The paper is a Musical Theatre essay. The composers compared must be a " pre golden age or golden age musical theatre composer" compared to that of a "contemporary musical theatre composer" other than Sondheim. The thesis in the original instruction was a "suggested thesis" not one that could be used If you need any clarification, let me know. Essentially I need to illuminate how a Golden Age Broadway Composer (before the 1960’s) influenced the work of a contemporary BROADWAY composer (1960-present day). A suggested thesis (one I cannot use) was this: "Suggested thesis statement: In the first of his two volumes of collected lyrics (Finishing the Hat)m Stephen Sondheim acknowledges the influences major composers have had on his compositions. Studying the compositions of such renown musicians as Jerome Kern and George Gershwin have helped contemporary composers develop their own musical styles" Initial insturctions: Choose a pre golden age or golden age composer and study how they have influenced the work of a contemporary composer. Other than Sondheim. Suggested Thesis: In the first of his two volumes of collected lyrics (Finishing the Hat)m Stephen Sondheim acknowledges the influences major composers have had on his compositions. Studying the compositions of such renown musicians as Jerome Kern and George Gershwin have helped contemporary composers develop their own musical styles.