Westport to Present Documentary About Foster Jenkins

Westport Country Playhouse will present a film documentary about the tone-deaf diva with the heart of gold, Florence Foster Jenkins, on Thursday, May 17, 7 p.m., in advance of the play Souvenir, opening later in May. 

"Florence Foster Jenkins: A World of Her Own" will be screened followed by a talkback with Donald Collup, the film's director/producer, and Judy Kaye and Donald Corren, award-winning actors in the Playhouse's production of Souvenir. All tickets for the film documentary are $10, general admission.

"The documentary screening will enhance the theatre experience for those planning on attending our upcoming production of Souvenir," said Tazewell Thompson, Westport Country Playhouse artistic director.  "The film will take us into the world of the real person on which it is based, and offer insight into what was going on in her heart and mind."

For this documentary, Collup has amassed an extensive collection of information and memorabilia, including images from Ms. Jenkins' career, press clippings and magazine articles.  There are interviews with people who knew her, reminiscences by those who attended her Carnegie Hall recital in 1944--including actress/singer/dancer Marge Champion---and excerpts from the nine recordings Ms. Jenkins made.

According to Collup, he purposefully set out not to make fun of this legendary cult figure.  He said the story of Ms. Jenkins, who believed herself an opera diva of the highest caliber, but couldn't hit a single note on key, is fascinating and entertaining enough by itself.  In telling this never-before-told tale, some of the many "whys" can finally be addressed.

The film, a director's cut, is one hour and 26 minutes in length. Production began in the fall of 2005 and was completed in February 2007.

In addition to Collup, the talkback will include Judy Kaye, who will appear as the Manhattan society eccentric Florence Foster Jenkins in the Playhouse's staging of Souvenir, and Donald Corren, who will portray Ms. Jenkins' compassionate accompanist Cosme McMoon.  Ms. Kaye starred in Souvenir on Broadway for which she earned a Tony nomination, at the Berkshire Theatre Festival and in the original production off-Broadway at the York Theatre, receiving Lortel and Drama Desk nominations. She received a Tony Award for her performance in The Phantom of the Opera and Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations for Mamma Mia!.  Corren created the role of Cosme McMoon opposite Judy Kaye's Florence Foster Jenkins in the Berkshire Theatre Festival's production of Souvenir, which later moved to The Lyceum Theatre on Broadway. His other Broadway roles include Arnold Beckoff in the original Torch Song Trilogy, for which he received both the Los Angeles and San Francisco Drama Critics' Circle Awards while on tour.

Westport Country Playhouse's production of Souvenir, written by Stephen Temperley and directed by Vivian Matalon, will run May 31 through June 16.  

Visit www.westportplayhouse.com for more information.

Photo - Westport Souvenir poster, illustration by Elizabeth Wolf