-->

• Stephen Sondheim is a stage musical and film composer and lyricist.

  On June 15, 2008, Sondheim earned a lifetime achievement award at the 62nd annual Tony Awards.

• Fast Facts

  1. Born: March 22, 1930
  2. Birthplace: New York City
  3. Awards: One Academy Award, Seven Tony Awards, One Grammy Award and a Pulitzer Prize
  4. Protege of Oscar Hammerstein
  5. Graduated magna cum laude from Williams College
  6. Called the "greatest and perhaps best-known artist in the American musical theater" by The New York Times.
  7. Big break came with offer to write lyrics for West Side Story
  8. Voiced himself in the "Yokel Chords" episode of The Simpsons

• Early Years

  Sondheim was born in New York City and was mentored from a young age by lyricist and playwright Oscar Hammerstein. His first big professional break came when he was brought on board to write the lyrics for West Side Story.

  In 1959, he contributed the lyrics to what become another hit musical, Gypsy. Sondheim's first Broadway outing as composer and lyricist came with 1962's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

• Sondheim Work in the 1970s and 1980s

  Sondheim would hit his stride in the 1970s and 1980s producing Company, Sunday in the Park with George and Into the Woods. During this time, songs from his shows were compiled together in evening-length revue shows including Side by Side by Sondheim and Marry Me a Little.

• Sondheim Recent Projects

  Sondheim's most recent projects include the musical Bounce, which has been in development since the late 1990s, and an unspecified book project.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  West Side Story | Sweeney Todd | Into the Woods | Sunday in the Park with George | Company | Elaine Stritch | Andrew Lloyd Webber | Richard Rodgers | Oscar Hammerstein | Cole Porter | Leonard Bernstein | Stephen Schwartz | Ethel Merman | Mandy Patinkin | Bernadette Peters | Patti LuPone | Angela Lansbury | Betty Buckley | Carol Channing | Mary Martin | Jerry Herman | Barbra Streisand

Categories

• View History
• Discuss on the Message Board
• Embed this Page
• Share this page