Burgess, Butler, Murney and More Added to Wesport's Gala

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.

The evening's entertainment, "Footlights and Film:  A Celebration of the Great Musicals from Stage and Screen," will be hosted by Julia Roberts and feature a special tribute to Angela Lansbury presented by Bernadette peters and performances by Broadway artists. Suzanne and Bob Wright will be honored at the event for their contributions to the Playhouse.

Director of "Footlights and Film" is Joe Calarco; musical direction is by Mary-Mitchell Campbell; choreography is by Tim Federle. Gala chairs are Westporters Laurie Lister and Judd Burstein, and Sharon Sullivan and Jeff Kindler. Honorary chairs are JoAnne Woodward and Paul Newman.

Tituss Burgess currently stars as Sebastian the Crab in Disney's "The Little Mermaid." Past credits on Broadway are "Jersey Boys" and "Good Vibrations." Regionally he was in "The Wiz" as the Cowardly Lion and "Songs for a New World."

Kerry Butler received a 2008 Tony Award nomination and a Drama League Award nomination for her performance as Clio in Broadway's "Xanadu."  She played Audrey in "Little Shop of Horrors" (Outer Critics Circle Award nomination), and original Penny in "Hairspray" (Clarence Derwent Award; Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations). She originated the roles of Shelley in "Bat Boy: The Musical," Maddy in "Prodigal," Isabelle in "Miracle Brothers" and DeeDee in the musical "The Opposite of Sex."

Gavin Lee originated the role of Bert in the London cast of "Mary Poppins" and is currently playing the role on Broadway, for which he earned Olivier and Tony Award nominations and a Drama Desk Award.  He will start the first national tour of "Mary Poppins" in January. In London's West End his credits include roles in "Crazy for You, "Oklahoma!" and "Contact."  He was recently seen in "Showboat" at Carnegie Hall.

Nedra McClyde is currently workshopping Broadway-bound "The Actors Rap" at Playwrights Horizons. New York credits include plays at Flea Theater, Classical Theatre of Harlem and Cherry Lane Theatre.  She has recurring roles on "As the World Turns" and "One Life to Live".

Julia Murney appeared in "Wicked, "Lennon," "The Wild Party" (Drama Desk Award nomination), "Saved," "The Vagina Monologues," "Crimes of the Heart," "A Class Act," "Time and Again" (Lortel Award nomination) and "First Lady Suite."

Q. Smith was on Broadway in "Les Miserables" and "Showboat in Concert" at Carnegie Hall. Off-Broadway she was in "Fame: The Musical on 42nd Street."  She toured in "Smokey Joe's Café" starring Gladys Knight and Rita Coolidge.

Aurelia Williams was in the first national tour of "All Shook Up." Off-Broadway she appeared in "Menopause the Musical" and "Pirates of Penzance." Regional theatre includes "Dreamgirls" as Effie, "Ragtime," "Seussical" and "Smokey Joe's Café."

The celebratory evening will include a champagne welcome at 6 p.m., musical performance in the Playhouse's Jason Robards Theatre at 6:30 p.m., cocktails and silent auction at 8 p.m., and dinner with celebrity guests at 8:45 p.m.

Funds raised by the event will further artistic and educational programming at Westport Country Playhouse, now open year-round.  Patron tickets are $2,000.  Corporate and individual Benefactor and Leader tables with seating for 10 are $25,000 and $50,000, respectively.  A limited number of performance-only tickets are $600. Reservations are limited by the intimate size of the theatre.

Playhouse Information

Celebrating its 78th season, the venerable Westport Country Playhouse (JoAnne Woodward and Anne Keefe, Artistic Directors; Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, Managing Director) is creating innovative new works and dynamic revivals. The Playhouse has produced more than 700 plays, 36 of which later transferred to Broadway including "Come Back, Little Sheba" with Shirley Booth; "The Trip to Bountiful" with Lillian Gish; "Butterflies Are Free" with Keir Dullea and Blythe Danner; "Absurd Person Singular" with Sandy Dennis, Geraldine Page and Tony Roberts; and "Our Town" with Paul Newman.  The list of actors, directors, and other theatre artists who have worked and continue to perform on the Playhouse's legendary stage reads like a "Who's Who" of the American theatre.  Following a multi-million dollar renovation completed in 2005, the Playhouse now produces year-round, welcoming 85,000 audience members annually. In addition to a full season of theatrical productions, the Playhouse presents educational programming and workshops; a children's theatre series; symposiums; music; films; and readings of short fiction, classical works and new plays.  Westport Country Playhouse serves as a treasured home for the theatrical arts, its audiences and its artists.  For the State of Connecticut, it is a true cultural landmark.

The Westport Country Playhouse is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit corporation.  For more information or to request a benefit invitation, call (203) 227-5137, ext. 138.  A schedule of year-round events at the Playhouse is available online at www.westportplayhouse.org.

Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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