oscar hammerstein was a constant figure, encouraging sondheim s musical talents through high school and college. hadn t been for the hammersteins, i don t know where i would be, if i would even be alive. break came when he wrote the lyrics for west side story in 1957. in 1962 for the first time he wrote the lyrics and music for a funny thing happened on the way to the forum. in 1970 he began a collaboration with hal prince that lasted more than a decade. their 1963 play was composed mostly in waltz team and became a commercial success. it featured the hit send in the