Stephen Joshua Sondheim , born March 22, 1930, is an American composer and lyricist known for more than a half-century of contributions to musical theatre. Sondheim has received an
Academy Award; eight
Tony Awards (more than any other composer, including a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre); eight
Grammy Awards; a
Pulitzer Prize, the
Laurence Olivier Award, and a 2015
Presidential Medal of Freedom. Described by
Frank Rich of
The New York Times as "now the greatest and perhaps best-known artist in the American musical theater." His best-known works as composer and lyricist include
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,
Company,
Follies,
A Little Night Music,
Sweeney Todd,
Sunday in the Park with George and
Into the Woods. He wrote the lyrics for
West Side Story and .