Where Are the Clowns? Sondheim Addresses That Burning Question on The Colbert Report

We rarely see master composer Stephen Sondheim sharing a lighthearted conversation with a television interviewer, which made his appearance on the December 14 episode of The Colbert Report a must-watch for musical fans. On hand to promote Finishing the Hat (just named one of the 10 best books of 2010 by The New York Times Book Review), Sondheim gamely responded to Colbert’s quips about Maria’s immigration status in West Side Story and revealed how his mentor, Oscar Hammerstein, taught him everything he needed to know about writing lyrics in one afternoon. Click on share in the fun, including Sondheim’s reaction to Colbert’s suggested new lyrics for “Send in the Clowns.”