Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Joshua Sondheim was an American composer and lyricist. One of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, he reinvented the American musical, tackling unexpected themes and darker elements of the human experience. Sondheim's Broadway musicals boasted complexity and sophistication and he mentored under Oscar Hammerstein II. His career took off with the lyrics for 'West Side Story' (1957) and 'Gypsy' (1959), leading to more famous works like 'Sweeney Todd' and 'Into the Woods'. His accolades include eight Tony Awards, an Academy Award, and the Pulitzer Prize. Theaters are named after him both on Broadway and in London.