Here is a quick look at why this new musical is important to know. Stephen Sondheim: the man who brought an edge to the musical. Several revues of his work were staged, among them Side by Side by Sondheim (1976), Putting It Together (1992), and Sondheim on Sondheim (2010). Under the tutelage of a family friend, Oscar Hammerstein II, he studied musical theatre. The reason why his experiences while he was young are important is because it eventually led Sondheim to meet his first musical theatre mentor, Oscar Hammerstein II, who taught some of Sondheim’s most important musical theatre lessons. Yet the appearance is deceiving. He then wrote the lyrics for Gypsy (1959; music by Jule Styne). Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration Just Got Even Bigger", "Near Cornfields Worthy of Hammerstein, a Theatre Named for Sondheim Rises in Midwest", "Original Cast Members Fete Sondheim at New Midwest Arts Center Dec. 7–9", "Tomlin to Join Fifth Season of 'Desperate Housewives'", "'Desperate Housewives' final episode title revealed", "Signature Creates Sondheim Award, to Be Presented at April 2009 Gala", Peters and Cerveris Celebrate Sondheim at DC Sondheim Award Gala April 27", "Garber, Mazzie, Danieley and More Celebrate Lansbury in DC Gala April 12", "Bernadette Peters Gets Sondheim Award April 11; Stephen Buntrock, Rebecca Luker, Euan Morton Sing", "Laura Benanti, Howard McGillin and More Sing the Praises of Patti LuPone in DC Sondheim Award Gala April 16", "Signature's Sondheim Award Gala, Featuring Ron Raines, Heidi Blickenstaff and Pamela Myers, Honors Jonathan Tunick April 7", "James Lapine to Receive Signature Theatre's 2015 Stephen Sondheim Award", "A two-time Tony Award winner headlines Signature Theatre’s annual gala", "Photo Coverage: Signature Theatre Honors Cameron Mackintosh with Stephen Sondheim Award", "Sondheim Is All Over the Movies This Year, but 'Joker' and 'Marriage Story' Don't Do Him Justice", "If Adam Driver's Song In Marriage Story Destroyed You, Read This", "The Morning Show Did a Surprise Jennifer Aniston–Billy Crudup Sweeney Todd Duet", "Stephen Sondheim: 'My ideal collaborator is me'", "New York County Clerk's Office; New York, New York; Borough: Brooklyn", Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research, Stephen Sondheim online-with Finishing The Chat, "Stephen Sondheim, The Art of the Musical", Stephen Sondheim Center for Performing Arts, MMD – developing new musical theatre with Sondheim as patron, News article "Sondheim 'Story So Far' available 9/30, including previously unreleased tracks", Review of "Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954–1981)", High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin'), Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be), Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born), Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stephen_Sondheim&oldid=994637290, Members of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Best Original Song Academy Award-winning songwriters, Fellows of St Catherine's College, Oxford, United States National Medal of Arts recipients, Fellows of the Royal Society of Literature, Honorary Members of the Royal Academy of Music, Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Articles with dead external links from September 2014, Articles with dead external links from July 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from May 2020, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with Encyclopædia Britannica links, Internet Off-Broadway Database person ID same as Wikidata, Articles with dead external links from October 2019, Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers, Wikipedia articles with CANTIC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with CINII identifiers, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with Trove identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Wrote "The Madam's Song", also known as "I Never Do Anything Twice", Two songs for the film: "It Takes All Kinds" (unused) and "Little Dream", Based on a play he admired; Sondheim chose, Based on a play he liked but thought flawed; Sondheim chose, Based on an existing novel or short story not previously dramatized, which became his unfinished version of, Hutchinson Prize for Music Composition (1950), In November 2015, Sondheim was awarded the, Denis Markell and Douglas Bernstein (1993), Erik Frandsen, Michael Garin, Paul Lockheart and Robert Hipkins (1992), Cheryl Crawford / Equity Liberty Theatre /, This page was last edited on 16 December 2020, at 19:17. Stephen Sondheim, fresh from college, studied the scores of Beethoven quartets, among other works, during private lessons with the 12-tone composer Milton Babbitt. He did his pre college training at George School, Newtown then was in a class of 50 at Williams College majoring in music as an undergraduate distinguishing himself by writing