The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. is putting it together: A 15-week repertory festival of full stagings of six musicals by Stephen Sondheim May-August 2002.

The cultural institution announced the ambitious "Sondheim Celebration" and its 2001-2001 season March 1. The Sondheim revivals — Sweeney Todd, Company, Sunday in the Park With George, Merrily We Roll Along, Passion and A Little Night Music — will play in the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theatre. The productions are under the artistic directorship of Eric D. Schaeffer (who helmed Broadway's Sondheim revue, Putting It Together). Musical director is Kay Cameron.

Other directors, designers and the performers have not been announced. In conjunction with the series, the Kennedy Center will present the American premiere of the New National Theatre of Tokyo production of Sondheim's Pacific Overtures, in Japanese with English surtitles. Dates are to be announced.

Sondheim's work is getting the sort of concentrated focus rarely given to living dramatists. In a statement, he said, "I'm overwhelmed that the Kennedy Center has taken on the daunting task of producing six of my musicals in repertory — plus an extraordinary import, the Japanese version of Pacific Overtures. No greater gift could be bestowed on a theatre composer."

The performance count will total 94 when the May 10-Aug. 25, 2002, Sondheim Celebration is over. For more information, visit the website by clicking here.