Stephen Sondheim

Writing

Stephen Sondheim

Born 1930-03-22 · New York City, New York, USA

Stephen Joshua Sondheim (/ˈsɒndhaɪm/; March 22, 1930 – November 26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theatre, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. With his frequent collaborators Harold Prince and James Lapine, Sondheim's Broadway musicals tackled unexpected themes beyond the genre's traditional subjects while addressing darker elements of the human experience. His music and lyrics are tinged with complexity, sophistication, and ambivalence about various aspects of life. Sondheim's interest in musical theatre began at a young age, and Oscar Hammerstein II mentored him. He started his career by writing the lyrics for West Side Story (1957) and Gypsy (1959). He transitioned to writing both music and lyrics for the theatre, with his best-known works including A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962), Company (1970), Follies (1971), A Little Night Music (1973), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979), Merrily We Roll Along (1981), Sunday in the Park with George (1984), and Into the Woods (1987). Sondheim's numerous awards and nominations include eight Tony Awards, an Academy Award, eight Grammy Awards, an Olivier Award, and the Pulitzer Prize. He also was awarded the Kennedy Center Honor in 1993 and a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. A theatre is named after him both on Broadway and in London's West End. Film adaptations of his works include West Side Story (1961), Gypsy (1962), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966), A Little Night Music (1977), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street(2007), Into the Woods (2014), and West Side Story (2021). Description above from the Wikipedia article Stephen Sondheim, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Acting credits

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery poster
7.0

World-famous detective Benoit Blanc heads to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery surrounding a tech billionaire and his eclectic crew of friends.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

2022

tick, tick... BOOM! poster
7.6

On the brink of turning 30, a promising theater composer navigates love, friendship and the pressure to create something great before time runs out.

tick, tick... BOOM!

2021

Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There poster
7.0

Broadway: The Golden Age is the most important, ambitious and comprehensive film ever made about America's most celebrated indigenous art form. Award-winning filmmaker Rick McKay filmed over 100 of the greatest stars ever to work on Broadway or in Hollywood. He soon learned that great films can be restored, fine literature can be kept in print - but historic Broadway performances of the past are the most endangered. They leave only memories that, while more vivid, are more difficult to preserve. In their own words — and not a moment too soon — Broadway: The Golden Age tells the stories of our theatrical legends, how they came to New York, and how they created this legendary century in American theatre. This is the largest cast of legends ever in one film.

Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There

2003

Six by Sondheim poster
7.1

This intimate documentary explores the life and career of the stage legend Stephen Sondheim through six of his best-known songs.

Six by Sondheim

2013

Camp poster
5.5

Misfits in their lives back home, a group of young people live it up at musical-theater camp. While the sports counselor is completely ignored, the kids' spend all their time in rehearsal for a grueling schedule that involves a new show every two weeks. Several personal stories come to the fore.

Camp

2003

No artwork available
7.7

A general making-of piece featuring principal members of the cast and crew. A brief history of the demon barber is provided, as well as the actors' preparation for their singing roles and glimpses of the set design and general production.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Burton + Carter + Depp = Todd

2008

On Broadway poster
8.7

An all-star cast tells the inside story of the Broadway theater, and how it came back from the brink thanks to innovative work, a new attention to inclusion and a sometimes uneasy balance between art and commerce. Legends of the stage and screen—including Helen Mirren, Christine Baranski, August Wilson, James Corden, Alec Baldwin, John Lithgow, Viola Davis, Hugh Jackman and Ian McKellen—take us behind the scenes of Broadway's most groundbreaking and beloved shows, from A Chorus Line to Hamilton. Iconic performances by Lin Manuel Miranda, Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, James Earl Jones and Mandy Patinkin lead the way on a hurly burly ride through Times Square, once again the main street of American show business in this documentary directed by Academy-Award nominee Oren Jacoby.

On Broadway

2019

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – Scenes from the Making of a Musical poster
9.0

Opening with the first day of rehearsals of the London production of "Sweeney Todd", this ninety-minute documentary focuses on the rehearsal process with the musical's director, composer and actors.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – Scenes from the Making of a Musical

1980

June Moon poster
9.0

In this rousing satire a native upstate New York clerk comes to 1920s Manhattan with dreams of making in big on Tin Pan Alley.

