| This thesis is a history of Stephen Sondheim's musical Sunday in the Park with George (1984), which was inspired by Georges Seurat's masterpiece: Un dimanche a la Grande Jatte. By first examining the lives and careers of Seurat and Sondheim, a foundation is established to take a deeper look into the creation of this musical. It becomes clear how the lives of these two men intertwined to form a groundbreaking show. From its moment of conception to its closing night on Broadway, the history of the musical theatre piece is chronicled in detail. Through the recollections of the show's creators, stars, and critics, the ups and downs of this journey are revealed. Four other productions of this show are explored, all of which opened after the completion of the original Broadway run. These versions were put on at different times in various locations and take on unconventional styles, but each one proves that Sunday in the Park with George remains a Sondheim classic that has the power to change lives as it did history. |
