Westport Playhouse Hosts Perfect Proposal Contest for I DO! I DO!, Entries Due 8/10

In conjunction with Westport Country Playhouse's upcoming production of "I Do! I Do!," the joyful and touching musical about marriage, the theater is hosting "The Perfect Proposal Contest." Participants are requested to write, in 300 words or less, how they were asked, or asked someone else, to say, "I Do!" Photos are welcomed, but not required. Deadline for entries is Tuesday, August 10, noon.

The top five finalists will receive two complimentary tickets to The Playhouse's second annual Date Night on Friday, August 13, when the contest winner will be announced. Date Night includes 6 p.m. pre-show reception with light fare by Da Pietro's Restaurant, select beverages, sweets, romantic music and 8 p.m. performance of the musical "I Do! I Do!"

The winning couple will be awarded an overnight stay at the new Delamar in Southport, a $100 gift certificate to Da Pietro's Restaurant in Westport, use of a Lexus for a weekend from New Country Lexus of Westport and two tickets to a Westport Country Playhouse production of choice.

To enter "The Perfect Proposal Contest," e-mail name, phone number, address and 300-word (or less) proposal story, with optional photo, by Tuesday, August 10, noon, to marketing@westportplayhouse.org. The Playhouse will display all submitted photos in its lobby during the first week of the run of "I Do! I Do!," beginning August 10.

No purchase is necessary to enter. The contest is open to those who are or at one time have been engaged. All stories and photos will become the property of Westport Country Playhouse. Judges will review all submissions and, in their sole discretion, choose the top five finalists from the submissions.

"I Do! I Do!," an endearing musical spanning 50 years in the marriage of Agnes and Michael, is written by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, composers of "The Fantasticks," and directed by Susan H. Schulman. Starring Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin and Drama Desk Award nominee Lewis Cleale, the musical runs from August 10 - August 28.

About The Playhouse

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 theater 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 theaters. Now celebrating 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 with its original charm and character preserved. 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.

Westport Country Playhouse's five-play 2010 season: "She Loves Me," a romantic musical comedy, with book by Joe Masteroff, music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, directed by Mark Lamos, April 20 - May 15; "Dinner with Friends," a comic drama by Donald Margulies, directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, June 1 through 19; "Happy Days" by Samuel Beckett, a play of luminous beauty and rare power, featuring Dana Ivey, directed by Mark Lamos, July 6 through July 24; "I Do! I Do," an endearing musical, with book and lyrics are by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt, directed by Susan H. Schulman, August 10 through August 28; and "The Diary of Anne Frank," a timeless and powerful classic, by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, adapted by Wendy Kesselman, directed by Gerald Freedman, September 28 through October 16.

For more information or ticket purchases, 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. Tickets may be purchased online at www.westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to The Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse) and/or follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse).