Photo Flash: Stephen Sondheim Receives 2015 Carl Sandburg Literary Award in Chicago

The Chicago Public Library Foundation and the Chicago Public Library presented the 16th annual Carl Sandburg Literary Award to legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Universally heralded for his immense contributions to musical theater in a career spanning more than 50 years, Sondheim was at the Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner tonight, October 21, 2015 at The Forum (725 W. Roosevelt Road) on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago. The event was attended by almost 700 and raised more than $1.5 million to support the initiatives of the Chicago Public Library. Scroll down for photos!

One of the highlights of the annual benefit is that each guest has the opportunity to get to know an esteemed author with ties to Chicago personally. This year, guests engaged in table conversation with notable authors including:

· Celebrity chef Rick Bayless
· New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Berg
· MSNBC political scientist Paul D. Butler
· Artist and educator Nick Cave
· Advice columnist Amy Dickinson
· Nero Wolfe Mysteries author Robert Goldsborough
· MacArthur Foundation Grant-winning fiction writer and critic Aleksander Hemon
· Advice columnist Margo Howard
· NFL Hall of Fame football coach Marv Levy of the Buffalo Bills
· "Mr. Fix-It" Lou Manfredini
· Renowned theologian Martin Marty
· Chicago cabaret performers Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael
· American mystery writer Sara Paretsky
· Ides of March founder Jim Peterik
· Lyric baritone Robert Sims
· Founder of the Thirty Million Words Initiative Dr. Dana Suskind
· Jay Tunney (son of the famous boxer Gene Tunney)
· Lawyer and legal thriller writer Scott Turow
· Newspaper and broadcast journalist Jennifer Weigel

The other confirmed authors and artists in attendance included: Richard Babcock, Blue Balliett, Mary Barr, Leigh B. Bienen, Greg Borzo, Tony Bowers, Christopher A. Brooks, Leslie Buchbinder, Christopher Castiglia, Wesley Chu, Elizabeth Crane, Matthew Cordell, David Lee Csicsko, Gioa Dilberto, Stuart Dybek, Thomas Dyja, Charles Finch, Douglas Foster, Gina Frangello, Jamie Freveletti, Amina Gautier, Harold Green, Del Hall, Julie Halpern, Michael Harvey, Bernard Judge, Kimbeth Judge, James Klise, Tom Kuczmarski, Bill Kurtis, Mike Leonard, Deborah Liverett, Bob Marovich, Tom Michael, Mary Morris, Nami Mun, Leslie Parry, Christopher Reed, Randy Richardson, Renee Rosen, Peter Sagal, Robert Sharoff, Ed Sherman, Adrian Smith, Christine Sneed, Megan Stielstra, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Tyler, Jennifer Wiza and William Zbaren.

Also being honored was Eric Charles May, who received the 21st Century Award, which salutes emerging authors with ties to Chicago. An associate professor in the Fiction Writing program of Columbia College, the native Chicagoan's debut novel "Bedrock Faith" was published in 2014 to widespread acclaim. In the Apri, 2014 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, "Bedrock Faith" was named one of "Ten Books to Pick Up Now."

The Carl Sandburg Literary Award is presented to writers in honor of their collective body of work and is now recognized as one of the nation's most prestigious literary prizes, having been presented to many of the world's most esteemed fiction and non-fiction authors. The celebration attracts nearly 800 members of Chicago's civic and cultural communities and is one of the city's most popular social events, with a cocktail reception and dinner during which guests at each table enjoy the company of a prominent writer, musician, filmmaker or artist with ties to Chicago. The highlight of the evening is an insight-filled onstage conversation with Mr. Sondheim moderated by National Public Radio host and author Scott Simon. The evening concludes with a dessert reception. Every attendee will receive personally inscribed copies of works by the honored authors as a keepsake of the evening.

Stephen Sondheim with co-chairs Robert Wislow and Dina Yaghmai Payvar

Foundation President Rhona Frazin with Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim was among 71 authors honored.