John Tillinger News

"What the Butler Saw," a shameless comedy by Joe Orton, offering a little blackmail and a lot of sexual innuendo, will be staged at Westport Country Playhouse, August 23 - September 10. 

A grant of $20,000 has been awarded to Westport Country Playhouse by Connecticut Humanities to support a series of community events surrounding the Playhouse's current production of Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar's topical thriller, 'The Invisible Hand.' The programs are free-of-charge, open to the public, and continue through August 8.

Westport Country Playhouse will host a "2016 Season Kick-off Block Party," on Saturday, April 9, 4 to 7 p.m., offering a fun, party-like atmosphere with food trucks, activities, prizes, special ticket offers, and a look at the Playhouse's "backstage experience." Admission is free and open to the public. 

With only two months before the curtain goes up on Westport Country Playhouse's 2016 Season, single tickets will go on sale, beginning Tuesday, March 1, and will be offered at a 25% discount for that day only.  The limited, 24-hour offer cannot be combined with other discounts.  Single tickets may be purchased by phone at 203-227-4177 and in person at 25 Powers Court, Westport, between 12 and 6 p.m.; or online at westportplayhouse.org between 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m.

Alan Ayckbourn makes another delightful, not-so-clean comedy sweep at Westport Country Playhouse with Bedroom Farce. The play captures all the fun, frustration, fighting, frivolity, and fidgeting that inevitably goes into any all-nighter.

Alan Ayckbourn's 1975 play, Bedroom Farce, is as good as it gets at the Westport Country Playhouse.

Westport Country Playhouse reunites audience favorites---playwright Alan Ayckbourn and director John Tillinger---and an ensemble of popular actors from prior Ayckbourn works at the Playhouse---in the comedy, BEDROOM FARCE, playing now through September 13. BEDROOM FARCE received five Tony Award nominations, including Best Play, during its 1979 Broadway run. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Westport Country Playhouse will reunite audience favorites---playwright Alan Ayckbourn and director John Tillinger---and an ensemble of popular actors from prior Ayckbourn works at the Playhouse---in the comedy, 'Bedroom Farce,' playing tonight, August 25, through September 13. 'Bedroom Farce' received five Tony Award nominations, including Best Play, during its 1979 Broadway run.

Westport Country Playhouse announces its 2016 season, featuring two Tony Award-winning plays in repertory, an Off-Broadway hit, a new thriller by a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, a witty comedy by Joe Orton, and a reimagined musical by Lerner and Loewe.  The works will be staged next year from May through October. Under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos, 2016 will mark the Connecticut professional theater's 86th season.  2016 season subscriptions are now on sale.

Westport Country Playhouse will reunite audience favorites---playwright Alan Ayckbourn and director John Tillinger---and an ensemble of popular actors from prior Ayckbourn works at the Playhouse---in the comedy, 'Bedroom Farce,' playing August 25 through September 13. 'Bedroom Farce' received five Tony Award nominations, including Best Play, during its 1979 Broadway run.

Westport Country Playhouse will host "Hirschfeld at the Playhouse," a one-night-only celebration of the artistry of Al Hirschfeld on Monday evening, June 29, with an exhibition of his works and a screening of the documentary about his life and career, "The Line King:  The Al Hirschfeld Story."  

2015 Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara will be honored at Westport Country Playhouse's annual fundraiser, "Something Wonderful:  A Gala Evening Celebrating Kelli O'Hara," on Monday, September 21. 

The circus is coming to the Durham Performing Arts Center from May 12th-17th in the form of the national touring production of the Tony Award-Winning revival of Pippin! In this national tour happens to be John Rubinstein, who originated the title role in the orginal Broadway production back in 1972. Now he plays Pippin's father Charlemagne, a role originated on Broadway by Eric Berry, and more recently in the 2013 Broadway revival Three-Time Tony Nominee by Terrence Mann.

Artists Repertory Theatre is proud to present The Price, a gripping and moving drama by one of America's most influential playwrights, Arthur Miller. This richly written play features a virtuoso, four-person cast and is directed by Adriana Baer, Artistic Director of Profile Theatre.

Westport Country Playhouse will host a "2015 Season Kick-off Block Party," on Saturday, April 11, 4 to 7 p.m., offering a fun, party-like atmosphere with food trucks, games and activities, prizes, special ticket offers, and a look at the Playhouse's "backstage experience." Admission is free and open to the public.

59E59 Theaters will welcome the world premiere of THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS, written by Tom Dulack and directed by Michael Parva. Produced by The Directors Company and part of the 59E59's inaugural 5A Season, THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS begins performances on Saturday, January 17 at 8 PM for a limited engagement through Sunday, March 1. Opening Night is Tuesday, January 27 at 7 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7 PM; Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 2 PM & 8 PM; Sunday at 3 PM. Single tickets are $70 ($49 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

Award-winning British playwright Joe Orton's riotous farce 'What the Butler Saw' opened last weekend on November 23 at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. 'What the Butler Saw' continues through December 21. Click below to watch a fun montage of scenes from the show!

Joe Orton's insanely insane world in 1960s England is no better displayed than in his third and final play What the Butler Saw now onstage at the Mark Taper Forum through December 21. A terrifically energized cast are on hand as is seasoned director John Tillinger, but things got off to a somewhat slow start opening night and really did not start to cook until Act II. It might be the width and depth of the Taper stage, which is not easy to cross that rapidly. I saw a production a couple of years back at the Odyssey, and the space being half the size, entrances and exits were quicker as was the tempo of the whole play.

Award-winning British playwright Joe Orton's riotous farce 'What the Butler Saw' opened yesterday, November 23, 2014, at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. 'What the Butler Saw' continues through December 21. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Award-winning British playwright Joe Orton's riotous farce 'What the Butler Saw' opens Sunday, November 23, 2014, at 7 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. 'What the Butler Saw' is currently in previews, and performances continue through December 21.