Stephen Sondheim

Writing

Stephen Sondheim

Born March 22, 1930 · New York City, New York, USA

Died November 26, 2021 · aged 91

Stephen Joshua Sondheim (/ˈsɒndhaɪm/; March 22, 1930 – November 26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theatre, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. With his frequent collaborators Harold Prince and James Lapine, Sondheim's Broadway musicals tackled unexpected themes beyond the genre's traditional subj…

Known For

Glass Onion: A Knives Out MysteryGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery · 2022
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
7.02022
MovieComedyCrime
World-famous detective Benoit Blanc heads to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery surrounding a tech billionaire and his eclectic crew of friends.
West Side StoryWest Side Story · 2021
West Side Story
6.92021
MovieDramaRomance
Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy.
Dick TracyDick Tracy · 1990
Dick Tracy
6.21990
MovieAdventureComedy
The comic strip detective finds his life vastly complicated when Breathless Mahoney makes advances towards him while he is trying to battle Big Boy Caprice's united mob.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street · 2007
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
7.22007
MovieDramaHorror
The infamous story of Benjamin Barker, a.k.a Sweeney Todd, who sets up a barber shop down in London which is the basis for a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett. Based on the hit Broadway musical.
tick, tick... BOOM!tick, tick... BOOM! · 2021
tick, tick... BOOM!
7.62021
MovieDramaMusic
On the brink of turning 30, a promising theater composer navigates love, friendship and the pressure to create something great before time runs out.
West Side StoryWest Side Story · 1961
West Side Story
7.21961
MovieCrimeDrama
In Manhattan’s Upper West Side, rival gangs of Polish-Americans and newly arrived Puerto Ricans clash for control of the neighborhood, even as two young members from opposite sides fall dangerously in love.
Into the WoodsInto the Woods · 2014
Into the Woods
5.82014
MovieFantasyComedy
In a woods filled with magic and fairy tale characters, a baker and his wife set out to end the curse put on them by their neighbor, a spiteful witch.
AssassinsAssassins · 1990
Assassins
1990
Movie
This darkly satirical musical reframes American history through the eyes of those who attempted – successfully or not – to kill US presidents. Structured as a surreal carnival sideshow, the piece weaponises American musical traditions – vaudeville, folk ballads, barbershop quartets, patriotic Sousa-style marches and Bacharach pop – to undercut the myth of the “American Dream,” exposing how frustration, alienation and entitlement can curdle into violence. By giving voice to figures from John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald, Assassins invites audiences not to condone their acts but to confront the unsettling continuity between personal disillusionment and national mythology, turning the musical stage into a mirror for America’s darkest obsessions.

