Stephen Sondheim, American musical theater icon, has died at age 91

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: A Broadway master has moved on. Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, the most respected figure in American musical theater, died earlier today. He was 91. His shows range from the vaudeville-inspired romp "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum"... (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "COMEDY TONIGHT") UNIDENTIFIED GROUP #1: (As characters, singing) Something for everybody - comedy tonight. CORNISH: ...To the concept musical "Sunday In The Park With George" about the art of making art. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "PUTTING IT TOGETHER") MANDY PATINKIN: (As George, singing) Bit by bit, putting it together piece by piece - only way to make a work of art. CORNISH: It would be hard to overstate Stephen Sondheim's influence on Broadway form or on critic Bob Mondello, who offers this remembrance. BOB MONDELLO, BYLINE: At the climax of most musicals, characters sing their hearts out about enchanted evenings or defying gravity or what I did for love