Preview: A Conversation With Stephen Sondheim at the Long Center [theater]

Every field has its Michael Jordan—the figure whose work becomes the definitive example of how to do it. For physics, there's Einstein. For hip-hop, there's Jay-Z. For American musical theater, there's Stephen Sondheim. The artform, for the past fifty years, has had its original limits defined, and then broadened, expanded, and broken, by his work. With a resume that includes West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, and Into the Woods (along with sixteen other shows), there's really not anyone else who comes close to his influence.

Austinites will have a chance to hear him talk about his work and his career tonight as the Long Center hosts Sondheim in conversation with Chronicle arts editor Robert Faires. This is a pretty cool opportunity—productions of Sondheim's shows happen in Austin several times a year, but a look behind the scenes like this doesn't come around very often. Tickets are available from The Long Center.