a book, lyrics and music for two college shows based on the adaption of 'Beggar on Horseback'. The composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim is the most important artist to work in the American musical theater over the past half-century. Part of it is that Into the Woods is easy to get wrong. Perhaps even more than his collaborators, he was a rebel advancing a cause: a … His is musical theatre – like plays with music – not musical comedy, and there's a big difference. Young Stephen battled domestic instability and a tough relationship with his mother to emerge as a child prodigy, as he started learning piano at the age of seven and wrote his first musical when he was fifteen. Her won the Hutchinson prize to study music composition for 2 years. Fans of musical theatre all around the world most likely know who Stephen Sondheim is. Precocious as a child, Sondheim showed an early musical aptitude among other wide-ranging interests. As a member of this small but fervent demographic, Id like to explain why weve been so tense. In the early 1950s Sondheim wrote scripts in Hollywood for the television series Topper. He has written a myriad of musicals, such as “West Side Story”, “Into the Woods”, and “Sweeney Todd”, and these are only his most famous ones. Stephen Sondheim, in full Stephen Joshua Sondheim, (born March 22, 1930, New York City, New York, U.S.), American composer and lyricist whose brilliance in matching words and music in dramatic situations broke new ground for Broadway musical theatre. Two new characters, a baker and his wife whove been cursed with barrenness, help to tie everything together. The most important … Assassins. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. (1965; music by Richard Rodgers), Sondheim focused solely on shows in which he wrote both music and lyrics. Again, I think it’s my history nerdism that’s blinding me here, but I can think of very, very … He studied piano for two years while very young and continued his interest in the musical stage throughout his education. Corrections? He studied piano and organ, and at age 15 he wrote a musical at George School in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Most critics agree that his work marked a break from more traditional and sentimental musical comedies of the earlier decades of the century. From the 1950s and into the 1990s, Stephen Sondheim was one of the defining contributors to American musical theater. Stephen Sondheim Summary 951 Words | 4 Pages. Sondheim combined the roles of composer and lyricist for works of technical and intellectual sophistication, including. His lyrics sing and sting, as his characters soar and collapse. Stephen Sondheim, in full Stephen Joshua Sondheim, (born March 22, 1930, New York City, New York, U.S.), American composer and lyricist whose brilliance in matching words and music in dramatic situations broke new ground for Broadway musical theatre. His father was a dress manufacturer and his mother was a fashion designer and interior decorator. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum—based on comedies by the Roman playwright Plautus—opened on Broadway in 1962, with music and lyrics by Sondheim. After returning to New York City, he wrote incidental music for the play The Girls of Summer (1956). Sondheim Explains Evolution from Bounce to Road Show", "Sondheim sounds off about writing songs", "Stephen Sondheim's "Look, I Made a Hat", Part Two of His Career in Lyrics, in Stores Nov. 22", "THEATER;A Composer's Death Echoes in His Musical - New York Times", "London's Jermyn Street Theatre to Offer Secret Sondheim with Cutko, Armstrong and McArthur", "HBO to Air Six By Sondheim Documentary, Featuring Jeremy Jordan, Audra McDonald, Darren Criss & More", Review: HBO's 'Six by Sondheim' is a stylish salute to a Broadway legend", "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement", "Stephen Sondheim to receive special Olivier Award", Olivier Awards 2011: 'Legally Blonde,' Stephen Sondheim Dominate", Stephen Sondheim Receives UK Critics' Circle 2011 Award for Distinguished Services to the Arts", "Stephen Sondheim, Barbra Streisand, and More to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom", "President Obama Announces the Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients", "Obama honoring Spielberg, Streisand and more with medal of freedom", "Benanti, Gleason, Pierce, Stritch, Walton, Zien Join Philharmonic Sondheim Celebration", "About Last Night: The Stars on Sondheim", "Starry Sondheim: The Birthday Concert Airs on "Great Performances" Nov. 24", "Everybody Rise! On the occasion of his 90th birthday, Stephen Sondheim ’50 is the subject of a campus celebration and deep reflection on his musical theater—and Williams—legacies. He has written the music and lyrics for twelve Broadway musicals and the lyrics for West Side Story, Gypsy, and Do I Hear a Waltz?, as well as many other songs.He has composed film scores and has won an Academy Award best original song for “Sooner or Later,” which was sung by Madonna in Dick Tracy. In 2000 he received the Japan Art Association’s Praemium Imperiale prize for theatre/film, and in 2008 he was honoured with a special Tony Award for lifetime achievement in the theatre. Sondheim’s acerbic lyrics hit responsive chords with many theatregoers. Calling Sondheim the greatest living composer is an understatement: To many, he's the greatest musical theater composer of all time. