After seven years away, Bernadette Peters returns to Broadway. Peters, known as one of the great interpreters of Stephen Sondheim's songs, will star with Lea Salonga in the musical tribute to the great composer and lyricist who died in 2021.
A hit when they did the show in London's West End, old friends will be presented in New York by the Manhattan Theater Club next spring. The show, conceived by Cameron Mackintosh and directed by Matthew Bourne, will take place at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. “It's basically a magazine without dialogue,” Peters says of the show. “I think people will have a wonderful experience and a great appreciation for Steve's music.”
Peters first worked with Sondheim more than four decades ago when he originated the role of Dot a Sunday in the Park with George alongside Mandy Patinkin. Playing the dueling role of George Surat's muse and then Marie, the painter and Dot's daughter, earned Peters her third Tony nomination. It was nominated for eight Tony Award nominations and won the Pulitzer Prize. He continued to collaborate with Sondheim, originating the part of the Witch a In the forest and starred in the revival of crazy things.
When discussing Peter's talents, Sondheim said, “Like very few, he sings and acts at the same time. Most performers act and then sing, act and then sing. . . . Bernadette is flawless as far as I'm concerned.” For Peters singing Sondheim's glorious songs continues to bring him joy in a profound way.
“Because Steve wrote the music and the lyrics, they're perfectly constructed songs,” says Peters. “He also wrote about what people go through at different times in their lives, basically the human experience that everyone can relate to. So I always find a way to go deeper and deeper when I sing his songs.”
Taking another deep dive into his past, Peters recently reunited with Breyers to reprise his role as the brand's spokesperson. He first became associated with the brand 32 years ago and appeared in several Breyers commercials. “It was really like a full-circle moment for me,” says Peters, who says she feels young practicing yoga.
The idea behind the ad is that when it comes to aging well, the benefits of feeling younger outweigh looking younger. Her tip for an anti-aging routine is to eat a Breyers CarbSmart “anti-aging cream.” Breyers commissioned a study that found a majority of Americans 55 and older say being healthy is key to living a full life, compared to 23% who said the same about looking physically young.
Peters continues to reflect on revisiting his connection to Breyers and how it has changed. “When I used to be the spokesperson for Breyers, it was in the 1990s, which was a different time. Since then, I've gained more life experience and learned tips and tricks to be more satisfied with life,” says l 'performer who has been acting professionally since she was little, appearing in the play. This is Goggle, directed by Otto Preminger. She was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Chita Rivera Awards.
“I think it's important to do the things in life that make you feel good and spark joy,” says Peters. “So this time with such an emotional campaign that's relevant to my own life, I feel connected and inspired by Remind all women that aging well isn't just how you look, it's how you feel and that includes enjoying of the simple pleasures of life”.
Jeryl Brunner: You're coming back to Broadway next spring doing Old Friends. How did you know you had to be a part of the show?
Bernadette Peters: I'm a huge Steve Sondheim fan. As long as I can sing his music and have the audience enjoy the depth and the breath and just the pure entertainment of what he writes, that's fine with me.
Brunner: You have such a deep and long connection with Stephen Sondheim. What do you miss most about him?
Peters: I miss being able to call Steve on the phone and ask his opinion on things and get his support. I miss his sense of humor. It was pretty funny.
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Brunner: Why does working with Breyers still resonate with you all these years later?
Peters: When Breyers came to me to reprise my role as the brand spokesperson for a CarbSmart campaign about redefining anti-aging, I knew I couldn't say no. When people ask me the secret to aging, I always express that it's not about how you look or the products you use. It's really about how you feel and taking time to enjoy the little things in life. I believe that enjoying the simple pleasures in life that are good for the soul should be considered part of a holistic anti-aging routine.
Brunner: What would you like people to know about Broadway Barks, the non-profit organization you founded with the late Mary Tyler Moore, which helps the event that helps shelter animals find forever homes?
Peters: Broadway Barks is very special to me. More and more, please understand the healing power of animals and how much they add to our lives. My dream is to keep it expanding and help animals everywhere. Last year we started a sister organization called West End Woofs in London and had great success with so many adoptions. It was such a huge hit. We will be returning to London this summer for a repeat performance of West End Woofs.
Bernadette Peters' Breyers campaign included a giant billboard in the heart of Times Square.