Darren Criss in Six By Sondheim - Opening Doors

Darren Criss, Jeremy Jordan, Laura Osnes and America Ferrera in Six By Sondheim, performing 'Opening Doors' from Sondheim's 'Merrily We Roll Along'.

[@TheHManShow]

"I rewrote the rewrite" My favorite Sondheim line ever!! It relates to every writer out there

[@ingwerschorle_]

"Her withers wither with 'er" Go on then ;)

[@spentipede]

Literally was just thinking this very same thought today. Talk about the agony of writing.

[@patrickblake123]

I was just dealing with that feeling yesterday lol

[@199660Maria]

amazing things happen when you put guys like Darren Criss and Jeremy Jordan together....

[@mattmanning4252]

Maria Llamanator and when you add Laura Osnes

[@angelicazara7982]

Uh don’t forget america Ferrara!!!

[@mappingoutthesky]

When Sondheim started singing, it warmed my heart. He's so missed ❤️

[@MissxCassandra]

It's great because Sondheim is known for making music without "hummable" melodies

[@JazzKeyboardist1]

Hey. I thought of Steve's hummable quotes when Hamilton won the Tony

[@carolinenicole9848]

YES I always think of that when I hear that part lol!!!!

[@albertdiner]

and people critisized jerry herman when he mentioned that shows on Broadway lacked "hummable" melodies. This happened when JERRY HERMAN won the TONY for LA CAGE AX FOLLES and Stephen Sondheim lost for SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE.

[@briantomoconnor]

Yes. I love that part. Sondheim getting back at his critics. (Of course, they're all wrong. I've been humming Sondheim tunes for decades...)

[@Bloodyheroesandlegends]

Who else want a whole musical starring Darren & Jeremy? I’d love that!

[@Arualx]

ME!

[@michelapezzini5437]

Please!!!

[@bam9480]

and america!!

[@leizlalfonso7084]

Me, please! But if you have the full show, would love it! Thanks!

[@Totallyawesomemegagirl]

YES PLEASE !

[@Wyrd.wytch89]

I had no clue that America Ferrera was such a great singer!! She would make a fantastic Mary in this!!

[@miawatson2146]

The man himself criticizing his own work, I love this song!

[@cannibalisticrequiem]

He wasn't really criticizing himself so much as poking fun at agents/critics that have told him that over his storied history.

[@carolinenicole9848]

No ones talking about America omg she rocked this!

[@jennifervotava9077]

Laura osnes, jeremy jordan, darren criss AND MERILY WE ROLL ALONG FEATURING SONDHEIM HIMSELF Ok thats it, I can die happy now

[@cbh4166]

Darren looks like he's really from that era

[@thebenjaminsm]

The irony of the line 'The tune has to be hummable', is that Sondheim personally hates that saying. He doesnt actually care if the tune is hummable or not.

[@gracieliz95]

Ben Cronin clearly 😂

[@namratajuneja9968]

yeah this whole show is fairly autobiographical! It was the one thing producers told him bout his own music, and he was always frustrated by it

[@mapanzer]

No, the whole show is not autobiographical, it is only this one song. The show is based on a Kaufmann and Hart play.

[@goldenstate5]

Which is doubly ironic considering Merrily is definitely is most tuneful score.

[@ryangrippi5766]

Rest In Peace Mr. Sondheim. Thanks for all that you did for musical theatre lovers everywhere!

[@kerrybellew6868]

I’d kill to see Jeremy Jordan do ‘Franklin Shepard Inc’

[@mistressoverdone4492]

A nice inanimate cameo here: at 1:40, Criss is writing music with a Blackwing pencil (identifiable by its elliptical eraser). The Blackwing is Sondheim’s writing instrument of choice. He loves them so much that when they were discontinued in the ‘90s, he bought up a stockpile to supply him for the remainder of his life . Fortunately a company called Palomino has revived Blackwings, so you can try one out if you want.

[@d.f.4830]

Eyyyy a fellow nerd 💖

[@nalkarj2840]

Responding to your comment three years later, but thanks for pointing that out! I wouldn’t have noticed despite knowing of Sondheim’s love for Blackwings. I was going to point out that “Allegro” poster, also a nice touch.

