John Ellison Conlee, Maggie Lacey et al. Open LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART at Westport Country Playhouse Tonight, 7/12

Westport Country Playhouse opens "Lips Together, Teeth Apart," written by Terrence McNally and directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, tonight, July 12.  The production will run through July 30, 2010. A perceptive comedy with powerful dramatic conflicts, the play is about two straight couples spending a July weekend on Fire Island.

"Lips Together, Teeth Apart" is set in a Fire Island beach house, where a brother and sister and their respective spouses gather to celebrate the Fourth of July. With food, cocktails, fireworks and stinging barbs, they fortify themselves against their individual anxieties---and their gay neighbors partying in the houses on either side. The New York Times called the play "a work with real teeth and equally penetrating compassion." 

The cast includes Chris Henry Coffey ("Resurrection Blues," directed by Mark Lamos; "The Front Page" at Long Wharf Theatre) as John Haddock; John Ellison Conlee (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award nominations for Broadway's "The Full Monty") as Sam Truman; Jenn Gambatese (Broadway's "Is He Dead?," "Tarzan," "All Shook Up," "Hairspray," "A Year with Frog and Toad," "Footloose") as Chloe Haddock; and Maggie Lacey (Westport Country Playhouse's "Our Town"; Broadway's "Dividing the Estate," "Inherit the Wind," "Our Town") as Sally Truman.

The Playhouse is presenting a series of events surrounding the production.  First it will present an "LGBT Night Out," for members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities and allies, on Thursday, July 14, in partnership with Norwalk's Triangle Community Center. The evening will feature a pre-show party at 6:30 p.m. with appetizers from Da Pietro's, adult beverages, music by ukulele performer Uncle Zac, and door prizes, followed by a performance of "Lips Together, Teeth Apart" at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30.

A symposium following the Sunday, July 17, 3 p.m. matinee performance will feature the cast from "Lips Together, Teeth Apart": Chris Henry Coffey ("Resurrection Blues," directed by Mark Lamos; "The Front Page" at Long Wharf Theatre) as John Haddock; John Ellison Conlee (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award nominations for Broadway's "The Full Monty") as Sam Truman; Jenn Gambatese (Broadway's "Is He Dead?," "Tarzan," "All Shook Up," "Hairspray," "A Year with Frog and Toad," "Footloose") as Chloe Haddock; and Maggie Lacey (Westport Country Playhouse's "Our Town"; Broadway's "Dividing the Estate," "Inherit the Wind," "Our Town") as Sally Truman. Moderated by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, The Playhouse Sunday Symposium program is free and open to the public. It provides the audience with guest speakers' in-depth insights and observations about the production, followed by an interactive dialogue. The Sunday Symposium Series is sponsored by Citi Personal Wealth Management. It is supported, in part, by the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation.

"A Young Professionals Farmers' Market Party" will be presented by WCP Young Professionals Network and the Westport Farmers' Market on Thursday, July 21. It will offer a pre-show party in The Playhouse garden at 6:30 p.m., featuring appetizers from Collyer Catering, wine from Saugatuck Grain and Grape and music by Jay Stollman Entertainment. A highlight will be shopping and sampling from selected Westport Farmers' Market vendors, including Sport Hill Farm, Radical Roots, Erin O, PeaceTree Desserts, Savor Cookies and Wave Hill Bread. The event is supported by the WCP YPN Committee and The Business Council of Fairfield County. A performance of "Lips Together, Teeth Apart" follows at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30.

Backstage Pass on Wednesday, July 27, following the 2 p.m. matinee, will provide an opportunity to meet members of The Playhouse production staff as they share the finer points of what makes "Lips Together, Teeth Apart" work on the stage---from the swimming pool and moveable scenery to special effects.

Thursday Talkback on Thursday, July 28, following the 8 p.m. performance, is a lively Q&A with the cast.

Westport Country Playhouse's five-play 2011 season continues with "Suddenly Last Summer," the poetic, sensual and evocative drama, written by Tennessee Williams and directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, August 23 - September 10; and "Twelfth Night, or What You Will," the beguiling comedy/romance, written by William Shakespeare and directed by Mark Lamos, October 11 - November 5.

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. 

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter-Keddy

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!