On Sept. 17 Strouse will head to the London store to read excerpts from his recent autobiography, "Put on a Happy Face: A Broadway Memoir," beginning at 6:30 PM. He will return to Dress Circle Sept. 20 for a signing of his new tome. The signing will begin at 1 PM.

Both events are free and open to the public.

On Sept. 19 a host of London theatre favorites — including Paul Nicholas (Barnum, Charlie Girl), Bonnie Langford (Chicago, Sweet Charity), Rosemary Ashe (Mary Poppins, Phantom of the Opera) and Jacinta Whyte (Annie, Les Misérables) — will take part in Charles Strouse's UK Birthday Celebration at The Mermaid Theatre. The BBC concert, featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra (conducted by Martin Yates), will subsequently be aired on BBC Radio 2's "Friday Night Is Music Night" series.

"Timed to coincide with public celebrations of his 80th birthday," press notes state, "'Put on a Happy Face' grants an insider's glimpse of Broadway, Hollywood, and beyond. With sparkling wit, Strouse relates the behind-the-curtain stories of his remarkable achievements, and tells fascinating tales about the people he’s worked with along the way, including Butterfly McQueen, Gower Champion, Sammy Davis Jr., Lauren Bacall, Mel Brooks, Clifford Odets, Warren Beatty, Hal Prince and Carol Burnett. Strouse is a musical-theater legend who is as entertaining on the page as his work is on the stage!"

Charles Strouse, who turned 80 June 7, won Best Score Tony Awards for Annie (with lyricist Martin Charnin) and Applause (with Lee Adams). His other musicals include Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, "It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman!", Bring Back Birdie, Annie Warbucks, Golden Boy, A Broadway Musical, I and Albert, Charlie and Algernon, Rags, Dance a Little Closer and All American. Dress Circle is located in London at 57-59 Monmouth Street. For more information visit www.dresscircle.co.uk.