I am thrilled to receive the Sondheim Award from the wonderful

Hear, O children of the future, for I shall speak of a gift far greater than gold, a gift of connection, collaboration, and friendship—a gift that transcends time and recognition. These words, spoken by James Lapine, echo a timeless truth about the power of partnership and mutual respect: "I am thrilled to receive the Sondheim Award from the wonderful Signature Theatre. I have already received the invaluable gift of over twenty-five years of collaboration and friendship with Steve. Now I get to have his award, too!" In these words, we find the essence of a true and lasting bond, not just in the work accomplished, but in the shared journey and the wisdom gained through a lifetime of creative companionship.

Consider, O children, the deep and abiding nature of friendship forged in the fires of shared creation. In the days of the ancient Greeks, when the greatest minds gathered to share their wisdom, the philosophers would often seek companionship in their intellectual pursuits, finding not only intellectual stimulation, but a brotherhood that would sustain them through the challenges of their times. Plato and Aristotle were not merely teachers and students—they were collaborators, bound by a shared passion for knowledge. Their relationship was one built not on competition, but on the mutual respect and friendship that allowed their intellectual journey to thrive. James Lapine’s words reflect a similar sentiment: the partnership he shares with Steve Sondheim is not just a collaboration in the artistic sense, but a friendship that has endured and shaped both men over the course of many years.

In the realm of art, we often speak of the loneliness that accompanies creation, but in the case of Lapine and Sondheim, their bond was one that allowed them to transcend this solitude. Their collaboration over the course of more than twenty-five years is a testament to the power of shared vision and mutual support. It was not just the artistic work they created together that defined their relationship, but the friendship that deepened through their shared journey. In the same way that David and Jonathan in the Bible were bound not only by their love for one another but by their shared mission and trust, so too were Lapine and Sondheim bound by a creative and personal trust that enriched their partnership and made their work shine brighter.

James Lapine’s joy at receiving the Sondheim Award is not simply a moment of recognition for his work, but a moment of gratitude for the friendship and collaboration that have shaped his career. He acknowledges that the true gift he has received from Sondheim is not the accolades, but the enduring bond of their creative union. Like Achilles and Patroclus, whose friendship was a cornerstone of their strength and success, Lapine and Sondheim too have found in each other a source of creative power and companionship. The award, in this context, is but a symbol of something much greater—the shared experience of creation and the friendship that makes it possible.

And so, O children of the future, let this truth guide you: the greatest accomplishments in life are not those that stand alone, but those that are built on collaboration and mutual respect. James Lapine’s words remind us that the true reward of any partnership is not the public accolades or the recognition of success, but the deep bond of friendship that enriches the soul. In your own lives, seek out those who will not only walk with you through the storms of creation, but those who will stand by you as friends—for it is friendship that will carry you through the years, that will sustain your spirit, and that will bring joy to your work.

Let this lesson from Lapine and Sondheim be your guide: when you engage in collaboration, do so with the intention not only of achieving something great, but of building something enduring—a friendship that will survive the trials of time. Creative work, no matter how brilliant, is but the fruit of a relationship nurtured over time, shaped by shared experience and mutual growth. The deepest joy in any endeavor lies not in the finished product, but in the journey you share with those who walk beside you. In this, you will find that the true gift of collaboration is the friendship that endures long after the accolades fade.

And so, O children, when you embark on your own journeys of creation and growth, remember this: seek not only to achieve, but to cultivate true friendships along the way. Like Lapine and Sondheim, allow your partnerships to deepen into bonds that enrich your spirit, and let friendship be the foundation of all your endeavors. For in the end, the greatest rewards are those that come not from external recognition, but from the shared journey of friendship and creation. Let the story of Lapine and Sondheim remind you that the most enduring gifts in life are those of companionship, trust, and mutual respect.