Screenvision will present the New York Philharmonic’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning musical Company. Through an arrangement with Ellen M. Krass Productions and the New York Philharmonic Screenvision will bring the special performance recorded live in New York at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall to its North American digital cinema network for a limited number of engagements beginning June 15. Headlining the cast are (in alphabetical order): Craig Bierko Stephen Colbert Jon Cryer Katie Finneran Neil Patrick Harris Christina Hendricks Aaron Lazar Patti LuPone Jill Paice Martha Plimpton Anika Noni Rose Jennifer Laura Thompson Jim Walton and Chryssie Whitehead. With music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by George Furth Company follows five couples and their bachelor friend Robert (Harris) exploring the true meaning of being in a relationship through a series of vignettes. Sondheim specialist Paul Gemignani conducts the New York Philharmonic with Jonathan Tunick’s original orchestrations. Lonny Price is the director; Josh Rhodes is the choreographer; Lonny Price and Matt Cowart are the producers and Ellen M. Krass is the executive producer. Company marks the latest addition to Screenvision’s alternate content strategy designed to bring events from the worlds of fine arts sports children’s programming and engaging documentary programming to the movie theater environment. These events are designed to help exhibitor partners maximize attendance during off-peak weeknights while providing patrons across North America an opportunity to experience captivating programming to which they otherwise would not likely have access. “Through the partnership with Ellen M. Krass Productions and the New York Philharmonic we’re thrilled to bring a show of this caliber to Screenvision exhibitor partners and their patrons ” says Darryl Schaffer executive vice president operations and exhibitor relations for Screenvision. “Screenvision remains committed to bringing appealing alternative programming opportunities to theaters nationwide.” “We are gratified to be able to share our production of Company with audiences in movie theaters across North America thanks to this arrangement with Screenvision through Ellen M. Krass Productions ” says Zarin Mehta president and executive director of the New York Philharmonic. “We are always looking for ways to bring our music to the greatest number of people such as through our iTunes Pass and our weekly internationally syndicated radio series and this is one more innovative way to do so.”
