Remembering Stephen Sondheim, Giant of American Musical Theater

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Stephen Sondheim via his Facebook page

If you were to try to list the greatest composers of musical theater on one hand, it would be an impossible task to do so without including Stephen Sondheim. Most likely, he’d be at the very top. And if you were to attempt to select just five among his volume of classic works, you would invariably be forced to leave out several favorites. The legendary composer and lyricist died November 26, 2021, of cardiovascular disease at his home in Roxbury, Conn., at age 91.

The giant’s enormous legacy of works reads like a list of America’s greatest musicals. His lyrics includes those for West Side Story (with music by Leonard Bernstein), A Little Night Music, Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park With George (for which he won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama), Gypsy (with music by Jules Styne), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, just to name a few.

Sondheim‘s accolades include nine Tony Awards (including one for Lifetime Achievement). They should just rename the honor the Stephen Sondheim Award. His hardware also includes an Academy Award, eight Grammy Awards, a Kennedy Center honor, and so much more.

He left us with so many words, but none enough for this post. Goodbye, old pal. Thank you, Stephen Sondheim, for so much brilliance in the theatre and sharing your music with us all. pic.twitter.com/Qe55GcDQeS

— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) November 27, 2021

Can lovers of musical theater and theatrical musicals imagine a world without “Tonight” and “America” from West Side Story?

Or music lovers not ever hearing Judy Collins sing “Send in the Clowns” from A Little Night Music? Or “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from Gypsy?

In her tribute, Collins wrote, “We stand in awe of his power as a poet and a writer.”

Sondheim’s character, as portrayed by actor Bradley Whitford, appears in the new feature film production of Tick, Tick… Boom!, directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda and based on musical theater playwright Jonathan Larson.

& last week, when I wrote him to say his ears must be burning from the countless Sondheim kindnesses being shared from the generations of writers he mentored, he wrote this in reply.
Steve: you repaid your debt to Oscar 1000 times over. We love you. I love you. THANK YOU. -LMM pic.twitter.com/6aeHW4CWFH

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 27, 2021

The Broadway stars of Sunday in the Park With George paid tribute.

I am so so sad to lose my friend Steve Sondheim He gave me so much to sing about ♥️♥️I loved him dearly and will miss him so much Thank you for all the gifts you gave the world Steve♥️

— Bernadette Peters (@OfficialBPeters) November 26, 2021

And from Mandy Patinkin, “The guy who wrote my prayers has died. His words were my Torah. Sondheim wrote what he wished for himself and the world at large. We’ll be learning from his work as long as people are singing songs and beyond. Thank you Steve.”

Paul McCartney paid tribute on Nov. 27, 2021

Barbra Streisand wrote, “Thank the Lord that Sondheim lived to be 91 years old so he had the time to write such wonderful music and GREAT lyrics! May he Rest In Peace.”

Writing both music and lyrics for a Broadway show is not easy to do—I know, because I’ve done it. But Stephen Sondheim could do it all and made it look easy. He was an incredible gift to the Broadway stage. He will be sorely missed.

— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) November 27, 2021

Steven Spielberg’s new theatrical production of West Side Story opens in December. He said of Sondheim, “When we spoke, I couldn’t wait to listen, awestruck by the originality of his perceptions of art, politics and people – all delivered brilliantly by his mischievous with and dazzling words.”

Goodbye dear sir. We will spend our lives trying to make you proud. #stephensondheim

— Idina Menzel (@idinamenzel) November 26, 2021

Every so often someone comes along that fundamentally shifts an entire art form. Stephen Sondheim was one of those. As millions mourn his passing I also want to express my gratitude for all he has given to me and so many more. Sending my love to his nearest and dearest. pic.twitter.com/4KlnJJJipq

— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) November 26, 2021

Perhaps not since April 23rd of 1616 has theater lost such a revolutionary voice. Thank you Mr. Sondheim for your Demon Barber, some Night Music, a Sunday in the Park, Company, fun at a Forum, a trip Into the Woods and telling us a West Side Story. RIP. 🙏 https://t.co/jHX7ob9JWv

— Josh Gad (@joshgad) November 26, 2021

A giant of the stage is gone, but his work will live with us forever. Isn’t it lovely how artists can capture us? Thank you for The Hat, Steve. #ChildrenandArt https://t.co/lbNOntzTJN

— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) November 26, 2021

In its obituary, The New York Times noted that Sondheim had traveled from his Connecticut home to New York this month to attend revivals of two of his musicals: Assassins, at the Classic Stage Company in Lower Manhattan, and the long-delayed first preview, since Broadway reopened, of Company, starring Patti LuPone, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater.

This moment. This voicemail. 🤍

Rest In Peace to the greatest of them all, Stephen Sondheim. https://t.co/R6bT7SVuae

— ticktickboom (@ticktickboom) November 27, 2021

There is such a void, knowing we now suddenly live in a world without Stephen Sondheim in it. And yet, he will always be with us in his brilliant and peerless music and lyrics; a legacy for the ages.

— Alan Menken (@AIMenken) November 27, 2021

Without Stephen Sondheim, there would be no Jonathan Larson. Here is #ticktickBOOMmovie’s full “Sunday” sequence—a tribute to everything Sondheim created and inspired others to create after him. 🎼 pic.twitter.com/oYU9YLp3hh

— ticktickboom (@ticktickboom) November 29, 2021

Books on Sondheim’s career are available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.