Caitlin Morgan
Ripe Fig, Inc.
(415) 867-4617
(contact for info & CD review copies)
For: IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Simply Sondheim--A 75th Birthday Salute” is the only complete concert recordingfrom the four major Sondheim birthday concerts produced in 2005, and is available now on CD.
SAN FRANCISCO , CA (Oct. 20, 2006)---Kritzerland and A-J Productions announce the release of “Simply Sondheim--A 75th Birthday Salute”, recorded live in San Francisco onDecember 5, 2005. Of all the major Sondheim birthday tributes produced worldwide that year, this is the only complete concert recording available. Stephen Sondheim generously consulted with the producers in the development of both the Dec. 5th concert and the production of this recording.
The collector’s edition 2 CD set (with color booklet), features: Broadway star Lisa Vroman; teen cabaret sensation Judy Butterfield;Kelly Ground,Les Miserables national tour; cabaret favorite Amy Dondy; up-and-coming youth performer Hannah Rose Kornfeld, and numerous other musical theatre and cabaret luminaries. The songs recorded are a wealth of Sondheim’s best-loved, lesser-known and, in some cases, unpublished tunes, including the never-before-recorded “Farewell,” written for the 1971 revival of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, and the recently-rediscovered “I’m In Love With A Boy,” written when Sondheim was only 16 years old.
Lynne Chapman, Administrator of The Stephen Sondheim Society, has already placed a large advance order of this CD for her membership, predicting that those who love all things Sondheim will want this important addition for their collections and enjoyment.
Chris Curcio, reviewer for broadwaysbiggesthits.com, says that this CD is “...a wonderful trip through the master's rich collection of songs.” And Andrea Marcovicci, “the Queen of Cabaret”states, “’Simply Sondheim’ is simply wonderful…a terrific addition to the Sondheim legacy of recordings!”
James Brewer, President of A-J Productions, produced both the concert and the CD, and has arranged that all profits from the CD will go to the Mary Mason Memorial Lemonade Fund---an emergency resource for critically ill theatre workers, administered by Theatre Bay Area.
Bruce Kimmel, founder of Kritzerland, is one of the leading producers of theatre music on CD, having produced over one hundred thirty albums. He was nominated for a Grammy for the revival cast album of Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing, and has produced solo albums for a long list of pop and theatre stars, including Petula Clark and Liz Callaway. He has also produced many off-Broadway and Broadway cast albums, including the hit revivals ofThe King and I, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Bells Are Ringing
“Simply Sondheim—A 75th Birthday Salute” is priced at $22.95, and can be ordered through