Westport Country Playhouse's LGBT Night OUT Series Begins Tonight, 5/3

Westport Country Playhouse will present "LGBT Night OUT," for members of the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender communities and allies, beginning tonight, May 3, and continuing on selected Thursdays throughout the 2012 season. 

The evening will feature a pre-show cocktail party at 6:30 p.m., complete with appetizers, festive drinks, music and door prizes, followed by a performance at 8 p.m. of the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical, "Into the Woods," the multiple Tony Award-winning musical that takes the audience to a beguiling place inspired by the Grimm fairy tales. The production is directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, and co-produced with Baltimore's CENTERSTAGE.

"We're thrilled to again be partnering with Triangle Community Center of Norwalk on the 'LGBT Night OUT' series after our inaugural series in 2011," said David B. Byrd, Playhouse director of marketing. "We enjoy seeing both familiar faces and those new to The Playhouse in a welcoming environment for one and all." 

Appetizers for "LGBT Night OUT" will be provided by David's Soundview Catering of Stamford, a premiere gourmet catering company serving Connecticut and New York since 1988. A selection of complimentary adult beverages will be available in addition to other offerings. Jay Stollman Entertainment will offer music during the cocktail party. Door prizes will be given away, including an "LGBT Night OUT" series subscription to Westport Country Playhouse. 

Triangle Community Center, series partner, has been providing services for over 20 years that help strengthen the LGBT community's sense of identity, pride and visibility.  In addition, TCC works with the greater Fairfield County community to foster understanding and awareness of LGBT issues.  www.ctgay.org

The Playhouse is joining with various community partners for each "LGBT Night OUT" this season.  The May 3 event will feature community centers, including New Haven Pride Center, in addition to TCC. Each community partner will host an information table.

Upcoming LGBT Nights OUT are scheduled for June 14, in conjunction with a performance of "The Year of Magical Thinking," based on the National Book Award Winner by Joan Didion, directed by Nicholas Martin and featuring Maureen Anderman; July 19 for Molière's "Tartuffe," a funny and wise farce, translated by Richard Wilbur, directed by David Kennedy; August 30 for the world premiere of "Harbor," a comedy about a dysfunctional, loving family, by Chad Beguelin, directed by Mark Lamos; and October 11 for "A Raisin in the Sun," the timeless classic about a black family in 1950s Southside Chicago and their quest for a piece of the American Dream, by Lorraine Hansberry, directed by Phylicia Rashad. 

A preview video of Westport Country Playhouse's "Into the Woods" is at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UvMCKkmNI8&list=UUwrrcETvzek2qPjQuoV59Xg&index=1&feature=plcp.  Twitter followers can join the conversation about "Into the Woods" by using hashtag #CSWCPWOODS.  The production runs May 1 – 26. 

Subscriptions are available for the 5-play LGBT Night OUT series at $150 each.  Single tickets for LGBT Nights OUT are $35 each. 

"Into the Woods" Corporate Partners are BNY Mellon and Northwest Mutual-Bender Financial Group; Production Sponsors are Barbara and John Samuelson and Helen Lee Henderson; Production Partners are Sandra and Neil DeFeo. 

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. 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).