Photos Released for Stephen Sondheim’s Final Musical Here We Are at the National Theatre

The European premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s final musical, Here We Are, has released stunning photos ahead of its London run at the National Theatre.

Sondheim, in collaboration with David Ives, has created a unique and captivating production inspired by Luis Buñuel’s films The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and The Exterminating Angel. The musical features a score by Sondheim, a book by Ives, and is directed by Joe Mantello. It follows a group of guests trapped at a dinner party where they find themselves unable to leave, leading to surreal and increasingly absurd situations.

A Critical Success in New York

Here We Are was first staged at The Shed in New York in 2023, where it received positive reviews for its unconventional narrative and musical composition. The London production brings this groundbreaking piece to the National Theatre, marking the European premiere of Sondheim’s final theatrical work.

Cast for Here We Are

The London production of Here We Are features a star-studded cast that includes:

• Edward Baker-Duly as Leo Brink (Understudy), The Man

• Tracie Bennett as Woman

• Alastair Brookshaw as Bishop/Paul Zimmer (Understudy)

• Jack Butterworth as A Visitor/ensemble (Understudy Soldier)

• Chumisa Dornford-May as Fritz

• Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Paul Zimmer

• Richard Fleeshman as Soldier

• Harry Hadden-Paton as Bishop

• Cameron Johnson as Colonel

• Rory Kinnear as Leo Brink

• Jane Krakowski as Marianne Brink

• Molly Lynch as Ensemble/Understudy Marianne Brink and Fritz

• Amira Matthews as Ensemble/Understudy Claudia Bursik-Zimmer and Woman

• Denis O’Hare as Man

• Martha Plimpton as Claudia Bursik-Zimmer

• Steven Serlin as Ensemble/Understudy Raffael Santello Di Santicci, Colonel, and A Visitor

• Paulo Szot as Raffael Santello Di Santicci

Creative Team

The production is supported by an exceptional creative team, including:

• Set and Costume Designer: David Zinn

• Choreographer: Sam Pinkleton

• Orchestrations: Jonathan Tunick

• Additional Arrangements: Alexander Gemignani

• Conductor: Nigel Lilley

• Lighting Designer: Natasha Katz

• Sound Designer: Tom Gibbons

• Casting Director: Bryony Jarvis-Taylor

Musical and Script Release

Coinciding with the European premiere, both the script and songs of Here We Are will be published, providing a lasting tribute to Sondheim’s genius and legacy.

About the Production

Here We Are captures the essence of Buñuel’s absurdity, exploring the surreal, the absurd, and the societal constraints that keep people trapped in their own worlds. The show’s haunting and thought-provoking music and lyrics deliver a powerful exploration of power dynamics, identity, and human connection.

Performances of Here We Are are now running at the National Theatre, with tickets available for this eagerly awaited European debut.

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