The Words And Music Of Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim is one of the greatest and influential theatrical composers and lyricists of the Twentieth Century. His immense body of works has contributed in defining the ‘concept’ of musical while he has brought profound depth and insight along with the most accurate usage of language to every piece he has attempted. He wrote the lyrics of Gypsy and West Side Story, wrote the music and words for the famous Funny Thing Happened on Way to The Forum, Sunday in The Park Along with George, A Little Night Music, Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd, among numerous other prominent tunes. His most lovely song called “Send in the Clowns”, became a must-record among many artists from Judy Collins all the way to Frank Sinatra. He has been described by Cameron Mackintosh as the greatest possible lyricist ever, while New York Times’ writer Frank Rich has referred to him as the greatest and best-known artist in American musical theater. To celebrate the countless contributions made by this legendary artist, the Ordway Center of Performing Arts is now holding Broadway Songbook: The Words and Music of Stephen Sondheim event. The show that is to feature Sondheim’s most celebrated scores has already created much frenzy among his fans, prompting them to book Broadway Songbook: The Words and Music of Stephen Sondheim tickets right away.
 
 
Sondheim’s outstanding accomplishments have been attributed in part to his mentorship under James Hammerstein who was the son of playwright and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. Under him, Sondheim developed love for musical theatre. At the opening of a musical Hammerstein wrote alongside Richard Rodgers, titled South Pacific, he was introduced to Harold Prince, who later directed many of his shows. Sondheim was still at George School when he came up with a comedy musical inspired from the happenings of his school. It became a huge success among his many peers, encouraging the young artist to take it to the next level. He then took the work to Hammerstein, asking him to evaluate the piece without considering its author. The latter called it the worst he had ever come across, but at the same time also explained to him why. According to Sondheim, that afternoon he learnt more about musical theater and songwriting than most people can learn in a lifetime. At the upcoming, The Words and Music of Stephen Sondheim event, audience will get to hear some of his most magnificent tunes.
 
 
Sondheim got to have his big break when he came up with the lyrics for West Side Story, in which featured music by Leonard Bernstein and book by Arthur Laurent. In 1959, he wrote lyrics for Gypsy, and worked closely with the book writer in creating the show, which ran more than seven hundred times. Eventually, he got to write the lyrics and the music for musical Funny Thing Happened on Way to The Forum, which opened in 1962, and made more than nine hundred performances. Alongside, he has also come up with material for films, including the Warren Beatty 1981 film Reds, for which he wrote the track Goodbye for Now. In addition he also wrote five more songs for the 1990 film Dick Tracy, including the track Sooner or Later, which won the Best Song category of the Academy Award. The Words and Music of Stephen Sondheim show will highlight some of the best songs the artist ever wrote.
 
 
Sondheim has won numerous honors and accolades, including an Academy Award, multiple Grammy Awards, many Laurence Olivier Awards, several Drama Desk Awards, an OBIE Award, a Pulitzer Prize, and eight Tony Awards with a Special Tony Award in the category of Lifetime Achievement in Theatre. In 2010, as a celebratory gesture for his eightieth birthday, the prestigious Henry Miller’s Theatre gained a new name, the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, while the The BBC Proms hosted a concert in the artist’s honor. Don’t miss the one-of-a-kind The Words and Music of Stephen Sondheim performance; just book some cheap The Words and Music of Stephen Sondheim tickets before they are all hogged.