Hey Old Friends!
An Evening Featuring the Music and Lyrics of Stephen Sondheim
Saturday,
September 6
7:30 pm
Join us for a heartfelt evening of song and story as three celebrated Portland performers,
Merideth Kaye Clark, Susannah Mars, and Stephanie Lynne Smith bring the unforgettable music of Stephen Sondheim to life.
This is more than a concert—it’s a celebration of connection, memory, and masterful musical theatre. From laughter to longing, this evening will be filled with the wit, warmth, and lyrical brilliance that made Sondheim a legend. Whether you know every lyric by heart or are discovering his genius for the first time, you’ll experience Sondheim as it should be: intimate, insightful, and full of heart.
Buy your tickets now and be part of an evening that promises to stay with you long after the final note.
From the stage to international concert halls, these remarkable artists bring heart, humor, and unmatched musicality to Sondheim’s timeless songs.
Merideth brings her powerhouse pipes and theatrical finesse to the stage, with credits ranging from serving as Elphaba Standby in Wicked's First National Tour to originating roles in two Off-Broadway musicals, and concert work that’s captivated audiences from Portland to New York.
Susannah, a celebrated voice in the Pacific Northwest theater scene (and beyond), blends warmth, wit, and emotional depth drawn from a lifetime of storytelling, from Portland Center Stage to a diplomatic arts envoy in Cairo.
Stephanie, an incredible pianist and creative force, has shared stages with the likes of Alan Cumming and the LA Philharmonic—and brings her signature energy and heart to every note she plays.
Together, they invite you into the rich, layered world of Sondheim, where every lyric matters, and every song tells a story.
Merideth Kaye Clark
Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Merideth studied Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology at Emory University before earning a Masters in Musical Theatre at San Diego State University. It was there, in California, where she began her career as a concert artist and musical theatre performer. Merideth has since performed major roles in theatres around the country. Highlights include: Elphaba standby, Wicked (First National Tour); Nancy, Oliver! (Seattle’s 5th Ave); Cathy, The Last Five Years (Portland Center Stage); Alice Murphy, Bright Star (Arvada Center) She has participated in numerous developmental readings and has originated roles in two off-Broadway musicals.
Clark is a sought-after concert artist described as "plain astonishing" and "a masterful performer" with "powerhouse pipes." She co-created the original concerts Winter Song (Portland Center Stage), Joni Mitchell’s BLUE and Happy Days Are Here Again: The Music of Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand which are now touring internationally.
Stephanie Lynne Smith
Born and raised in Wichita Falls, Texas, Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance (1998) from University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master of Music in Chamber Music Performance (2001) from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In the Bay Area, she served as Artistic Director for the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco, commissioning Halloween in the Castro: A Horror Opera by Jack Curtis Dubowsky and the musical Group Therapy by June Bonacich, along with countless pieces for choir and solo voice.
She has accompanied luminaries such as Alan Cumming, B.D. Wong, and Sharon McNight and toured with Bugs Bunny at the Symphony as pianist/slide guitarist, performing with the New York Philharmonic in Avery Fisher Hall and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. In 2013, Stephanie was Artist in Residence at the Shari Carlson Studio and wrote, directed, and starred in her original play titled High Anxiety: One Woman’s Journey that chronicled her performance anxiety. She toured for over a decade with Broadway veteran Franc D’Ambrosio (The Godfather III/The Phantom of the Opera) and had the privilege of witnessing and playing for his knighting ceremony by the Italian government.
Susannah Mars
A lifelong performing artist, Susannah Mars has appeared in a wide variety of productions including those at Portland Opera, Portland Playhouse, Portland Center Stage, Artists Repertory Theatre, and Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theater. She is the proud recipient of six Portland Drama Critics awards and two Regional Arts and Culture Council Grants. She played psychiatrist Dr. Richet on NBC’s Grimm, and her most recent recording Susannah Mars, Call It Home: The Music of Richard Gray is available, along with her first, the MAC-nominated Take Me To The World, on all your favorite platforms. Recently she was an arts envoy to Cairo with the U.S. State Department. Grateful to continue to grow as an artist and member of the Pacific Northwest arts ecosystem, she is proud to be a part of the audio description community and an access ally.
