The theatre community lost a giant November 26; composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim passed away at the age of 91. Within hours, performers, writers, and other theatre artists鈥攕everal of them alums of various productions of his shows鈥攖ook to social media to share their memories of the creator and pay tribute to his artistry.
Read on below for messages posted in memory of Stephen Sondheim.
Bernadette Peters
I am so so sad to lose my friend Steve Sondheim He gave me so much to sing about 鈾ワ笍鈾ワ笍I loved him dearly and will miss him so much Thank you for all the gifts you gave the world Steve鈾ワ笍
鈥� Bernadette Peters (@OfficialBPeters)
Vanessa Williams
Audra McDonald
Thank you Steve. Thank you. 锟斤拷锟斤拷锟斤拷
鈥� Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc)
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Farewell Steve, the musical theatre giant of our times, an inspiration not just to two but to three generations. Your contribution to theatre will never be equalled. - ALW
鈥� Andrew Lloyd Webber (@OfficialALW)
Steven Pasquale
I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 an example of another person in any other field that is the size Steve was to ours.
Heavy hearts tonight at Assassins.
Thank you, Steve
鈥� steven pasquale (@StevePasquale)
Jason Robert Brown
Obviously there are a million things I have to say, but also there鈥檚 really only one thing to say: Thank you, Steve, for everything.
鈥� Jason Robert Brown (@MrJasonRBrown)
Harvey Fierstein
There will b tributes 2 Sondheim. The great will bow. Fans will bury the streets in flowers. Airwaves will fill w/ his music. Poets will intone his lyrics. Friends will weep uncomfortably in their own mortality.
鈥� Harvey Fierstein (@HarveyFierstein)
Oh, that Sondheim. We'll never hear the end of him! (I hope)
Marianne Elliott and Company
Celia R. Gooding
Oh my god. Sondheim. A legend in the industry and beyond 锟斤拷
鈥� celia r. gooding (@celiargooding)
Jeremy O. Harris
The eulogies written won鈥檛 cover a quarter of the impact you had on every theatre artist working today.
Your corporeal absence will be felt at the openings of new artists you often attended (including mine鈥攖hank you) but you will continue living in so many works.
RIP Sondheim
鈥� Variety Screenwriter To Watch Jeremy O. Harris (@jeremyoharris)
Hugh Jackman
Every so often someone comes along that fundamentally shifts an entire art form. Stephen Sondheim was one of those. As millions mourn his passing I also want to express my gratitude for all he has given to me and so many more. Sending my love to his nearest and dearest.
鈥� Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman)
Rob McClure
Sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood. Do not let it grieve you. No one leaves for good.
鈥� Rob McClure (@RobMcClure)
LaChanze
Just heart broken 锟斤拷 Rest In Peace king.
鈥� LaChanze (@laChanze)
Alex Lacamoire
For those of us who love new musical theater: we live in a world that Sondheim built.
鈥� Alex Lacamoire (@LacketyLac)
My spirit is low, and I swear the city is quieter than usual tonight with the knowledge that he鈥檚 gone.
Feeling thankful for all he created and for the awe he will continue to inspire.
鉂わ笍锟斤拷鉂わ笍
Jordan Fisher
i鈥檓 literally at a loss for words. stephen is the reason i make art. he鈥檚 the reason why i MUST tell stories. he鈥檚 taught millions. millions that, like me, will never get to shake his hand鈥� to personally say Thank You. but here鈥檚 some pixels. thank you, stephen. rest in love.
鈥� Jordan Fisher (@jordanfisher)
look at what you want..not at where you are. not at what you鈥檒l be. look at all the things you鈥檝e done for me鈥pened up my EYES. taught me how to SEE
鈥� Jordan Fisher (@jordanfisher)
Kate Shindle
There will be copious, elegant tributes to Stephen Sondheim that I can鈥檛 equal in a tweet. His work changed my life and directed my future when I was too young to know much of anything. I鈥檓 grateful for that. And also that the lights are back on, so that they can dim.
鈥� Kate Shindle/#PassThePROAct (@AEAPresident)
Benj Pasek
Sondheim is the most important influence on generations of creators. His loss is devastating, but his work will continue to ripple out in every song & story we sing on stage. He simultaneously broke our hearts & taught us how to piece them back together again. A life well-lived.
鈥� Benj Pasek (@benjpasek)
The Tony Awards
Michael Cerveris
he took all the words with him
鈥� Michael Cerveris (@cerveris)
Alex Wyse
one of my first auditions, Sondheim was behind the table, I sang a song he wrote... TO him. I got choked up while singing- the experience was just too big, so he stopped me & coached me through it like the great teacher he was. didn't get the job but got one hell of a memory.
鈥� Alex Wyse (@alexwyse)
Lea Salonga
Rest In Peace, Stephen Sondheim, and thank you for your vast contributions to musical theater. We shall be singing your songs forever. Oh, my heart hurts鈥�
鈥� Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga)
Barbra Streisand
Thank the Lord that Sondheim lived to be 91 years old so he had the time to write such wonderful music and GREAT lyrics! May he Rest In Peace锟斤拷锟斤拷 锟斤拷锟斤拷
鈥� Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand)
Elaine Paige
Devastated to hear one of the most important musical theatre giants of our generation, , has died. I was lucky enough to have performed in two of his shows & Sweeney Todd, & also have a song co-written by him for my 50th Anniversary. RIP dear man
鈥� Elaine Paige (@elaine_paige)
George Takei
Pacific Overtures with the great master himself. What an honor it was to perform your work. RIP Stephen Sondheim.
鈥� George Takei (@GeorgeTakei)
Darren Criss
thank you so much
鈥� Darren Criss (@DarrenCriss)
for something between
ridiculous and sublime
Chita Rivera
My heart is saddened for the loss.
鈥� Chita Rivera (@Chita_Rivera)
But my memories live on forever...
Donna Murphy
Michael Ball
We have lost . A peerless genius of course but more importantly a dear friend and I shall miss him hugely. What a life, what a legacy鈥IP lovely man 锟斤拷
鈥� Michael Ball OBE (@mrmichaelball)
Anna Kendrick
I was just talking to someone a few nights ago about how much fun (and fucking difficult) it is to sing Stephen Sondheim. Performing his work has been among the greatest privileges of my career. A devastating loss.
鈥� Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
I met him once for 30 seconds backstage after a production of Merrily We Roll Along. I have never been more tongue tied or star struck. His writing is the singular reason I wanted to be a musical theater actor. No one will ever come close to his genius. RIP Stephen Sondheim.
鈥� Jesse Tyler Ferguson (he/him/his) (@jessetyler)
Seth Rudetsky
Sondheim has left us. But, oh man, he left so much behind for us. He was the bridge from the golden age to modern musical theater.
鈥� Seth Rudetsky he/him (@SethRudetsky)
Debbie Allen
RIP 锟斤拷锟斤拷鉂わ笍 Prolific composer and lyricist left us a legacy to remember and sing forever. THERE鈥橲 A PLACE FOR US...SOMEWHERE.
鈥� Debbie Allen (@msdebbieallen)
Love, Debbie
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Stephen Sondheim- thank you for all of the gifts you have given to the theatre. You have been an inspiration to me and it has been a joy working with you, and being in your presence. RIP, you incredible artist!! You will live as long as your songs are sung!
鈥� Brian Stokes Mitchell (@bstokesmitchell)
Katherine McNamara
鈥淪ometimes people leave you鈥� halfway through the wood鈥︹€� Thank you . Our hearts are broken but because of you, your work, your generosity, and your genius, we know that No One is Alone.
鈥� Katherine McNamara (@Kat_McNamara)
Hugh Jackman
Every so often someone comes along that fundamentally shifts an entire art form. Stephen Sondheim was one of those. As millions mourn his passing I also want to express my gratitude for all he has given to me and so many more. Sending my love to his nearest and dearest.
鈥� Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman)
Gideon Glick
鈥� Gideon Glick (@gidglick)
Anika Noni Rose
RIP Stephen Sondheim. No need to even talk about how you changed what we do. Thank you锟斤拷锟斤拷鉂わ笍锟斤拷
鈥� Anika Noni Rose (@AnikaNoniRose)
Jackie Hoffman
Let the endless tributes begin. And dim those mother fucking lights
鈥� Jackie Hoffman (@JackieHoffman16)
Betty Buckley
ne of the greatest honors of my life. Singing at Carnegie Hall with the Harlem Boys Choir for Stephen Sondheim. 鉂わ笍Stephen Sondheim: Our Time; Children Will Listen - with Betty Buckley an... via
鈥� Betty Buckley (@BettyBuckley)
Lynn Nottage
Sadness. A true genius exits. I'm in theater 'cuz opened a door. In 1982, I was 1 of 4 teen composers selected for the Young Playwrights Festival he founded. He changed my life. I hold onto the support he unexpectedly showed me throughout my career.
鈥� Lynn Nottage (@Lynnbrooklyn)
Ava DuVernay
Today
The world was just an address
A place for me to live in
No better than alright
But here you are
And what was just a world鈥� is a star
Tonight-Stephen Sondheim
鈥� Ava DuVernay (@ava)
Lin-Manuel Miranda
& last week, when I wrote him to say his ears must be burning from the countless Sondheim kindnesses being shared from the generations of writers he mentored, he wrote this in reply.
鈥� Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel)
Steve: you repaid your debt to Oscar 1000 times over. We love you. I love you. THANK YOU. -LMM
Patti LuPone
The last of the great Musical Comedy composers has died. Steve, I will never be a able to properly thank you for the lessons learned. You are the Gold Standard.
鈥� Patti LuPone (@PattiLuPone)
Claybourne Elder (Read the full thread )
I had gone to the open chorus call and the director John Doyle and Steve Sondheim took a big chance on me, an unknown actor without an agent.
He loved authenticity and new ideas. His shows have been reinvented and revived with his blessing; he loved having his words reimagined.
鈥� Claybourne Elder (@Claybourneelder)
MTI Chairman Cameron Mackintosh
鈥淭he theatre has lost one of its greatest geniuses and the world has lost one of its greatest and most original writers. Sadly, there is now a giant in the sky. But the brilliance of Stephen Sondheim will still be here as his legendary songs and shows will be performed for evermore. Goodbye, old friend and thank you from all of us.鈥�
MTI Co-Chairman Freddie Gershon
鈥淗EY OLD FRIEND
FUNNIEST GUY OLD FRIEND
ONE OF A KIND OLD FRIEND
IT鈥橲 COME TO THE END OLD FRIEND鈥�
MTI CEO Drew Cohen
鈥淚n addition to being considered the greatest composer of our time, Steve was a most vital part of the MTI family. Not only did we represent Sondheim鈥檚 incredible collection of shows, but Steve was an ardent supporter of everything MTI did to expand the audience for musical theatre. In particular, he was an eager participant when Freddie approached him over two decades ago with an idea to abridge musicals so that younger students could perform them. Based on Steve鈥檚 early endorsement of Broadway Junior, the collection was born, resulting in tens of thousands of productions and millions of new eyes, ears, and voices aware of and engaged in musical theatre.鈥�
