Giants in the Sky

Broadway giant, Steven Sondheim passed away last year. I find it no coincidence that he passed away in the same year as a giant in my life, my grandfather. Only after my grandfather passed away in May, I realized how he was connected to my love of musicals and theater.

When someone dies, you might find yourself searching the corners of your mind for almost forgotten memories. You want to bring them to the forefront of your mind before they slip away. While scouring my mind for memories of my grandfather, I came across a memory of when he and my grandmother took me to my first two Broadway shows.

I was five years old at the time and they took my brother and on the train from New Jersey to New York City. I knew it was a special occasion because I was wearing the sweater from my most recent piano recital. I remember playing I-spy during the train ride and the musty smell of the taxi that we all shared. The first show that we saw was Dragontales Live. Obviously, that show was the most magical, amazing thing I had seen in my five years of living.

During our next trip to the big city that summer, we saw a very different show. My grandparents took us to see the 2002 Broadway revival of Steven Sondheim’s masterpiece, Into the Woods. This show is a modern reimagining of the Brothers Grimm fairytales. Because it is a “modern reimagining” it’s not exactly appropriate for a small child, especially one like me. As a five year old with anxiety, I missed the majority of this Tony award winning show because I was hiding in the bathroom with my grandmother. The witch’s ghastly appearance, exploding special effects, and loud bangs from the orchestra, had me hiding in the bathroom stall having a panic attack. Despite my experience, that show was enough to bite me with the Broadway bug.

Now almost 20 years later, I have nothing but love and appreciation for my grandparents’ effort to expose my brother and I to something so remarkable and rare. Who knew I would be hiding in the bathroom while Vanessa Williams belted out “Last Midnight”? If I could do it over, I would’ve sat between my grandparents and tried to burn that experience into my memory.

After Into the Woods, it seemed like musicals were everywhere. My parents saw The Lion King that same summer. Then they bought DVDs and CDs of West Side Story, The Sound of Music, and The Music Man. Reflecting on Sondheim’s death, I again searched my mind for memories of him. Although I just learned of his name and his legacy within the past 10 years, his music had been with me all along.

Everything's Coming Up Roses

This iconic song from Gypsy was one of my favorite tracks from the CD, The Only Broadway CD You’ll Ever Need. This was the soundtrack to every road trip to visit my Grandparents’ house in New Jersey. Once I got my own CD player, it was the soundtrack to my life.

“That lucky star I talk about is due! Honey, everything's coming up roses for me and for you!”

Tonight

When CD’s weren’t entertaining enough, we would watch movies in the back of my mom’s Honda Odessey on our way to visit my grandparents. West Side Story was a favorite film but my mom would always make us scene select and skip the stabbing scene. Tonight quickly (and secretly) became one of my favorites.

“There's only you tonight. What you are. What you do. What you say.”

Being Alive

I fell in love with Company soon after I became an adult child of divorce. My views on marriage and love were shattered and still are for the most part. This song specifically brings me back to being the hopeful romantic that I always was.

“But alone is alone, not alive.”

Move On

I finally watched Sunday in the Park with George during summer 2020. In the middle of a pandemic, I was able to see something so beautiful and profound that all I could do was sit there and cry. The lyrics to Move On still ring in my ears because as someone in a family of workaholics, the message is so clear to me.

“Stop worrying if your vision is new. Let others make that decision — they usually do. You keep moving on.”

No One is Alone

This song is sung in the wake of tragic death and chaos by The Baker and Cinderella to the children. It encourages them to go on and live using the lessons that their loved one’s taught them before they passed. A lesson that I still carry with me to this day.

“Sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood. Others may deceive you. You decide what’s good.”

Sondheim made art that shaped the world and as a creative, I can feel the impact of that. Behind all great artists are the people that make that art accessible to those who need it the most. So to me they are both giants. One who’s music fills my room and one who’s voice echoes in my mind. My giants in the sky.