Westport Country Playhouse Will Host Conversation with Playwright A. R. Gurney, 5/5

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Sunday Symposium, "A Conversation with Playwright A. R. Gurney," following the Sunday, May 5, 3 p.m. matinee performance of Gurney's witty and heartfelt story of the American family and its vanishing traditions, "The Dining Room," directed by Mark Lamos. David Kennedy, Westport Country Playhouse associate artistic director, will moderate.

"One of the great pleasures of the symposium series is hearing from a living writer, particularly one of Pete's stature," said Kennedy. "He's so admired and has such a tremendous body of work. And because he's a Playhouse favorite, well-known to our staff and audience alike, it's always gratifying to welcome him back to our stage. This promises to be an intimate and friendly conversation with one of the truly remarkable American Playwrights."

Playwright A. R. ("Pete") Gurney has been writing plays for over fifty years. Among them are "The Cocktail Hour," "Love Letters," "Sylvia," "Far East," "Mrs. Farnsworth," "Indian Blood," and "Buffalo Gal." Last year he won a Drama Desk Award for the body of his work. Gurney is a member of the Theatre Hall of Fame and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He has honorary degrees from Williams College and Buffalo State University, and taught literature at M.I.T. for many years.

The Playhouse Sunday Symposium program, free and open to the public, provides the audience with guest speakers' in-depth insights and observations about the production, followed by an interactive dialogue. It is open to all, including those who attend a performance of "The Dining Room" at another time. The Sunday Symposium is supported, in part, by the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation.

Gurney's "The Dining Room" is set in the dining room of a typical well-to-do household, the place where the family assembles daily for breakfast and dinner and for any and all special occasions. The action is comprised of a mosaic of interrelated scenes-some funny, some touching, some rueful. The actors change roles, personalities, and ages as they portray a wide variety of characters, from little boys to stern grandfathers, and from giggling teenage girls to Irish housemaids. Each vignette introduces a new set of people and events. Dovetailing swiftly and smoothly, the varied scenes coalesce into a unique theatrical experience.

"The Dining Room" runs from April 30 through May 18.

Single ticket prices, starting at $30, are subject to change based on availability. Buy early for the best prices. Educators and students are eligible for 50% discounts. On the day of a performance, senior rush tickets are available at 50%.

Traditional subscriptions continue on sale offering savings, best available seating, restaurant discounts, and patron flexibility, including a choice of five-play or seasonal four-play subscriptions. Flex Passes are also on sale, offering date flexibility and many subscriber-only benefits.

"The Dining Room" Production Sponsors are Howard J. Aibel; Kate & Bob Devlin, The Devlin Foundation; and Jill & Alex Dimitrief. Corporate Production Sponsor is Bank of America.

For more information or tickets, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Tickets are available online 24/7 at www.westportplayhouse.org, or by using the new Playhouse App or mobile website. Stay connected to The Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), view Playhouse videos on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse) or get an insider's peek on The Playhouse Blog (www.theplayhouseblog.org).