Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Joshua Sondheimis an American composer and lyricist known for more than a half-century of contributions to musical theatre. Sondheim has received an Academy Award, eight Tony Awards, eight Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, the Laurence Olivier Award, and a 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has been described by Frank Rich of The New York Times as "now the greatest and perhaps best-known artist in the American musical theater." His best-known works as composer and lyricist include A Funny...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionComposer
Date of Birth22 March 1930
CountryUnited States of America
I took piano lessons when I was 6. I didn't want to go on with it. I don't remember being moved by a piece of music.
I was never much of a reader. I'm a slow reader, which is unusual, because I'm so into language and I love words so much. But it's hard for me to read.
I'm sure many writers have these strange, tiny little habits.
I've always liked puzzles, since I was a kid. I like party games, silly games. I loved chess. I enjoy jigsaw puzzles, but I'm not particularly visual.
With videotaping, on the second generation you're already losing some of the freshness.
It's age. It's a diminution of energy and the worry that there are no new ideas. It's an increasing lack of confidence. I'm not the only one. I've checked with other people.
White. A blank page or canvas. The challenge. Bring order to the whole Through design, composition, tension, balance, light, and harmony.
Only capitalists get photographers.
Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor.
When I was growing up, there was no such thing as Off-Broadway. You either got your show on or you didn't.
My main goal is to tell a story.
If the end is right, it justifies the beans!
I like murder mysteries, the Agatha Christie kinds of things where you know that it's all going to be neatly wound up at the end.
You have to be submitted for the Pulitzer, and unbeknownst to us, a choral director whom I know had submitted us.