Photo Flash: 'Scramble' at Westport Country Playhouse

Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) announces playwright-in-residence David Wiltse's "tour de farce" office comedy, "Scramble!, will be staged July 9 through 26.

It is a normal day in the offices of a local golf magazine until a rumor that their publication is being sold panics the staff.  With their jobs on the line, mass hysteria breaks out.  Office politics are engulfed in outlandish relationships and mistaken identities.  Love triangles quickly become love quadrangles.

David Wiltse of Weston was appointed Westport Country Playhouse playwright-in-residence in January 2006. He has written 12 plays, published 12 novels and produced more than 50 projects for film and television. He is the winner of a Drama Desk Award for "Most Promising Playwright" for his first- produced play, "Suggs," which premiered at Lincoln Center. His second play was the comedy, "Doubles," which ran for the 1985-86 season on Broadway. "Doubles" was also produced subsequently at Westport Country Playhouse, the first of his seven productions in this theatre. The comedy "Triangles for Two" and the dramas "The Good German" and "Sedition" had their world premieres at Westport Country Playhouse. His comedy "A Marriage Minuet" and the thriller "Temporary Help" were also produced at the Playhouse. "Scramble!" was first produced at Florida Stage under the title "Hatchetman." In a much earlier version, "Hatchetman" was developed at the Theatre Artists Workshop of Westport.

Tracy Brigden, who directed Wiltse's comedy "A Marriage Minuet" at the Playhouse in 2006, will be at the helm.  Ms. Brigden is in her seventh season as City Theatre's (Pittsburgh) artistic director.  She is the former associate artistic director of Hartford Stage, where she received a 1999 Connecticut Critics Circle Award for best production and best director.  

"Scramble!" cast members are Tom Beckett,Candy Buckley, Rebecca Harris, Colin McPhillamy,Jennifer Mudge and Matthew Rauch.  Previously announced actor Rachel Dratch recently withdrew from the production.  Beckett was in Westport Country Playhouse productions of "David Copperfield," "On the Verge" and "The Turn of the Screw."  Ms. Buckley appeared on Broadway in "After the Fall," "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "Cabaret" and "Ring Round the Moon."  Ms. Harris appeared in off-Broadway and regional theatre productions and in the film "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."  McPhillamy was in "Sedition" at Westport Country Playhouse and "Waiting in the Wings" on Broadway. Ms. Mudge performed at many regional theatres and received a 2007 Drama Desk Award nomination for "Dutchman" at Cherry Lane Theatre.  Rauch was in the Broadway production of "Prelude to a Kiss."

The production design team includes Jeff Cowie, sets; Ilona Somogyi, costumes; Ben Stanton, lighting; Eric Shim, sound; Mark Olsen, movement coach; Telsey + Company, casting; and Cole Bonenberger, stage manager.

Candy Buckley and Tom Beckett

Candy Buckley, Tom Beckett, Matthew Rauch, Rebecca Harris, Jennifer Mudge

Tom Beckett and Jennifer Mudge

Tom Beckett, Colin McPhillamy, Rebecca Harris

Photos by T. Charles Erickson.