Loving You: The Untold Sondheim

Martin Milnes & Peter E Jones
  • 4.8 (46)
  • PERFORMING ARTS
  • WEEKLY SERIES

Made by Steve's friends, with Steve friends.

Episodes

  1. EPISODE 1

    Loving You: The Untold Sondheim - Season 1 Trailer

    Discover the Stephen Sondheim his friends knew and loved. Premieres on 5 March 2026 Loving You: The Untold Sondheim is an unprecedented new podcast series that paints an intimate and candid portrait of the man behind the myth. Hosted by Stephen Sondheim’s close friend, Martin Milnes, and his first love, Peter E Jones, this series offers a deeply personal look at Sondheim’s life. Through exclusive, never-before-released emails and informal chats, we draw back the curtain on the genius who changed musical theatre forever. Season 1 features celebrity voices from Steve’s inner circle, including  Julie Andrews, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Patti LuPone, Mia Farrow, Ronan Farrow and Maria Friedman.  Whether you are a lifelong fan or new to his work, this is Sondheim as he was known by those who loved him best. "I have to say that I absolutely adored him. If he had said, ‘Would you marry me?’ I think I would've seriously considered it because he was so darned attractive in an amazing way." — Julie Andrews Subscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app to get every episode the moment it is released. CHAPTERS: 00:00 The Personal Side of Broadway Giant Stephen Sondheim 00:34 Meet the Hosts: Steve’s Friend Martin Milnes and First Love Peter E Jones 00:50 An Unprecedented Tribute: Friends, Encouragers and Partners 01:09 Exclusive Insights: Unpublished Emails and Untold Stories 01:29 Loving You: A Podcast by Sondheim’s Friends, with Sondheim’s Friends SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Insta at Instagram. CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in association with: Creative Kin  Audio Engineer: Chris TravesOriginal Score: Peter E. JonesDevised, Directed and Written by Martin Milnes

    2 min
  2. Something's Coming | Discovering Stephen Sondheim: The Man, The Friend, The Partner

    EPISODE 1

    Something's Coming | Discovering Stephen Sondheim: The Man, The Friend, The Partner

