Road Show might be one of the few, if not the only, Stephen Sondheim musical you aren’t familiar with. The show began its life as Wise Guys and was called Bounce before it opened at the Public Theatre in 2008. New York City Center’s Encores series is presenting a semi-staged production of Road Show in New York beginning tonight and running through Saturday.
Road Show tells the story of the Mizner brothers: Addison (Brandon Uranowitz) and Wilson (Raúl Esparza). Money becomes a big deal for the two brothers who pursue riches through the gold rush in Alaska through to burgeoning real estate opportunities in Florida in the early 1900s. Along the way they have major differences and end up apart.
I saw the show at the Public Theatre in 2008 and really liked the show. My favorite song in Road Show is “The Best Thing That Has Ever Happened” sung by Addison to his lover, Hollis (Jin Ha).
Here’s a clip from the 2008 production of that song:
John Weidman, who wrote the books for Pacific Overtures and Assassins, wrote the book for Road Show.
This production is directed and choreographed by Will Davis. The orchestrations are by Jonathan Tunick.
After the matinee performance on Saturday, Sondheim and Weidman will participate in a post-show conversation.
For tickets go here.
Photo: Raúl Esparza and Brandon Uranowitz in Road Show. Courtesy of New York City Center