Stephen Sondheim

Saturday Night

Back in the 1950s, Saturday Night began as a play by twin writers Julius J. and Philip G. Epstein, the authors of the screenplay for 'Casablanca'. A producer named Lemuel Ayers wanted to make a musical of the script and engaged a then young Stephen Sondheim to write the score. Money was secured to back the production, but Ayers died suddenly, and the project went into limbo. Saturday Night became part of the Sondheim lore, with individual songs from the show occasionally turning up in various retrospectives and albums. A new life began for the musical when the Bridewell Theatre Company in London gave the world premiere production in 1997, with the blessing of the composer.