Musicals by Sondheim – A Full List of Shows
Stephen Sondheim was a legendary composer and lyricist in the world of American musical theatre. Not only did he achieve the Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, he also received eight Grammys, a Pulitzer Prize, an Olivier Award, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. And here is our list of the classic and ground-breaking musicals by Sondheim, sorted chronologically.
To enhance your experience, pop on Theatre Trip’s Spotify playlist – “The Best of Sondheim”➝.
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Musicals by Sondheim
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Julius J. Epstein
Musical Type: Golden Age (1955) / Pre-Contemporary (1997)
Saturday Night was written in 1954, but it wasn’t produced until 1997. It’s one of the lesser-known musicals by Sondheim and tells the story of Brooklyn bachelors in search of love.
Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story follows the developing romance between two young lovers from rivaling backgrounds in New York City.
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Gypsy delves into the world of vaudeville and the life of Rose, a determined stage mother. The story follows Rose and her daughters, Louise and June, as they navigate the ups and downs of show business.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Burt Shevelove, Larry Gelbart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Set in ancient Rome, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum follows Pseudolus, who attempts to obtain freedom. It won six Tony Awards, including “Best Musical”!
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Anyone Can Whistle is a quirky and unconventional musical about a corrupt mayor who attempts to save her bankrupt town.
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Do I Hear a Waltz is a lesser-known musical about an American secretary who goes off to Italy and falls in love. But she soon realizes that things aren’t as easy as they seem.
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Goldman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Evening Primrose is a musical that was originally written for television back in 1966. It’s about an unhappy poet who hides out in a department store after it closes.
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: George Furth
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970)
One of the first musicals to explore the complexity of modern relationships, Company follows the story of Bobby, who contemplates the pros and cons of finding a partner.
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Goldman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
Follies is a musical about the “Weismann’s Follies” showgirls who return to their old Broadway theater for a reunion before stepping on stage one last time.
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Hugh Wheeler
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1973)
In A Little Night Music, we catch a glimpse into the romantic lives of a handful of couples in Sweden as they navigate their complicated relationships.
Music/Lyrics: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Richard Wilbur, John Latouche, Stephen Sondheim*, Dorothy Parker Book: John Caird*, Hugh Wheeler*, Lillian Hellman
* Writers who worked on the 1974/1999 revivals of the show
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
Although Candide originally premiered in 1956, subsequent revivals of the operetta saw contributions from additional writers. In the 1974 production, Sondheim contributed lyrics to the show.
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Burt Shevelove, Nathan Lane
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
Inspired by The Frogs by Aristophanes, Sondheim’s The Frogs is a wild comedy about visiting the underworld and bringing George Bernard Shaw back to earth.
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: John Weidman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Pacific Overtures shines a light on the difficult westernization of Japan in 1853, and specifically on two friends who are navigating those changes.
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Hugh Wheeler
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
This exciting thriller follows the story of Sweeney Todd – a barber who attempts to avenge the loss of his wife and daughter by selling “meat pies”.
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: George Furth
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Merrily We Roll Along is unique in that it tells the story in reverse. It follows the journey of three friends, and explores themes of friendship, purpose, and the cost of success.
Sunday in the Park with George
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1984)
Inspired by the George Seurat painting, Sunday in the Park with George tells the story of George himself as he navigates his life, career, and relationships.
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1986)
Into the Woods is a magical musical that incorporates many different fairy tales (like Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, and the Witch) as their paths collide in the nearby woods.
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: John Weidman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)
Assassins is a wildly edgy musical that tells the tales of the various men and women who have attempted to assassinate the US presidents in the past.
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1994)
Set in war-torn Italy, Passion is a one-act chamber opera that tells the emotional story of a young soldier and his passionate love affair.
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: John Weidman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Previously titled Bounce and Wise Guys, Road Show shares the adventurous story of two brothers who travel across the USA in pursuit of the “American Dream”.
Additional Work by Sondheim
Here’s a list of additional work by Stephen Sondheim, films, revues, or musicals that don’t have much information listed about them online.
1963: Hot Spot
1966: The Mad Show (contributed song)
1969: “No, Mary Ann”➝ – The Thing of It Is
1976: Side by Side by Sondheim (musical revue)
1980: Marry Me a Little (musical revue)
1981: “Goodbye for Now” – Reds➝
1990: Dick Tracy➝ (Academy Award for “Best Original Song”)
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Which of these musicals by Sondheim is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of these musicals by Sondheim? Feel free to share in the comments below! And if you like these types of lists, check out the musical database. That’s where you’ll find musicals sorted by composer, theme, setting, and more!
Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She holds a BA in theatre, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
Stacey,
Where is ‘Evening Primrose’? It’s not been included in your list.
Jonathan
Hi Jonathan! Good question. I initially decided against including Evening Primrose since it was a musical written for television. But I think you’re absolutely right that it should be in there, and I’ve just added it to the list! Thanks for pointing that out!
This is such an amazing post. Thank you for listing his all work in a post. Lovely
Hi Kristina! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. And what an inspiration he is! Putting together this post was my pleasure. 😊
I made some (totally inadequate!) notes talking to someone a couple of years ago who had worked with Sondheim .. which I’m trying to sort out. Did SS write a musical (apparently, early 80’s) with ‘Beat’ in the title? Can’t see anything in your very useful information. Maybe I ‘mis-wrote’?
Thanks – Michael Gaum
Hi Michael! Thanks for the interesting question. This mystery would drive me crazy as well (and is actually starting to, haha)! As far as I can see, there hasn’t been a musical by Sondheim with ‘Beat’ in the title. But I just went through both the unproduced musicals section and the index of the Sondheim “Hat Box” books. Could it maybe have something to do with the music that SS wrote for Warren Beatty’s Reds? That was in the early 80s, and maybe there’s a chance that Warren’s full last name didn’t make it to the page of notes? Otherwise, I’m stumped! Can you let me know if you find out more? 🙂