How Sondheim Can Change Your Life

Music has been a cornerstone of my life for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories involve tinkering with the antique upright piano in our living room. My mom, who had played as a child, encouraged me to explore the instrument, while my dad had his own collection of guitars tucked a......more

This was such a joy to read, because I'm realizing the only thing better than reading OR seeing theater is reading about theater—specifically the works of Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim is arguably one of the great geniuses of our time in that he constructed works of musical theatre that weren't just en......more

I won this book in a goodreads drawing. This is a book less about Sondheim, and more about how you can learn things from his various musicals. I read a book like this before, title The Mad Morality, about what you can learn from Mad Magazine. While The Mad Morality was biblically based, even if in a 1......more

Ahh this book was complete bliss for me!! I adore musical theatre, and I love books that take a deep dive into analysis of various musicals. I absolutely loved this book, and loved how in depth Schoch goes into specific songs within Sondheim's musicals. My only negative, is that I wish the book was lo......more

After many years away from serious music, I find myself in the midst of performing a role in a production of Into the Woods. I stumbled onto this book and very much enjoyed it. The author blends literary analysis, love for theater, and deep knowledge of Sondheim’s work. It’s a thought-provoking and m......more