Hensley and Dullea to Read THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WANTED, Directed by Joanne Woodward at WPC

Shuler Hensley (“Young Frankenstein: The New Mel Brooks Musical”), Keir Dullea (“The Good Shepherd”) and other actors will read the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “They Knew What They Wanted,” written by Sidney Howard and directed by Joanne Woodward, on Monday, November 10, 7 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, and Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director).  The reading is part of “The Classical Series,” bringing together professional actors to read works by master playwrights.  Tickets to the one-night-only event are $15.

“They Knew What They Wanted” is the romantic story of Tony, an aging, Italian-born vineyard owner in Napa Valley, and his misbegotten mail-order marriage to Amy, a lonely, young waitress from San Francisco who once waited on him.  Proposing by letter, Tony misrepresents himself by sending Amy a photo of his handsome foreman, Joe.  When Amy arrives at Tony’s vineyard to become his bride, she is astonished in finding out the truth and soon is drawn into a liaison with Joe. The play was later adapted into the Broadway musical, “The Most Happy Fella.”

Joanne Woodward, director of “They Knew What They Wanted,” is currently artistic director of Westport Country Playhouse, following six previous seasons as artistic director (2000-2005). For Westport Country Playhouse, she directed “The Member of the Wedding,” “The Constant Wife” and “Three Days of Rain,” and co-directed with Anne Keefe “David Copperfield.”  Ms. Woodward is an Academy Award-winner for “The Three Faces of Eve,” and has received three Emmy Awards. She won a Golden Globe Award for “Breathing Lessons” (Hallmark Hall of Fame). In addition, she received a New York Critics Award and Oscar nomination for “Mr. and Mrs. Bridge.”

Ross Bickell, who will play The RFD Mailman, was on Broadway in “Noises Off,” “The Iceman Cometh” and “A Few Good Men.” Off-Broadway, he appeared in Obie Award productions of “Waste” and “Durango,” among others. Regional theatre includes over 200 productions at such theaters as Long Wharf Theatre and Hartford Stage. Film and television appearances include “The Pleasure of Your Company,” all the “Law & Orders,” “Fantasy Island,” “Strangers with Candy” and “The Dave Chappell Show.”

Keir Dullea, who will play Father McGee, was in the 1968 film “2001:  A Space Odyssey” and 1984’s “2010:  The Year We Make Contact” as well as the cult film “Bunny Lake Is Missing.” Most recently, he was in the film, “The Good Shepherd,” directed by Robert De Niro. He was in the Westport Country Playhouse world premiere of “Butterflies Are Free” which transferred to Broadway in 1969.  In 1983, he co-founded the Theater Artists Workshop of Westport.

Shuler Hensley, who will play Tony, returns to the Westport Country Playhouse where he appeared in Kander and Ebb’s “All About Us.” He is currently starring as The Monster in “Young Frankenstein: The New Mel Brooks Musical.” Other Broadway credits include his Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Olivier Award-winning turn as Jud Fry in “Oklahoma!,” Kerchak in “Tarzan” and Javert in “Les Miserables.” Film credits include “The Legend of Zorro,” “Van Helsing,” “Monday Night Mayhem,” “Someone Like You,” “The Bread,” “My Sweet” and upcoming “Opa!” and “Cheer the Brave.” 

Bill Phillips, who will portray The Doctor, was in off-Broadway productions of “Outside the Window” and “Get a Wonderful Life” (which he co-wrote).  Regional credits include the premiere of E. Katherine Kerr’s “Intelejunt Dezyne” at Fairfield Theatre Company.  Phillips has acted in several independent films including Susan Cinoman’s “Love & Class in Connecticut.”  He is a member of the Theatre Artists Workshop of Westport.

More actors participating in the reading will be announced soon.

Playwright Sidney Howard (1891-1939) won the 1925 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for “They Knew What They Wanted.”  A prolific writer, he wrote or created more than 70 plays.  Hired by Samuel Goldwyn, Howard worked in Hollywood, writing a number of successful screenplays. In 1932, he was nominated for an Academy Award for his adaption of the Sinclair Lewis novel “Arrowsmith,” and again in 1936 for Lewis’ “Dodsworth,” which he had adapted for the stage in 1934.  Posthumously, he won the 1939 Academy Award for his screen adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind.”

“The Classical Series” is supported, in part, by the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation and the Newman’s Own Foundation.

Celebrating its 78th season, the venerable Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, Artistic Directors; Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, Managing Director) is creating innovative new works and dynamic revivals. The Playhouse has produced more than 700 plays, 36 of which later transferred to Broadway including “Come Back, Little Sheba” with Shirley Booth; “The Trip to Bountiful” with Lillian Gish; “Butterflies Are Free” with Keir Dullea and Blythe Danner; “Absurd Person Singular” with Sandy Dennis, Geraldine Page and Tony Roberts; and “Our Town” with Paul Newman.  The list of actors, directors, and other theatre artists who have worked and continue to perform on the Playhouse’s legendary stage reads like a "Who's Who" of the American theatre.  Following a multi-million dollar renovation completed in 2005, the Playhouse now produces year-round, welcoming 85,000 audience members annually. In addition to a full season of theatrical productions, the Playhouse presents educational programming and workshops; a children’s theatre series; symposiums; music; films; and readings of short fiction, classical works and new plays.  Westport Country Playhouse serves as a treasured home for the theatrical arts, its audiences and its artists.  For the State of Connecticut, it is a true cultural landmark. Your experience begins at www.westportplayhouse.org.

For more information or reservations, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Information about the Playhouse is also available at www.westportplayhouse.org.

Top photo of Shuler Hensley by Monique Carboni