Sondheim: The Man Who Changed Musical Theater

Sondheim: The Man Who Changed Musical Theater offers a compelling look into the life of Stephen Sondheim, a pivotal figure in American musical theater. Geared towards young adult readers (ages 12-18), the book chronicles Sondheim's early life, his struggles and triumphs as a composer and lyricist, and his transformative impact on Broadway. It prominently features his mentorship under Oscar Hammerstein, providing a narrative rich with themes of perseverance, creativity, and the power of constructive criticism. Parents will appreciate its inspiring message for aspiring artists and its accessible introduction to a cultural icon.

In high school, Stephen Sondheim put a script in front of his friend and mentor Oscar Hammerstein. "I want you to treat this as if it were a script that just came across your desk," Sondheim told the older man. "In that case, it's the worst thing I ever read." So Stephen Sondheim kept writing. He kept composing and in time he became the greatest composer Broadway had ever seen. Beginning with the opening night of the classic musical West Side Story in 1957, and tracing Stephen's life from boyhood to his struggles as an up and coming Broadway composer/lyricist to a musical theater legend, Susan Rubin's Putting It Together draws readers into the passionate, tumultuous, and musical world of Stephen Sondheim.