Ethan Mordden Chats New Book 'ON SONDHEIM' on This Week's THEATER TALK

An all-new THEATER TALK presents prolific author Ethan Mordden, back on the series to talk about his new book On Sondheim - An Opinionated Guide, published by Oxford University Press.

An expert on musical theater history, Mordden wanted his book to be different "from all the other books" about composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim, most of which were written with Sondheim's cooperation. Instead, Mordden says he wants "to bring the neophyte and the jaded aficionado into the works more deeply than they've ever been before."

To Mordden, Sondheim is "an artist of the 20th century and even of Western civilization, as opposed to just 'the main guy of the American musical.'" Asked if he believes there is anyone else of that status working in the musical theater, he replies, "There are major people, certainly" - going on to mention John Kander and Fred Ebb - "but I think Sondheim is unique."

There is a brief discussion of "concept musicals," Allegro, and later musicals including: Love Life 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cabaret, and Chicago - some hits, some flops. Mordden reminds viewers that every musical Sondheim has written is a concept musical, wrestling with, and redefining, dramatic and musical forms. Believing Sondheim to be a "classical composer" who chose to work in a "popular" vein, Mordden offers a cogent analysis of why Sondheim's songs are often more appreciated once heard outside of the productions for which they were created. With each chapter of Mordden's book a critical essay about one Sondheim show, On Sondheim offers a fresh and engaging view of an artistic titan who has been much praised and analyzed in his own time.

Co-hosted by Susan Haskins and guest host Jesse Green of New York Magazine, this latest edition of THEATER TALK premieres in the New York metropolitan area today, April 1 (2016) at 1:30 AM (early Saturday morning); on CUNY TV* Saturday 4/2 at 8:30 PM, Sunday 4/3 at 12:30 PM, and Monday 4/4 at 7:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 7:30 PM; and on WLIW/21 on Monday 4/4 at 5:30 PM - a total of 7 showings this week.

THEATER TALK is jointly produced by the not-for-profits Theater Talk Productions and CUNY TV. The program is taped in the Himan Brown TV and Radio Studios at The City University of New York (CUNY) TV in Manhattan, and is distributed to 100+ participating public television stations nationwide. THEATER TALK is made possible in part by The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, The CUNY TV Foundation, and The Friends of THEATER TALK.

Pictured: Writer Ethan Mordden (Image courtesy Theater Talk/CUNY TV); "On Sondheim" book jacket (Oxford University Press, publisher)