The Great Stephen Sondheim

Start a new holiday tradition by streaming Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods,” starring local favorite actress Meryl Streep. Photo courtesy IMDB
Stephen Sondheim died last week at age 91. He transformed the American musical. Ranking his musicals seems futile; they are all so different and almost all so good. Some of his best-known work, such as “Follies” and “Company,” is poorly suited for film adaptation, but two of his finest shows have had successful movie versions.
“Into the Woods”
I saw the acclaimed 2019 Barrington Stage production of this much-loved show and came away thinking it doesn’t get any better than this. So I approached the film warily. But I doubt even the most fervent Sondheim worshippers will complain much about this spectacular 2014 Disney production, directed by Rob Marshall and starring Meryl Streep.
Sondheim and James Lapine have conjured up a captivating look at several fairy tales — Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood — and intertwined them with a tale of their own.
A baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) are sent on a quest by a witch (Streep) to find the following items in order to have a baby: “A cow white as milk, cape red as blood, hair yellow as corn, and slipper pure as gold.”
During their adventures in the woods they encounter classic characters including Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), her evil stepmother (Christine Baranski) and the big bad wolf (Johnny Depp).
The first act (or 1:15 into the film) ends with the success of their quest and everyone perhaps living happily ever after.
Something quite different happens in the second act (final 45 minutes). The story moves away from fairy tales and begins to resemble the way we live now; that is to say, it gets a lot darker. Some will survive; some won’t.
The finale rewards us with a hopeful ending, two of Sondheim’s loveliest songs — “Children Will Listen” and “No One Is Alone” — and perhaps a few tears.
If you would like to step up from the usual holiday movies, gather the family and watch this wonderful show. Stream on Disney, rent on Amazon.
‘Sweeney Todd’
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is definitely not a family show — unless you are the Addams Family. I saw the stage version during a 1989 revival at Circle In The Square, which was like having a front row seat at a slaughterhouse.
Tim Burton (“Edward Scissorhands,” “Batman”) directed the 2007 DreamWorks film and was the perfect man for the job. Johnny Depp was cast as Todd, not an obvious choice — Jack Nicholson must have been tied up (“Here’s Sweeney!”) — but Depp gave a fine performance that won him a Golden Globe and an Oscar. Helena Bonham Carter plays Mrs. Lovett, and Sacha Baron Cohen makes a brief but splashy appearance.
Many of you will recall the plot. Todd returns to London after a false imprisonment, obsessed with avenging the judge who sent him away and took custody of his lovely daughter, Johanna. He gets his revenge but not before entering into a scheme to provide meat for Mrs. Lovett’s pies. Much slaughter ensues. The conclusion is a shocking stew of intrigue, retribution and carnage, with some relief being provided by the romance between a young sailor and Johanna.
The thrilling Sondheim score holds this dark melodrama together. Some songs may be familiar — “Pretty Women” and “Johanna” — but, as in all of his shows, the action does not pause for songs; they move the story along, like dialogue or opera. The director of the Metropolitan Opera reportedly was willing to stage “Sweeney” at the Met.
Turn up the brightness on your TV and stream it on Hulu or rent on Amazon.
This is a developing story. Updates will be made as more information becomes available.
MILLERTON — Northern Dutchess Paramedics, the private emergency medical service provider contracted by North East, Amenia and Dover, is set to be acquired by Empress EMS, Town Supervisor Chris Kennan said at a special workshop meeting of the town board on Tuesday evening, Aug. 26.
Kennan shared what he called “breaking news” shortly after calling the meeting to order.
“We just learned that Northern Dutchess Paramedics has entered into a sales agreement with Empress, which serves most of Dutchess County,” he announced at the start of the meeting, which was originally scheduled to fine-tune zoning language for the town's commercial district.
Empress EMS is part of PatientCare EMS Solutions, a provider of emergency medical services that operates throughout the country under several brands, including Sunstar Paramedics, Med Fleet Ambulance, FleetPlus and School of EMS. PatientCare is owned by A+M Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut, which provides the company with financial backing and corporate oversight.
Kennan said he received a call from NDP owner Ed Murray with the news on Friday.
In a phone call with The News on Wednesday morning, Aug. 27, NDP Chief Operating Officer Mark Browne confirmed that while the acquisition “is on-schedule to happen,” the paperwork is not yet final.
While a potential shift in ownership could bring a variety of changes to North East and Millerton, including EMS response time, cost and the health and safety of the community, Supervisor Kennan said he received a verbal indication that Empress would honor the town’s existing contract with NDP, which was renewed for three years in December.
In 2025, the town is paying $511,558 for contracted services with NDP and the cost is expected to increase to $746,345 by 2027.
“In the short term, we should not be impacted by this change,” Kennan said. He added that the current contract with NDP has a stipulation that any new owner must honor the existing contract.
The news comes after Kennan and other towns have criticized the high costs of emergency medical services, which makes up a sizable chunk of the town’s budget and burdens taxpayers. Along with the Association of Towns, Kennan has urged New York Governor Kathy Hochul to sign a bill that has passed in the Senate and the Assembly and would exempt EMS services from the state’s property tax cap, giving local governments more flexibility to manage costs and sustain their EMS programs.
