“Passion,” the Stephen Sondheim musical about obsessive love in 19th-century Italy, gets its first New York City revival with an Off-Broadway production from the Classic Stage Company beginning performances tonight.
The CSC’s “Passion” is directed by John Doyle, who has been hailed for his reinterpretations of Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” and “Company,” both on Broadway. Here, Doyle also designs the set.
“Passion” stars Judy Kuhn (“Chess”) as the ailing Fosca, Melissa Errico (“Amour”) as beautiful Clara, and Ryan Silverman (Raoul, in Broadway’s “Phantom of the Opera”), as Giorgio, the handsome soldier.
“Passion” won the 1994 Tony Award for Best Musical in a staging that starred Donna Murphy and Marin Mazzie. James Lapine provides the book for Sondheim’s music and lyrics.
As Playbill notes, this is the second time Kuhn has performed Fosca, who sings the choice Sondheim songs “Loving You,” “I Read” and “I Wish I Could Forget You.” She also played the role at The Kennedy Center in 2002 for its Sondheim Celebration.
“I'm ... 10 years older, ten years more experienced -- hopefully, 10 years more skilled and wiser. I can bring a lot of new things to it -- things you hadn't noticed before,” she told Playbill.
The CSC’s “Passion” opens Feb. 28 for a limited engagement through April 7. For tickets, $60-$80,visit classicstage.org or call 212-352-3101 or 866-811-4111.
Broadway
As a side note, leading man Silverman has just released a new music video for a song he’s co-written, “If Only in My Mind.” The non-Giorgio like performance is below.