    In this unprecedented tribute to legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, hosts Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones open a deeply personal window onto the Sondheim they knew and loved.  Peter – known affectionately as PJ – was Stephen Sondheim's former partner and first love. For 30 years, PJ remained at Steve's side as his lifelong trusted ally. Martin was Steve's close friend in the last six years of his life, bonding over a shared passion for obscure old movies. Together, PJ and Martin draw back the curtain on Stephen Sondheim's life away from spotlight; sharing the 'Steve' which only his friends got to see.  "We're going to embark on a quest, like going Into The Woods! To find not 'Stephen Sondheim' - but Steve. And share what a wonderful human being he was with the world." – Peter E. JonesThey share intimate memories from inside Stephen Sondheim's New York townhouse at 246 East 49th Street, including the famous "Six O'Clock Slot" – a cherished time when Sondheim loved to entertain guests with pure conversation and drinks.  And previously unheard stories of celebrity visitors, including Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, and Bradley Cooper. Stephen Sondheim's passion for Golden Age movies is uncovered, as well as the profound difference between his carefully curated public persona and the private optimist his friends knew. As a finale, Martin and PJ welcome a very special guest: Dame Julie Andrews. As a global musical theatre icon famed for landmark Broadway roles including Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and Queen Guinevere in Camelot, Dame Julie was a peer and lifelong friend of Stephen Sondheim. She recalls shared holidays - and how she would always "weep at Sondheim". "I think because one knew that Steve overcame so much in his youth, and then wrote so brilliantly and beautifully and wittily, and wickedly... it made me cry for so many reasons." – Dame Julie AndrewsSubscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Apple and all good podcast apps to get every episode the moment it is released. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introducing Stephen Sondheim: The man behind the legend 08:10 - Stephen Sondheim’s first love: Peter E Jones 11:59 - The "Six O'Clock Slot": Inside Sondheim’s New York townhouse 14:03 - Famous Faces: Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand & Bradley Cooper 18:05 - Sondheim's Obsession with Golden Age Cinema 29:28 - The Public Persona vs. The Private Optimist 34:07 - Sondheim, Bernstein and Robbins: Making West Side Story 38:17 - Professional Jealousy & The Complexities of Being an Icon 43:00 - Sondheim’s Early Years: A Complicated Childhood47:20 - Julie Andrews: A Six-Decade Friendship SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Instagram. CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in association with: Creative Kin  Mixing and Mastering: Phoebe Murdoch, Chris TravesDirected, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes Cast & Voice Actors Newscasters: Samuel Black, Maya Post, Jonathan Bruce-King, James Gower Smith, Rebecca Ridout, Bruce Graham, Yeukayi Ushe, Elen Mon Wayne, Susan Fleet and Jonathan ChristopherJulie & Steve's Alderney Photographer: Alan MilnesCredits: Mehran James McCullough Music & ScoreOriginal Podcast Score: Composed by Peter E. JonesInstrumental Tracks (Sondheim and Bernstein): Provided by Broadway Studio OrchestraMusic of Stephen Sondheim: Played by Colm Molloy"Too Many Mornings": Played by Gareth ValentineParty Pianist: Steve Ross (Played "How About You?" by Burton Lane and Ralph Freed) Featured Songs & Vocal Performances:"Some Enchanted Evening" (Rodgers & Hammerstein) & "Luck Be A Lady" (Frank Loesser): Sung by Barbra Streisand"If You Hadn't, But You Did" (Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green): Sung by Martin Milnes"You're Just in Love" (Irving Berlin): Sung by Ethel Merman"Soliloquy" (Rodgers & Hammerstein): Sung by John Raitt"Epiphany" (Stephen Sondheim): Sung by Len Cariou"I Have a Love" (Bernstein & Sondheim): Sung by Dame Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett"Then You May Take Me to the Fair" (Lerner and Loewe): Sung by Dame Julie Andrews"As Time Goes By": Written by Herman Hupfeld"Something Good": Composed by Richard Rodgers"33 Sondheim Numbers in 5 Minutes": Performed by Ferris and Milnes (Official music video available on YouTube) Acknowledgements & PermissionsLena Horne Audio: Used by kind permission of Ms. Horne's granddaughter, Jenny Lumet, and her daughter, the late Gail Lumet Buckley.Special Thanks to: Joshua Ellis, James L. Nederlander, and Christina Selby.

