ADVOCATE: The gay composer and lyricist of greats like Into the Woods and Company died suddenly on Friday, a day after reportedly spending Thanksgiving with friends.
Out songwriter and composer Stephen Sondheim died Friday at the age of 91. Sondheim’s work reshaped American musical theater and has influenced generations of songwriters.
His death was announced by his lawyer and friend, Richard Pappas, according to The New York Times. Pappas said Sondheim wasn’t known to be ill, and his death was sudden. The Broadway legend had spent Thanksgiving with some friends, Pappas said.
Sondheim’s success stretched from the 1950s, writing lyrics for West Side Story, to the 1990s, writing for such musicals as Assassins and Passion. The first Broadway show that he wrote the music and lyrics for was the 1962 comedy A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. It won a Tony Award for best musical.
The Times noted that the 1970s and 1980s were his “most productive” years. His works in those decades included Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Into the Woods, and Sunday in the Park With George. » | Alex Cooper | Friday, November 26, 2021
