Composer Stephen Sondheim was in town last week, first in conversation with Frank Rich at UCLA, then at a cocktail gathering at a private home in support of the upcoming Festival of New American Musicals.

I attended the latter. I probably could have burrowed my way to the front of the pack at some point, shook Sondheim's hand (never met him) and uttered a few inane things, but -- and perhaps this makes me a lousy reporter/interviewer -- I honestly couldn't think of a thing to say in this situation beyond "Are you enjoying yourself" and "What do you make of what some of the people in this room are doing to/with your songs (more on that in a minute).

Now I suppose if you're Stephen Sondheim, and you're attending an event that is somewhat in your honor, you're accustomed to fawning people coming up to you and saying, "My daughter has wanted to be an actress since she saw 'Into the Woods' when she was 8." At one point I planted myself in a chair fairly near the entrance of this very lovely private home in Bel Air and listened as Sondheim did the obligatory meet and greet. Once he arrived, of course, the man barely got past the entry way before the hoards descended. Sondheim appeared gracious, honest and open. He told a few stories, smiled a lot.

And he listened. Head cocked, the wryest of smiles on his face as some of L.A.'s musical theater luminaries sang songs from "Sweeney Todd," "Gypsy," "Company" etc. A rather brave Jason Graae sang a song about not singing a Stephen Sondheim song. And Sondheim smiled at that too.

Now I've seen performers Graae, Rachel York, Kevin Earley, Vicki Lewis, Norman Large and Jean Louisa Kelly perform on many occasions. They're every one of them talented (Lewis, who had to be on stage later in "Dickie and Babe" at the Blank, especially so).

As far as I know, they're all based out here on the West Coast, meaning -- the occasional Broadway foray notwithstanding _ they probably don't get in a room with Stephen Sondheim very often, let alone get to sing in his presence.

Given the degree of, shall we say, gusto with which certain of these performers attacked their songs (I'll take my critic's hat off for this occasion), I can't help wondering whether they didn't view this event as a sort of audition. By God, I'm going to make an impression on Stephen Sondheim if I have to reverberate up to Mulholland to do it!

Still, an actor isn't an actor if s/he doesn't seize an opportunity (Mama Rose would certainly approve), and bless the Festival of New American Musicals for bringing Sondheim in. It was certainly cool to see him.

Check out the festival lineup, by the way at http://www.lafestival.org. I'll talk more about the event as it draws closer.