Speakers: Leslie Felperin, David Benedict, Jenna Russell, Nigel Lilley

In music and conversation, we celebrate the life and work of one of the most influential cultural figures of the last 70 years, the Tony, Oscar, Grammy, Olivier and Pulitzer winning composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Born to a New York Jewish family in 1930, over the next 91 years he changed the shape of musical theatre with shows including West Side Story, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, A Little Night Music, Company and Sweeney Todd. Guardian film critic Leslie Felperin is joined by Sondheim’s friend and official biographer David Benedict. And West End & Broadway star Jenna Russell, who worked with Sondheim on five productions over three decades and won the Olivier for Sunday in the Park with George, will share both memories and songs, accompanied on piano by Nigel Lilley, whose credits as musical director include Follies at the National and Caroline or Change in the West End.