Due to the Coronavirus crisis, plans for the annual Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year (#SSSSPOTY) were sadly cancelled. The week that lockdown was announced, 70 students from colleges nationwide had been due to travel to London, in order to select 12 finalists to compete for Student Performer of the Year 2020 in June.
The Stephen Sondheim Society (SSS) is a charitable trust founded upon the work of composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim to provide education, support and encouragement to up-and-coming young performers and the theatre community. SSSSPOTY is a focal point for the SSS each year and supports graduating students honing their acting through song skills by performing Sondheim. This would have been the 14th year of a competition that has seen winners such as Taron Egerton and finalists including Cynthia Erivo. Last year’s winner Stuart Thompson appeared as Geoff in A Taste of Honey, National Theatre tour and Trafalgar Studios; and finalists included Lily Kerhoas, Cosette in Les Miserables, The Concert and West End ; Cameron Burt, Sky in Mamma Mia and Oisin Nolan-Power, Ben in Rags the Musical, Park Theatre and Cast Recording.
Despite being unable to stage the competition this year, the SSS have sought ways to support this year’s SSSSPOTY entrants as they face graduating into such difficult industry conditions. As a result, they put together the SSSSPOTY 20220 Sondheim Masterclass, with a panel of leading theatre influencers, with a wealth of Sondheim experience, including:
Daniel Evans,currently artistic director at Chichester Festival Theatre and two times Olivier Award winner in Best Actor in a Musical for Sunday in the Park with George and Merrily We Roll Along.
Fra Fee, soon to play Patrick/Pussy in Breakfast on Pluto and WhatsOnStage winner for Best Supporting Actor for The Ferryman.
Nigel Lilley, Musical Director for Follies, Caroline or Change and the sadly postponed Sunday in the Park with George.
Charlotte Sutton, Casting Associate for Chichester Festival Theatre and Marianne Elliot’s Company, plus the postponed Sunday in the Park with George and Assassins.
Alex Young, previous SSSSPOTY winner (2010), recently Polly, Standing at the Sky’s Edge and Brutus, Corialanus, both at Sheffield Crucible. Also Young Sally, Follies at National Theatre and Sally Smith, Me and My Girl, Chichester Festival Theatre.
