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Stephen Sondheim

25 quotesDramaturge · Born Mar 22, 1930 · United States Of America · Male

Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; born March 22, 1930) is an American composer and lyricist known for more than a half-century of contributions to musical theatre. Sondheim has received an Academy Award, eight Tony Awards (more than any other composer, including a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre), eight Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, the Laurence Olivier Award, and a 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has been described by Frank Rich of The New York Times as "now the greatest and perhaps best-known artist in the American musical theater." His best-known works as composer and lyricist include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Assassins, and Passion. He also wrote the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy. Sondheim has also written film music, contributing "Goodbye for Now" to Warren Beatty's 1981 Reds. He wrote five songs for 1990's Dick Tracy, including "Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)" by Madonna, which won the Academy Award for Best Song. The composer was president of the Dramatists Guild from 1973 to 1981. To celebrate his 80th birthday, the former Henry Miller's Theatre was renamed the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on September 15, 2010, and the BBC Proms held a concert in his honor. Cameron Mackintosh has called Sondheim "possibly the greatest lyricist ever." 2Early years Sondheim was born into a Jewish family in New York City, the son of Etta Janet ("Foxy," née Fox; 1897-1992) and Herbert Sondheim (1895-1966). His father manufactured dresses designed by his mothe

All Life (6)Art (4)Love (3)Perspective (3)Writing (3)Choice (2)Effort (2)decision (2)Evil (2)Work (2)Art & Expression (1)Moral (1)Reading (1)laziness (1)Endurance (1)

From “Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics”

Art is infinite. It has no beginning and no end.

Art

From “Into the Woods”

Best to take the moment present As a present for the moment

moment present Time Staying in the moment

Careful the things you say, Children will listen. Careful the things you do, Children will see. And learn. Children may not obey But children will listen. Children will look to you For which way to turn, To learn what to be. Careful before you say, "Listen to me." Children will listen.

Children obedience Listening Learning

The difference between a cow and a bean is a bean can begin an adventure.

Adventure Potential

Sometimes people leave you Halfway through the wood Others may decieve you You decide what's good You decide alone But no one is alone.

Alone Leaving Deception decision

Oh if life were made of moments Even now and then a bad one--! But if life were only moments, Then you'd never know you had one.

Moments Life Appreciation Perspective

You're so nice. You're not good, you're not bad, You're just nice. I'm not good, I'm not nice, I'm just right. I'm the witch. You're the world.

Goodness kindness Evil

From “Sweeney Todd”

Because in all of the whole human race Mrs. Lovett, there are two kinds of men and only two There's the one staying put in his proper place And the one with his foot in the other one's face

Men human race

They all deserve to die. Even you, Mrs. Lovett Even I. Because the lives of the wicked should be made brief For the rest of us death would be relief.

Death Life wicked Relief

There's a hole in the world like a big black pit who are filled with people who are filled with shit.

Hole Darkness Evil World

From “Sunday in the Park With George”

I chose and my world was shaken, so what? The choice may have been mistaken, the choosing was not.

Choice decision Mistakes

Anything you do, let it come from you. Then it will be new. Give us more to see...

Doing Uniqueness Creativity Effort

It's not so much do what you like as it is that you like what you do.

Doing What Makes You Happy Doing Things You Like Passion

Bit by bit, putting it together... Piece by piece, only way to make a work of art. Every moment makes a contribution, Every little detail plays a part. Having just the vision's no solution, Everything depends on execution, Putting it together, that's what counts.

Work Art Detail contribution Vision

Work is what you do for others, liebchen. Art is what you do for yourself.

Work Art Service expression Expressing Yourself

From “Passion”

Loving you is not a choice, It's who I am. Loving you is not a choice And not much reason to rejoice, But it gives me purpose Gives me voice to say to the world: This is why I live You are why I live. Loving you is why I do The things I do Loving you is not in my control. But loving you, I have a…

Love purpose Choice Life Sacrifice

They hear drums, we hear music.

Music Drums senses Art

No one has ever loved me As deeply as you. No one has truly shown me What love could be like until now: Not pretty or safe or easy But more than I ever knew. Love within reason - That isn't love. And I've learned that from you..

Love Reason Feelings romance Perspective

I read to see myself in other people's lives.

Reading Books People Life Perspective

From “Look, I Made a Hat”

A folktale without a moral is merely a whimsy.

Folktale Moral Story Tale

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