Just about a year ago, in celebration of the Broadway opening of a revival of Stephen Sondheim's

classic musical Sweeney Todd, I had the unique and truly wonderful chance to sit down with one of

the original productions, original stars. On a cold, brisk January afternoon, singer and actress

Sarah Rice joined me in a Midtown Manhattan studio for a chat

about how she came to get the iconic role of Joanna in the premier production of Sweeney Todd,

how she worked with both Steven Sondheim and Hal Prince to create the role, and what it was like

working with her fellow stars, Angela Lansbury,

and Len Carreou, to collectively make Broadway theater history.

In addition, Sarah, who originally trained for an operatic career, shared insights from her

extensive experience playing so many leading ladies in the musical theater and on the opera stage,

as well as the

keys to singing and performing the complex music of Stephen Sondheim correctly, and how she

learned those insights directly from him.

Unexpectedly, Sarah left us earlier this winter, and is with profound sadness, but with a deep sense of tribute that we

here at the Gilded Gentleman are re-releasing her conversation with me in memory of Sarah's

exceptional work, vibrant, deeply giving personality, and compassionate human insight.

Sarah's bright, clear, exquisitely beautiful voice and everything she brought to her

characters, and most importantly, to those that knew her, will, however, without question, go on.

Bring finch and in it bird, nightingale, Blackbird, how is it you sing?

How can you jubilate, sitting in cages, never taking way?

Outside the sky waits

Be're creeping, beckoning, just beyond the boys.

...