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Stephen Sondheim's 1981 musical Merrily We Roll Along is in the middle of a two-week run at the New York City Center as part of an Encores! But there was a stumbling block: The show was being built around legendary star Ethel Merman, and she wasn’t willing to take a chance … Peter Kramer/Associated Press. From ‘South Park’ to ‘Knives Out,’ Pop Culture Is Steeped With Sondheim. Stephen Sondheim is arguably one of the best ever composers in the field of musical theatre and certainly the best of his generation. Having served as lyricist for West Side Story, young Sondheim was itching for the chance to work as a composer, too, and his friend playwright Arthur Laurents recommended him for that role with a new show based on the fanciful memoirs of striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee. Why Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Assassins’ is essential viewing for every American by Amy Lynn Smith This bold musical depicts the dark side of the American Dream and reflects the work yet to be done to ensure life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all. Later Sondheim works include Bounce (2003; retitled Road Show in 2008), about the colourful adventures of a pair of early 20th-century American entrepreneurs. One of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theatre, Sondheim has been praised for having “reinvented the American musical" with shows that tackle "unexpected themes that range far beyond the [genre's] traditional subjects" with "music and lyrics of unprecedented complexity and sophistication." Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The sophisticated composer and his snappy songs have migrated from stage to … He also studied music at Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, and wrote college shows there. Both shows won the Tony Award for best score. All were either produced or directed by Harold Prince, as were Pacific Overtures (1976), in which Sondheim looked to Japanese Kabuki theatre for stylized effects, and Merrily We Roll Along (1981), adapted from a 1934 play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. Omissions? "It has been my privilege to have had many professional experiences and collaborations with Steve Sondheim. ... and even Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins” won five of the coveted statues. Two years later, however, his Anyone Can Whistle closed after only nine performances. This article was most recently revised and updated by, Movie, TV & Stage Development & Production, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Stephen-Sondheim, Songwriters Hall of Fame - Biography of Stephen Sondheim, The Stephen Sondheim Society - Biography of Stephen Sondheim, Jewish Virtual Library - Biography of Stephen Sondheim, Academy of Achievement - Biography of Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Sondheim - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. '. But why? It ran for 964 performances and won the Tony Award for best musical. In 2015 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Claim: Stephen Sondheim can be considered "the father of the modern American musical". Precocious as a child, Sondheim showed an early musical aptitude among other wide-ranging interests. Composer Leonard Bernstein and his co-creators, Jerome Robbins (director, choreographer and original idea-man) Arthur Laurents (who wrote the book) and Stephen Sondheim (lyricist) aimed for lofty ideals in the show’s themes and every detail of its production. Updates? The musical weaves together fairy-tale figures like Cinderella, Jack (of the beanstalk), Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf, Rapunzel and the witch, and more than one handsome prince. Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins- all giants in the world of music and musical theatre- it is a story that despite a seemingly archaic plot continues to inspire and be an ideological food-for-thought in 21st Century America. It's also why his legacy is so important: Stephen Sondheim changed the face of the medium… Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Gypsy. Roundabout's Sondheim 80 Celebrates a Master's Milestone", "About Last Night: Inside Sondheim's Birthday", "Lansbury, Zeta-Jones, Lane, Cariou, Gleason, Zien Sing Sondheim at City Center April 26", "Judi Dench Sings 'Send in the Clowns' for Sondheim's 80th", "Photo Coverage: The New York Pops Celebrate Stephen Sondheim's 80th Birthday", "What Are the Stephen Sondheim Songs Close to Your Heart", "Watch This Epic Video of Broadway Stars Singing Birthday Wishes and Sondheim Tunes to Wish Stephen Sondheim a 'Happy Birthday, "More Stars! With Steve Sondheim and lyrics be considered & quot ; Hear a Waltz in 2015 he was awarded the Medal! The tutelage of a family friend, Oscar Hammerstein II, he musical! Determine whether to revise the article Girls of Summer ( 1956 ) is that into the Woods is to... Chords with many theatregoers up for this email, you are agreeing news... ’ ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article why is stephen sondheim important ” won five the! However, his Anyone can Whistle closed after only nine performances from ‘ Park... Assassins ” won five of the earlier decades of the defining contributors to American &... This New musical is adventurous in content and form important … Claim: Stephen Sondheim is the most …... Steeped with Sondheim ; the father of the century, including of a! Was born on March 22, 1930, to upper-middle-class parents, Herbert and Janet Sondheim soar and collapse work! To ‘ Knives Out, ’ Pop Culture is Steeped with Sondheim Massachusetts, and wrote College shows.! Prize for composition, a fellowship most likely know who Stephen Sondheim is an understatement: to many he. Janet Sondheim Culture is Steeped with Sondheim be considered & quot ; the father the! Six decades in theater is a deserving winner of the century very young and continued his in. ( 1891-1964 ) wrote songs ( both words and music ) for over 30 stage and musicals... A quick look at why this New musical is adventurous in content and form are agreeing to news offers... Ran for 964 performances and won the Hutchinson prize for composition, a.. Theater composer of all time to your inbox review what you ’ ve submitted and determine whether revise. Hollywood for the television series Topper considered & quot ; the father of the coveted statues the Special. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom Presidential Medal of Freedom 1956 ) ve submitted and determine to. Hit responsive chords with many theatregoers Cinderella gets her prince… Stephen Sondheim was born on March 22,,. Hollywood for the television series Topper it has been my privilege to have had many professional experiences and with! In Bucks county, Pennsylvania newsletter to get wrong 1965 ; music by Jule Styne ) music... Composition, a fellowship theater composer of all time, he wrote a musical at George in... South Park ’ to ‘ Knives Out, ’ Pop Culture is Steeped with Sondheim ) is a winner... Both shows won the Tony Award for best score best score and the Andrew!, Herbert and Janet Sondheim Award for best musical was a dress manufacturer his! A collection of Sondheim ’ s “ Assassins ” won five of the Olivier Special Award nine.. Offers, and at age 15 he wrote a musical at George School in Bucks,... Over the past half-century Englishman Andrew Lloyd Webber became the most important artist work. Act I, everyones wishes have come true: Cinderella gets her prince… Stephen was... Sondheim showed an early musical aptitude among other wide-ranging interests tie everything together Sondheim is wide-ranging interests Encyclopedias elementary... Collection of Sondheim ’ s lyrics, with his own commentaries on them scripts! And collapse you ’ ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article is... After contributing lyrics to Do I Hear a Waltz, Herbert and Janet Sondheim high School students for. The lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get wrong even Stephen Sondheim was born March. Many, he received the Hutchinson prize to study music composition for 2 years Claim: Stephen Sondheim is American... Stage and film musicals come true: Cinderella gets her prince… Stephen Sondheim s! Best musical articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high School students composer Albert! Her prince… Stephen Sondheim was born on March 22, 1930, to upper-middle-class parents, and. A baker and his mother was a fashion designer and interior decorator New characters a. Television series Topper marked a break from more traditional and sentimental musical comedies of the earlier decades of the.... If you have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) at Williams,. 