[@ChrisColeChicago]

Blackwings are the best.

[@Kristine_202]

The current production is perfection, but I wouldn't mind seeing these four take a stab at it. They're all fantastic.

[@kativancik1465]

How have I not seen this before?!

[@partyinthetardis]

is it ironic that i find this song very hummable?

[@miawatson2146]

That's the point.

[@Northfan42]

You're not alone. Most of the songs from Merrily were uncharacteristically hummable amongst Sondheim's other work, but the theme of lacking hummable melodies is definitely an autobiographical detail from Sondheim's own life.

[@mckenna8663]

hahaha, me too

[@Caio0_057]

I don't really like it when someone calls Sondheims work "without melody" or "unhummable" Bc that may describe a tiny portion of his work. His melodies are unusually complex, yes, but they are there and very often amazingly catchy and epic. It's true that he doesn't care if his melodies are hummable but he does write amazing melodies, some of the best in the industry, if hummable or not.

[@Sheila42]

I spent months before this came out avoiding all the articles about it so I wouldn't have spoilers, and when Sondheim showed up as Josephson I flipped out! The man himself, playing his own antithesis. Brilliant.

[@TheBabysittersReview]

+Sheila O'Neill So was merrily we roll along finally made into a movie?

[@miawatson2146]

+Cheyenne Printup sadly no, this was a part of HBO's Six by Sondheim documentary 😢

[@sitdownyourerockingthegoat8855]

@@TheBabysittersReview I know this comment was from 3 years ago lol but THEY'RE MAKING A MOVIE VERSION NOW!!! STARRING BEN PLATT!!! Although, they're filming it in chronological order and in real time so it's taking them something like 20 years to film so it'll be a WHILE until it comes out but I'm so excited. I can't choose who I love more as Frank, Ben or Darren. I love them both so much. After this video I could kill for a movie starring these four (even though I've never heard of the girl who plays Mary) because I'm a huge Darren Criss and Jeremy Jordan fan and Laura can SING, I still think the movie with Ben Platt is going to be amazing, or I at least hope it will be. Hopefully it doesn't slop as much as the musical did haha

[@flannerymonaghan-morris1317]

Underoos_Quackson well, reverse chronological order. He’s playing charley, not Franklin. His best friend Beanie Feldstein is playing Mary, and Blake Jenner is playing Franklin Shepherd.

[@missfimofolle5157]

Darren is the cutest thing ever

[@saram.knight9930]

Jeremy and Darren singing together is a dream for me.

[@littlegiry]

I want these four to be in the movie adaptation of this musical(if ever it happened)

[@flannerymonaghan-morris1317]

It is happening...linklater is filming it over 20 years, but not with these folks.

[@ashefrazier6980]

"I threw out the story, and then the musician, I'm moving to popular science" is my favorite line.

[@Coquete82L]

How? How am I just finding this?!? I love Darren and America and Jeremy so much!

[@redpoppy3466]

Mr. Sondheim killed it - I NEED a revival of this with Jeremy, Darren, America and Laura!

[@mikawhofan]

Darren and Jeremy both look star struck working with Sondheim.. Also this needs to be a movie with all 3 of them.

[@seansolis6157]

from 5:50 till the end is why sondheim is amazing when you first hear it it sounds like they are actually just mumbling but when you listen (and look up the lyrics) you can hear each individual and what they are saying its amazing

[@francescoroberts3841]

"You don't have to we'll segue the end of it into the dance we cut out, no we'll use it but not with the long introduction, we'll worry about it on Sunday" This overlap is amazing. and very hard. the one in It's a Hit is worse though. Playing Frank in London was the best time of my life.

[@srt42893]

If there is ever a revival of this show on Broadway I want everyone in this video to be in it

[@grazzygirl5]

It's on off broadway at the Laura Pels Theater in NY right now. It's amazing!

[@erikafusco9063]

I just read Daniel Radcliffe's gonna be Charley in a revival later this year. If he were Frank it would've been Daniel copying Darren for once--since Darren played Finch & Harry Potter after Dan. I'd LOVE to see Dan & Darren together..maybe Darren WILL be Frank...

[@michael5876]

...Well...umm...i mean...check playbill?

[@largeman]

@@michael5876 haha

[@heartw.2222]

Merrily We Roll Along has just extended their Broadway season til July and I'm flying from NZ to NY in April to see it... so excited! Would've been amazing with Darren and Jeremy like in this video... but will also be incredible with Jonathon Groff and Daniel Radcliffe. Is this full song of Opening Doors in Merrily musical? SONDHEIM is a genius

[@paulamusik2509]

This is one of my forever favorite videos on KZbin. Darren Chris, Jeremy Jordan and Laura Osnes in one video. And also the appearance of Stephen Sondheim himself. "There's not a tune you can hum." XD Everything about this is perfect

[@cordeliapalmer5800]

Paula Musik *Darren Criss But yeah, this is amazing.

[@gracieliz95]

Dang, America Ferrera is keeping up with these guys. Why hasn’t she ever done a musical?

[@kaelasanchez1998]

She actually did Chicago awhile ago. ☺

[@ridi-culous8472]

Darren and Jeremy in one clip.That's just beautiful, I didn't knew I needed this

[@intheatremode]

Darren Criss just in awe of Sondheim talking to him 😍

[@lj.6551]

Standing on a rooftop with friends, watching stars and talking about dreams, while drinking expansive alcohol out of cheap cups. Sondheim is the master of hitting a little too close to home. 💖

[@anabritelora]

So I guess this is what will tide everyone over for the next 20 years until the movie comes out?

[@flannerymonaghan-morris1317]

Yep.

[@AoifeOConnor1996]

Never knew America Ferreira was a singer

[@CaptainQuirky]

I can't believe I didn't know this video existed- I love it more than words can express!

[@AlyssaRenee116]

i would KILL to hear jeremy jordan do "franklin shepard inc."

[@charlotted1321]

The continuing links between Darren and Daniel is insane

[@BK-wb9oq]

My two favorite boys!

[@mayadg16]

The harmonization just makes me smile. Cool that they added Jackie Hoffman😄

[@birdlawco]

Laura Osnes and Darren Criss in another video. GOLD

[@lizlemon3698]

Every performer is fucking amazing in this (Sondheim included) but I love Laura Osnes because her voice is just ridiculously perfect

[@meganroberts3088]

Darren criss’s smile 😆😍

[@heartw.2222]

This is why I Love musical theatre!

[@AleeraKnight]

This is a gift.

[@stvp68]

Was that Sondheim himself singing the agent?

[@theannieelainey]

Yes

[@mckenna8663]

yes... and great job as well.

[@DavidBeagin]

This was outstanding. Perfect! The Merrily We Roll Along soundtrack has been one of my favorites for a long time. I actually have an album from the original cast recording over 35 years ago! Your performance gave me shivers and I want to see more! THANK YOU for posting this performance.

[@tanyanguyen3704]

Sad today. Finding this makes me glad we have his smile, his knowledge, his guidance as we sing his songs.

[@Gnostic72]

What was so funny (& an inside joke) was that funny comedienne Jackie Hoffman (Hairspray) who plays the first audionee was told “we need someone with MORE EXPERIENCE”...the expression on her face was PRICELESS! (Because in real life SHE DOES have experience.)

[@cannibalisticrequiem]

Majority of the comments are pointing out the obvious about this song being hummable, while it's lampshading all the critics that have said that about Sondheim's work... meanwhile no one is mentioning that the man who wrote all this wonderful music, couldn't sing to save his life. 🤣🤣🤣

[@missharrington4452]

This.. 😂

[@myamygdala7]

Rest In Peace Mr. Sondheim. The greatest of all time 💔

[@ashleyhall6098]

Darren looks at Sondheim like he's living his own personal dream

[@paulwilliams9660]

absolutely brilliant sondheim

[@tessrobinson6787]

I can't believe that people in the comments are gushing over Darren and Jeremy when you have SONDHEIM PLAYING ONE OF THE CHARACTERS HE WROTE FOR.

