What was Stephen Sondheim like as a boy?

With Into the Woods such a resounding success this season, Stephen Sondheim, the writer of the play as well as West Side Story and Sweeney Todd, has been in my thoughts. Other than his masterpieces on the stage, he has a special place in my heart as the mentor and hero to one of the men I most admire, Jonathan Larson, the writer of Rent. So in that sense, he is my grandhero.

I wanted to ask a creative question about Sondheim, to perhaps understand him from a unique angle. Sondheim was born in 1930 to wealthy parents in New York. His mother was a dress maker and negligent, psychologically abusive caretaker to young Stephen, who felt highly isolated as an only child, deserted by his father at age 10. Stephen hated his mother, and did not attend her funeral in 1992.   


I found the following from Wikipedia illuminating:

"In his interview with Meryle Secrest, Sondheim explained that he was 'what they call an institutionalized child, meaning one who has no contact with any kind of family. You're in, though it's luxurious, you're in an environment that supplies you with everything but human contact. No brothers and sisters, no parents, and yet plenty to eat, and friends to play with and a warm bed, you know?'"

I think it is a beautiful thing when someone can live a difficult life, betrayed by those who gave him life, and make it into something beautiful and empowering to so many. What a great man. I wonder if he has seen Into the Woods yet.