True to that spirit, the ceremony included renditions of some of Sondheim’s most iconic songs — such as “Moments in the Woods” and “Anyone Can Whistle” — each performed by a Brown student or graduate. Longtime friends and collaborators of Sondheim’s delivered remarks, including librettist John Weidman, who will design the 20 inscriptions of Sondheim titles that will soon grace the amphitheater’s stage.

Of the many physical spaces named in Sondheim’s honor, Brown’s newest amphitheater might be the most fitting, said Rick Pappas, Sondheim’s family attorney and parent of a Brown Class of 2008 graduate. 

“Education played such an important role in his life,” Pappas said. “He thought teachers were the greatest profession on Earth and that the greatest gift is teaching and learning.”

Sondheim’s devotion to education was something Brown University Professor of Music Dana Gooley experienced firsthand. In 2016, Gooley was asked by a group of students to serve as the faculty sponsor for a group independent study project they had created, dedicated to analyzing Sondheim’s work through rigorous academic, rather than performance-based, study. 

Gooley wasn’t very familiar with Sondheim’s work prior to supervising the independent study, but “by the end, I was smitten,” he said. “I was deeply obsessed.” 

So smitten, in fact, that Gooley went on to develop a course titled Stephen Sondheim and the American Musical. Students in some class sessions over the years received instruction and guidance from the most relevant guest lecturer they could have asked for — Stephen Sondheim himself. 

The last time Sondheim guest lectured the class was about five weeks before his death in 2021. After that session, Gooley said he sent Sondheim an email, thanking him profusely for his time, visit and insights. It was a Saturday night, and Sondheim responded within 10 minutes. 

“Getting the attention of young people is the most heartening thing that can happen to you,” he wrote. 

Now, Sondheim will continue to capture the imaginations of generations of Brown students. The Stephen Sondheim Amphitheater, together with other significant upgrades to the quad, ensures that the community of creativity he championed will remain accessible to all.

Improving accessibility on campus

Broadening the versatility of a major green space in the heart of the University campus, one of the quad’s staircases was transformed into a sloped east-west pathway, addressing navigation challenges for community members with physical disabilities. In addition, an accessible entrance was added to Maxcy Hall, an 1895 building home to Brown’s Department of Sociology.

Already a popular spot for outdoor events, the revamped Simmons Quad provides tent-ready infrastructure to support behind-the-scenes efforts for staff hosting events across Brown’s campus greens and key facilities upgrades, including a new underground stormwater management system.

Together, the amphitheater and accessibility upgrades transform Simmons Quad into a space where art and belonging converge, designed to bring the Brown community together in every sense.

“This has already improved the lives of many people here,” Paxson said. “It will continue to elevate the arts at Brown, and it will bring the arts out into the open in a way that is quite glorious — you won’t be able to miss the activity that happens here.”