George Furth wrote eleven one-act plays, initially intended for Kim Stanley to play each of the separate leads.
Anthony Perkins, a Hollywood actor, expressed interest in directing and asked Stephen Sondheim to read the material. Sondheim then shared the plays with Harold Prince, who thought the material could be developed into a musical.
The theme of the musical, originally titled "Threes," revolves around Bobby, a single man unable to commit to a steady relationship or marriage, and his married friends and girlfriends.
Unlike most book musicals, "Company" is a concept musical composed of short vignettes presented in no particular chronological order, linked by a celebration for Bobby's 35th birthday.
The musical premiered in Boston in out-of-town tryouts, receiving mixed reviews from critics. It opened on April 26, 1970, at the Alvin Theatre in New York City and ran for 705 performances.
The musical was honored with several awards, including the New York Drama Desk Award and the Tony Award for Best Musical.
The original cast included Larry Kert as Bobby, Elaine Stritch as Joanne, and Barbara Barrie as Sarah. The musical was directed by Harold Prince, with choreography by Michael Bennett and set design by Boris Aronson.
In the early 1990s, Furth and Sondheim revised the libretto, cutting and altering dialogue that had become dated and rewriting the end of act one.
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