Movies - TV
The 5 Best Stephen Sondheim Musicals Ranked
By BJ COLANGELO
5. A Little Night Music
"A Little Night Music" is a romantic farce about the lives of several upper-middle-class couples in early 20th-century Sweden. It also features one of Sondheim’s most popular songs, "Send in the Clowns," which earned him a record-setting fourth consecutive Tony Award in 1973.
4. Merrily We Roll Along
"Merrily We Roll Along" was for many years, one of Sondheim's most misunderstood works, but now it’s appreciated for its stunning scores, pop sensibilities, and non-linear storytelling. The show follows the last 20 years of Franklin Shepard, who is an influential songwriter and film producer.
3. Company
Nominated for a record-setting 14 Tony Awards and winning six, "Company" is one of Sondheim's most enduring works, and the song "Being Alive" has become synonymous with his legacy. It’s a story about a single man, his five married friends and their spouses, and his three girlfriends.
2. Into The Woods
A collection of popular characters like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Prince Charming, Jack (of the beanstalk), and the Witch, "Into The Woods" provides some of Sondheim's most accessible music and some of his deepest. The song "No One is Alone," is without a doubt a tearjerker.
1. Sweeney Todd
The music from "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" is Sondheim's best work, although most people only know it from Tim Burton's 2007 adaptation starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. The music is dark, bold, melodic, and breathtaking.