‘We are all blessed to have been alive at the same time as this theatre legend’: Stephen Sondheim dies at the age of 91

Picture: Roy Tan

The Stephen Sondheim Society’s Chairman and Musical Theatre Review contributor Craig Glenday writes:

Dim the lights… Stephen Sondheim was the most innovative, most influential and most important composer and lyricist in modern Broadway history. His contribution to musical theatre – and to theatre in general – is impossible to quantify, such was the variety, sophistication and richness of his output. His range was phenomenal, with shows spanning from Greek myths (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and The Frogs) and political history (Assassins, Pacific Overtures) to operatic Grand Guignol (Sweeney Todd) and the power of art (Sunday in the Park With George, Merrily We Roll Along).

Steve was a founding patron of The Stephen Sondheim Society, for which we will be forever in his debt. We were privileged to have spent many hours in his company, and to see first-hand the effect that his work had on people. This was particularly true of the young performers entering the business.

His work will continue to be a touchstone of musical theatre long into the 21st century, and the ability to perform a Sondheim song remains a measure of a performer’s ability. Steve’s passion was education – he called teaching “a sacred profession” – and it was a privilege to honour this in the annual Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year competition, which encouraged and supported young performers and writers.

We are all blessed to have been alive at the same time as this theatre legend, to have shared the same air. And to have received from him a gift as precious as his art.

“There are only two worthwhile things to leave behind when you depart this world of ours – children and art” – Sunday in the Park With George