Company 101: A Look at a Sondheim Masterpiece

Company 101 - A Primer on Sondheim's Masterpiece

What is Company about?

On the night of his 35th birthday, confirmed bachelor, Robert, contemplates his unmarried state. Over the course of a series of dinners, drinks and even a wedding, his friends – "those good and crazy people [his] married friends" – explain the pros and cons of taking on a spouse. The habitually single Robert is forced to question his adamant retention of bachelorhood during a hilarious array of interactions.

In a series of comedic vignettes, Bobby interacts with his (or her, depending on the production) married friends — some of whom have happy marriages, others on the brink of divorce. And through it all, the character wonders, "What do you get?"

Diep Tan with the New York Theater Guide wrote: “At the time it was written, in 1970, Company was revolutionary in exploring dating and relationships in the modern age, when phones and the fast-paced world of New York City have made it seemingly impossible to find a real connection. As Sondheim wrote in his book Finishing the Hat, Company is about "the challenge of maintaining relationships in a society becoming increasingly depersonalized." And a real connection, as the musical points out, is the key to "being alive." Talk about a musical that's only grown more relevant with time!”

So what is a Linear Musical? A Concept Musical?

A linear musical play is one where the story progresses in a single, continuous chronological order from beginning to end, much like a traditional narrative or a completed recording. It follows a clear plot structure with a defined starting point, middle, and ending, without significant interruptions, digressions, or interactive elements that would change the order of events.

A concept musical is a Broadway show that emphasizes a central theme, idea, or message over a traditional, linear plot, often using vignettes or a series of scenes to explore different facets of the concept. Pioneered by directors like Harold Prince and composers like Stephen Sondheim, these musicals, such as A Chorus Line, Company, and Chicago, blend form and content to explore a singular vision, creating a tapestry-like theme rather than a conventional story.

When did Company premiere?

Company actually began in the late '60s as a series of short plays about marriage written by the playwright George Furth. Stephen Sondheim read the plays and asked famed Broadway director Harold Prince for his thoughts. Prince had the idea to turn the plays into a musical, and he would go on to direct the original production of Company. Sondheim then realized that in all of the plays, there was one outsider character looking in on the action. For the musical, the outsider characters were merged into one character named Bobby. Company had its pre-Broadway tryout in Boston at the Shubert Theatre beginning March 24, 1970. Despite mixed reviews, Company opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre just a month later, on April 26, 1970, and was a success.

What notable songs are in Company?

The musical includes the showstoppers "Being Alive" and "The Ladies Who Lunch," the speedy tongue-twister "Getting Married Today," and the slower and more pensive "Marry Me a Little."

What awards has Company won?

Company is a crowd-pleaser and a critical hit. Here is a partial list of the honors that Company has won. Including these awards, Company has won awards from Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Awards.

1970 Broadway production: It won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Score, Best Lyrics, Best Direction of a Musical, and Best Scenic Design.
1995 London revival: It won three Olivier Awards, including Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical, and Best Director.
2006 Broadway revival: It won one Tony Award: Outstanding Revival of a Musical.
2018 West End revival: It won four Olivier Awards, including Best Musical Revival, Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical, Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical, and Best Set Design.
2022 Broadway revival: Company won five Tony Awards — the most out of any musical. Company wins included: Best Revival of a Musical, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Matt Doyle), Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical (Patti LuPone), Best Direction of a Musical (Marianne Elliott), and Best Scenic Design of a Musical (for Bunny Christie).

What Celebrities have performed in Company?

Company is catnip for celebrities. Many big names have starred in the show, either in fully staged productions or in concert productions, attracted to the witty wordplay and the showstopping songs. Here are some notable people who've starred in Company. Celebrities include: Neil Patrick Harris, Patti LuPone, Elaine Stritch, Stephen Colbert, and Christina Hendricks.

Company definitely fits the criteria of award-winning shows for OCT’s Golden Anniversary Season. Company has a Broadway Pedigree that all shows aspire to. It has numerous awards. Get your tickets today you do not want to miss this special attraction. Sondheim comes to OCT’s historic theatre.

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OCT Announces Its 51st Season: Around the World in Five Plays

By Andy Rassler • December 19, 2025

Old Courthouse Theatre is excited to introduce its historic 51st season. Kim Baysinger, chair of the theatre's Programming Committee said at our live announcement: “The traditional anniversary gift for those experiencing their 51st year together is MARBLE. And like that coveted stone, OCT is set to gift you with a 51st season that is solidly beautiful!” After a year-long vetting, reading, and voting process, the Programming Committee sent its season recommendations to the OCT Board of Directors. For this knock-out season, the vote was unanimous. Our season opener, set in long ago France, is a swashbuckler full of action and adventure; a classic tale turned on its comedic ear by America’s preeminent comic playwright. We begin our season with Ken Ludwig’s The Three Musketeers ! What better way to enter fall with all its spooky thrills than to be mesmerized by the greatest selling novelist of all time? From the UK, a tale of murder, police, invisible ink, hidden doorways and secret drawers. OCT offers up the comedy thriller from Agatha Christie… Spider’s Web ! Our eyes look to New York City and the time of the Great Depression for our holiday show this season. On the heels of our successful last few years of holiday shows, we are leapin’-lizards-over-the-moon-a-tingle to bring you the most iconic musical of all time, Annie . Likely a new title for you, our February show comes from a writing team known for their ‘knock it out of the park’ comedies. Trust us when we say: This one is off-the-charts funny! Put together a wedding at a venue across the country, a Mama who won’t get on an airplane, and a quirky set of characters getting in a car together, and you’ve got: HILARITY. Otherwise known as Mama Won’t Fly . This is a ‘please don’t miss this one’ type of show, and we are thrilled to be producing it. We end our season with a title that just belongs on the OCT stage. It brings so much of OCT, Concord, and our mission together in one place, and when the rights became available, OCT pounced with no hesitation. The Avett Brothers started here. Their roots are here. They belong here. Their success has been a blessing for our community for years, and (for those who haven’t followed them) they recently extended their work from the concert stage to Broadway. We are absolutely awe-struck and humbled to be producing the newly-released and regional premiere of: Swept Away . It is our hope that we are offering a little something of solid beauty for everyone in our 51st season. As we continue to grow, expand, and work to serve our community, the OCT board and volunteers promise to devote all of our talents, time, and energy to producing the best versions of these plays for you, our family of supporters. See you at the theatre.