Skip to main content Skip to footer site map

Interview: Author D.T. Max Talks Final Conversations With Sondheim in New Book

Max's interviews offer an intimate portrait into the mind of the man who changed modern American musical theater and popular culture forever.

Interview: Author D.T. Max Talks Final Conversations With Sondheim in New Book Longtime New Yorker staff writer-and author of the New York Times bestseller Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story-D.T. Max reveals a Stephen Sondheim rarely seen in public in his new book FINALE: Late Conversations with Stephen Sondheim.

Published to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the legendary composer/lyricist's death, Max's interviews offer an intimate portrait into the mind of the man who changed modern American musical theater and popular culture forever.

Purchase FINALE: Late Conversations with Stephen Sondheim HERE!

In BroadwayWorld's interview, D.T. Max reveals how it felt to pick the mind of a genius, how Sondheim hoped to be remembered, and much more.


How does it feel for you to know that you were not only able to spend time with, but have deep conversations with, one of the most influential figures in musical theatre history?

I loved being with Steve (well that's what his friends call him! I still think of him as Sondheim) I was also amazed to be there. It was like, hey, how about you go by Mozart's town house and chew the fat.

What was the most surprising thing you learned about Sondheim, or most surprising thing you took away from your conversations with him?

The first surprise was what he was like. I've been with geniuses before-I've been writing profiles, often for The New Yorker, for twenty five years-but he was completely unassuming. He was--dare I use the word?-- nice to you. He looked after you and made you feel you weren't just an attachment to an iPhone there to record a great person's sayings.

Some other surprises. I was astonished how much he still resented-hated isn't too strong a word--his mother. I mean, she'd been gone since 1992 and there we were in 2018 and if she'd walked in, I swear he would have thrown one of those fancy wine glasses we were using at her.

Creatively I was amazed to hear that in the '10s he'd been working on what sounded like a brilliant musical called All Together Now about the many voices inside anyone's head-our internal conflicts--and put it aside because...are you waiting for this?...Disney came out with Inside Out. I mean, c'mon.

How do you think Sondheim himself wanted to be remembered?

He absolutely did want to be remembered. That was clear. He was a show-biz creature, highbrow division. But, yes show-biz. That was why he was so interested in performance. He wanted his musical on stage, not in the history books. He wanted to be remembered as the composer lyricist of the show you just saw and loved.

What do you hope that readers take away from your book?

I want the reader to see Sondheim as a human being rather than a cardboard cut-out. The book is five long interviews over time and if it works it's almost like seeing someone in a movie instead of in a still photograph. He's like us. At different times in our conversations he's happy, grumpy, bashful. All the dwarves, I guess except Sneezy and of course Doc. Well not really Sleepy either. So that's four dwarves! Wait, not Dopey-at 87 he was as sharp as anyone I've ever met. So three dwarves!

Do you have anything else you'd like to share?

It was fun. And it was an honor. And I'm sad he's gone.



Related Stories
How SWEENEY TODD Led to Lansbury & Sondheims GLASS ONION Cameos Photo
While Broadway alums Leslie Odom Jr. and Daniel Craig may be the stars of Glass Onion, the followup to Knives Out, the film also features appearances by two of Broadway's biggest icons: Stephen Sondheim and Angela Lansbury. Read how Rian Johnson's love of Sweeney Todd led to their cameos and what it was like working on their final film appearances!

VIDEO: Bernadette Peters Describes Her First Time Meeting Sondheim Photo
Bernadette Peters sat down with Ryan Seacrest and Kelly Ripa this morning to discuss her upoming Broadway Barks event. During the interview, Peters discussed her performance of 'Children Will Listen' at the 75th Annual Tony Awards honoring the late Stephen Sondheim. Peters also revealed the first time that she had met Sondheim.

BWW Album Review: SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED - VOL. TWO is Glorious Photo
Released on what would have been Stephen Sondheim's 92nd birthday - March 22, 2022 - Yellow Sound Label’s SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED: THE NYC SESSIONS - VOLUME TWO is the glorious middle chapter of an epic trilogy of beloved Sondheim showtunes sung by musical theater luminaries. Like the previous entry, this collection is chock full of talented artists skillfully performing hits from Sondheim’s complex yet accessible catalog with glorious dexterity.

VIDEO: Erivo, Zegler, Platt & Odom Jr. Sing Sondheim at the GRAMMYs Photo
Cynthia Erivo, Rachel Zegler, Ben Platt, and Leslie Odom Jr. took to the stage at the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards to sing the music of Stephen Sondheim for the In Memoriam. The medley performance included 'Not a Day Goes By,' 'Send in the Clowns,' and 'Somewhere.' Watch the complete performance now!


From This Author - Chloe Rabinowitz


Interview: TV Star Courtney Henggeler Reflects on Her NYC Stage Debut in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOFInterview: TV Star Courtney Henggeler Reflects on Her NYC Stage Debut in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF
March 31, 2023

Read BroadwayWorld's interview with TV star Courtney Henggeler as she looks back at her time starring as Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Off-Broadway!

Interview: Ariana DeBose is Living 'Out Loud and on Purpose' in AUTHENTICITY at Lincoln CenterInterview: Ariana DeBose is Living 'Out Loud and on Purpose' in AUTHENTICITY at Lincoln Center
March 31, 2023

Read BroadwayWorld's interview with Oscar winner and Tony Award nominee Ariana DeBose as she discusses her upcoming concert Authenticity at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall!

Interview: Chris Gethard Tackles Fatherhood, Masculinity & Thoughtful Comedy in A FATHER & THE SUNInterview: Chris Gethard Tackles Fatherhood, Masculinity & Thoughtful Comedy in A FATHER & THE SUN
March 29, 2023

Read BroadwayWorld's interview with comedian Chris Gethard as he discusses comedy, fatherhood and more in his new Off-Broadway show A Father & The Sun.

Interview: Eddie Cooper Talks His Long Journey With PARADEInterview: Eddie Cooper Talks His Long Journey With PARADE
March 28, 2023

Read BroadwayWorld's latest Debut of the Month interview, featuring Eddie Cooper, who is currently making his Broadway debut as Newt Lee in Parade on Broadway!

Interview: BAD CINDERELLA Choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter Talks Andrew Lloyd Webber, Being a Trailblazer & MoreInterview: BAD CINDERELLA Choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter Talks Andrew Lloyd Webber, Being a Trailblazer & More
March 27, 2023

Read BroadwayWorld's interview with Bad Cinderella choreographer, JoAnn M. Hunter!