The Park, okay? On Sunday!

It opened in 1984...with a book by James Lapine,

words and music by Stephen Sondheim.

After his flop, Merrily We Roll Along (1981),

Sondheim almost left musical theatre, and thought about becoming

a mystery writer.

James Lapine helped lead him back "to the fold",

with a  viewing of Georges Seurat's masterpiece.

Lapine noted that the only one who wasn't in that painting was the artist himself.

 And that was it...Sondheim was at it again.

Above, Bernadette Peters as Dot, and Mandy Patinkin as Georges.

 At the original cast recording,

Mandy, Bernadette and Stephen.

 The set design by Tony Straiges,

featured a huge version of the Seurat painting...

and won both a Drama Desk and a Tony.

 Both Bernadette (above) and Mandy were nominated

for Drama Desk Awards and Tonys,

but didn't win. 

However, Sondheim and Lapine were awarded

the Putlitzer Prize for Drama for their efforts.

Best Musical Tony went to La Cage Aux Folles that year.

 Frank Rich, of The New York Times, said,

  "Mr. Sondheim and Mr. Lapine have created an audacious, haunting 

and, in its own intensely personal way, touching work."

604 performances...