Saturday Night (musical)

Saturday Night
Poster for the Off-Broadway premiere
Music	Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics	Stephen Sondheim
Book	Julius J. Epstein Philip G. Epstein
Basis	Front Porch in Flatbush, a play by Julius and Philip Epstein
Productions	1997 London 1998 Chicago 2000 Off-Broadway 2003 Australia 2009 West End

Saturday Night is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and the book by brothers Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein, based on their play, Front Porch in Flatbush. The musical was expected to open on Broadway in 1954-1955, but because of the lead producer's death, it was not produced. Following a student production, it was staged at the Bridewell Theatre, London in 1997 and then in Chicago in 1999 and Off-Broadway in 2000. The musical also ran in the West End in 2009.

Saturday Night was scheduled to open in the 1954-55 Broadway season. Announcements of the production appeared in the New York Times, and auditions were held in mid-`55, following some revisions to the music brought about by backers' auditions. In the summer of `55, it appeared that Saturday Night would be Sondheim's musical debut on Broadway that fall. However, in August 1955, lead producer Lemuel Ayers died, leaving the production with little morale and even less cash. The production was scrapped, and the musical material shelved.

The show nearly made it Broadway in 1960, after Jule Styne decided to revive it after working with Sondheim on Gypsy. However, during the audition process, Sondheim halted proceedings due to feeling that his compositional level had outstripped what he written six years previously. Although a handful of songs from the musical have appeared in revues and on Sondheim compilation albums, the score as a whole went unperformed until 1997.

The Stephen Sondheim Society supported the first ever fully staged performance of the musical at the University of Birmingham, having been given permission to stage the show by Sondheim himself. The production was overseen by Professor Stephen Banfield who, also with permission from Sondheim, orchestrated the show for full band from the existing piano scores. Unfortunately, Sondheim was unable to attend but sent his best wishes to all involved. It was then repeated, in a concert version, the following year at the Bridewell Theatre, London, with Sondheim in attendance. During the post-show Q & A session, one of the members of The Stephen Sondheim Society asked Mr. Sondheim if he would now allow the show to be performed publicly. He agreed to think about it having previously always said 'no!' and Carol Metcalfe, Artistic Director of The Bridewell Theatre, immediately volunteered to stage it. Directed by Carol Metcalfe and Clive Paget, Saturday Night opened at the Bridewell Theatre on December 17, 1997 and closed on January 24, 1998 after 38 performances. The leading role of Gene Gorman was played by Sam Newman. A cast recording was made, distributed by First Night (UK) and RCA Victor (US).