Stephen Sondheim is regarded as one of the most critical figures in musical theatre history. He was an American composer and lyricist, recognized for reinventing American musical theatre. Sondheim was known for tackling darker themes of the human experience within his musicals, rather than the themes that were normally seen within the genre. He has been applauded for the ways his musicals can express the truth in a compassionate yet honest way. While Sondheim’s music and lyrics are often identified by their complexity and finesse. His vocals often contain two or more lines of melody running simultaneously with each other, known as polyphony. Overall, his textured harmonies and intricate melodies have become well known within the musical theatre repertoire.

Since the 1960s Jerry Herman, became known for a number of hit musicals that reached Broadway. He was one of the most commercially successful American composers and lyricists of his time. His musicals were characterized by their upbeat and optimistic outlook, with what Herman called the “simple, hummable showtune.” Notably, Herman’s Hello, Dolly! inspired Louis Armstrong’s song of the same name, as well as was once the longest-running musical in Broadway history. Hello, Dolly!, Mame, and Dear World also marked Herman in history as the only composer/lyricist to have three original productions open on Broadway at the same time.

Consisting of composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb, Kander and Ebb was a highly successful American songwriting team. The duo were primarily known for their stage musicals, though they scored several movies as well. Most prominently, they scored New York, New York by Martin Scorsese, with the movie’s theme song of the same name becoming a signature song recorded by many artists (most notably, Frank Sinatra). Kander and Ebb also wrote a considerable amount of stage, concert, and television material for actresses Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera, with whom they’ve since become associated with.