Among the Broadway talents lending their voices in the A Little Sondheim Music tribute are original Merrily We Roll Along cast member Liz Callaway; original star of A Little Night Music and the original Sweeney Todd, Len Cariou; Pamela Myers, Company's original Marta; Bounce star Richard Kind; as well as Donna Lynne Champlin of the 2005 John Doyle revival of Sweeney Todd; Kristin Huffman from the Doyle-helmed revival of Company; and lyric baritone David Malis.

Artistic director of the Stephen Sondheim Center, Randal K. West, directs the evening with musical direction by Justin Hill, who will conduct an 18-piece orchestra. Joining the Broadway veterans will be the Mid-West's Encore Players touring company and the world premiere of the Generation NOW Show Choir.

Sondheim commented on the tribute by saying, "What thrills me most is not the boost for my ego but the fact that I'm a part, no matter how distant, of your devotion to the development of professional musical theatre, especially as it contributes to the cultural landscape of the Midwest. Support for the arts on the East and West coasts is highly publicized, less so in your section of the country. I hope that the Stephen Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts will prove to be a major contribution."

The plans for the Stephen Sondheim center include a performing arts conservatory that will be in residence as part of the center's Summer Musical Theatre Company. The performing arts center intends to offer workshops, seminars, as well as a college residential internship program pairing Broadway professionals with up-and-coming theatre performers in their productions.

Tickets, ranging $45-$85, are available by calling (641) 472-2787 or by emailing [email protected]. For further information visit www.fairfieldacc.com.