Stephen Sondheim

Few names are more respected or revered on Broadway than Stephen Sondheim. A brilliant composer and lyricist, Sondheim (1930-2021) created a new kind of American musical, at once deeply personal, dynamic, and full of wisdom. Sondheim was born in New York City in 1930. Before setting his first words to music, the young composer was mentored by another musical titan, Oscar Hammerstein II, the lyrical genius behind classic shows such as “Oklahoma!,” “Carousel,” and “The Sound of Music.” Sondheim yearned to be just like him one day — and he more than succeeded. In his 50-year career, Sondheim created a body of work more eclectic than any composer-lyricist in Broadway history. There’s the cynical romance of “Company” (1970), the devilishly dark tale of “Sweeny Todd” (1979), a portrait of an artist in “Sunday in the Park With George” (1984), and the fantastical fairytale romp “Into the Woods” (1987). This impressive variety was intentional: Sondheim told “The New York Times” in 2008 that what made a story most appealing to him was if he had never done it before. “If it doesn’t make you nervous,” he said, “you’re going to write the same thing you wrote before.” These 20 quotes from Sondheim musicals illustrate the songwriter’s views on life, love, and success. While all these sayings come from the mouths of various characters — from different generations, locations, and even realities — they form a vision of Sondheim’s life philosophy: to get out there and live.