HERE WE ARE has the best cast in London | why I'm excited about the Sondheim musical at the National

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OHMYGOD HEY!

The National Theatre recently announced that one of their upcoming shows in 2025 would be the European premiere of the Stephen Sondheim and David Ives musical HERE WE ARE.

The show, which premiered at The Shed off-Broadway in 2023 is based on the films of Luis Buñuel, features a book by David Ives and is directed by Joe Mantello.

The world premiere production starred Bobby Cannavale, Rachel Bay Jones, Amber Gray, David Hyde Pierce, Micaela Diamond, Jeremy Shamos, Tracie Bennett, Steven Pasquale, and more.

This new production of the show will see some returning company members joined by exciting new additions including Jane Krakowski, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Martha Plimpton, Rory Kinnear, and more!

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00:00 | introduction
01:34 | context / history
07:09 | the cast

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#broadway #sondheim #theatre #westend

[WarDeeGuy]

Martha Plimpton has indeed previously done Sondheim. She played Sarah in the filmed 2011 Lincoln Centre/NY Philharmonic concert production of Company (Neil Patrick Harris as Bobby).

[booksvsmovies]

One thing i like about you as a crotoc is that your always ready and open to change your mind about a show. Excited to hear your thoughts about Here We Are Again

[owenespejo]

Dennis O'Hare also played The Baker in the Tim Sheader Regents Park production of Into the Woods at the Central Park Delecorte.

[RaymondNYC]

I almost always agree w. your assessments & reviews. So I was surprised & a bit disappointed that you panned Here We Are in New York. I'm glad you're excited about its second-coming in London & looking at it w. a different set of expectations.
I saw it at The Shed in January & really enjoyed it. I tend to take things the way they're presented & have not seen much absurdist theater; but Here We Are was so obviously absurdist, I went with it and totally got it & enjoyed it. Plus the cast was the starriest I've ever seen on stage. And the London cast seems pretty interesting.

[ConMan-yeou]

18:22
“He’s done five guys named Moe.”
Phrasing

[tsylkgk]

The Donmar Warehouse Production isn't the European Premiere of Great Comet, it played in Linz, Austria last year

[evilanderson]

Very happy to see you tracking Chumisa's career to date. She only graduated from Mountview in 2023, alongside Grace Hodgett Young. I was lucky enough to be her singing teacher during her time there. Just a note on the pronunciation of her name. The Ch is a harder K and is accompanied by a tongue click.

[gemmamoon]

Random fun fact: Martha Plimpton’s mother, Shelley Plimpton, originated the role of Crissy (sings the song Frank Mills) in Hair on Broadway!

[nathanmayer]

I did my homework before seeing 'Here We Are' at The Shed.

I would recommend watching 'The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie' (1972) then listen to Act 1 and watch 'The Exterminating Angel' (1962) then listen to Act 2 before attending.

[ryebread]

Great comet was my first Broadway experience. I got to then do the state premiere as ASM a couple years ago. Can not wait for you to experience the masterpiece Mickey!

[stuartclark]

I saw this in NY and loved it, but I definitely think seeing your review beforehand it lowered my expectations of a big lavish musical. Will be interesting what u think second time around and with this cast. But I found it bizarrely brilliant.

[LakotaQuanah]

I have not seen any of these performers, but Jane Krakowski and her son were in line behind me at a Lizzo concert. Looking forward to the show and have a ticket already for the final performance. Thanks for hyping the show, it sounds interesting.

[autumn]

jesse tyler ferguson isnt a total stranger to sondheim! he was in sondheim on sondheim at the hollywood bowl (for probably one night only?). he did franklin shepard inc, its on youtube, i think its... fine? considering its the song isolated fro. the rest of the show and it was one night only, he does a good job (and im very particular abt that song lol, so maybe its me). theres a video of him singing getting married today, also fine. hes generally a sondheim fan as well, i trust him. i like to think he'll do well in here we are, when he has the chance to do a full show, im intrigued (in a positive way)

[joeevans]

Honestly booked to see this on Chumisas name alone

[davidjamespoissant]

Loved Here We Are at The Shed in 2023. Saw it back to back with Merrily, same weekend. Two of my favorite theatre experiences. I don't quite understand why Here We Are wasn't universally beloved. I didn't find it as challenging as most critics.

[nerdalmighty]

I’m going to London to see shows in may
It’s between this or the show giant (about roalh Dahl)
Any advise

[nirbateman]

I found the stacked cast a bit of a necessity for this show to be somewhat bearable. It manages to be even less coherent than Bunuel's films, but also more shallow, reeking of self importance. Ives' influence is far more prominent than Sondheim's, a real shame.

[mvwinf]

I saw Jane Krakowski in Shit. Meet. Fan. a few weeks ago — she was a pretty good part of an overall disappointing play. I adore her in 30 Rock but haven’t seen her in much else. To me, her acting seems bigger and broader than most TV actors but also a bit much onstage? Nonetheless, I’m excited to see what she brings to Marianne — especially after SMF, I can see her with a lot of pathos. The (mild spoiler!) bear scene in particular, if she plays it as straight and tenderly as Rachel did, could be fantastic in Jane’s hands

[charlesanderson]

I have bought a ticket and I am seeing it on the 7th June. A fantastic cast. I saw Road Show on Sunday at Above the Gatehouse in Highgate. I am trying to catch up as many Sondheim shows I haven't seen. I am also seeing The Frogs at the Southwark playhouse next june.

[amycarcaterra]

i guess nobody wanted to do off broadway because it wasn't all musical & 2nd act is just all talking. Wow all star hollywood cast wanted to do it in west end, my guess is they had to shell out a ton of money week for each hoollywood and known stars. i'm shocked it went to the west end. not a good lesbian ending.
Richard has let me down only has done one musical on Broadway which was Ghost the Musical thought he was going to do many after that. Hot chemistry with Cassie Levy. Thought Richard was gay.