STAGE TUBE: Behind the Scenes with Darren Criss and More Recording 'Opening Doors' for HBO's SIX BY SONDHEIM

SIX BY SONDHEIM, an intimate and candid look at the life and art of the legendary composer-lyricist, airs on HBO tonight, December 9th, directed by Tony Award-winner and frequent Sondheim collaborator James Lapine. Click below to get a sneak peek behind the scenes with Darren Criss in the studio, about to record his part for "Opening Doors" with musical director Andy Einhorn the day before shooting the scene from MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG with Stephen Sondheim!

Since his Broadway debut at age 27 as the lyricist for "West Side Story," Sondheim has redefined musical theatre over the course of a six-decade career through such groundbreaking works as "Company," "Sweeney Todd" and "Sunday in the Park with George." SIX BY SONDHEIM is a highly personal profile of a great American artist as revealed through the creation and performance of six of his iconic songs. Told primarily in Sondheim's own words, this feature documentary weaves together dozens of interviews with the composer, rarely seen archival material spanning more than half a century (including newly discoveRed Footage of Ethel Merman performing "Gypsy") and re-stagings of three songs produced especially for the film.

The re-stagings in SIX BY SONDHEIM showcase performances by Broadway and Hollywood stars such as Audra McDonald ("Porgy and Bess"), Darren Criss ("Glee"), Jeremy Jordan ("Newsies") and America Ferrera ("Ugly Betty"), interspersed with archival performances of Sondheim standards by stars like Bernadette Peters, Mandy Patinkin,Dean Jones, Yvonne De Carlo and Larry Kert. Blending theatrical and rare interview footage with Sondheim's candid anecdotes, the film features the songs "Something's Coming," "Opening Doors," "Send in the Clowns," "I'm Still Here," "Being Alive" and "Sunday."

Executive produced by James Lapine and Frank Rich, the exclusive HBO presentation debuts tonight, December 9 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT).