Well, of course Bernadette Peters performed a tribute to Stephen Sondheim at the Tony Awards. What did you think would happen? After Sondheim’s death in November 2021, we knew the famed composer would be remembered at the event. Peters, known for originating Sondheim roles like Dot in Sunday in the Park With George and the Witch in Into the Woods, sang “Children Will Listen†from Woods. She performed the song with her signature fragility, both delicately and emotionally, given her close relationship with the late composer. She first sang the song in the original production of the show in 1986. The performance was intercut with interviews with Sondheim.
Sondheim was also represented at the Tonys by a revival of his show Company. The production won multiple awards, including Best Director, Best Revival of a Musical, and both Supporting Actress and Actor in a Musical. Winners thanked Sondheim in many of their speeches, including the one for Best Revival. An impressive but unsurprising showing for the most awarded composer in Tony history.