Stephen Sondheim and the disintegration of the American Dream: A study of the work of Stephen Sondheim from 'Company' to 'Sunday in the Park with George'

This study is an examination of seven works written by composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim for the American musical stage since 1970, including Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, and Sunday in the Park with George. It poses the question: "How does the work of Stephen Sondheim articulate the disintegration of the American Dream?" This question is addressed through an investigation of the specific musical, dramaturgical, and theatrical techniques that Mr. Sondheim utilizes in each of the above mentioned productions.;The dissertation begins by constructing a model of the American Dream. Next, it includes a systematic study of the social history of the United States from 1970 to 1984. From this study, five prevailing themes are identified which reflect the disintegration of the American Dream since 1970, namely, "The Ambiguity of Experience: The Disintegration of Confidence and Optimism," "Corruption and Social Injustice: The Disintegration of Faith," "Aging and the Concept of Time: The Disintegration of Hope," "Communication, Connecting and Commitment: The Disintegration of Relationships," and "Anxiety and the Interior Self: The Disintegration of the Individual Spirit." These five themes are, in turn, related to Mr. Sondheim's seven musicals. Through an Aristotelian analysis of each individual production, Mr. Sondheim's approach to each of these themes is examined.;The study concluded by affirming that Mr. Sondheim does indeed reflect the concept of the disintegration of the American Dream in his work and indicates the ways in which he addresses themes and issues that are central to contemporary American experience in each of his musicals. An interview with Mr. Sondheim, obtained exclusively for the purposes of the dissertation, is included in the Appendix.