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a14 people & arts
Thursday 5 May 2022
Stephen Sondheim celebrated by Dench, Peters at London gala

By RONALD BLUM to join ensembles for "Side
Associated Press by Side" and "Not A Day
LONDON (AP) — Judi Goes By" and a 10-wom-
Dench was given a stand- an rendition of "Broadway
ing ovation for "Send in The Baby" that included Hel-
Clowns." Bernadette Peters ena Bonham Carter, Rosa-
bent over with her back lie Craig and Jenna Russell
to the audience and with plus Gary Wilmot.
her head between her legs Sondheim's humorous side
blasted her trumpet to "You was on display when Lew-
Gotta Get A Gimmick." is, Rob Brydon and Julian
Petula Clark, 89, belted out Overdon put domestic uni-
"I'm Still Here." And Imelda forms over their tuxedos to
Staunton set off a huge join 88-year-old Siân Phil-
ovation with "Everything's lips in "Everybody Ought to
Coming Up Roses." Have a Maid." Janie Dee
What the four had in com- hammed up "The Boy From
mon was devotion to ..." a parody of "The Girl
Stephen Sondheim, the from Ipanema."
groundbreaking Broadway Members of the Royal
composer/lyricist who died Academy Musical Theatre
in November at age 91. Company and the Mount-
Dozens of stars of musical view theater academy
theater gathered Tuesday lent youth with the "Tonight
night for a celebration titled Quintet." Conductor Al-
"Old Friends" to raise money Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim poses for a picture after being awarded the Freedom of fonso Casado Trigo led a
for the Stephen Sondheim the City of London at a ceremony at the Guildhall in London, Sept. 27, 2018. 26-piece orchestra that
Foundation, which will ben- Associated Press was on stage, photos of
efit young composers. Sondheim from youth un-
"He always considered ties of the attached singers Hood to Damian Lewis' a gender-switched version til old age were displayed
London his second home," provided to the audience Wolf. Marshalling her voice of "Could I Leave You?" during an ensemble of
producer Cameron Mack- only as people filed out. for drama and impact, Pe- Dench, reprising what "Not A Day Goes By" and a
intosh, who organized There was a minimal set ters was included in eight of many consider the defini- video was shown of Sond-
the event, told the sellout and some cast members the 40 selections sung over tive version of Sondheim's heim and fellow composer
crowd of about 1,100 at a were costumed during a 2 hours, 45 minutes, most most-well known song, Andrew Lloyd Webber at
theater renamed the Sond- flowing program that show- notably a "Losing My Mind" stumbled over some of a piano parodying their
heim from the Queen's in cased Sondheim's Tony, Ol- rendition that left some of the words but still created own work. As young singers
2019. "He brilliantly has left ivier and Pulitzer Prize-win- the audience in tears. an indelible performance. joined the full company for
his incredible legacy of ning work. Michael Ball was given a The 87-year-old, who has the concluding "Our Time,"
work to the support of fu- Peters, 74, who created central role in selections limited vision, was helped Peters crossed the stage ex-
ture generations of artists the roles of Dot in "Sunday from "Sweeney Todd" that to her chair for her perfor- changing hugs as confetti
through his foundation." in the Park with George" included a witty "A Little mance. fell and Dench appeared
Lending drama to the eve- and the Witch in "Into the Priest" with Maria Friedman, Julia McKenzie, whom to be holding back tears.
ning, only the scheduled Woods," made a dramat- an actress who has be- Mackintosh said had not The performance seemed
songs were included in the ic entrance cloaked in a come a heralded director appeared on stage in 24 as memorable for the cast
program, with the identi- cape as Little Red Riding of Sondheim. He also sang years, returned at age 81 as for the audience.q

Dolly Parton, Eminem, Richie get into

Rock Hall of Fame

historians and music indus- the voters to decide if Par- their first go-round. Simon
try professionals — "each ton was elected. Parton was a first-time nominee
had a profound impact on later said she would ac- this year more than 25
the sound of youth culture cept an induction. years after becoming eli-
and helped change the In its citation, the hall called gible. Eminem becomes
course of rock 'n' roll," said Parton "a living legend and the 10th hip-hop act to be
John Sykes, the chairman a paragon of female em- inducted, making the cut
of the Rock Hall, in a state- powerment," adding that on his first ballot.
ment Wednesday. "Her crossover success Richie, a former member of
Parton had gone on social broadened the audience The Commodores whose
media to "respectfully bow for country music and ex- illustrious solo career in-
Dolly Parton performs in concert on July 31, 2015, in Nashville, out" of the process, saying panded the horizons for cludes pop classics like
Tenn.
Associated Press she did not want to take countless artists who fol- "Endless Love," "All Night
votes away from the re- lowed." Long" and "Hello," said be-
By MARK KENNEDY into the Rock & Roll Hall maining nominees and had To be eligible, artists are ing elected to the hall "is
AP Entertainment Writer of Fame, a list that also in- not "earned that right." The required to have released an incredible honor." He
Eminem, Lionel Richie, Car- cludes Dolly Parton, who Rock & Roll Hall of Fame their first record 25 years thanked voters and fans on
ly Simon, Eurythmics, Du- initially resisted the honor. Foundation responded by prior to induction. Parton, Instagram and said: "Con-
ran Duran and Pat Bena- The honorees — voted on saying ballots had already Richie, Simon and Duran gratulations to all of my fel-
tar have been inducted by more than 1,000 artists, been sent and it was up to Duran were selected on low 2022 inductees!"q