Bob Wright News

A sold-out audience of over 550 people attended the annual benefit, 'Footlights and Film: A Celebration of the Great Musicals from Stage and Screen,' hosted by Julia Roberts and featuring a special tribute to Angela Lansbury presented by Bernadette Peters, at Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, CT (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) on Monday evening, September 15. The fundraiser grossed $1,407,610, including revenue from tickets, donations and silent auctions.

Award-winning actors Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Lithgow and other celebrities will offer one-of-a-kind entertainment experiences in a silent auction to benefit Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director), at the historic Westport, Connecticut theatre's annual fundraising gala on Monday, September 15. In addition to celebrity auction items, there will be sports, vacation, fashion and jewelry auction packages. Full details of all silent auction items are available at www.westportplayhouse.org

Broadway talents Tituss Burgess ('The Little Mermaid'), Kerry Butler ('Xanadu'), Gavin Lee ('Mary Poppins'), Nedra McClyde, Julia Murney, Q. Smith and Aurelia Williams will join previously announced Laura Benanti ('Gypsy'), Raúl Esparza ('Company') and Steven Pasquale ('The Light in the Piazza') on Monday, September 15, at the annual gala for the venerable 78-year-old Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director), Westport, Connecticut.

Laura Benanti, Raúl Esparza, Angela Lansbury, Steven Pasquale and Bernadette Peters have been added to the roster of stars on stage at Westport Country Playhouse's annual gala in Westport, CT (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) on Monday, September 15.

Legendary composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who served as an apprentice at Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut 56 years ago, returned to the Playhouse as guest of honor for 'The Ladies Who Sing Sondheim' on September 25

The Pajama Game opened on February 23, 2006 and BroadwayWorld was there to capture all the festivities of the opening night party!