Westport Country Playhouse Hosts Free Playreading On International Women's Day, March 8

To celebrate International Women's Day on Friday, March 8, at 7 p.m., Westport Country Playhouse will host a free-of-charge reading of "The Revolutionists," an irreverent comedy about four women - a spy, an assassin, a writer, and a royal.

The reading places a comedic spin on contemporary political and social issues as seen through the eyes of four historic women, reimagined as heroines of the French Revolution. "The Revolutionists" is written by Lauren M. Gunderson, "the most produced living playwright in America," according to American Theatre magazine. Director is Bethany Gugliemino, Playhouse artistic and management associate.

"On a day when we celebrate all the women in our lives, this play shares the story of four bold and inspiring women," said Gugliemino. "They fight for the right to tell their own stories and to have their voices heard in a tumultuous time not so different from our own."

Tickets are free-of-charge by reservation by calling the Playhouse's box office at 203-227-4177, emailing rsvp@westportplayhouse.org, or in person at 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Online reservations are unavailable for this event. Seating is reserved; limit of two free tickets per household. The play includes adult themes and language.

Following the reading, Positano Ristorante, located adjacent to the Playhouse, will offer free appetizers and cash bar.

The cast members are Danielle Davenport as Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle (Westport Country Playhouse's New Works Circle Initiative reading of "The Biggest Valley," 2017 and 2018 International Women's Day events; Starz's "Power," Amazon's "Sneaky Pete," Netflix's "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"); Jacqueline Guillen as assassin Charlotte Corday (Westport Country Playhouse New Works Circle Initiative reading of "Torera"; New York credits "Play/Date," "Lilia," "Satyricoño," "Judgment of Fools," "Trees in their Youth," "Miss Julie"); Mahira Kakkar as former queen Marie Antoinette (Westport Country Playhouse's "Twelfth Night"; film's "Hank and Asha," for which she was named Slamdance favorite, best actress Napa Film Festival, best actress Wild Rose Film Festival); and Brenda Meaney as playwright Olympe de Gouges (Westport Country Playhouse's "And a Nightingale Sang"; New York theater's "Indian Ink," "Incognito," "Party Face," The Neil LaBute Short Play Festival, "The New Morality").

Playwright Lauren M. Gunderson is the winner of the Lanford Wilson Award, the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award, and the Otis Guernsey New Voices Award. She is also a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and John Gassner Award for Playwriting, and a recipient of the Mellon Foundation's 3-Year Residency with Marin Theatre Company. She studied Southern Literature and Drama at Emory University and Dramatic Writing at NYU's Tisch School where she was a Reynolds Fellow in Social Entrepreneurship. Her work has been commissioned, produced, and developed at companies across the US including South Coast Repertory ("Emilie," "Silent Sky"), The Kennedy Center ("The Amazing Adventures of Dr. Wonderful and Her Dog!"), and more. She co-authored "Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley" with Margot Melcon, which was one of the most produced plays in America in 2017. She is Playwright in Residence at Playwrights Foundation. LaurenGunderson.com and @LalaTellsAStory.

Director Bethany Gugliemino, Westport Country Playhouse artistic and management associate, assists with the Playhouse's New Works Circle Initiative and writes program content for mainstage productions. Last season, she organized a series of community events associated with the Playhouse's world premiere production of "Thousand Pines." Prior to her current role, she was a Playhouse development fellow. Gugliemino previously worked as a dramaturg with Egg & Spoon Theatre Collective in New York City. She studied at the University of Florida and University College London.

Sponsors for "The Revolutionists' are Czekaj Artistic Productions and Pitney Bowes.

Charity Partner for the event is Dress for Success of Mid-Fairfield County. A drop-off box will be located in the Playhouse lobby for donations of gently used professional attire, beginning Friday, March 1 through the reading on Friday, March 8. Monetary contributions for the charity will be accepted at the reading.

Community Partners are The Rowan Center and Women's Mentoring Network.

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. More information on International Women's Day is available at www.internationalwomensday.com.

All artists, dates, and titles are subject to change.

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