Westport Country Playhouse Hosts Symposium for THE SHOW-OFF Today

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Sunday Symposium about the classic comedy, "The Show-Off," and the work and life of playwright George Kelly, following today's June 16, 3 p.m. matinee performance of the funny and moving story of a family in upheaval when their youngest daughter becomes engaged to a brash loudmouth.

Guest speaker will be Murray Biggs, associate professor (adj.) of English and Theater at Yale University. Biggs spoke at a Sunday Symposium two years ago after a performance of W. Somerset Maugham's "The Circle." The symposium will be moderated by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director. The Playhouse Sunday Symposium program, free and open to the public, provides the audience with guest speakers' in-depth insights and observations about the production, followed by an interactive dialogue. It is open to all, including those who attend a performance of "The Show-Off" at another time.

"I'm so pleased that Murray's making a return visit to our symposium series," said Kennedy. "His passion for this subject is palpable, and there's no more enjoyable conversational partner on the subject of theater. He's a scholar and a true fan. The perfect combination."

With degrees in English and Politics from South Africa and Britain, Biggs has taught 25 different courses in acting, directing, dramatic literature, and film since joining the Yale faculty in 1986. He also directs student productions. Performance is the subject of most of his published work.

The Sunday Symposium Series is supported, in part, by the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation.

Cast in principal roles are 2013 Drama Desk Award winner Jayne Houdyshell as the imperious Mrs. Fisher, and Drama Desk nominee Will Rogers as Aubrey Piper, the show-off of the title. Written by George Kelly, whose play, "Craig's Wife," won a 1925 Pulitzer Prize, the production is directed by Nicholas Martin, a 2013 Tony Award nominee for his direction of the current Broadway hit, "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike."

Set in 1920s Philadelphia, the title character in "The Show-Off" is Aubrey Piper, a blowhard, a first-rate annoyance, and a shameless liar---a show-off of the worst kind. He also happens to be marrying into the Fisher family, forcing the Fishers to learn to cope with this human oddity who has blustered his way into their lives.

Playing from June 11 - 29, the performance schedule for "The Show-Off" is Tuesday at 8 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.,Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

Single ticket prices, starting at $30, are subject to change based on availability. Buy early for the best prices. Educators and students are eligible for 50% discounts. On the day of a performance, senior rush tickets are available at 50%.

"The Show-Off" Production Sponsors are Johnna G. Torsone and John McKeon. Production Partners are Carol and Peter Seldin. Corporate Production Sponsor is Fidelity Investments.

Westport Country Playhouse's 2013 Season will continue with "Loot," a wickedly funny send-up of larcenous, lascivious behavior among the English middle classes by the master of British farce Joe Orton, directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, July 16 - August 3. The second world premiere in as many seasons, "Oblivion," is a touching and funny-and very modern-tale of parents, children, and the gulf that sometimes exists between them, written by Carly Mensch, a writer for three seasons on Showtime's "Weeds," and directed by Mark Brokaw, August 20 - September 8. The play was commissioned by Playwrights Horizons and developed by Steppenwolf Theatre Company. "Room Service" is a madcap American farce about a producer and his ragtag bunch of actors who try to raise money for a Broadway show as they scramble to evade their hotel bill, written by John Murray and Allen Boretz, directed by Mark Lamos, October 8 - 27.

Traditional subscriptions continue on sale offering savings, best available seating, restaurant discounts, and patron flexibility, including a choice of five-play or seasonal four-play subscriptions. Flex Passes are also on sale, offering date flexibility and many subscriber-only benefits.

For more information or tickets, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Tickets are available online 24/7 at www.westportplayhouse.org, or by using the new Playhouse App or mobile website. Stay connected to The Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), view Playhouse videos on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse) or get an insider's peek on The Playhouse Blog (www.theplayhouseblog.org).

Westport Country Playhouse is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, professional theater under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos and management leadership of Michael Ross. The Playhouse creates five live theater experiences, produced at the highest level, from April through November. Its vital mix of works---dramatic, comedic, occasionally exploratory and unusual---expands the audience's sense of what theater can be. The depth and scope of its productions display the foremost theatrical literature from the past---recent as well as distant---in addition to musicals and premieres of new plays. During the summer, The Playhouse is home to the Woodward Internship Program, renowned for the training of aspiring theater professionals. Winter at The Playhouse, from November through March, offers events outside of the main season---Family Festivities presentations and Script in Hand play readings. In addition, businesses and organizations are encouraged to rent the handsome facility for their meetings, receptions and fundraisers.

As an historic venue, Westport Country Playhouse has had many different lives leading up to the present. Originally built in 1835 as a tannery manufacturing hatters' leathers, it became a steam-powered cider mill in 1880, later to be abandoned in the 1920s. Splendidly transformed into a theater in 1931, it initially served as a try-out house for Broadway transfers, evolving into an established stop on the New England straw hat circuit of summer stock theaters through the end of the 20th century. Following a multi-million dollar renovation completed in 2005, The Playhouse became a state-of-the-art producing theater, preserving its original charm and character.

Today, the not-for-profit Westport Country Playhouse serves as a cultural nexus for patrons, artists and students and is a treasured resource for the State of Connecticut. There are no boundaries to the creative thinking for future seasons or the kinds of audiences and excitement for theater that Westport Country Playhouse can build.