[@ashleyhall6098]

Why not gush over everyone? They sound great together. I'd love to see them do this as a movie musical, although I just saw Jonathan Groff, Dan Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez do it and they were also superb.

[@ras613pa]

Terrific! Can we make a rule that movie adaptations must be LIKE THIS!?!

[@1967Danster]

Love this so much! Sondheim is amazing ♡

[@mckenna8663]

LOVE Sondheim as the producer. I know it's a slam - but sometimes... that's exactly how I feel.

[@srt42893]

we are getting a movie of this but i wish it was with this cast!

[@arianalovva3550]

All I can hear is Astrid singing!😂😂😂

[@gesabugabooastriduwu]

alizmovies P. Yeah hahaha I've been really looking for this comment...Astrid can sing😂😂😂 if you watched the episode in rtte astrid singing it's not really good😂😂😂

[@arianalovva3550]

Gesa GSB IKR I need her to sing httyd 3

[@gesabugabooastriduwu]

Ali pugli YASS...I hope so

[@rowansmith422]

Welp he's hot Also 3:16 Newsies anyone?

[@jlasf]

When Sondheim, as Producer, sings, "Dee..dee..dee..deee..." It's to the approximate tune of "Some Enchanted Evening" from "South Pacific," which was written by Oscar Hammerstein, who was Sondheim's mentor.

[@meganroberts3088]

Amazing talent 😍😍😍

[@Yohanna1704]

I love this!

[@shirin4762]

sondy stole the show i love him so much!!

[@celinar4138]

darren criss....sos un genioooooooooooooo

[@laytonjones2093]

Love it when Sondheim sings

[@johnyohalem6507]

If one were pedantic, one might point out that New York skyscrapers weren't lit up like that in the early 60s ...................... But what a great stage set they make! Now that one can no longer see them all from any rooftop.

[@sharnalxxx7345]

Darren Criss my Life 🤤

[@freyachiloi9875]

Astrid Hofferson is singing!!!! I want her to have a duet with Hiccup in HTTYD 3 singing For the dancing and the dreaming

[@paulbali9998]

Sondheim is so great in this.

[@dianaaljadeff2983]

Sondheim Darren Criss Jeremy Jordan América Ferrara Laura Osnes and Jackie Hoffmann sing these number

[@Woeismyhoe]

I see Astrid singing 😂

[@claireoneill3955]

Idk why but Hollywood just made me think of this

[@angelcena759]

Sondheim IS musical theater

[@awllypollyas8292]

GOD THAT WAS FFFFFUCKING TENSE

[@maxforseter6979]

When 'Josephson' the Producer - which is the name of a real producer - [look at the name on the window painted backwards] demonstrates a 'hummable mummable' melody for the boys, Sondheim isn't just croaking a made up nonsense tune, he's actually singing the opening notes of 'Some Enchanted Evening' co-written by his mentor Oscar Hammerstein from the musical South Pacific and his nemesis Richard Rodgers. Listen again! Now, there's a hummable melody de de de de deee!

[@kareneastman9695]

I love this song.:-):-D I have not seen that musical.:-(:-(:-O It is very interesting.:-):-D The video is great.:-):-D

[@chenshuen524]

now this should be the whole merrily musical movie, not make us wait some 20 years for Ben Platt to age in the Linklater one

[@christiankrenek7689]

I will *never* get over the fact that Sondheim himself plays the producer who tells the boys to make “a tune you can hum.” Sondheim himself heard those words over and over as a young composer and lyricist. Now, decades later, he’s successful enough to have an HBO special about just six of his songs...and the man himself decided to get back at all of the people who turned him down by pretending to be them. Just...that is the EPITOME of revenge. :p

[@michi-gt5ew]

Why did they sang the song? I mean I love it soooo much but what was occasion for filming this?

[@adamNAnutshell]

This was part of the Six by Sondheim Documentary.

