Stephen SondheimBy:Alexandra Dawe

Early Life(1930-1950)

History

Born in New York City

Parents: Herbert Sondheim- Dress Manufacturer Janet Fox- Dress Designer/ Interior

Decorator Parents divorced when he was 10. Afterwards, lived with his mom in

Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Influences

Started taking piano lessons at age 6 (had an aptitude for music, puzzles, and mathematics)

Became close friends with Jimmy Hammerstein, son of Oscar Hammerstein II

Oscar Hammerstein II would be a role model, tutor, and eventually inspire Stephen to write for Broadway.

Influenced by the works of Hammerstein like Oklahoma and South Pacific.

Oscar Hammerstein II

School

Studied piano seriously in prep school years

Attended Williams College where he won the Hutchinson Prize that allowed him to study at Princeton

During all this, Hammerstein continued to be a mentor and Sondheim became Hammerstein’s personal assistant

Middle Years(1950-1970)

Study

Studied composition for 2 years at Princeton

Studied with avant-garde composer Milton Babbit

While studying with Milton, Stephen composed a piano concerto and a violin sonata

He was always looking for chance to get into theatre

His Break

He first found work writing for television

While working for television he made the acquaintance of 2 playwrights, Arthur Laurents and Burt Sheveloe

Found his break as a composer in composing music for The Girls of Summer

As a lyricist at age 25, he worked on the production West Side Story

Career Continued

Lyrical Works: Gypsy and Do I Hear a Waltz? (Hammerstein)

After writing lyrics for many other productions, Sondheim would insist to be hired as both lyricist and composer, something that was denied to him earlier in his career.

Respite

5 years would elapse before he worked on another musical in which he was supported by the royalties from West Side Story to work on projects of his choosing.

After the respite Sondheim would come out with many famous works: Company A Little Night Music Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet

Street.

Present(1990-2011)

What is He Doing Now?

In 2008 he enjoyed the successful revival of Gypsy on Broadway.

In 2010 he finished his book Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes which is a gathering of his first 25 years of his writing for the stage.

Celebration! Stephen Sondheim's 75th

birthday was celebrated with all-star tribute concerts in New York, London and Los Angeles.

In 2008, the American Theatre Wing presented him with a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Sondheim has won more Tony Awards than any other composer.

November 1, 2011 he was awarded the Handel Medallion, New York’s most prestigious arts award.

Other Accomplishments

Book- Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes

Young Playwrights- This organization, founded by Sondheim in 1981, is intended to introduce young people to writing for the theatre. He is the Executive Vice President.

Crossword Puzzles for New York magazine

Musical Works

COMPOSER AND LYRICIST A Little Night Music

“Send In The Clowns” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE_Y6388itg&feature=related

Company Follies

“Broadway Baby” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9G3xvLtx28

Sweeney Todd “Worst Pies In London”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu5GFgUQJT8

LYRICIST

West Side Story Gypsy Do I Hear A Waltz?

Bibliography

http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/son0bio-1

http://www.sondheim.org/about/about-stephen-sondheim

http://www.notablebiographies.com/Sc-St/Sondheim-Stephen.html