June Moon

1974

Something's Coming: West Side Story poster
7.4

Incredible video behind-the-scenes with the stars, Steven Spielberg, and see one of the last interviews with the legendary Stephen Sondheim.

Something's Coming: West Side Story

2021

Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened... poster
7.5

This film from acclaimed theater director Lonny Price charts the journey of the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along" in the 30-plus years since the musical debuted on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre in 1981.

Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened...

2016

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert poster
7.1

In 1846, Anthony Hope sails into London with the mysterious Sweeney Todd, a once-naive barber whose life and marriage was uprooted by a corrupt justice system. Todd confides in Nellie Lovett, the owner of a local meat pie shop, and the two become partners, as Todd swears revenge on those that have wronged him and decides to take up his old profession.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert

2001

The Stories of West Side Story poster
7.3

Rejoice in the astonishing all-new footage of Spielberg at work in documentary filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau’s revealing The Stories of West Side Story. Composed of Opening, Prologue, Sharks & Jets, Dance at the Gym, The Romance, America, Gee, Officer Krupke, Cool, From Quintet to the Rumble, I Feel Pretty, Somewhere, Finale, and Tribute.

The Stories of West Side Story

2022

Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II poster
NR

In commemoration of the 100th birthday of lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, performers present classic Hammerstein songs.

Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II

1995

Putting It Together: The Making of the Broadway Album poster
9.0

In 1985, Barbra Streisand released "The Broadway Album," which remains one of her most popular records. Barbra's first television special on HBO debuted in 1986. The special—which combined an interview with director William Friedkin with documentary footage of Barbra in the recording studio making 'The Broadway Album' - was only 40 minutes long. The best of Broadway comes to life in the tour, as Streisand rehearses "Putting it Together," "Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine" and "If I Loved You."

Putting It Together: The Making of the Broadway Album

1986

Sondheim! The Birthday Concert poster
8.0

Join us for a rousing celebration of the life and works of one of Broadway's greatest legends — the one and only Stephen Sondheim. For the master composer and lyricist's 80th birthday, many of musical theater's brightest stars gathered in March of 2010 to perform more than two dozen sensational numbers from Sondheim's illustrious career, and several of these enduring songs are performed by the original Broadway cast members. David Hyde Pierce hosts this magical event with Stephen Sondheim's longtime collaborator Paul Gemignani conducting the New York Philharmonic. Originally broadcast as an episode of the PBS series "Great Performances" (season 38, episode 2).

Sondheim! The Birthday Concert

2010

Original Cast Album: Company poster
7.2

In 1970, right after the triumphant premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s groundbreaking concept musical Company, the renowned composer and lyricist, his director Harold Prince, the show’s stars, and a large pit orchestra all went into a Manhattan recording studio as part of a time-honored Broadway tradition: the making of the original cast album. What ensued was a marathon session in which all involved pushed themselves to the limit.

Original Cast Album: Company

1970

Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall poster
9.0

This program features the music of Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim in a 1992 performance at Carnegie Hall. An American Musical Theatre writer for over 40 years, Stephen Sondheim has created the scores for hits such as Passion, Assassins, Bounce, Into The Woods, Sunday In The Park With George, Merrily We Roll Along, Sweeney Todd and Pacific Overtures. Featuring: Liza Minnelli, Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Glenn Close and many more.

Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall

1992

Company poster
7.1

Set in modern upper-crust Manhattan, an exploration of love and commitment as seen through the eyes of a charming perpetual bachelor questioning his single state and his enthusiastically married, slightly envious friends.

Company

1996

Follies: In Concert poster
7.0

A backstage documentary film including footage from the legendary 1985 concert performance of Stephen Sondheim's classic musical at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. The plot of the musical centers around a reunion of showgirls who appeared in an annual Follies extravaganza when it was staged between the wars.

Follies: In Concert

1986

Into the Woods: A Conversationpiece poster
NR

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine discuss their stage musical Into the Woods

Into the Woods: A Conversationpiece

1990

Hey, Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh poster
6.7

'Hey, Mr Producer!' features selected scenes from the productions of the world's most successful musical producer, Cameron Mackintosh - classic songs from classic musicals performed by the ultimate cast.

