Stephen Sondheim *In-Person*

In a career spanning over sixty years and more than twenty productions, Stephen Sondheim established himself as a major figure in the history of the American musical theatre. Starting as a lyricist, he soon transitioned to writing both music and lyrics to a series of shows, both hits and misses, some readily accessible, others more controversial. His musicals take in a range of topics: "Company" focused on modern marriage; "Follies" combines romance and show business; "Into the Woods" explores the untold aftermaths of fairy tales; and "Assassins" takes a cynical view of American politics. Sondheim's philosophy was that the songs should propel the plot and the lyrics should be carefully crafted to fit the characters. This class examines his hits and misses and explores how he fulfilled his goals in his shows, using film clips, recordings, and live performances by Ben & Brad. 

Instructors: Benjamin Sears & Brad Conner, Performers and Historians.