Westport Country Playhouse Extends I DO! I DO! Thru 9/4

Westport Country Playhouse announces that due to ticket demand for "I Do! I Do!," the charming and touching musical about marriage, three extra performances have been added, Thursday through Saturday, September 2 - 4, evenings at 8 p.m. The tuneful journey through the ups and downs of a 50-year marriage stars Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin and Drama Desk Award nominee Lewis Cleale. The musical is written by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, composers of "The Fantasticks," and directed by Susan H. Schulman.

"We're thrilled by the audience response to ‘I Do! I Do!'," said Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director. "It's a delight to watch them watch the show. They're completely taken with the story and all its twists and turns, and they love the score, and of course Susan has directed a magnificent production with these two wonderful performers. I couldn't be happier that the extension means even more people will be able to see it."

Kate Baldwin, who plays Agnes, starred on Broadway in "Finian's Rainbow," for which she received nominations for Tony and Outer Critics Circle awards. She was also on Broadway in "Wonderful Town," "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "The Full Monty." For PBS, she appeared in "Live from Lincoln Center: Stephen Sondheim's Passion."

Lewis Cleale, who portrays Michael, appeared at Westport Country Playhouse in "Hot ‘n Cole." In the last year he was part of "Sondheim on Sondheim," with Barbara Cook and Vanessa Williams. Other Broadway shows include "Spamalot," "Amour," "Once Upon a Mattress" with Sarah Jessica Parker, and "Swinging on a Star," for which he earned a Drama Desk Award nomination.

Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt began their musical collaboration writing "The Fantasticks," the longest-running production in the history of the American stage and one of the most frequently produced musicals in the world. In addition to an Obie Award and the 1992 Special Tony Award for "The Fantasticks," in 1999, their "stars" were added to the Off-Broadway Walk of Fame outside the Lucille Lortel Theatre.

Director Susan H. Schulman's Broadway credits include the Tony Award-winning musical "The Secret Garden," which earned 12 Drama Desk and seven Tony award nominations; the revival of "Sweeney Todd," for which she received Tony and Drama Desk award nominations for Outstanding Direction; and "The Sound of Music," a Tony Award-nominated revival.

Choreographer Michael Lichtefeld has choreographed six Broadway musicals and eight shows at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. He has been nominated as best choreographer for the Drama Desk Award, The LA Ovation Award and three Outer Critics' Circle Awards.

Music director Joel Fram has worked extensively in New York and London, conducting the Broadway productions of "Wicked," "Sweet Smell of Success," "The Music Man," "James Joyce's The Dead," "Jumpers" and "Cats."

Corporate production partner for "I Do, I Do!" is Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, The Bender Financial Group. Board of trustees production sponsors are Helen Lee Henderson and Johnna Torsone and John McKeon. Board of trustees production partners are Barbara and John Streicker.

Single tickets range from $40 to $60. Students and educators are eligible for 50% discounts. Groups of 10 or more save up to 30%. For group sales information call (203) 227-5137, x120.

For more information or ticket purchases, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Tickets may be purchased online at www.westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to The Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse) and/or follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse).

 

Photo Credit: T. Charles Erickson

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