Hey, Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh

1998

No artwork available
NR

A short documentary released as pre-publicity for the 1973 murder mystery, The Last of Sheila.

The Last of Sheila Featurette

1973

A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim poster
NR

This special is a recording of the presentation of the Algur H. Meadows Award for Excellence in the Arts presented by Southern Methodist University in 1994. The performance, by students at the school and guest artists Bernadette Peters, Chip Zien and Debra Monk, is intercut with interviews with Sondheim, Hal Prince, James Lapine and videotaped testimonials from Angela Lansbury and Jason Alexander.

A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim

1995

Behind the camera

Merrily We Roll Along poster
6.9

Franklin Shepard is a talented Broadway composer who abandons his theater career and all his friends in New York in order to produce films in Los Angeles. The story begins at the height of his Hollywood fame and moves backwards in time, showing snapshots of the most important moments in Frank’s life that shaped the man he is today. A live recording of the 2024 Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's musical, filmed at the Hudson Theatre in New York City.

Merrily We Roll Along

2025

Six by Sondheim poster
7.1

This intimate documentary explores the life and career of the stage legend Stephen Sondheim through six of his best-known songs.

Six by Sondheim

2013

Passion poster
NR

Passion is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine. The story was adapted from Ettore Scola's film Passione d'Amore. Central themes include love, sex, obsession, illness, passion, beauty, power and manipulation. Set in 19th century Italy, the plot concerns a young soldier and the changes in him brought about by the obsessive love of Fosca, his Colonel's homely, ailing cousin.

Passion

2005

The Last of Sheila poster
7.0

A year after Sheila is killed in a hit-and-run, her multimillionaire husband invites a group of friends to spend a week on his yacht playing a scavenger hunt-style mystery game—but the game turns out to be all too real and all too deadly.

The Last of Sheila

1973

Pacific Overtures poster
9.0

In 1853 Japan, the story follows the Westernization of Japan, mainly through the story of Kayama, a samurai, and Manjiro, a fisherman. The lives of both men are radically changed by the coming of American ships to Japan.

Pacific Overtures

1976

Company poster
6.9

Set in modern upper-crust Manhattan, an exploration of love and commitment as seen through the eyes of a charming perpetual bachelor questioning his single state and his enthusiastically married, slightly envious friends.

Company

2011

Evening Primrose poster
7.5

A man becomes part of a secret society of people who live in a department store and quickly falls in love with their leader’s young maid.

Evening Primrose

1966

Into the Woods poster
8.1

In a woods filled with magic and fairy tale characters, a baker and his wife set out to end the curse put on them by their neighbor, a spiteful witch.

Into the Woods

1991

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – In Concert with the New York Philharmonic poster
8.1

In 1846, Anthony Hope sails into London with the mysterious Sweeney Todd, a once-naive barber whose life and marriage was uprooted by a corrupt justice system. Todd confides in Nellie Lovett, the owner of a local meat pie shop, and the two become partners, as Todd swears revenge on those that have wronged him and decides to take up his old profession. (Filmed live at the Lincoln Center with the New York Philharmonic from March 5–8, 2014.)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – In Concert with the New York Philharmonic

2014

Candide poster
10.0

Candide falls in love with the beautiful but materialistic Cunegonde. Her barron father doesn't approve of the affair so Candide wanders, meeting all the misfortunes along the way.

Candide

1986

Simply Sondheim poster
NR

A musical revue of over 30 songs written by Stephen Sondheim. The quintessential “Finishing the Hat,” “Another Hundred People,” “Losing My Mind” and “The Worst Pies in London” meet lesser known gems including “Country House,” “Saturday Night” and “Goodbye for Now”. New orchestrations by longtime Sondheim collaborator Jonathan Tunick are performed by a 16-piece orchestra, which accompanies 12 singers including Norm Lewis, Solea Pfeiffer, Conrad Ricamora, Emily Skinner, Bobby Smith, Awa Sal Secka, Tracy Lynn Olivera, and more.

