SONDHEIM STEPHEN Small archive of 14 brief Typed Letters Sig

Sale 2661 - Lot 146

Price Realized: $ 1,375

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 1,500 - $ 2,500

SONDHEIM, STEPHEN. Small archive of 14 brief Typed Letters Signed, "Steve" or in full, to Daniel Coyle or Brian Campbell, arranging meetings, giving travel plans, complaining of frustrated writing, explaining why some might believe he dislikes Philadelphia, discussing current or completed projects (including theatrical works Sunday in the Park with George (1983), Sweeney Todd (1979), King Lear (2007), and a book, Look I Made a Hat (2011)), and in the only letter to Campbell, thanking for news of [the death of] Coyle. Each 1 page, 8vo, personal stationery; horizontal fold. Each with the original envelope. [New York], 1973-2021

Set Alert for Similar Items

Additional Details

12 March 1973: ". . . I will have seen 'Seesaw' (this week). But if you'd like to have a drink at the end of the afternoon, I will keep some time free. Just call me . . . when you get to town."
28 August 1973: ". . . I've put in requests for 'The Poisoned Chocolates Case' both in New York and in England--it's been out of print for a long time, apparently, and will be most difficult to get. . . ."
6 November 1973: ". . . As for my projects this season, I'm really doing a number of people some favors: 'Candide' is one for Hal, I've just written some background music for Arthur Laurents' new play 'The Enclave', and I got through acting (which I hated) in 'June Moon' (which I love) for Burt Shevelove (whom I also love). . . ."
20 January 1975: ". . . I've started work on the new show [Pacific Overtures (1976)], and Hal wants a complete draft by May 1, so I dare not make any social engagements . . . ."
16 May 1984: ". . . Do come back and see the show [Sunday in the Park with George (1983)] now that the second act is finished (two more songs). Most people like it more than the first."
1 November 2004: ". . . I don't know where you read that I 'hate Philadelphia.' Probably, it has to do with Philadelphia as a tryout town in the old days--I used to quote Mike Nichols as saying it was the only city in the United States that he and Elaine May never wanted to go back to as performers. . . ."
16 January 2007: ". . . I'm in the process of finishing a musical and simultaneously writing background music for a production of King Lear, juggling both assignments with trips to England, where a movie of 'Sweeney Todd' is being made. . . ."
25 June 2009: ". . . I'm working steadily, mostly in Connecticut, to finish a book of collected lyrics with attendant essays, which is long overdue at Knopf [Look I Made a Hat (2011)]. . . ."