By: Darryl Reilly
“Love Is in the Air” from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and “Old Friends” from Merrily We Roll Along were gloriously performed by those supreme cabaret artistes Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano during their joyous mini recital. It was at a private cocktail party peopled by New York City theatrical figures which was held at Manhattan’s legendary Algonquin Hotel on September 8, 2025.
The event celebrated Abrams Books ComicArts’ publication of the volume Hirschfeld’s Sondheim. It contains over 50 of renowned caricaturist Al Hirschfeld’s (1903-2003) drawings of composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021) as well as many iconic representations of his historic Broadway musicals and his other works. The tome is a deluxe oversized 11 x 14-inch poster book which is also designed for pulling out to display 25 of one’s choice of favorite images. Bernadette Peters wrote the introduction and former chief New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley penned the foreword.
A sizeable selection of Hirschfeld’s Sondheim’s drawings are concurrently on view with the exhibition Strokes of Genius: Hirschfeld at the Algonquin. This is a dazzling selection of Hirschfeld’s idiosyncratic takes on 20th century show business greats via his illustrative portrayals. Distinctive takes of Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Groucho Marx, Liza Minnelli, and Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner together, and many other performing arts titans are all there and for sale. These pieces will be available to experience at the Algonquin until September 20th.
“This is just a taste of Sondheim!” exclaimed the jovial Al Hirschfeld Foundation’s Creative Director David Leopold (he wrote the book’s text) at the conclusion of Mr. Comstock and Ms. Fasano’s set. Mr. Leopold then explained the organization’s goal which is “to promote interest in the theater and dramatic arts by supporting not-for-profit museums, libraries, theaters and similar cultural institutions. The Foundation fulfills its mission by making grants to such organizations, by mounting exhibitions of Al Hirschfeld’s artworks at museums and other venues and by donating or lending Al Hirschfeld’s artworks to such organizations.”
Earlier, Leopold presented Veanne Cox, Danny Burstein, Lonny Price, and Boyd Gaines, with Hirschfeld drawings depicting their performances in Sondheim productions.
Hirschfeld’s Sondheim (September 9-20, 2025)
The Algonquin Hotel, 59 West 44th Street, in Manhattan
To purchase the book and for more information, visit www.alhirschfeldfoundationshop.org