by Laura W
West Side Story. Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd and Gypsy. If you’ve seen either of those films, then you know of Stephen Sondheim. He is, quite literally, one of the greatest theatre composers lyricists of all time, and the aforementioned films are just a few of his works, the latter three being turned into films from their original stage versions. He’s an essential part of theatre life and why people like me can continue to enjoy the theatre today.
West Side Story. Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd and Gypsy. If you’ve seen either of those films, then you know of Stephen Sondheim. He is, quite literally, one of the greatest theatre composers lyricists of all time, and the aforementioned films are just a few of his works, the latter three being turned into films from their original stage versions. He’s an essential part of theatre life and why people like me can continue to enjoy the theatre today.
Born in New York City on March 22nd, 1930, Stephen was the only child of well to do parents. His father was a dress manufacturer, with his mother designing the dresses. He has openly discussed that his childhood was an unhappy one. At one point, Stephen attended a Military Academy and a private Quaker prep school in Pennsylvannia. It was during his time at the Quaker prep school that he wrote Stephen was the only child of well to do parents. His father was a dcress manufacturer, with his mother designing the dresses. At one point, Stephen attended a Military Academy and a private Quaker prep school in Pennsylvannia. It was during his time at the Quaker prep school that he wrote By George, his first musical.
At the age of ten, his father abandoned Stephen and his mother. Soon after his father leaving, Stephen became friends with James Hammerstein, who happened to be the son of legend Oscar Hammerstein (The Sound of Music), one half of famed composers Rodgers and Hammerstein. Oscar would become a surrogate father towards Stephen. It was due to Oscar that Stephen developed a love for musical theatre. Stephen has openly acknowledged that Oscar has had an extremely heavy influence on Stephen’s career. During the opening of South Pacific, Sondheim was introduced to Harold Prince. Harold, later on, would become a frequent collaborator of Stephen’s, often directing Stephen’s shows.
During a party one time, Stephen met Arthur Laurents,, who told Stephen he was working on a musicalization of Romeo and Juliet, which would become a teeny, tiny stage musical named West Side Story. Laurents was without a lyricist and asked him to audition for Leonard Bernstein. The rest is history. In 1959, Gypsy made its stage debut and ran for 702 performances. A year after the release of Gypsy, Oscar would die and devastated Stephen. Stephen spoke at the funeral, giving a eulogy. Stephen would go on to mentor several composers, including a beginner composer named Jonathan Larson, who would create the musical, Rent.
The first musical that Stephen would compose the music and write the lyrics for would be A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. His next show, Anyone Can Whislte, flopped, but did introduce the musical theatre world to someone named Angela Lansbury, and Angela to musical theatre. Other shows that would follow, include Follies, A Little Night Music (which produced the astounding song, Send in the Clowns), Sweeney Todd, and Merrily We Roll Along. After the failure of Merrily, Stephen and Hal Prince would basically end their collaborations, until 2003, with the production of Bounce, which also promptly failed. Other shows that Stephen has composed the music and lyrics for include Assassins, and Saturday Night.
At the age of ten, his father abandoned Stephen and his mother. Soon after his father leaving, Stephen became friends with James Hammerstein, who happened to be the son of legend Oscar Hammerstein (The Sound of Music), one half of famed composers Rodgers and Hammerstein. Oscar would become a surrogate father towards Stephen. It was due to Oscar that Stephen developed a love for musical theatre. Stephen has openly acknowledged that Oscar has had an extremely heavy influence on Stephen’s career. During the opening of South Pacific, Sondheim was introduced to Harold Prince. Harold, later on, would become a frequent collaborator of Stephen’s, often directing Stephen’s shows.
During a party one time, Stephen met Arthur Laurents,, who told Stephen he was working on a musicalization of Romeo and Juliet, which would become a teeny, tiny stage musical named West Side Story. Laurents was without a lyricist and asked him to audition for Leonard Bernstein. The rest is history. In 1959, Gypsy made its stage debut and ran for 702 performances. A year after the release of Gypsy, Oscar would die and devastated Stephen. Stephen spoke at the funeral, giving a eulogy. Stephen would go on to mentor several composers, including a beginner composer named Jonathan Larson, who would create the musical, Rent.
The first musical that Stephen would compose the music and write the lyrics for would be A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. His next show, Anyone Can Whislte, flopped, but did introduce the musical theatre world to someone named Angela Lansbury, and Angela to musical theatre. Other shows that would follow, include Follies, A Little Night Music (which produced the astounding song, Send in the Clowns), Sweeney Todd, and Merrily We Roll Along. After the failure of Merrily, Stephen and Hal Prince would basically end their collaborations, until 2003, with the production of Bounce, which also promptly failed. Other shows that Stephen has composed the music and lyrics for include Assassins, and Saturday Night.
In 1984, Stephen began to collaborate with James Lapine. Their first major show was Sunday in the Park with George, starring Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters. The show won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Several years later, Into the Woods made its appearance. Stephen has been credited for being the first composer to bring rap to Broadway. Sondheim credits the first theatre rap, however, to Meredith Wilson for a song from The Music Man.
Stephen is known for frequently collaborating with several theatre acting legends, including Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, Mandy Patinkin and more. Bernadette is often considered one of Stephen’s biggest muses. Many feel that Bernadette was robbed of Tony Awards when she was featured in Stephen’s works. Talking of awards, he is the winner of eight Tony Awards (more than any other composer), an Oscar, numerous Grammy’s, the Pulitzer and an Olivier.
What makes this man so brilliant is that he gets right to the nitty gritty. His lyrics and music resonate with the audiences who willingly listen. His shows are sights to be seen. Stephen is considered one of the greatest theatre composers and lyricists of all time, and it’s pretty obvious as to why. With the recent film release of Into the Woods (cough, hack), many have now been introduced to the works of Sondheim. While I may not have enjoyed the film, I do give it best for becoming the highest earning film based on a stage musical. It has introduced people to not only Sondheim, but the world that I love so much.
Stephen is known for frequently collaborating with several theatre acting legends, including Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, Mandy Patinkin and more. Bernadette is often considered one of Stephen’s biggest muses. Many feel that Bernadette was robbed of Tony Awards when she was featured in Stephen’s works. Talking of awards, he is the winner of eight Tony Awards (more than any other composer), an Oscar, numerous Grammy’s, the Pulitzer and an Olivier.
What makes this man so brilliant is that he gets right to the nitty gritty. His lyrics and music resonate with the audiences who willingly listen. His shows are sights to be seen. Stephen is considered one of the greatest theatre composers and lyricists of all time, and it’s pretty obvious as to why. With the recent film release of Into the Woods (cough, hack), many have now been introduced to the works of Sondheim. While I may not have enjoyed the film, I do give it best for becoming the highest earning film based on a stage musical. It has introduced people to not only Sondheim, but the world that I love so much.
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