These are frightening times, and we all must take necessary precautions as we social distance and self-isolate. That being said, you deserve a break every now and then. Welcome to Playbill's Daily Distraction.
Day 26: Oh My God, It's Karen Ziemba! (And Bill Irwin!)
"Sooner or later you're gonna be mi—oh my god, it's Karen Ziemba, who made this song super-duper famous!"
That's how Melissa Errico began her performance of "Sooner or Later" at her Sondheim Sublime album release party a couple years ago (back when we could have gatherings and parties and whatnot). Errico was stretched across a grand piano as she gave a mid-song shoutout to the Tony winner, who was sitting on a nearby couch. "You must go on YouTube tonight and search this song and Karen Ziemba. Oh my god. History."
So, as I reminisce about that particular interlude a year and a half later, here's Karen Ziemba's "Sooner or Later" from the 1992 Sondheim celebration at Carnegie Hall.
The performance begins with a bit by Bill Irwin (who happens to be celebrating his birthday today) taking the podium to clown around as conductor. Just as the orchestra's about to start, someone makes a surprise appearance. In the immortal words of Melissa Errico, "Oh my god, it's Karen Ziemba!"
Ziemba slithers out of her coat, revealing a red gown (before it was cool to celebrate Sondheim in red, mind you) as she seduces the birthday boy with suggestive baton usage, bench choreography, and high kicks.
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