recommend a book about Sondheim

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 4:20pm

being the single-minded obsessive-compulsive freak that i am, i went to the strand today to find a book about sondheim & his work.

there were two there; SONDHEIM: A LIFE, which seemed like just a straightforward biography (it looked very dull), & SONDHEIM & CO., which is a compilation of interviews with sondheim, arthur laurents (boo hiss), leonard bernstein (yay) & hal prince. thats the one i got; & i am already into the creation of WEST SIDE STORY & i'm ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT!!!!

have you read any books about sondheim that you would recommend?

[FranklinShepard-Inc.]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 4:23pm

I guess "Sondheim: a Life" is that biography written by Meryl Secrest? If so, I read that and it was quite okay, I've read elsewhere there are far better biographies around of him, but for a first (not entirely in depth) reading it's quite informative.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 4:34pm

yes, thats the one!

i got the other, SONDHEIM & CO....it seems to be lots of interviews just published verbatim...

From Library Journal
This is an updated and revised version of the author's 1974 study of Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim, including the four shows he has produced since A Little Night Music. Sondheim's creative genius has shaped the contemporary musical, and Zadan interweaves comments by Sondheim's colleagues with a wealth of information about the shows to display the composer's enormous talent. As in the first edition, the focus is on Sondheim's career and accomplishments, and biography is skimpy, except for some isolated, tantalizing facts. But no matter; the detail about the process of putting together a show, plus the profuse illustrations and appendixes containing production information, etc., add up to required reading for all musical theater lovers. Highly recommended, even to libraries owning the first edition.