Movies

Glass Onion: A Knives Out MysteryGlass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery · 2022
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
7.02022
MovieComedyCrime
World-famous detective Benoit Blanc heads to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery surrounding a tech billionaire and his eclectic crew of friends.
West Side StoryWest Side Story · 2021
West Side Story
6.92021
MovieDramaRomance
Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy.
Dick TracyDick Tracy · 1990
Dick Tracy
6.21990
MovieAdventureComedy
The comic strip detective finds his life vastly complicated when Breathless Mahoney makes advances towards him while he is trying to battle Big Boy Caprice's united mob.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street · 2007
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
7.22007
MovieDramaHorror
The infamous story of Benjamin Barker, a.k.a Sweeney Todd, who sets up a barber shop down in London which is the basis for a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett. Based on the hit Broadway musical.
tick, tick... BOOM!tick, tick... BOOM! · 2021
tick, tick... BOOM!
7.62021
MovieDramaMusic
On the brink of turning 30, a promising theater composer navigates love, friendship and the pressure to create something great before time runs out.
West Side StoryWest Side Story · 1961
West Side Story
7.21961
MovieCrimeDrama
In Manhattan’s Upper West Side, rival gangs of Polish-Americans and newly arrived Puerto Ricans clash for control of the neighborhood, even as two young members from opposite sides fall dangerously in love.
Into the WoodsInto the Woods · 2014
Into the Woods
5.82014
MovieFantasyComedy
In a woods filled with magic and fairy tale characters, a baker and his wife set out to end the curse put on them by their neighbor, a spiteful witch.
AssassinsAssassins · 1990
Assassins
1990
Movie
This darkly satirical musical reframes American history through the eyes of those who attempted – successfully or not – to kill US presidents. Structured as a surreal carnival sideshow, the piece weaponises American musical traditions – vaudeville, folk ballads, barbershop quartets, patriotic Sousa-style marches and Bacharach pop – to undercut the myth of the “American Dream,” exposing how frustration, alienation and entitlement can curdle into violence. By giving voice to figures from John Wilkes Booth to Lee Harvey Oswald, Assassins invites audiences not to condone their acts but to confront the unsettling continuity between personal disillusionment and national mythology, turning the musical stage into a mirror for America’s darkest obsessions.
AssassinsAssassins · 2004
Assassins
10.02004
MovieHistoryDrama
This darkly satirical musical reframes American history through the eyes of those who attempted – successfully or not – to kill US presidents. Structured as a surreal carnival sideshow, the piece weaponises American musical traditions – vaudeville, folk ballads, barbershop quartets, patriotic Sousa-style marches and Bacharach pop – to undercut the myth of the “American Dream,” exposing how frustration, alienation and entitlement can curdle into violence.
CampCamp · 2003
Camp
5.52003
MovieComedyMusic
Misfits in their lives back home, a group of young people live it up at musical-theater camp. While the sports counselor is completely ignored, the kids' spend all their time in rehearsal for a grueling schedule that involves a new show every two weeks. Several personal stories come to the fore.
Pacific OverturesPacific Overtures · 1976
Pacific Overtures
9.01976
MovieMusic
In 1853 Japan, the story follows the Westernization of Japan, mainly through the story of Kayama, a samurai, and Manjiro, a fisherman. The lives of both men are radically changed by the coming of American ships to Japan.
Stavisky...Stavisky... · 1974
Stavisky...
5.91974
MovieCrimeDrama
Biarritz, 1933. Charm and talent assist small-time swindler Serge Alexandre, alias Stavisky, to bribe his way into the centre of French politics. But when his great scam involving millions is exposed, he brings the government to the verge of collapse and the country to the brink of civil war.
Simply SondheimSimply Sondheim · 2021
Simply Sondheim
2021
MovieMusic
A musical revue of over 30 songs written by Stephen Sondheim. The quintessential “Finishing the Hat,” “Another Hundred People,” “Losing My Mind” and “The Worst Pies in London” meet lesser known gems including “Country House,” “Saturday Night” and “Goodbye for Now”. New orchestrations by longtime Sondheim collaborator Jonathan Tunick are performed by a 16-piece orchestra, which accompanies 12 singers including Norm Lewis, Solea Pfeiffer, Conrad Ricamora, Emily Skinner, Bobby Smith, Awa Sal Secka, Tracy Lynn Olivera, and more.
Six by SondheimSix by Sondheim · 2013
Six by Sondheim
7.12013
MovieDocumentaryMusic
This intimate documentary explores the life and career of the stage legend Stephen Sondheim through six of his best-known songs.
Mostly SondheimMostly Sondheim · 2003
Mostly Sondheim
2003
MovieMusic
Experience a truly memorable musical event as Broadway legend Barbara Cook, known for her starring roles in "The Music Man" and "She Loves Me," performs songs written and enjoyed by renowned composer Stephen Sondheim. In addition to singing Sondheim classics like "Everybody Says Don't" and "Send in the Clowns," Cook pays tribute to tunes Sondheim wished he had written, such as "I Got Lost in His Arms" and "The Trolley Song."
Merrily We Roll AlongMerrily We Roll Along · 2025
Merrily We Roll Along
6.72025
MovieComedyMusic
Franklin Shepard is a talented Broadway composer who abandons his theater career and all his friends in New York in order to produce films in Los Angeles. The story begins at the height of his Hollywood fame and moves backwards in time, showing snapshots of the most important moments in Frank’s life that shaped the man he is today. A live recording of the 2024 Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's musical, filmed at the Hudson Theatre in New York City.
PassionPassion · 2005
Passion
2005
MovieMusicDrama
Passion is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Lapine. The story was adapted from Ettore Scola's film Passione d'Amore. Central themes include love, sex, obsession, illness, passion, beauty, power and manipulation. Set in 19th century Italy, the plot concerns a young soldier and the changes in him brought about by the obsessive love of Fosca, his Colonel's homely, ailing cousin.
RedsReds · 1981
Reds
6.91981
MovieDramaHistory
An account of the revolutionary years of the legendary American journalist John Reed, who shared his adventurous professional life with his radical commitment to the socialist revolution in Russia, his dream of spreading its principles among the members of the American working class, and his troubled romantic relationship with the writer Louise Bryant.
CandideCandide · 2023
Candide
2023
MovieDramaMusic
The innocent Candide discovers that human beings aren't all they are cracked up to be and ultimately focuses on building his own life on his own terms.
Evening PrimroseEvening Primrose · 1966
Evening Primrose
7.51966
MovieDramaMusic
A man becomes part of a secret society of people who live in a department store and quickly falls in love with their leader’s young maid.
The Last of SheilaThe Last of Sheila · 1973
The Last of Sheila
7.01973
MovieCrimeDrama
A year after Sheila is killed in a hit-and-run, her multimillionaire husband invites a group of friends to spend a week on his yacht playing a scavenger hunt-style mystery game—but the game turns out to be all too real and all too deadly.
CandideCandide · 1986
Candide
10.01986
MovieMusic
Candide falls in love with the beautiful but materialistic Cunegonde. Her barron father doesn't approve of the affair so Candide wanders, meeting all the misfortunes along the way.
June MoonJune Moon · 1974
June Moon
9.01974
MovieComedy
In this rousing satire a native upstate New York clerk comes to 1920s Manhattan with dreams of making in big on Tin Pan Alley.
A Little Night Music: Ravinia Festival ConcertA Little Night Music: Ravinia Festival Concert · 2002
A Little Night Music: Ravinia Festival Concert
2002
MovieMusicRomance
The actress Desiree Armfeldt becomes entangled with multiple intersecting love affairs, which all converge for an evening at the Viennese country estate of her mother, a former courtesan.