Simply Sondheim

2021

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street poster
8.2

In 1846, Anthony Hope sails into London with the mysterious Sweeney Todd, a once-naive barber whose life and marriage was uprooted by a corrupt justice system. Todd confides in Nellie Lovett, the owner of a local meat pie shop, and the two become partners, as Todd swears revenge on those that have wronged him and decides to take up his old profession.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

1982

Sunday in the Park with George poster
7.5

The days leading up to the completion of his most famous painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Georges Seurat is struggling to make meaningful art and maintaining a relationship with his lover, Dot. Amid the scorn of the artistic community, Seurat's artistic ability thrives while his love diminishes. A century later, Seurat's descendant – named George and also an artist – finds himself burnt out and in search of what artistic path to follow, but he finds the answer to his future in the past.

Sunday in the Park with George

1986

Into the Woods poster
8.8

In a woods filled with magic and fairy tale characters, a baker and his wife set out to end the curse put on them by their neighbor, a spiteful witch.

Into the Woods

2011

No artwork available
NR

Candide falls in love with the beautiful but materialistic Cunegonde. Her barron father doesn't approve of the affair so Candide wanders, meeting all the misfortunes along the way.

Candide

2007

Merrily We Roll Along poster
10.0

Franklin Shepard is a talented Broadway composer who abandons his theater career and all his friends in New York in order to produce films in Los Angeles. The story begins at the height of his Hollywood fame and moves backwards in time, showing snapshots of the most important moments in Frank’s life that shaped the man he is today.

Merrily We Roll Along

2013

Putting It Together poster
6.5

An all-star cast performs the music of one of the greatest composers of our time... Stephen Sondheim. Anxiously anticipated by the myriad fans of the legendary composer, Putting It Together marked the return of Carol Burnett to the Broadway musical stage for the first time in over 35 years. Stephen Sondheim has won a record seven Tony Awards for his songwriting, and the Pulitzer Prize for Sunday in the Park with George. His Broadway smash shows and movies include Gypsy, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sweeney Todd, Dick Tracy, and West Side Story. This Cameron Mackintosh stage production was captured live in performance during its Broadway run and recorded in high definition with a widescreen format using ten cameras and over 40 microphones.

Putting It Together

2001

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert poster
7.1

In 1846, Anthony Hope sails into London with the mysterious Sweeney Todd, a once-naive barber whose life and marriage was uprooted by a corrupt justice system. Todd confides in Nellie Lovett, the owner of a local meat pie shop, and the two become partners, as Todd swears revenge on those that have wronged him and decides to take up his old profession.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert

2001

National Theatre Live: Follies poster
8.0

New York, 1971. There’s a party on the stage of the Weismann Theatre. Tomorrow the iconic building will be demolished. Thirty years after their final performance, the Follies girls gather to have a few drinks, sing a few songs and lie about themselves.

National Theatre Live: Follies

2017

Company poster
7.1

Set in modern upper-crust Manhattan, an exploration of love and commitment as seen through the eyes of a charming perpetual bachelor questioning his single state and his enthusiastically married, slightly envious friends.

Company

1996

Into the Woods: A Conversationpiece poster
NR

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine discuss their stage musical Into the Woods

Into the Woods: A Conversationpiece

1990

Gypsy poster
7.8

Gypsy's mother Rose dreams of a life in show business for her daughters, but Louise becomes a huge burlesque star. Stage musical loosely based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee.

Gypsy

2015

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street poster
NR

In 1846, Anthony Hope sails into London with the mysterious Sweeney Todd, a once-naive barber whose life and marriage was uprooted by a corrupt justice system. Todd confides in Nellie Lovett, the owner of a local meat pie shop, and the two become partners, as Todd swears revenge on those that have wronged him and decides to take up his old profession.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

2012

No artwork available
7.0

Concert performance of Bernstein's Candide, with additional connecting texts by Loriot (Vicco von Bülow). The world is absurd, and no one understands that better than Loriot. In this witty and whimsical adaptation of Leonard Bernstein’s operetta Candide, the legendary German comedian takes on the role of narrator, guiding the audience through Voltaire’s tale of optimism gone wrong. With sharp humor and elegant storytelling, Loriot adds his signature touch to Candide’s misadventures across war-torn lands, ill-fated romances, and philosophical catastrophes—all set to Bernstein’s dazzling score. A delightful blend of high culture and comedy, this Candide is as satirical as it is spectacular.

Leonard Bernstein: Candide

2003