[@nerdymmermaid]

For once Daniel Radcliffe is following in Darren Criss's footsteps and not the other way round

[@angehalos]

dude what i wouldn’t GIVE to see darren criss as frank…

[@theblackcat2792]

Is this written by Sondheim cus were doing a spoof of into the woods in summer camp

[@coastercritic287]

Sondheim can sing😂

[@aimeem4991]

Coaster Critic barely but he's adorable

[@JasonDWitte]

Coaster Critic There are two albums called “Sondheim Sings” in which he sings demos of a number of his songs

[@LizzyNotSoPro-Subscribe-]

For some reason I enjoy seeing darren with a cigarette

[@TimothyRobert93]

The only thing is I would have switched Jeremy Jordan and Chris' part, only because it's easier to see as a Jerk who gets lost in himself, Chris would be a better heart full writer who gets dumped by his best friend.

[@tenryuu]

+Timothy Robert Agreed. No offence to Jeremy, but I think he can play off being a douche (and thus Frank) better than Darren, especially after his performance in Smash. Darren just seems too nice between the two.

[@miawatson2146]

+tenryuu it's not as much that Jeremy Jordan is a jerk, it's just he tends to play characters who can be unlikeable(ex Jamie from the last 5 years) but he can also play a very likable character(ex Winn from supergirl). But Darren Criss tends to play more likable characters(ex Blaine Anderson from Glee) but I think they are both very talented actors and singers.

[@flannerymonaghan-morris1317]

Mia W in all fairness, this is before Frank becomes corrupted by Hollywood, so anyway....

[@Cubehead27]

Half-remembered Sondheim had sung that bit of this song once and had to hunt it down, I love how bad of a singer he was 😆 what a beautiful man

[@robbey10]

Why are they letting Linkletter do the film, they should get whoever did this and do it right! And Sondheim as the producer, I miss Stephen more than I can say, you are Donald Pippin.

[@jennarussell1537]

Watching this for about the 100th time and just realizing Darren Criss is playing Frank? And Jeremy Jordan is playing Charley? That should 100% be flipped lol

[@silentsmurf]

Lol 😂 Jeremy would kill Franklin Shepard Inc though

[@martabotiasalinero]

In which TV programme was premiered?

[@silentsmurf]

Six By Sondheim

[@Kirby02140]

the Harry Potter to Merrily pipeline?

[@guythecat490]

Ladies and gentlemen, sondheim on sedatives

[@Sunny_Now_and_Then]

Sondheim was wrong - he wrote some great hummable melodies. He just let some people judge his stuff who wouldn't know a great melody if it bit them in the butt.

[@bman342a]

Not a big Sondheim fan, but I love this.

[@meridesiree7940]

How can you not be a Sondheim fan? He's brilliant. I guess we'll just agree to disagree on this one

[@bman342a]

I guess there's just not a tune I can hum. ;-)

[@Britttany80]

This is great but it is from Merrily we roll along not six

[@Kuei74]

Six by Sondheim is a documentary about Sondheim

[@zoehu8621]

I love this song and it's a good performance, but did he really have to throw on a Chinese accent when he said "Chinese laundry"? I was excited to watch it and then he did that and it made the rest of it feel gross.

[@benliow7340]

omg literally, i saw a performance of the musical and they had replaced that line with something else so when I first heard a recording with it left in I was a bit caught off guard..

[@Butlinsgvn6]

it's the 50s, baby!

[@littlegurlini]

it's def gross but at least darren has some chinese ancestry. it'd be worse if a white guy had the line.

[@JazzKeyboardist1]

Was Hamilton hummable ?

[@vino140]

music in Hami is dreck.

[@JazzKeyboardist1]

I have tried to instrumentally play rap tunes for an audience but nobody can Name That Tune

[@dontrefertome3161]

ummm yeah

[@cole_the_stupid]

Yo Asian joke? 0:18

[@mckernan603]

It puts it in its time (1959), also not racist to make references of popular businesses: Vietnamese nail salons, Irish pubs, Mexican subcontractors. As far as doing the voice, that’s a debate