Would Broadway Be What It Is Today Without The Magic Of Organ
Would Broadway be what it is today without the magic of Sondheim? Stephen Sondheim is an American composer that dates all the way back to 1930. (Stephen Sondheim Biography.com) Sondheim is a musical theatre legend who has won eight Tony awards, making him the composer who has received the most Tony’s (Tony Awards Facts and Trivia Tonyawards.com.) His words and wisdom seep onto paper and put on a variety of productions. From “West Side Story” to “Passion,” there is diversity between the shows that have come from him. Through the musical abilities of Stephen Sondheim, great plots and important characters have been arisen.
In 1930, when the icon was born, he lived a simple lifestyle. His life was normal growing up in New York City. In the year of 1940, whilst he was ten years old, his parents got a divorce and he was forced to go with his mother to Pennsylvania. However, without this, he wouldn’t have accomplished all of his works because his family befriended a neighboring family, the Hammerstein’s. Oscar Hammerstein II was a lyricist and composer who …show more content…
would always inspire Sondheim. Hammerstein taught him many things and helped him become who he is today. In 1956, Stephen collaborated with Leonard Bernstein to write the lyrics for a show titled “West Side Story,” his first professional show he collaborated and worked on. (Sondheim: A Chronology Hutchins)
The Pulitzer Prize winning composer was accompanied by Oscar Hammerstein II, who had a very special way of writing. According to Playbill.com, Sondheim relies on three rules for his shows; “content dictates form, less is more, and God is in the details.” He digs deep into the characters to bring out what they really feel and how they really are. He enjoys driving the viewer away from the characters contributions, and let them explore the plot and think about the story. Stephen makes the characters sing what they are feeling, it allows the performer to let their emotions flow in the style of the character.. The tone is how they are in that very moment, which is very different from other composers. Without these aspects, Stephen Sondheim would just be another composer. (Stephen Sondheim talks to Playbill.com Kenneth Jones)
The composer with Broadway theatre’s named after him has had many huge hits in the past.
“Into The Woods” is a 1987 show about how three Brothers Grimm fairytales come together. It’s a funny, important show that has become very popular in the year 2014. It also did a test-run in 1986 in San Diego, California. A bloody, thrilling, 1979 musical; “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” arose from the ashes and became a hit. Full of gore and great music, it’s one of Sondheim’s most successful. One of his best, most triumphant shows titled “Sunday in the Park with George,” and is a 1984 musical that has great music, and most importantly is based off a painting titled “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” With the help of James Lapine, lots of these shows have become hits and sensations all the way from New York to London. (Sondheim: A Chronology, Hutchins) (Stephen Sondheim
ic.galegroup.com)
The sensational composer, Stephen Sondheim, has a way with words and a way of telling stories through music. However, he couldn’t do it alone, lots of help was needed on the way.
Oscar Hammerstein II for example, who showed him what a musical really is and was a role model. Another is James Lapine, who directed some of his shows and helped him to write the book to go along with it. His success is a beautiful thing that has given him many awards. Without his shows, famous Broadway actors such as Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone may not be who they are today either. He helps others and himself with his power. Where would Broadway be without these sensational, musical hits?
In 1930, when the icon was born, he lived a simple lifestyle. His life was normal growing up in New York City. In the year of 1940, whilst he was ten years old, his parents got a divorce and he was forced to go with his mother to Pennsylvania. However, without this, he wouldn’t have accomplished all of his works because his family befriended a neighboring family, the Hammerstein’s. Oscar Hammerstein II was a lyricist and composer who …show more content…
would always inspire Sondheim. Hammerstein taught him many things and helped him become who he is today. In 1956, Stephen collaborated with Leonard Bernstein to write the lyrics for a show titled “West Side Story,” his first professional show he collaborated and worked on. (Sondheim: A Chronology Hutchins)
The Pulitzer Prize winning composer was accompanied by Oscar Hammerstein II, who had a very special way of writing. According to Playbill.com, Sondheim relies on three rules for his shows; “content dictates form, less is more, and God is in the details.” He digs deep into the characters to bring out what they really feel and how they really are. He enjoys driving the viewer away from the characters contributions, and let them explore the plot and think about the story. Stephen makes the characters sing what they are feeling, it allows the performer to let their emotions flow in the style of the character.. The tone is how they are in that very moment, which is very different from other composers. Without these aspects, Stephen Sondheim would just be another composer. (Stephen Sondheim talks to Playbill.com Kenneth Jones)
The composer with Broadway theatre’s named after him has had many huge hits in the past.
“Into The Woods” is a 1987 show about how three Brothers Grimm fairytales come together. It’s a funny, important show that has become very popular in the year 2014. It also did a test-run in 1986 in San Diego, California. A bloody, thrilling, 1979 musical; “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” arose from the ashes and became a hit. Full of gore and great music, it’s one of Sondheim’s most successful. One of his best, most triumphant shows titled “Sunday in the Park with George,” and is a 1984 musical that has great music, and most importantly is based off a painting titled “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” With the help of James Lapine, lots of these shows have become hits and sensations all the way from New York to London. (Sondheim: A Chronology, Hutchins) (Stephen Sondheim
ic.galegroup.com)
The sensational composer, Stephen Sondheim, has a way with words and a way of telling stories through music. However, he couldn’t do it alone, lots of help was needed on the way.
Oscar Hammerstein II for example, who showed him what a musical really is and was a role model. Another is James Lapine, who directed some of his shows and helped him to write the book to go along with it. His success is a beautiful thing that has given him many awards. Without his shows, famous Broadway actors such as Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone may not be who they are today either. He helps others and himself with his power. Where would Broadway be without these sensational, musical hits?