Sondheim, Part Deux

So, we hung out together for a couple of years, doing things periodically. Things -- not "THINGS."

He was extremely generous and taught me a lot about songwriting (and life), and it was a magical time. Seems like a dream now, but it did back then, too. To spend time with your Idol -- tricky stuff. Negotiable, but tricky.

One night we went out to a Broadway show - big musical, famous diva star. We were seated left of center. So the chorus comes out and starts doing their tap-dancing, and I swear to you, after a minute or so they all started to shift slightly to their right, tip-tapping in our general direction. You could almost hear their inner monologues beating in rhythm with their tap shoes.

"Sondheim's in the house - Sondheim's in the house."

They practically played the whole number right to him - putting more into it than they probably ever did before. It turned into one big audition. "Sing out, Louise! Smile, baby!" I'd never seen anything like it.

Isn't it rich??