musically, A Little Night Music is a celebration of waltz time and most of the songs are composed in waltz signature. A Little Night Music contains Sondhiem's most familar song Send In The Clowns.
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; Book by Hugh Wheeler. Director; Harold Prince, Produced by Harold Prince in association with Ruth Mitchell, Choreography by Patricia Birch,Scenic Production Designed by Boris Aronson,Costumes Designed by Florence Klotz, Lighting Designed by Tharon Musser,Music Published by Tommy Valando, Musical Direction by Harold Hastings and Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. 
"...A weekend in the country
How amusing.
How delightfully droll
A weekend in the country
While we're losing our control..."
"Our original concept was that of a fantasy-ridden musical. It was to take place over a weekend during which, in almost gamelike fashion, D'esiere'e would have been the prime mover and would work the characters into different situations. The first time everybody would get mixed up, and through farcical situations, would end up with the wrong partner. Then Magically,the weekend would start again. The next time everything worked out, but Henrik committed suicide. The third time, D'essire'e arranged everything right but this time when she was left alone with Fredrik, he put his gloves on and walked off the stage because she hadn't done anything to make him want her.The way this all worked was that Madame Armfelt, who was like a witch figure, would reshuffle the pack of cards and time would revert and we'd be back at the beginning of the weekend again. The charecters would then re-form,waltz again and start over. It was all to be presented like a court masque with a music box quality.But Hugh Wheeler finally gave up on it. He just couldn't make it work to his satisfaction."
-Stephen Sondheim
A Little Night Music captured six Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Music, Best Lyrics and Best Book.
Synopsis
Song-Cast list
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