Bernadette Peters, Lea Salonga and Rehearse for Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends (Exclusive)

Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga are leading a bunch of “Broadway Babies” in the new musical, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends — and PEOPLE has an exclusive look at the cast in rehearsal, with behind-the-scenes pictures from photographer Matthew Murphy.

The musical, which first ran in London’s West End back in September 2023, is having it’s North American premiere at the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles this month ahead of its Broadway transfer. Performances begin Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Ahmanson Theatre in California. They play through March 9.

Broadway previews then begin Tuesday, March 25 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in New York City. Opening night is set for April 8.

Starring alongside Peters and Salonga are a slew of theatrical greats including Tony Award winner Beth Leavel (The Prom), two-time Tony nominee Gavin Lee (Mary Poppins), Jacob Dickey (Aladdin), Kevin Earley (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Jasmine Forsberg (Here Lies Love),  Kate Jennings Grant (Noises Off), Bonnie Langford (Gypsy), Maria Wirries (Dear Evan Hansen) and Daniel Yearwood (Sweeney Todd).

West End theater giants Joanna Riding (a two-time Olivier Award winner), Jason Pennycooke (a multiple Olivier nominee) and Jeremy Secomb will also star. All three will be making their Broadway debuts.

The company will be rounded out by Paige Faure, Alexa Lopez, Greg Mills and Peter Neureuther.

Old Friends was born out of the lifetime friendship between the late Stephen Sondheim and superstar producer Cameron Mackintosh. The two longtime collaborators conceived the musical during the pandemic, drawing on the many shows that they had done together with pal Julia McKenzie.

Theaters reopened in New York and London in the fall of 2021, but Sondheim died that November at the age of 91. in the wake of his passing, Mackintosh picked up where they left up, collating their notes and structuring the show for a gala at the Sondheim Theatre to raise funds for the Stephen Sondheim Foundation. The event, directed by Matthew Bourne, was filmed and broadcast on TV by the BBC.

After its success, Mackintosh, Bourne and team reworked the show for a run at London’s Gielgud Theatre with an all-star ensemble led by Peters and Salonga. The show became an instant hit, earned a bevy of five-star raves including a rave by by The Times, who called it, “unmissable musical theatre.”

Now it comes to Broadway thanks to Manhattan Theatre Club, in association with CMI and Daryl Roth.  

Fans can expect to hear songs from Sondheim classics like Sunday in the Park with George, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Gypsy, Follies and more.

Tickets for Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends are on sale now.