Stephen Sondheim was an American composer and lyricist, widely considered one of the most influential and innovative artists in 20th-century musical theatre. He wrote lyrics for West Side Story, Gypsy and Do I Hear a Waltz, and the complete scores (music and lyrics) for works such as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Into the Woods, Company, A Little Night Music, Follies, Sunday in the Park with George, Assassins, Passion, Pacific Overtures and Sweeney Todd. He won six Tony Awards for Best Score for a Musical, a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, an Academy Award for Best Song, eight Grammy Awards, and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and many other honors.
George Furth was an American librettist, playwright, and actor. Furth won both the Tony and Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical for Company, and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play for Precious Sons.