Westport Country Playhouse Presents CHALLOTTE'S WEB 2/28

Westport Country Playhouse's Family Festivities Series will present the treasured tale, "Charlotte's Web," based on E. B. White's loving story of the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a little gray spider named Charlotte, on Sunday, February 28, 1 and 4 p.m. Recommended for grades K - 5, the show is approximately one hour and produced by TheatreworksUSA.

Wilbur has a problem: how to avoid winding up as pork chops! Charlotte, a fine writer and true friend, hits on a plan to fool Farmer Zuckerman. She will create a "miracle." Spinning the words "Some Pig" in her web, Charlotte weaves a solution which not only makes Wilbur a prize pig, but ensures his place on The Farm forever. Featuring mad-cap and endearing farm animals, "Charlotte's Web" explores bravery, selfless love and the true meaning of friendship.

Pre-show activities, for which reservations are required, begin one hour before the performances at noon and 3 p.m. Pre-show activities for "Charlotte's Web" will be an exploration of animal personalities and sounds, interactive games and friendship.

TheatreworksUSA is America's largest and most prolific professional, not-for-profit theatre for young and family audiences. Since 1961, TheatreworksUSA has enlightened, entertained and instructed over 78 million people in 49 states and Canada.

Tickets for "Charlotte's Web" are $16. Birthday party facilities may be scheduled in advance. Everyone in the audience requires a ticket. Groups of 10 or more save up to 30% off the regular ticket price. For group sales information call (203) 227-5137, x120.

Upcoming titles in The Playhouse's 2010 Family Festivities Series include "Are You My Mother?" on Sunday, March 28; and "I Have a Dream: The Life and Times of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." on Sunday, April 11.

Westport Country Playhouse, a not-for-profit theater, serves as a treasured home for the performing arts and is a cultural landmark for Connecticut. Under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos and management direction of Michael Ross, The Playhouse creates quality productions of new and classic plays that enlighten, enrich and engage a diverse community of theater lovers, artists and students. The Playhouse's rich history dates back to 1931, when New York theatre producer Lawrence Langner created a Broadway-quality stage within an 1830s tannery. The Playhouse quickly became an established stop on the New England "straw hat circuit" of summer stock theatres. Now in its 80th season, Westport Country Playhouse has produced more than 700 plays, 36 of which later transferred to Broadway, most recently the world premiere of "Thurgood" and a revival of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" with Paul Newman, and in earlier years "Come Back, Little Sheba" with Shirley Booth, "The Trip to Bountiful" with Lillian Gish, and "Butterflies Are Free" with Keir Dullea and Blythe Danner. For its artistic excellence, The Playhouse received a 2005 Governor's Arts Award and a 2000 "Connecticut Treasure" recognition. It was also designated as an Official Project of Save America's Treasures by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is entered on the Connecticut State Register of Historic Places. Following a multi-million dollar renovation completed in 2005, The Playhouse transformed into a year-round, state-of-the-art producing theater, which has preserved its original charm and character. In addition to a full season of theatrical productions, The Playhouse serves as a community resource, presenting educational programming and workshops; a children's theater series; symposiums; music; films; and readings.

For tickets or to receive a Family Festivities brochure, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit the box office at 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport, or www.westportplayhouse.org.