After renowned composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim passed away last Friday at the age of 91, the lights were dimmed on Broadway and in London's theatre district in his honor. Notices of his death were filled with his towering accomplishments for the theatre, from the lyrics to "West Side Story" and "Gypsy," to the lyrics and music to "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum," “Company,” “Follies,” “A Little Night Music,” “Pacific Overtures,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Merrily We Roll Along,",“Sunday in the Park With George,” and “Into the Woods,” winning Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize along the way. Not as well known was his role of mentor to many unknown composers and lyricists, as is noted in this New York Times article. Sondheim himself benefited from mentoring by the great Oscar Hammerstein II. For our song choice, we chose a 1994 concert appearance by Sondheim on piano and Bernadette Peters singing his tune from "A Little Night Music," the beautiful, bittersweet "Send In The Clowns."
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