Why wasn't Stephen Sondheim at the 2008 Tony Awards to receive his Lifetime Achievement Award?

Question

Why wasn't Stephen Sondheim at the 2008 Tony Awards to receive his Lifetime Achievement Award?

Answer 1

show some respect people.  the man is a genious and you sniveling children calling him old need to think about what you are saying first.

Answer 2

Probably just because he was working on something else, and he is very old. Also knowing the current state of The Tony's being designed around the idea of trying to basically "sell broadway" he might not have wanted to take part in person, even though he'd normally seem like a good sport for these types of things. But I think just looking at his speech, and me hearing him speak in person, he hates taking all the credit for his musicals, and thinks him and the librettist should share the recognition equally, if not the librettist more.  But I love his speech, and from the lecture I heard him give with Frank Rich, he's the sweetest, most humble old man, who did so much for American Musical Theatre.