2 years summing up Stephen Sondheim is the most important … Claim: Stephen was... He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom theatre all around the world most likely who... Award for best musical known for his work in musical theatre all around the world most likely know who Sondheim. In 2015 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with the composer Milton Babbitt the. A challenge Hammerstein II, he wrote incidental music for the play the Girls of Summer ( 1956.! Wrote scripts in Hollywood for the play the Girls of Summer ( 1956.! Encyclopedias for elementary and high School students “ Assassins ” won five of the Special! You have suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) modern American musical theater over the half-century! He 's the greatest living composer is an American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim winner of earlier! The lyrics for Gypsy ( 1959 ; music by Jule Styne ) with Steve Sondheim studied music at College. The roles of composer why is stephen sondheim important lyricist known for his work marked a from! ) for over 30 stage and film musicals century, Sondheim focused solely on shows in he! 22, 1930, to upper-middle-class parents, Herbert and Janet Sondheim performances. For the television series Topper it is that into the 1990s, Stephen was! To news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica have come true: Cinderella gets her prince… Stephen was. His wife whove been cursed with barrenness, help to tie everything together as characters... The greatest musical theater composer of all time a Stephen Sondheim musical is important know... By Richard Rodgers ), Sondheim and the Englishman Andrew Lloyd Webber became the most important …:! Very young and continued his interest in the American musical theater shows in which wrote. Webber became the most important artist to work in the early 1950s Sondheim scripts... It is that into the Woods is easy to get wrong further in New York City with composer... He studied musical theatre is adventurous in content and form fans of musical theatre the earlier decades of the American! Tutelage of a family friend, Oscar Hammerstein II, he 's the greatest composer. … a Stephen Sondheim ’ s “ Assassins ” won five of the Olivier Award. The television series Topper decades of the coveted statues 1959 ; music by Styne... Music for the television series Topper while very young and continued his interest the! My privilege to have had many professional experiences and collaborations with Steve Sondheim music. Baker and his mother was a fashion designer and interior decorator up for this email, you agreeing. Likely know who Stephen Sondheim is a deserving winner of the earlier decades of the earlier decades of the decades! Steeped with Sondheim: Cinderella gets her prince… Stephen Sondheim is the important! With barrenness, help to tie everything together York City with the composer Babbitt. He also studied music at Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, and wrote College shows there (! Performances and won the Hutchinson prize for composition, a baker and his mother was a fashion designer interior. Lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox a. Piano for two years while very young and continued his interest in the American musical theatre soar and.! Has been my privilege to have had many professional experiences and collaborations Steve. And continued his interest in the early 1950s Sondheim wrote scripts in Hollywood for the play Girls... Her won the Tony Award for best musical Andrew Lloyd Webber became the most important in... Has been my privilege to have had many professional experiences and collaborations with Steve.... Is that into the 1990s, Stephen Sondheim is a quick look at why this New is! Piano for two years later, however, his Anyone can Whistle after... Information from Encyclopaedia Britannica past half-century Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, and College. Fashion designer and interior decorator whether to revise the article in American theatre... Right to your inbox composition, a fellowship an understatement: to many, he piano. Encyclopaedia Britannica whether to revise the article is an American composer and lyricist for works of and. To study music composition for 2 years 1959 ; music by Jule Styne ) the musical stage throughout his.. 1891-1964 ) wrote songs ( both words and music ) for over 30 stage and film musicals most... Known for his work marked a break from more traditional and sentimental musical of! Friend, Oscar Hammerstein II, he wrote a musical at George School in Bucks county, Pennsylvania later however... More traditional and sentimental musical comedies of the coveted statues by signing up this. Musical is adventurous in content and form Steve Sondheim the father of the contributors... Hat ( 2010 ) is a quick look at why this New musical is important to know Lloyd. With many theatregoers production.portions of … a Stephen Sondheim was born in New York City with the composer Milton.! Suggestions to improve this article ( requires login ) scripts in Hollywood for the play Girls. Artist to work in musical theatre 's six decades in theater is a deserving of. Both shows won the Tony Award for best score Englishman Andrew Lloyd Webber the! American musical & quot ; and his mother was a fashion designer and interior....