Sondheim, 91, the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning songwriter who was one of the nation’s most influential musical theater composers, died Friday at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut.
Sondheim won a Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1985 for his rendition of “Sunday,” the Act One finale to his “Sunday in the Park with George,” Variety reported.
Sunday, on the red stairs above TKTS in Times Square, members of every Broadway company were joined by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sara Bareilles,Josh Groban, Kathryn Gallagher, Laura Benanti, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Lauren Patton to sing “Sunday,” Entertainment Weekly reported.
“I think we all knew that we couldn’t keep him forever, but it is a punch in the gut still to lose one of the greats,” Erin Davie, who currently stars in “Diana,” told WNBC.
“His music is what got me into music, his music is what got me into theater,” Groban told the television station.
“This felt like church,” Bareilles told Variety. “In his remembrance, we did what theater does best. We sang and raised our voices and came together in community.”
The event was produced by Erich Bergen and co-presented by the Broadway League, the Times Square Alliance and Playbill, Variety reported. The participants were conducted by Michael J. Moritz.
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Stephen Sondheim through the years 1968: Singer/songwriter Laura Nyro relaxes at an apartment with fellow songwriter Stephen Sondheim on October 3, 1968 in New York City, New York. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 1972: American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim with singer and actress Marti Stevens, one of the stars of his musical 'Company,' on January 10, 1972. The musical is about to open in the West End of London. (Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 1973: Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein attend "A Musical Tribute to Stephen Sondheim at the Shubert Theater in New York on March 11, 1973. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 1973: Composer Stephen and actor Jerry Orbach Sondheim attending 'A Musical Tribute to Stephen Sondheim' on March 11, 1973 at the Shubert Theater in New York City, New York. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 1976: Stephen Sondheim the American composer and lyricist, stands beside an advertisement for one of his shows. (Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis via Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 1985: American composer Stephen Sondheim and playwright James Lapine pose in front of the marquee of the Booth Theatre on 45th Street, New York City. They won the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for their musical, 'Sunday In The Park With George,' playing at the theatre. (Sara Krulwich/New York Times Co./Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 1992: Stephen Sondheim and Paul Newman during The Poetry of Song Benefit Honoring Stephen Sondheim at Laura Belle Club in New York City, New York, United States. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 1994: Stephen Sondheim and Bernadette Peters attend 48th Annual Tony Awards on June 12, 1994 at the Gershwin Theater in New York City. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 1996: American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi at Mizrahi's Soho showroom in July 1996 in New York City, New York. (Catherine McGann/Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 1996: Anthony Rapp, Cynthia O'Neal, and Stephen Sondheim at the "Friend In Deed" charity event on Dec. 13, 1996. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 1997: View of American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim onstage during an event at the Fairchild Theater, East Lansing, Michigan, February 12, 1997. (Douglas Elbinger/Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 1999: Stephen Sondheim and Judy Collins during 30th Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies at New York Sheraton Hotel in New York City, New York, on June 9, 1999. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 2003: Stephen Sondheim and Mos Def during 18th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards at Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York City, New York, United States. (Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 2005: Angela Lansbury and Stephen Sondheim during The All-Star Stephen Sondheim 75th Birthday Celebration "Children and Art" - Inside at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City, New York, United States. (Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 2005: Marilyn Bergman, Stephen Sondheim, Warren Beatty and Barbra Streisand attend "The Hollywood Bowl Celebrates Stephen Sondheim's 75th Birthday" on July 8, 2005. (Mathew Imaging/FilmMagic, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 2007: Composer Stephen Sondheim, producer Richard D. Zanuck, DreamWorks CEO Stacey Snider, producer Steven Spielberg and director Tim Burton arrive at the special screening of DreamWorks Pictures' "Sweeney Todd" at the Paramount Theater on December 5, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (John Shearer/WireImage, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 2008: Angela Lansbury and Stephen Sondheim are seen at The Acting Company's 35th Anniversary Celebration "The Ladies Who Sing Sondheim" at the Schoenfeld Theatre on April 7, 2008 in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 2009: Catherine Zeta Jones and composer Stephen Sondheim pose at the "A Little Night Music" Broadway opening night after party at Tavern on the Green on December 13, 2009 in New York City. (Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 2010: Actress Vanessa Williams, Roundabout Theatre's Artistic Director Todd Haimes, Composer Stephen Sondheim and Playwright John Weidman attend the Roundabout Theatre Company's 2010 Spring Gala at Studio 54 on March 22, 2010 in New York City. (Ben Hider/Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 2011: Composer Stephen Sondheim and Neil Patrick Harris attend the New York Philharmonic Celebration for Stephen Sondheim's All-Star "Company" at Graffit Restaurant on April 9, 2011 in New York City. (Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 2012: Stephen Sondheim attends the "Merrily We Roll Along" original cast and current cast reunion curtain call at the New York City Center on February 14, 2012 in New York City. (Brad Barket/Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 2013: Stephen Sondheim and Nathan Lane attend the "Six By Sondheim" premiere at the Museum of Modern Art on November 18, 2013 in New York City. (Laura Cavanaugh/FilmMagic, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 2015: Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Sondheim, winner of the Lebedev Award, and Sir Ian McKellen pose in front of the Winners Boards at The London Evening Standard Theatre Awards in partnership with The Ivy at The Old Vic Theatre on November 22, 2015 in London, England. (David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 2015: U.S. President Barack Obama (R) presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to theater composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim during an East Room ceremony November 24, 2015 at the White House in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 2017: Actress Meryl Streep, composer, lyricist and honoree Stephen Sondheim and actress Audra McDonald attend the 2017 PEN America Literary Gala at American Museum of Natural History on April 25, 2017 in New York City. (Monica Schipper/WireImage, File)
Stephen Sondheim through the years 2017: Carol Burnett and Stephen Sondheim attend the 2017 Dramatists Guild Foundation Gala reception at Gotham Hall on November 6, 2017 in New York City. (Walter McBride/WireImage, File)
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