Imagine trying to belt a Sondheim showstopper while Stephen himself and a room full of turtlenecked theater guys judge you at 2 a.m.
This is the best behind-the-scenes documentary on Broadway I’ve seen.
Trailer for “Original Cast Album: Company”
I couldn’t find a formal trailer for this doc so I’m including these 2 clips:
Elain Stritch singing The Ladies Who Lunch:
And here’s a look at more of the cast and the producers:
Barbar Barrie — Barbara is a family friend of mine so I want to include a clip of her in it here (at 15 sec mark):
Watch “Original Cast Album: Company”
You can watch “Original Cast Album: Company” for free on YouTube here:
You can also watch it free here on YouTube:
..or watch it on HBO Max here.
You can find the latest streaming options at: JustWatch
Ratings:
- My Rating: 94
- /100
- IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 95/100 (Users); 100/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: D.A. Pennebaker directed this 53-minute documentary. He’s best known for “Dont Look Back” (which I rank 98/100), “Original Cast Album: Company” (94/100) and “Daybreak Express” (91/100). A pioneer of Direct Cinema, Pennebaker captured artists in the act of creating—and this one’s a time capsule of musical perfection under pressure.
Release Date: December 1970 (originally aired on PBS as part of the “Original Cast Album” series)
My Review of “Original Cast Album: Company”
The Setup — “Original Cast Album: Company” is 53 minutes of Broadway stress, genius, and vocal strain.
The doc drops you right into the studio in 1970 as Stephen Sondheim and producer Harold Prince try to capture lightning in a bottle. What makes this special is how little it explains—no narration, no backstory, just raw moments as actors sweat through impossible vocals and Sondheim quietly seethes when they don’t hit it.
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Elaine Stritch, trying (and failing) to nail “The Ladies Who Lunch,” grows visibly more frustrated as the hours drag on, then comes back the next day and nails it in one take—with bourbon and vocal rest.
- The cast records for 18 straight hours. At one point, Donna McKechnie blinks in confusion mid-note. She looks like she’s forgotten what year it is.
- Sondheim hums the tempo himself to correct the orchestra—just casually out-geniusing everyone in the room.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Dean Jones records “Being Alive” after announcing he’s quitting the show—and delivers a version so emotional it stuns the control room.
- Beth Howland does “Getting Married Today” in a single dizzying take. Fastest patter song on Broadway? No problem.
- Thomas Z. Shepard orchestrates chaos from the booth with a dangling cigarette and iron nerve.
Cameos
Broadway lovers will geek out at the presence of Donna McKechnie, Charles Kimbrough and Barbara Barrie. Plus, Sondheim himself—stoic, cerebral, and softly brutal.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Elaine Stritch’s vocal coach was in the booth signaling her—until Sondheim asked him to stop.
- They went so long recording that union rules forced the session musicians to rotate in and out.
- The final version of “The Ladies Who Lunch” wasn’t from the marathon session—it was recorded fresh the next morning with makeup, turtleneck, and vengeance.
Wrap Up
I believe “Original Cast Album: Company” is an honest documentary about the pain of perfection in art. If you’ve ever loved a Broadway cast recording, this is the blood, sweat and Sondheim behind it.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc