How Sondheim Can Change Your Life

(Hardback)

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Powerful life lessons from the music and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim, from Gypsy and Sweeney Todd to Sunday in the Park with George and Into the Woods. 'The song is you.' For fans of musical theatre, Stephen Sondheim is one of the true titans - the genius who brought us Sweeney Todd and West Side Story, Into the Woods, and Company. With acclaimed revivals of his landmark shows regularly performed in London and New York, and new generations being introduced to the man who forever transformed musical theatre, Sondheim's legacy has only grown. What is it about such classic songs as 'Being Alive' from Company, 'No One Is Alone' from Into the Woods, or 'Send in the Clowns' from A Little Night Music (to name but a few) that still resonates for so many In How Sondheim Can Change Your Life, Richard Schoch shows how Sondheim's greatness (beyond the clever lyrics and adventurous music) lies in his ability to tell stories that speak to all of us. From Louise's desire for freedom as Gypsy Rose Lee to Sweeney Todd's thirst for revenge, the struggles we see in Sondheim's characters are ones we all have - and we can learn valuable lessons from how those struggles are resolved. Following the arc of Sondheim's extraordinary career, How Sondheim Can Change Your Life is rich with stories and insights into the master's creative process, and reveals the many ways that Sondheim's works can enrich the lives of all of us.

Author Bio

Richard Schoch is Professor of Drama at Queen's University Belfast, where he teaches classes on Sondheim and acting for musical theatre. An American, he received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and his PhD in Drama and Humanities from Stanford University. He is the author of eight books, including Shakespeare's House (Bloomsbury, 2023) and The Secrets of Happiness (Profile Books, 2006). His books have been finalists for the George Freedley Memorial Award (USA), Barnard Hewitt Award (USA), and Theatre Book Prize (UK). Before launching his academic career, Schoch directed plays in New York City and Washington, DC, and worked for The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.