In Honor of Pride: 'Company: The Original Cast Album' Documentary

When we got back from a big dance-y party last night, kicking off Pride weekend, wanting to feel like a true fag, so we curled up with this wonderful documentary about the making of the original cast recording of Company (Sondheim, 1970) made by D.A. Pennebaker just a few days after the show opened on Broadway. The entire cast endures a grueling 18 1/2 hour recording session that culminates with Elaine Stritch being too goddamn tired to nail 'Ladies Who Lunch' in the first eight takes. Throughout, a straight-acting and constantly smoking Stephen Sondheim paces the mixing booth and argues with the actresses about what key they should be in. Above, a scene from the beginning of the doc, below, Elaine. The whole thing is on YouTube in six parts. Happy Pride...

And funny... even in 1970 Elaine Stritch looked kind of old.