Books: Hirschfeld’s Sondheim
By Fern Siegel (posted Sept. 1, 2025)
Al Hirschfeld made his name doing caricatures of famous Broadway shows and performers for the Sunday New York Times. He began drawing theatrical fare in 1927, but it took 30 more years before Hirschfeld produced his first Sondheim for the newspaper’s arts section.
That production was West Side Story with Stephen Sondheim as lyricist. And for the next 50 years, the artist would chronicle Sondheim’s extraordinary output.
The joy, for fans of both artists, is seeing the brilliant productions brought to life in a smart, singular way, making “Hirschfeld’s Sondheim,” a must-have book. An introduction by Bernadette Peters, who calls Hirschfeld’s drawings “pure theater,” and forward by critic Ben Brantley add context to David Leopold’s text for the poster book.
Drawings include Sweeney Todd, Gypsy, Follies, Merrily We Roll Along and Sunday in the Park With George — as well as films, the 1960 movie adaptation of West Side Story and “The Last of Sheila,” the murder mystery Sondheim co-wrote with Anthony Perkins. Actual theater posters are also included. This is a history and art lesson all in one.
Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury starred in the 1979 musical.
It’s no surprise Sondheim was a Hirschfeld collector, but for those who can’t afford an original, the 25 ready-to-frame removable posters, alongside the 50 drawings, suffice. An added bonus for legions of Times readers since 1945 was looking for the NINAs, the name of Hirschfeld’s daughter, hidden in the drawings’ sleeves, hair or backgrounds. He’d put the number of NINAs next to his signature.
Each illustration includes key information about the play: the year, creators, plots and awards. That’s a special treat for Hirschfeld lovers, for as Brantley noted: “Hirschfeld’s drawings capture Sondheim’s shows better than any photo.”
“My contribution is to take the character — created by the playwright and acted out by the actor — and reinvent it for the reader,” said Hirschfeld. Abrams ComicArts, the publisher, has done a key service to theater lovers by reproducing his famed artistry.
On his 100th birthday in 2003, the Martin Beck Theater was renamed the Al Hirschfeld Theater, an important tribute to his contributions to theater. (In 2010, the Henry Miller Theater on West 43 Street became the Stephen Sondheim Theater.) “Hirschfeld’s Sondheim” is another. The poster book not only provides colorful insights and facts about beloved shows, but it gives readers a small piece of theater immortality.
Exhibition: “Strokes of Genius: Hirschfeld at the Algonquin” will be on exhibition in the hotel’s legendary Oak Room, September 9 – 20. All artwork is available for purchase. The exhibition marks the first New York gallery exhibition of Al Hirschfeld’s work in more than 10 years.