Westport Community Theatre's ETC Presents HORSE JOHNSON 10/30

Westport Community Theatre's ETC presents a staged reading of THE RE-EDUCATION OF HORSE JOHNSON by Doug Taylor, Directed by Mark Graham Friday, October 30 at 8:00 PM FREE to members & subscribers · $5 general admission

Playwright Doug Taylor will attend the reading and will be happy to discuss the play afterwards.

An ordinary warehouse worker is led into a search for the essence of life by a chance encounter with a roving barroom prophet. His struggle for enlightenment has a jarring effect on his wife, his sister-in-law, the man she hopes to marry, and a self-appointed disciple - a warehouse buddy. This play was originally written for Jack Klugman, who played Horse Johnson on Broadway; it has appeared in theaters around the country.

The cast includes: Alexander Kulcsar, Ann Kinner, Richard Mancini, Robert Watts, Florence Phillips, Kathleen Brower, and Philip Gardiner.

Playwright Douglas (Doug) Taylor is an actor, director, and acting teacher, as well as a playwright. Jack Klugman starred in "Horse Johnson" on Broadway with Jill Clayburgh. Printed by Dramatist Play Service, it and several of his plays have appeared in NYC, across the country, and as far away as Australia. Tonight's reading of "Horse Johnson" is the original, pre-Broadway version, performed at The Milwaukee Rep and was the first full length play to be read at The Eugene O'Neill in Waterford, CT. Doug considers it superior to the Broadway version.

Thirty-five of Doug Taylor's dramas appeared on live and filmed television, many produced by David Susskind. A number of his short plays have been presented by The Theatre Artists Workshop of Norwalk, of which he is a charter member. Trained as an actor by Sanford Meisner at The Neighborhood Playhouse, Doug has played numerous roles throughout his professional career. He began his career by appearing opposite Uta Hagen in "Dark Eyes" at the Clinton, CT Summer Theater in 1948, and later played opposite Sandy Dennis in "Same Time Next Year." He conceived, directed, and acted in "Jazz Poetry Jazz," starring JoAnne Woodward and Barbara Baxley, which featured the Darius Brubeck Ensemble, opened at The Westport Country Playhouse and toured New England. His first play on live TV, "Five in Judgment," featured a young actor by the name of Paul Newman, and his second, "Time for Love," a young actress, Gena Rowland, who performed for the first time opposite her husband, John Cassevettes.

Doug's Acting Ensemble, comprised of actors he trained, performed summers at the Fairfield University Playhouse for twenty years. He has written several major length films. One, "Naomi's Journey," is currently under consideration by two film companies. Doug is in the process of creating a one-man show, mainly based on the character of king Lear, and is rewriting his first novel.Doug Taylor is an actor, director, teacher, and playwright whose work has been seen around the world. Thirty-five of his dramas appeared on live and film TV, produced by David Susskind and starring actors such as Paul Newman and Gena Rowlands.

Director Mark S. Graham has directed over 75 plays and musicals including John O'Hern's "Rooster in the Henhouse" on Theater Row and Elizabeth Fuller's "Me and Jezebel" at The Actor's Playhouse in New York City. He staged productions of "Rooster" at The Fairfield Theater Co. and The Public Theater in Maine. He has produced and directed "Me and Jezebel" in productions across the country including a production in Florida starring Jim Bailey. At Feinstein's in NYC, he directed Barbara Schottenfeld's cabaret act. Mark has directed and produced with Scott Robbins, Stan Lachow's "Harry and Thelma in The Woods" in readings with Rue McClanahan and productions at The New Jersey Rep and the Hollywood Playhouse in Florida. He staged a musical version of "Dark of the Moon" narrated by Werner Klemperer at The Weill RecitAl Hall at Carnegie Hall. At Playhouse on the Green he directed "Sweetspot," the comedy by John O'Hern. He recently directed a reading of a one woman show with E. Katherine Kerr - "Ann Richards, Backwards in High Heels" at the Abingdon Theater in NYC .For 10 years Mark was a producing partner of the late Tony Award-winning producer Lester Osterman. He was also general manager of Lucille Lortel's White Barn Theater in Westport. Mark has an MFA in directing from the University of Connecticut and was a former board member of Westport Country Playhouse and Playhouse on the Green. He is a member of The Theater Artist's Workshop.

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