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Putting It Together
- How Stephen Sondheim and I Created Sunday in the Park with George
- Narrated by: Adam Grupper, Alyssa Bresnahan, Eva Kaminsky, Graham Winton, T. Ryder Smith, Len Cariou
- Length: 7 hrs and 10 mins
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Publisher's Summary
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the iconic musical Sunday in the Park with George
Putting It Together chronicles the two-year odyssey of creating the iconic Broadway musical Sunday in the Park with George. In 1982, James Lapine, at the beginning of his career as a playwright and director, met Stephen Sondheim, nineteen years his senior and already a legendary Broadway composer and lyricist. Shortly thereafter, the two decided to write a musical inspired by Georges Seurat’s nineteenth-century painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.
Through conversations between Lapine and Sondheim, as well as most of the production team, and with a treasure trove of personal photographs, sketches, script notes, and sheet music, the two Broadway icons lift the curtain on their beloved musical. Putting It Together is a deeply personal remembrance of their collaboration and friendship and the highs and lows of that journey, one that resulted in the beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning classic.
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What listeners say about Putting It Together
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Robert Beuth
- 08-10-21
Revisiting a truly great theatrical experience
Many years ago I sat in awe as SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE played out before me. I knew at the time it was an extraordinary piece of work, an intimate study of the creative process and the examination of the artist’s mind. I loved it. The music, sets, story and performances were the finest I’ve ever seen in my 50-odd years of theater going. This book brings the show back to
Life and is a must for anyone who loves the theater and the creation of true art. I cannot recommend it highly enough.A+A+A+
3 people found this helpful
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- Kevin Farrell
- 08-10-21
Excellent book and narrator…
Not a musical theater “person” but a long time lover of the theater in general. This is by far the finest book on the creation of a work of art I’ve encountered. The story of the musical mirrors the relationship of the author and Stephen Sondheim. It’s a very enjoyable listen…Lupine can be self-indulgent but he also doesn’t shy away from relating conflict (which he sometimes is the cause of), portrayed as a normal part of artistic collaboration. This isn’t just great gossip (which it sometimes is) but a real exploration of creativity. Great book.
2 people found this helpful
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- Kristin
- 08-09-21
I could have listened forever.
Towards the ending of this musical, George describes the air as being "rich and full of light".
And I honestly cannot think of a better phrase to describe this book (and show itself, of course).
I've seen the filmed original production many times, as well as the most recent Broadway revival. It is a GIFT to finally have a history chronicling this magnificent show's creation/road to Broadway. This book is chock full of interviews between Lapine and Sondheim, the cast, crew and other industry members behind this work. Each was full of incredibly fascinating, deeply honest conversation. I listened in a state of awe.
My only complaint is that I wish it was longer! I would have loved to hear about replacement casts and the filming of the production for PBS.
The various narrators (especially Adam Grupper and Len Cariou) were excellent. The musical interludes elevated it even more. "Putting It Together" should absolutely be required reading for anyone interested in the theater. A masterpiece about the making of a masterpiece.
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 08-06-21
Great Listen (some weird voice acting)
I put off reading the physical copy of this so I could listen to the audio book at work. It's a great listen, but a few of the back-and-forth dialogue segments are a little awkward. There are voice actors for just about everyone quoted, and the acting is great and consistent. My only gripe is that sometimes when two or more people are having a dialog the acting seems a little choppy, like the two aren't in the same room, which just sounds a little weird when it's supposed to be representing an actual dialogue/interview. Other than that this is everything I had hoped for. If you're a sondheim nerd, or even just a moderate broadway nerd, this is a must read/listen.
2 people found this helpful
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- Pennypie
- 08-09-21
Wonderful …
… and exhilarating. Fantastic to hear the amazing Len Cariou as Sondheim. Wish that the folks still with us said their own words, though. A bit jarring to hear others say the words of such recognizable voices as Bernadette Peters, Mandy Patinkin, Christine Baranski, etc. Still fabulous, though.
1 person found this helpful
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- a reader
- 08-06-21
Moving & riveting!
What an extraordinary book! The gossip, the lore, the incomparable craft lecture! The actual, mucky, grotty, painful step-by-step making of a great work of art! A brilliant ars poetica!
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 05-25-22
fascinating history of one of my favorite shows
a very detailed and engaging look at all that goes into the creation of a Broadway show.
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-19-22
If your passion is theater…
If your passion is theater, this book will be your new passion for the next few days.
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- Scott A Hunt
- 03-17-22
Really hard not to give this all 5 stars
While the performances are great, this is one time I wish it had only been one narrator. The content is fascinating and it’s all performed well; but knowing what the actual people interviewed sound like in real life, I found it distracting to have someone else read their interviews because it took me out of the story.
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- Tallowyck
- 03-04-22
Marvelous
It’s a marvelous book about the development, history, and people who created an amazing musical - one of my favorites.
It wasn’t structured how I imagined it would be, it’s better. Instead of a recitation of facts, it plays out through a series of short conversations between the author and the people involved in the musical’s creation. Interspersed with Lapine’s personal recollections, insights, and emotions.
In addition to specifics about the individuals and the musical, it delves into the complex process of staging a production, and artistic theory and practice.
The use of several narrators serves the material very well.
Recommended to those who’d like a peek behind the curtain, more so if you admire the works of Sondheim, and especially to fans of this wonderful musical.
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- andrew beavis
- 04-03-22
A wonderful way to enjoy this fantastic book
As a fan of Sunday in the Park with George I loved this book.
The narration was superb and it was a truly wonderful way of enjoying this fascinating insight into the creation of of a masterpiece.