    1h 4m
  3. Talent | Sondheim's Friends: The Broadway Musical Giants

    EPISODE 2

    Talent | Sondheim's Friends: The Broadway Musical Giants

    Sondheim's list of 'Songs I Wish I’d Written (At Least In Part)' sparks memories and insights from Broadway's finest musical talents. Hosts Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones sit down with a powerhouse line-up of Broadway giants to explore the private, generous, and highly sentimental side of Stephen Sondheim.  Sondheim's esteemed friends and colleagues John Kander, Richard Maltby Jr, David Shire, Jonathan Tunick and Maury Yeston offer an unprecedented and unique view of Sondheim's musicianship, artistry and love of his friends' work. From glittering 1960s parties to intimate evenings drinking wine and listening to records in Sondheim's study, we learn, including through unpublished Sondheim emails, the respect and support this legendary composer-lyricist offered his peers. Hear how a young Jonathan Tunick was hired to orchestrate Company over 10 scotches, the true origins of the song "Being Alive," and how Steve's list of 'Songs I Wish I'd Written (At Least In Part)' served as his ultimate love letter to his peers. "Everybody thinks that Steve is actually as complicated as his music is ... He was a bubi! He was the sweetest man in the world." – Maury Yeston CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introduction: John Kander on Sondheim's Compassion and Generosity  05:16 - "Songs I Wish I'd Written": Exploring Sondheim’s Famous List  08:29 - Falling in Love Over Music: Peter E Jones and Stephen Sondheim  10:50 - The Prince Parties and Early Broadway Struggles: Maltby & Shire  17:35 - Sondheim's Secret Sentimentality  24:04 - Jonathan Tunick: Orchestrating the Genius of Stephen Sondheim  30:12 - "He Played What He Wrote": The Unique Process of Orchestrating Sondheim  35:29 - Maury Yeston: Sondheim’s Generosity and Modesty  43:42 - Peter E. Jones' Song On The List: "Bluellow"46:31 - John Kander: A 70-year Friendship Subscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Apple and all good podcast apps to get every episode the moment it is released. SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Instagram. CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in partnership with: Creative Kin  Mixing and Mastering: Phoebe Murdoch, Chris TravesDirected, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes CAST AND VOICE ACTORSAlistair McGowan, Eddie Andrews, Rebecca Ridout, Nathanael Hodgkiss, Taaron Jeram, Jude Peters, Melissa Redman, Mitchell Walsh, Jonathan Christopher, Mehran James McCullough DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENTSWritten by: Martin MilnesProduced by: Peter E. Jones MUSIC AND SCORE Original Score Composed by: Peter E. Jones Songs Produced & Mastered by: Chris Traves Musical Direction: Gareth Valentine Piano Accompaniment: Sam Young Sondheim Instrumental Tracks: Provided by Broadway Studio Orchestra Music of Stephen Sondheim: Played by Colm Molloy "Comedy Tonight": Played by Gareth Valentine "How Does the Wine Taste?" (Vamp): Composed by Harold Karr "Make A Wish" (Overture): Composed by Hugh Martin "A Hero's Love" (from The Sap of Life): Played by David Shire"Matchmaker, Matchmaker": Played by Steve Ross "Marlowe's Theme" (from Farewell, My Lovely) & "Salsatian" (from Saturday Night Fever): Composed by David Shire FEATURED SONGS & VOCAL PERFORMANCES "Travel" (by Maltby & Shire): Sung by Chloe Hopcroft, Nic Myers and Kit Pakapom "New Words" (by Maury Yeston): Sung by Lauren Jones "The Golden Willow Tree" (by Aaron Copland): Sung by Bruce Graham "Home" (by Kander and Ebb): Sung by Mildred Natwick and the original Broadway cast of 70 Girls, 70 "I'll Never Go There Anymore" (by Moose Charlap and Eddie Lawrence): Screeched by Moose Charlap on the original composers' demo tape "Hard Hearted Hannah" (by Milton Ager, Jack Yellen, Bob Bigelow and Charles Bates): Sung by Belle Baker"To Be Alive" and "How Do You Do I Love You?": Sung by Richard Maltby Jr and played by David Shire Excerpt from "Bluellow" (by Peter E. Jones): Sung by Lauren Jones and Shane O'Riordan

