Humor, heart and a little theatrical sparkle await at Arkansas Repertory Theatre, where the company’s final production of the 2026 SummerStage season, “Side by Side by Sondheim,” opens this week.
Audiences are invited to experience the brilliance of one of musical theater’s most influential careers through a celebration of Stephen Sondheim’s wit, wisdom and extraordinary artistry.
“Side by Side by Sondheim” brings together some of Sondheim’s most memorable works, including songs from “West Side Story,” “Company,” “Follies,” “A Little Night Music” and “Gypsy.” With music and lyrics by Sondheim, along with music by Leonard Bernstein, Mary Rodgers, Richard Rodgers and Jule Styne, the production offers an intimate look at the songs that helped shape American musical theater.
But the evening is more than a collection of Broadway favorites.
Through anecdotes, commentary and behind-the-scenes stories, “Side by Side by Sondheim” explores the inspirations and theatrical worlds behind the music. Familiar favorites share the stage with unexpected gems, giving longtime fans a chance to revisit beloved songs while introducing newcomers to the remarkable career behind them.
At the center of that career is Sondheim himself, whose work spanned more than six decades. After studying with Oscar Hammerstein II, he became the lyricist for “West Side Story” and “Gypsy” before writing music and lyrics for groundbreaking productions including “Company,” “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” “Sunday in the Park with George” and “Into the Woods.” His work earned eight Tony Awards, an Academy Award, eight Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize, among other honors.
Sondheim’s songs are celebrated for their wit and emotional depth, often exploring the complicated parts of being human. Love, ambition, loneliness, memory and the choices people make all find their way into his work, proving that a song written decades ago can still ask questions that feel remarkably current.
The production features Broadway veterans David Hughey and Jennifer Jackson, Arkansas native Juwon Tyrel Perry and Marina Kondo, who made history as the first Asian actor to play Bobbie in a Broadway production of “Company.” Directed and choreographed by Christopher Campbell, the production brings together a talented creative team to celebrate Sondheim’s unmistakable voice.
“Side by Side by Sondheim” runs Sept. 9-20 at The Rep. Pay-What-You-Can preview performances will be held Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 9-10. Tickets for the previews must be purchased in person at The Rep’s Box Office, 601 Main St., on Wednesday, Sept. 9, beginning at 9 a.m.
Regular performances will be held Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 3 p.m.
For more information about “Side by Side by Sondheim” and to purchase tickets, visit The Rep website or call 501.378.0405. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram for the latest.
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