Stephen Sondheim to receive NYC arts award

[October 11, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim will receive New York City's highest honor for achievement in the arts.

The New York Times (http://nyti.ms/pD82ov ) says Sondheim will receive the Handel Medallion on Nov. 1 at Alice Tully Hall.

Other honorees will include Mikhail Baryshnikov; arts advocate Alice Diamond; musician Jimmy Heath; artist Maya Lin; and the Theater Development Fund.

Sondheim has won more Tony Awards than any other composer.

A revival of the 81-year-old's "Follies" will be on Broadway until Jan. 22. His other hit musicals include "A Little Night Music" and "Sweeney Todd."

Sondheim also wrote the lyrics for "West Side Story."

[Associated Press]

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