By Meredith Heyman…
Tony Award-winner Beth Leavel is celebrating her 15th Broadway show starring alongside Bernadette Peters in the new musical review, “Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends.” The big time beltress tells Theater Pizzazz how it feels to tackle Sondheim on the boards for the first time in her career and recounts how opening nights have evolved since she made her Broadway debut more than 30 years ago.
TP: Congratulations on your 15th Broadway show. What was the opening night like for Old Friends, and how have opening nights changed since you made your Broadway debut?
BL: Opening nights are one of the most spectacular life events you can experience, and boy, have they changed over the years. I can remember opening night of my first original Broadway show, Crazy for You. After the curtain call, we changed into fancy clothes, and with friends, family, and agents, headed over to Sardi’s, where we quietly waited among the tables for hard copies of The New York Times and Frank Rich’s review, which, by the way, was an unqualified rave! Then we headed to the Edison Ballroom to celebrate, and I was home, in bed, by 12:30. Cut to opening night/ Old Friends April 8, 2025. “Fancy clothes” have taken on a new meaning. I, and my beautiful Pamella Roland gown, need to be at the theater at 2 PM. Once there, it’s hair/ makeup/gown/red carpet. It’s time for social media. That lasts for 2 hours, and then out of fancy gown, and into costume. Half hour is called by the stage manager, and it’s opening night. Fabulous show, out of costume, back into fancy gown, and off to the Hard Rock Hotel. Phew!! In bed by 12:30.
TP: “Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends” is your first foray into Sondheim on Broadway. What is it like performing the iconic ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ in this production?
BL: Performing Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ is one of the highlights of my career.
TP: Having never had the opportunity to work with Sondheim, what would you like him to know about what it means for you to be a part of this review?
BL: I would like Sondheim to know that being part of this revue has made me regret that it’s taken this long to be in his orbit. I would hope that my version of the song would surprise him… in a good way.
TP: What’s it like performing alongside living legend Bernadette Peters in this show? Did she have any advice for handling this material, having worked with Sondheim for much of her career?
BL: Sometimes, during the show, I will look across the stage at the legend that is Bernadette Peters, and think, “Whoa, if you had told 13-year-old Beth that this would be your life, I’d say you’ve got to be kidding.” I learn from Bernadette by watching her specificity, her detail. She’s a great teacher.
TP: Is there a dream Sondheim revival and role you’d like to do next?
BL: Pseudolus, in [A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the] Forum, or Desiree in [A Little] Night Music.
“Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends” is playing now at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.