    57 min
  4. In The Movies | Sondheim & Golden Age Hollywood

    EPISODE 3

    In The Movies | Sondheim & Golden Age Hollywood

    In this unprecedented exploration, hosts Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones discover – in Sondheim’s own words – how Golden Age Hollywood profoundly shaped his personal world view in addition to his work. Featuring never-before-released emails between Steve and Martin, a 1953 letter from Steve in Hollywood, and the premieres of two unknown Sondheim songs in their first official recordings.   "Did I tell you about the silent movie stars, all ladies, who I grew up with as they played Mahjong etc in our living room?" – Stephen Sondheim to Martin Milnes  Steve and Martin’s mutual encyclopaedic knowledge of old movies sparked ‘a beautiful friendship’ unlike any since Steve’s college days with his movie-mad chums. From playing chess with Humphrey Bogart and imitating Bette Davis, to being star-struck around obscure character actors, Martin and PJ affectionately celebrate Steve’s unexpected love of camp and glittering life among the stars. With special appearances from renowned Script Supervisor Angela Allen (who met Sondheim in 1952 on the set of a notorious camp classic) and Broadway legend Patti LuPone, who recalls how Steve shared with her the original musical version of Sunset Boulevard. "Don’t show it to anyone. In fact, once you’ve read it, burn this email." – Stephen Sondheim to Martin Milnes CHAPTERS: 00:00 - “And Introducing” Steve, Martin, Spielberg & Hitler  05:34 - Steve’s Love of Gossip and “Life In Movie Terms”  15:58 - Steve’s Home Movie and The Origins of Pot in Company 20:26 - “Let’s Go To The Movies”: Influencing Steve’s Work 29:27 - Sunset Boulevard: Swanson, Steve & Patti 34:14 - “I’ll Never Forgive Myself”: Steve’s Shyness 37:01 - Bette Davis: Mayhem at Williams College  42:27 - Margaret Sullavan: “No Sad Songs For Me”47:05 - Maggie at “The Party Of The Stars”: A Sondheim World Premiere 53:50 - “Lunch With Hats”: The College Chums 56:43 - Torch Song: Steve’s Letter From Hollywood, 1953 Subscribe to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Apple and all good podcast apps to get every episode the moment it is released.  SUPPORT THE SHOW: ► SUBSCRIBE to Loving You: The Untold Sondheim in your podcast app and be sure to get every episode the moment it is released. ► RATE & REVIEW Leave a review in your podcast app and tell other Sondheim fans why they should listen. ► SHARE Don't keep it to yourself! Share Loving You: The Untold Sondheim with other Sondheim fans you know. ► FOLLOW Loving You: The Untold Sondheim on Instagram.   CREDITS Hosts and Producers: Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones Executive Producer: Jason Caffrey Produced in partnership with: Creative Kin  Mixing and Mastering: Phoebe Murdoch, Chris Traves Directed, Devised and Written by Martin Milnes   CAST AND VOICE ACTORSAlistair McGowan, Daniel Cane, Michael Aspel, Harry James-Taylor, Pauline Milnes, Martin’s Niece Tess, Melissa Redman, Rebecca Ridout, Rosanna Roscoe, Victoria Ward, Arthur Magee, Rosalind Russell, Karsci Wright, Theo Bracey, Sam Trotman, Jonathan Christopher, Samuel Black, Mehran James McCullough – and – legendary 1930s child star of British movie musicals – Hazel Ascot. DRAMATIC RE-ENACTMENTSWritten by: Martin MilnesProduced by: Peter E. Jones MUSIC AND SCORE Original Score Composed by: Peter E. JonesMusic and Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim: Courtesy of The Stephen Sondheim Trust Songs Produced & Mastered by: Chris Traves Musical Direction: Gareth Valentine Sondheim Instrumental Tracks: Provided by Broadway Studio Orchestra Music of Stephen Sondheim: Played by Colm Molloy Main Title from Beyond The Forest: Composed by Max Steiner “Concerto Macabre” from Hangover Square: Composed by Bernard Herrmann Music from Deception: Composed by Erich Wolfgang Korngold FEATURED SONGS & VOCAL PERFORMANCES "My Funny Valentine” (Rodgers & Hart): Sung by Mary Martin "I’m Still Here” (Sondheim): Sung by Nancy Walker "Let’s Go To The Movies” (Styne & Sondheim), “No Sad Songs For Me” and “The Party Of The Stars” (Sondheim): Sung by Martin Milnes "Those Wonderful People” (Hughes & Stapley): Sung by Gloria Swanson "Turn Me Loose On Broadway" (Duke, Cahn, Nash): Sung by Bette Davis "The Sound of Music” (Rodgers & Hammerstein): Sung by Jean Bayless

    1h 5m

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Made by Steve's friends, with Steve friends.

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