Today is a very important day in Musical Theatre.

Okay, maybe not very important, but hugely coincidental, and worth recognizing and celebrating. Today is the birthday of TWO of musical theatre's most important and influential composers, Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber.



For the uninitiated, these two are each responsible for some of the most memorable songs and musicals in the history of modern theatre:

• Mr. Sondheim wrote the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy in his early years, then gave us, among many others, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sweeny Todd (that includes "Not While I'm Around"), A Little Night Music (that includes "Send In the Clowns"), Company, Sunday in the Park With George (which is currently in revival on Broadway starring Jake Gyllenhal), Assassins, and Into the Woods.  He also did the music for the Dick Tracy movie, for which he won the Oscar for Best Original Song that year.  How this genius is not an PEGOT yet is beyond me - why has no one asked him to write for television?!  The man has a Broadway theater NAMED FOR HIM!  He remains my absolute favorite and I hope he can hang on to complete his latest piece.
• Lord (yes, Lord) Lloyd Webber is equally synonymous with musical theatre, despite some critical reviews of his work.  You don't even have to be a fan of musical theatre to at least have heard of several of his shows: Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, his latest is an adaptation of School of Rock, and of course Cats and Phantom of the Opera.  Again, he hasn't written for American television, so no Emmy, but he is that award shy of being a EGOT.  I was absolutely obsessed with his works growing up.  I have soured on him some as I have grown more discerning and realized some of his failings, however the richness of melody he employs when he really has a good one (listen to Music of the Night or Memory), he can't be beaten.

Both men have been honored with the Kennedy Center Honors (1993 and 2006, respectively) and they both reside in the American Theatre Hall of Fame.  They both truly deserve everything they have ever earned, and world theatre and culture are so much richer for them having graced us with their immense talents for so long.

So Happy 87th Birthday Mr. Sondheim and Happy 69th Birthday Lord Lloyd Webber!  Great health and many happy returns of the day to you both.  Thank you for all you have given us.