The bill would allow municipalities to better respond to EMS price hikes in their budgets, but it otherwise does not address those rising costs or poorer-than-typical service in rural communities like North East, Amenia and Dover.
Based in Yonkers, Empress EMS has a hub in Poughkeepsie and operates in Dutchess, Westchester, Rockland, Ulster, Putnam, Sullivan and Orange counties, as well as the Bronx. The company’s acquisition of NDP marks its continued expansion north – in 2021 Empress purchased EMStar and Mobile Life, pushing its way deeper into the Hudson Valley.
In January, Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino announced that Empress won the bid to become the primary provider of supplemental EMS services, a move made by the county in an effort to address long wait times for 911 calls. While successful in more densely populated areas, rural areas like North East, Amenia and Dover saw no visits from the supplemental services in quarter two of 2025.
According to the 2025 second quarter EMS report published by Dutchess County, all but one town in the county is serviced by either NDP or Empress. The merger would make Empress the sole EMS provider in the county except for the City of Beacon.
While there is no confirmed timeframe for the transition of ownership, Kennan said NDP owner Ed Murray indicated it was “moving quickly.”
While playing outside in the early post-pandemic days, Berkshire Busk! founder Eugene Carr had an epiphany: why not expand the idea of performing on the street (aka busking)into a full-fledged festival in Great Barrington?
As an entrepreneur and cellist, Carr envisioned a well-organized jamboree featuring regional talent, including musicians, acrobats, storytellers, fire-eaters, and more. He formed a team, connected with local businesses and the town of Great Barrington, and launched Berkshire Busk! in 2021. Since then, Berkshire Busk! has grown into a summer staple for Great Barrington.
In the summer of 2024, over 25,000 people experienced Berkshire Busk!. The festival is free to the public, provides a big boost to local businesses, and spectators can tip performers.
Busking takes place all over the world, either organized by individual performers or via busking festivals. Artists like The Roots, Tracy Chapman, Phoebe Bridgers, and Old Crow Medicine Show have all cut their teeth performing on the street.
General Manager Carli Scolforo is a Berkshire native with a love of music and writing. She can often be seen roaming the streets of Great Barrington, making sure everything’s in order, and serves as the festival’s face on social media.
“This year is the fifth anniversary of Berkshire Busk!, and it’s been an amazing summer,” said Scolforo. “We were able to welcome back a lot of our favorite performers, and bring in some new experiences as well. After getting rained out last year, we were able to host our first outdoor movie night in partnership with The Triplex Cinema and the Boondocks Film Society.”
Scolforo added, “This summer, we also introduced our first Open Mic Night, hosted by local recording artist and music producer Jackson Whalan. We were really pleased with the turnout of talent. The sheer amount of talent that’s hidden within an hour or so drive of Great Barrington always astounds us.”
Local businesses sponsor various busking spots, like the Berkshire Money Management Stage in the parking lot between the Triplex Cinema and Mama Lo’s BBQ. Typically, buskers bring their own amplification, while there are few spots — such as Berkshire Mountain Distillery in Sheffield — provide power.
Berkshire Busk! will end its season with a fireworks display on its last night on Saturday, Aug. 30.
Berkshire Busk! is endorsed by the Select Board of the Town of Great Barrington and is entirely supported by sponsorship fees from companies and organizations, as well as philanthropic donations from granting organizations, individuals and the Town of Great Barrington.
It operates under a fiscal sponsorship agreement with the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires and participates in Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program — in collaboration with the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Department of Public Health’s WIC Nutrition Program, the Massachusetts Health Connector, and hundreds of organizations — by making cultural programming accessible to those for whom cost is a participation barrier.
For more information, visit: berkshirebusk.com
What if the dog onstage was played by a person? That’s the delightful twist in A.R. Gurney’s “Sylvia,” opening at the Sharon Playhouse on Aug. 29. In this clever and heartfelt comedy, the title character — a stray pup who disrupts the lives of a married couple — is portrayed not in costume but by an actor who brings insight, charm, and chaos to the role.
Stepping into Sylvia’s paws is Jen Cody, who is returning to the Sharon Playhouse in a starring role for her third year in a row, ready to bring this spirited dog to life. She’s joined by Jonathan Walker as Greg, the middle-aged man smitten with his new four-legged friend, and Jennifer Van Dyck as Kate, his wife, whose patience and identity are tested by Sylvia’s sudden presence in their home.
Directed by Colin Hanlon, this production balances elements of comedy and emotional depth. Gurney’s script may be filled with laughs but at its core, “Sylvia” explores loyalty, companionship, and how love sometimes arrives in unexpected forms. The play premiered Off-Broadway in 1995 and has since become an audience favorite for its wit, warmth, and originality.
Rounding out the cast is Sienna Brann, taking on a trio of roles that highlight the play’s comic versatility. The design team includes Christopher and Justin Swader (scenic), Kathleen DeAngelis (costumes), Bobbie Zlotnik (wigs), Wheeler Moon (lighting), and Graham Stone (sound), ensuring the story is grounded in a fully realized world, albeit one occasionally seen from a dog’s point of view.
Performances run through Sept. 7 at the Sharon Playhouse. For tickets and more information, visit sharonplayhouse.org.