Stephen Sondheim and Tony Kushner Set for a Joint Appearance at the Public

Theater giants Stephen Sondheim and Tony Kushner will take the stage of the Public Theater for a one-on-one discussion on November 29. National Endowment for the Arts Chairman and Jujamcyn President Emeritus Rocco Landesman will serve as the evening's host.

Sondheim is the composer/lyricist behind such seminal works of musical theater as Company, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George and Into the Woods. He will mark the publication of his new memoir and lyric anthology, Finishing the Hat, by discussing his book, his craft and the theatrical life with Kushner. The Public presented the 2003 premiere of Kushner's musical Caroline, or Change (with music by Jeanine Tesori) and will produce his latest play, The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, later this season in a joint production with Signature Theatre Company. The first New York revival of both parts of Angels in America is currently in previews at Signature.

The event will conclude the fall season of “The Public Forum,” the Public’s new series of lectures, debates and conversations that aim to explore cultural and political issues raised by plays in the theater's season. It is curated by senior Newsweek writer Jeremy McCarter.