Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Jerome Robbins. 1973? [sound recording]

Author

Robbins, Jerome

Publication

[ca. 1973]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Zadan, Craig.

Description

2 sound discs (ca. 62 min.) : digital; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

• Disc 1 (ca. 31 min.) Jerome Robbins discusses collaborating with lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim on the musical, West Side story (1957); his work on the film version of the show; working with Sondheim on the musical Gypsy (1959); Sondheim's lyrics and score for A funny thing happened on the way to the forum (1962) and Robbins' work as show doctor on the production; working on shows out-of-town and the significance of the out-of-town audience reaction; more on Robbins' experiences as show doctor. Robbins comments on the current state of the musical theater and says more about Sondheim's work.
• Disc 2 (ca. 31 min.) Robbins discusses his preferences for Sondheim 's shows such as A little night music (1973), Company (1970) and Follies (1971); Sondheim's gifts as a lyricist and composer [interruption]; his dislike of theory on the performing arts; Sondheim's shows such as Anyone can whistle (1964) and Do I hear a waltz? (1965); his work with Sondheim and composer Leonard Bernstein on the experimental theater work, The exception and the rule, also known as A pray by Blecht. Interviewer contrasts the shows which Robbins' collaborated with Sondheim with those on which Sondheim collaborated with others; Robbins discusses the show Company; ballet as his preferred outlet for his creative expression; interviewer comments on the state of the musical theater; Robbins expresses his dislike of theorizing on the theater and the difficulty in describing collaborative works in terms of individual efforts; Robbins briefly discusses Sondheim's work habits and methods [ends abruptly].

Series Statement

Jerome Robbins Collection

Alternative Title

Dance Audio Archive.

Subject

• Sondheim, Stephen
• Robbins, Jerome > Interviews

Note

• Interview probably conducted by Craig Zadan, ca. 1973, for his book Sondheim & co. (New York: Macmillian, 1974 and subsequent editions).
• The contents of discs 1 and 2 are summarized separately below. Disc 3 is a copy of the interview, and disc 4 contains unidentified piano music.

Access (note)

• Permission required.

Funding (note)

• Preservation made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Source (note)

• WNET/13

Call Number

*MGZTL 4-3077 JRC

OCLC

NYPT03-R24

Author

Robbins, Jerome, interviewee.

Title

Interview with Jerome Robbins. 1973? [sound recording]

Imprint

[ca. 1973]

Series

Jerome Robbins Collection

Access

Permission required.

Funding

Preservation made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Local Note

For transcript see *MGZMT 3-3077 JRC. The transcript was created by WNET/13 for the documentary: Jerome Robbins: Something to dance about.

For Craig Zadan's book, Sondheim & co. see MWES (Sondheim) 75-598, JNF 87-139 or JNF 90-245.

Archival transcript: *MGZMTO 3-3077 JRC

Archive original: *MGZTCO 3-3077 JRC

Preservation master: *MGZTP 10-3077 JRC

Dubbing master: *MGZTD 4-3077 JRC

Source

Transcript Gift; WNET/13, 2008. NN-PD

Connect to:

Request Access to Special Collections (Dance Division) material

Local Subject

Audiotapes -- Robbins, J.

Added Author

Zadan, Craig. Interviewer

Research Call Number

*MGZTL 4-3077 JRC