Six years after his last project, award-winning composer Stephen Sondheim is working with playwright David Ives on a new work. The musical will be based on two films by Luis Buñuel, “The Exterminating Angel†and “The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie,†reports the New York Times:
Mr. Sondheim, who has won Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize in drama for his works, which include the lyrics for “West Side Story†and “Gypsy†and the full scores for “Follies,†“Sweeney Todd,†“Sunday in the Park with George,†and “Into the Woods,†confirmed the new project during an appearance on Friday night at the New Yorker Festival.
Describing by the two surrealist films by Buñuel, Mr. Sondheim noted at the event that “Discreet Charm†involved a group of people trying to find a place to dine together, and “Exterminating Angel†centers on people who finally dine – and are trapped afterwards in hellish circumstances. Mr. Sondheim, who was being interviewed by the New Yorker’s Adam Gopnik, said that he and Mr. Ives had just finished a first draft of the musical.
As of yet, no date has been projected for the finished musical, but it is planned for performance at the Public Theater no sooner than the 2016-17 season, according to the Times article.
