Westport Country Playhouse Appoints New Director Of Development

Gretchen T. Wright has joined Westport Country Playhouse as director of development, effective March 4, 2019. She will be responsible for the professional, non-profit theater's annual sustaining support from public and private constituencies, including corporations, government agencies, foundations, and individual donors.

"We are thrilled to welcome Gretchen Wright to the Playhouse team," said Michael Barker, Westport Country Playhouse managing director. "More than half of the Playhouse's operations are supported by contributions from individual donors and community partners. Gretchen is a rising star with drive and ability that will take the Playhouse to the next level as we properly resource the plays and programs that are so important to Westport and greater Fairfield County."

Wright comes to the Playhouse from the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, where she was development manager for special contributions and brand awareness, and was involved in fundraising efforts for the theater's 50th anniversary season. She also co-developed a business plan and sales strategy for the Alliance@work corporate educational program. She was previously an associate consultant with Organizational Performance Group in Woodbridge, Connecticut, orchestrating strategic plans and other organizational development projects for an array of clients, including non-profit theaters.

Wright was with Yale Repertory Theatre as associate managing director, and served Yale Summer Cabaret as managing director. She was also with the Court Theatre, University of Chicago. Wright holds an MFA in theater management from Yale School of Drama and an MBA from Yale School of Management, where she was the recipient of the Morris J. Kaplan Prize in Theater Management. She received a BA in English and Theater Studies, Phi Beta Kappa, from Duke University.

For Westport Country Playhouse information, go to www.westportplayhouse.org or call the box office at (203) 227-4177, toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), and on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).

ABOUT Westport Country Playhouse

The mission of Westport Country Playhouse is to enrich, enlighten, and engage the community through the power of professionally produced theater worth talking about and the welcoming experience of the Playhouse campus. The not-for-profit Playhouse provides this experience in multiple ways by offering live theater experiences of the highest quality, under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos; educational and community engagement events to further explore the work on stage; the New Works Circle Initiative, a program dedicated to the discovery, development, and production of new live theatrical works; special performances and programs for students and teachers with extensive curriculum support material; Script in Hand play readings to deepen relationships with audiences and artists; the renowned Woodward Internship Program during the summer months for aspiring theater professionals; Family Festivities presentations to delight young and old alike and to promote reading through live theater; youth performance training through Broadway Method Academy, Westport Country Playhouse's resident conservatory program; and the beautiful and historic Playhouse campus open for enjoyment and community events year-round.