A Little Night Music was Sondheim's eighth Broadway musical and features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the 1955 Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, it involves the romantic lives of several couples and includes the hit song "Send In the Clowns".
Set in 1900 Sweden, A Little Night Music explores the tangled web of affairs centered around actress, Desirée Armfeldt, and the men who love her: a lawyer by the name of Fredrik Egerman and the Count Carl-Magnus Malcom. When the traveling actress performs in Fredrik's town, the estranged lovers' passion rekindles. This strikes a flurry of jealousy and suspicion between Desirée; Fredrik; Fredrick's wife, Anne; Desirée's current lover, the Count; and the Count's wife, Charlotte. Both men – as well as their jealous wives – agree to join Desirée and her family for a weekend in the country at Desirée's mother's estate. With everyone in one place, infinite possibilities of new romances and second chances bring endless surprises.
1973 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
1974 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
1975 | West End |
London Production West End |
1977 | College/University (US) |
Northwestern University Production College/University (US) |
1981 | Off-Off-Broadway |
Off-Off-Broadway Revival Off-Off-Broadway |
1985 | Off-Broadway |
Equity Library Theatre Revival Off-Broadway |
1989 | West End |
London Revival West End |
1990 | Off-Broadway |
New York City Opera Revival Off-Broadway |
1991 | Off-Broadway |
Return Engagement [NYCO Revival] Off-Broadway |
1995 | West End |
Royal National Theatre Production West End |
2002 | Regional (US) |
Sondheim Festival Production Regional (US) |
2003 | Off-Broadway |
New York City Opera Production Off-Broadway |
2009 | West End |
West End Transfer West End |
2009 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
2020 | Los Angeles |
Knot Free Productions Production Los Angeles |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
1973 | Drama Desk Awards | Most Promising Performer | D. Jamin-Bartlett |
1973 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Book | Hugh Wheeler |
1973 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Director | Harold Prince |
1973 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Music & Lyrics | Stephen Sondheim |
1973 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Performance | Glynis Johns |
1973 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Performance | Patricia Elliott |
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