Thursday, November 7
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Registration Required Below
On the surface, Stephen Sondheim’s 1987 masterpiece Into the Woods brings familiar characters from folklore and fairytale to the stage. And yet, this particular show is anything but a smooth jaunt through the titular woods – rather, it is a brilliantly crafted allegory that asks the audience to meditate on themes such as wish fulfillment, causal relationships, maturation, and community responsibility.
During this program, Professor Gil Harel will discuss Sondheim’s exceedingly intricate score and the way leitmotif features so prominently in the music. He will also discuss the initial reception of the show, and how its legacy endures today.
About Our Speaker
Gil Harel (PhD, Brandeis University) is an award-winning musicologist and composer whose interests include styles ranging from western art music to contemporary musical theater. He is Full Professor of Music at CT State Naugatuck Valley, where he conducts the college chorale, a cappella ensemble, teaches music history and theory, and serves as musical director of theater productions.
This is a hybrid series of programs that will take place both live at the Library, and virtually over Zoom. For a full experience we recommend attending this program live at the Library.
Scroll to the bottom of the screen to register for the In-Person option.
Would you prefer instead to attend the program virtually, over Zoom? Click here to register for the virtual option.
Broadway Blockbusters: Dates & Topics:
- Part I October 9— Fiddler on the Roof
- Part II November 7 — Into the Woods
- Part III January 9 — Wicked