By Emily Safron
West Los Angeles, California (The Hollywood Times) 09/11/2024
“3 Faces of Steve: Sondheim in Concert,” led by Angelina Réaux is currently playing at the Odyssey Theatre through Sunday, September 29. The show also stars Michael Sokol and Bernardo Bermudez.
Réaux knew Sondheim both personally and professionally, working closely with him as the Beggarwoman in Sweeney Todd where she got her start shortly after graduating from Northwestern University. She had begun piecing together the concert before Sondheim had passed, and when the Odyssey Theatre asked if she had anything in the works, she knew now would be the best time to bring the production to life.
The show shares anecdotes for both Réaux as his colleague and Sokol and Bermudez as fans. “Steve would come into my dressing room eating caramels and talking about his new show Into the Woods,” shared Réaux. “He was very nurturing and very respectful, he always wrote everyone back, especially aspiring musicians.”
Those who attend can expect a cornucopia of things from 14 of his 18 shows. “There’s something for everyone. Some things pull at your heart, and some are slap at your knee funny,” shared Réaux. “There will be songs that people have never heard before and a lot of big hits.”
Réaux’s favorite part of creating the show was wrapping her head around Sondheim’s brilliant lyrics. “The onomatopoeia, alliteration and rhythm, it becomes so organic every night,” she shared. “Before the music begins, you hear it in your head, and you begin to tell your story. It’s a personal relationship with the audience and it’s challenging and very fulfilling.”
Having seen the original 1981 production of Merrily We Roll Along, Réaux was delighted by the recent success of the revival at the Tony Awards. “The way the concept and physical setting was done initially didn’t gel, but the music was so beautiful, it was so worthy,” said Réaux. “This musical was the closest thing to who we were as young directors, composers, etc., in NYC and it meant something really special.”
The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles, 90025. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (310) 477-2055 or go to OdysseyTheatre.com
