Meryle Secrest, author of Stephen Sondheim: A Life, the extensive new biography of the eminent musical theatre composer, will make two stops in New York to promote her new book, which is published by Knopf and is now in stores.

Secrest begins her U.S. book tour June 15 at 7 PM at A Different Light Bookstore (151 W. 19th St.), where she will talk about the biography and signs copies of her work. On June 16 at 6 PM, she will travel uptown to Rizzoli Bookstore (31 W. 57th St.) for a reception and signing.

The notoriously private Sondheim cooperated fully with the venture, agreeing to hours of interviews. Also solicited for their viewpoints are such Sondheim collaborators as Harold Prince, Arthur Laurents, James Lapine, John Guare, Len Cariou and Mandy Patinkin. The composer also discusses such intensely personal and seldom breached topics as his tempestuous relationship with his mother, Janet "Foxy" Sondheim, and his homosexuality. Playbill On-Line posted an interview with Meryle Secrest June 3.

Other book tour dates follow:

June 20 at 7 PM: Washington, D.C.: Politics & Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
June 23 at 7:30 PM: Baltimore: Bibelot, 1819 Reistertown Rd.
June 25 at 6 PM: San Francisco: Rizzoli, 117 Post St.
June 30 at 7 PM: Los Angeles: Dutton's Brentwood Bookstore, 11975 San Vincente Blvd.