Terry Gross

We continue our tribute to Sondheim by listening back to a 2010 interview in which he shared the stories behind some of his most famous songs and gave his take on other great lyricists.

Sondheim, who died Nov. 26, was the lyricist and composer who gave us Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods and other shows. In 2010 he spoke about his writing process, from rhyming to finding the right note.

Writer and actress REBECCA HALL wrote and directed the new film “Passing,” adapted from the 1929 novel of the same name, set in the 1920’s. It’s about two light skinned African American women who run into each other after not having seen each other for 12 years.