80th birthday bash planned for Sondheim

NEW YORK, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- New York's Roundabout Theatre Company has announced plans for a star-studded tribute to composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who turns 80 next year.

In honor of Sondheim's milestone birthday March 22, the Roundabout said it is orchestrating a dinner and evening of performances called "2010 Spring Gala: Sondheim 80."

All proceeds from the event are to benefit Roundabout Theatre Company's Musical Theatre Fund. The location and additional details of the event are to be announced shortly.

Roundabout has produced numerous Sondheim revivals in recent years, including the musicals "Company," "Follies," "Assassins," "Pacific Overtures" and "Sunday in the Park with George."

The theater company honored Sondheim with the Jason Robards Award for Excellence in Theatre in 2005 for the "indelible impact his life's work has made on the theater world."

Sondheim has also worked on the stage classics "West Side Story," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Gypsy," "A Little Night Music," "Sweeney Todd" and "Into the Woods."