“Here We Are,” the final musical written by the late Tony Award-winning composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim, will premiere at the Off-Broadway venue The Shed in September. Two-time Tony-winning director Joe Mantello will helm the production.
Formerly known as “Square One” “Here We Are” is inspired by Luis Buñuel’s films “The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie” and “The Exterminating Angel.” The musical features music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by Tony nominee David Ives.
Sondheim, who passed away on Nov. 26, 2021, had spoken about working on the musical, which he’d been writing with Ives for years. At one point, the project was reportedly being developed by producer Scott Rudin. Then, there had been plans for a production at the Public Theater. Neither developmental track came to fruition.
Eight-time Tony winner Sondheim is known for writing the scores to more than a dozen musicals, including “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Follies,” “Sunday in the Park with George” and “Passion.” “Sweeney Todd,” one of his collaborations with book writer Hugh Wheeler, is currently being revived on Broadway. It was just announced that “Merrily We Roll Along,” a collaboration with George Furth, will arrive on Broadway in September.
Ives was most recently represented on Broadway with his 2011 play “Venus in Fur,” which earned him a Tony nomination for Best Play. Many of his other plays, including “All in the Timing,” “The School for Lies” and “The Metromaniacs,” have been produced Off-Broadway.
Though Mantello has been consistently directing plays — including the upcoming “Grey House” — his most recent Broadway musical outing was “The Last Ship” in 2014. His most successful musical project, of course, is the long-running hit “Wicked.”
Official dates for “Here We Are,” as well as casting and additional creative team members, will be announced.
“Here We Are” is being produced by Tom Kirdahy with executive producers Sue Wagner, John Johnson and Jillian Robbins. The mounting will be co-presented by The Shed’s artistic director Alex Poots, president and COO Maryann Jordan and chief executive producer Madani Younis.
