Westport audiences will spend a few evenings with Jerry Herman, composer of such musicals as Hello, Dolly!, The Grand Tour, Mack And Mabel and La Cage Aux Folles. Herman's concert runs July 21-Aug 2 and co-stars Lee Roy Reams and Florence Lacey.
(The show officially opens July 21, though July 22 is termed the "press night.")

Songs expected in the revue include "Shalom" (Milk And Honey), "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" and "It Only Takes A Moment" (both from Hello, Dolly), "It's Today" and "We Need A Little Christmas" (Mame) and "La Cage Aux Folles" and "I Am What I Am" (La Cage Aux Folles).

Reams directs and choreographs the evening, which will have a bass and piano arrangement -- Herman himself doing the honors on the latter.

On Broadway, Reams starred as Lumiere in Beauty And The Beast and appeared in Applause, Sweet Charity and Lorelei. He was a Tony nominee for playing Billy in 42nd Street. Lacey played Evita on Broadway and starred in Herman's The Grand Tour. She previously appeared with Herman in a cabaret at NY's Rainbow & Stars.

Following An Evening With Jerry Herman will be Ken Ludwig's backstage farce, Moon Over Buffalo, bringing Millicent Martin and the suddenly ubiquitous Gavin McLeod (Paper Mill Playhouse's Gigi) to the Westport Stage, Aug. 4-Aug. 16. Ludwig's other plays include Lend Me A Tenor and the book for Crazy For You. Closing the season will be Anne Meara's After-Play, featuring Meara and husband Jerry Stiller, who played in the show off-Broadway, as did co-star Jane Powell. The poignant comedy looks at three couples in a restaurant -- and the way they've lived their lives. After-Play runs Aug. 18-30.

For tickets and information on shows at CT's Westport Country Playhouse call (203) 227-4177.

--By David Lefkowitz