Credit: Poemsstories at WikiMedia.Org
November 26, 2021
91 years old
“Imagine the hand of God reaching toward Adam in Michelangelo’s fresco and you have some idea of the vital charge Sondheim’s words could carry.” — Lin Manuel Miranda on the genius of our time, the late Stephen Sondheim.
I had the incredible opportunity to learn about Sondheim through the Signature Theater in Arlington, Virginia, where I sat on the board for 8 years. I also was so thankful to have met him and spent time with him on numerous occasions.
Through my experiences at Signature Theater, I first learned of Sondheim’s music. I had what qualifies as a front-row seat. I went often, learned the lyrics, the haunting melodies, the character development emphasized in song, and the unparalleled importance of this man’s brilliance. What’s more, each year, Signature hosted the “Sondheim Gala,” where he would actually help select honorees. From Patti LuPone to Bernadette Peters, Angela Lansbury to Hal Prince, Audra McDonald and more, they all (literally) sang his praises, bowed to his presence, and cooed at every opportunity that came their way to perform in Sondheim shows.
Through it all, Sondheim was gentle. He was kind. He was self-effacing. He was warm.
To some, just receiving a letter saying he didn’t have time to listen to their recording was a validation. “He could have easily ignored our tape. But what he did was acknowledge that he had gotten it, and he returned it. I’ll never forget those words, typewritten: ‘Forgive me.’”
Now that he has passed away, I cannot get over how much one man touched so many, so deeply.
I had a rabbi who once said, “If you have a choice of attending a wedding or a funeral, go to the funeral. You’ll learn a lot more.” For the last week, I couldn’t help but consume myself with reading tributes, listening to Sondheim’s shows, and watching his commemorative compilations. None of them has touched me as much as Laura Collins-Hughes’ article in the New York times entitled Cherished Words from Theater’s “Encourager in Chief.”
As I see it, there are many kinds of geniuses that come in all forms. It is not often that they are in our lifetimes. And its not often we get to meet them. If you think about what you know about geniuses, they can range in antisocial behavior. Crazy, Eccentric, Reclusive, Brash, Distant, Cold…
But Sondheim was a different beast. Some called him a “theatrical deity.”
As the article states, “He ambled down from the mountaintop fully aware of the power and responsibility that came with his position. It was part of Sondheim’s gift to understand not only the encompassing job description of great artist but also his singular effect on his colleagues — how even a few words of appreciation, or moments of attention, could prove enduring sustenance over the long slog of a career in an often pitiless field.”
Sondheim was empathetic.
Sondheim was a collaborator.
Sondheim was brutally honest.
Sondheim challenged your range and skill.
Sondheim wanted to encourage his field so musical theater would survive.
I wanted to spotlight this incredible man, not only for his gift to us all, but for his generosity, his encouragement, and for his mentorship to the next generation in his field. May musical theater live on and may the next mountaintop generation continue to pay it forward.
