Stephen Sondheim is arguably the most important theatrical composer-lyricist in the latter half of the Twentieth Century. Building on the framework created by such early musical theater figures as Cole Porter and Irving Berlin, he has been responsible for redefining stage musicals in the last three decades. Subjects that were not considered viable (i.e., the opening of Japan to the West, a Victorian murder-revenge story) have in Sondheim's hands become groundbreaking shows that have moved the American musical forward. While Broadway no longer reflects American popular music (in the way that
At age ten, moved with mother to Pennsylvania after parents' separation; neighbor Oscar Hammerstein II served as mentor
Wrote first amateur musical, "By George" while still in boarding school
1953
Wrote for the CBS TV series, "Topper"
1954
Wrote first musical score, "Saturday Night"; show was optioned for production, but the producer died before funding had been raised; project was shelved until a 1997 production at London's Bridewell Theatre; received a professional recording in 1998
1956
First professional stage work, composed incidental music for "Girls of Summer"