TV Shows

The SimpsonsThe Simpsons · 1989
The Simpsons
8.01989
SeriesFamilyAnimation
Set in Springfield, the average American town, the show focuses on the antics and everyday adventures of the Simpson family; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, as well as a virtual cast of thousands. Since the beginning, the series has been a pop culture icon, attracting hundreds of celebrities to guest star. The show has also made name for itself in its fearless satirical take on politics, media and American life in general.
The Late Show with Stephen ColbertThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert · 2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
6.12015
SeriesComedy
Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology, and more. Featuring bandleader Jon Batiste with his band Stay Human, the Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater.
The Colbert ReportThe Colbert Report · 2005
The Colbert Report
6.92005
SeriesComedy
The Colbert Report is an American satirical late night television program. It stars political humorist Stephen Colbert, a former correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. The Colbert Report is a spin-off from and counterpart to The Daily Show that comments on politics and the media in a similar way. The show focuses on a fictional anchorman character named Stephen Colbert, played by his real-life namesake. The character, described by Colbert as a "well-intentioned, poorly informed, high-status idiot", is a caricature of televised political pundits.
Great PerformancesGreat Performances · 1971
Great Performances
6.11971
SeriesComedyDocumentary
The best in the performing arts from across America and around the world including a diverse programming portfolio of classical music, opera, popular song, musical theater, dance, drama, and performance documentaries.
The Merv Griffin ShowThe Merv Griffin Show · 1962
The Merv Griffin Show
6.61962
Series
Tony AwardsTony Awards · 1956
Tony Awards
1956
Series
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway productions and performances, and an award is given for regional theatre.
American PlayhouseAmerican Playhouse · 1982
American Playhouse
6.61982
SeriesDramaComedy
American Playhouse is an anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service in the United States.
PerformancePerformance · 1991
Performance
6.31991
SeriesDrama
An anthology series of various plays and dramatic performances.
The Kennedy Center HonorsThe Kennedy Center Honors · 1978
The Kennedy Center Honors
7.41978
Series
The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual honor given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture.
Live from Lincoln CenterLive from Lincoln Center · 1976
Live from Lincoln Center
8.71976
Series
Since premiering in 1976, the landmark series has sought to democratize the world of the performing arts by making Lincoln Center's historic concerts and events available for public broadcast across the country. And it continues to push the boundaries, both technical and creative, of what is possible in the realm of stage performance capture.
Inside the Actors StudioInside the Actors Studio · 1994
Inside the Actors Studio
7.61994
Series
James Lipton sits down with some of the world's most accomplished actors and directors for penetrating, fascinating interviews.
Broadway: The American MusicalBroadway: The American Musical · 2004
Broadway: The American Musical
8.02004
SeriesDocumentary
This six part documentary miniseries presents the evolution of the Broadway musical from its inception in 1893 to current day 2004. It presents those influential players both on stage and behind the scenes, as well as a variety of influential Broadway shows, a handful which are known to have transformed the musical into what the audience knows it to be today.
Previn and the PittsburghPrevin and the Pittsburgh · 1977
Previn and the Pittsburgh
8.01977
SeriesDocumentary
Renowned composer, conductor, and pianist Andre Previn welcomes one or more musical guests for conversation and performance, either accompanied by Mr. Previn on piano or in concert with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Produced by WQED and syndicated nationally on PBS, the series was notable among musical performance programs for its deft camera work and editing. The episode The Music That Made the Movies was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Music Direction.
All You Need Is Love: The Story of Popular MusicAll You Need Is Love: The Story of Popular Music · 1977
All You Need Is Love: The Story of Popular Music
6.51977
SeriesDocumentary
A 17-part television documentary series on the history of modern pop music covering some of the many different genres that have fallen under the label of "popular music" between the mid-19th century and 1976, including folk, ragtime, Tin Pan Alley, vaudeville and music hall, musical theatre, country, swing, jazz, blues, R&B, rock 'n' roll and others.