Look Back at the Original Production of Company on Broadway | Playbill

Photo Features Look Back at the Original Production of Company on Broadway Stephen Sondheim’s seminal musical, starring Dean Jones, Elaine Stritch, Donna McKechnie, and more, opened 51 years ago at the Alvin Theatre April 26, 1970.
Dean Jones, Charles Braswell, and Elaine Stritch Friedman-Abeles/©NYPL for the Performing Arts

Stephen Sondheim’s seminal musical Company opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre April 26, 1970. The production, featuring music and lyrics by Sondheim and book by George Furth, ran for 705 performances before closing January 1, 1972. The production, directed by Harold Prince, would go on to be nominated for 14 Tony Awards, winning six, including Best Musical.

In a series of vignettes, Company tells the story of New York bachelor Bobby who learns about the perils and pleasures of love, marriage, dating and divorce from his married friends. In the five decades since its debut, the musical has returned to Broadway in 1995, 2006, and most recently in a gender-swapped production starring Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone, which began performances at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre March 2, 2020.

Look Back at the Original Production of Company on Broadway

The production starred Barbara Barrie as Sarah, Charles Braswell as Larry, Susan Browning as April, George Coe as David, John Cunningham as Peter, Steve Elmore as Paul, Beth Howland as Amy, Dean Jones as Robert, Charles Kimbrough as Harry, Merle Louise as Susan, Donna McKechnie as Kathy, Pamela Myers as Marta, Teri Ralston as Jenny, and Elaine Stritch as Joanne alongside Cathy Corkill, Carol Gelfand, Marilyn Saunders, and Dona D. Vaughn.

The production featured scenic and projection design by Boris Aronson, costume design by D.D. Ryan, lighting design by Robert Ornbo, and sound design by Jack Mann with stage management by James Bronson and Fritz Holt. Visit the Playbill Vault for the complete cast and creative team.

 
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