James Lapine

Career Trajectory

Lapine began his career in avant-garde theatre in the 1970s, founding Playwrights Horizons and establishing himself as a visionary director of experimental work before his transformative partnership with Stephen Sondheim launched him into the Broadway mainstream. His librettos and direction for Sunday in the Park with George and Into the Woods became touchstones of contemporary musical theatre, balancing intellectual complexity with emotional resonance. Now in his seventh decade, Lapine remains an active force in theatre, opera, and film, consistently seeking projects that challenge both audiences and the form itself.