Westport Playhouse Presents THE CIRCLE, 6/7 - 25

From an informative talk by a guest speaker to party nights and an afternoon tea, Westport Country Playhouse will offer a myriad of special events and opportunities surrounding its production of the scintillating comedy of manners, "The Circle," written by W. Somerset Maugham and directed by Nicholas Martin, playing June 7 - 25.

At a symposium following the Sunday, June 12, 3 p.m. matinee performance, Murray Biggs, associate professor (adj.) of English and Theater at Yale University, will offer his perspective on the interplay of text and performance in "The Circle." The symposium will be moderated by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director. 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 Circle" at another time.

With degrees in English and Politics from South Africa and Britain, Biggs has taught 20 different courses in acting, directing, dramatic literature and film since joining the Yale faculty in 1986. He also directs student productions. Performance is the subject of most of his published work.

The Sunday Symposium Series is sponsored by Citi Personal Wealth Management. It is supported, in part, by the White Barn Program of the Lucille Lortel Foundation.

The Playhouse will present an "LGBT Night Out," for members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities and allies, on Thursday, June 9, in partnership with Norwalk's Triangle Community Center. The evening will feature a pre-show party with appetizers from Old Post Tavern at 6:30 p.m., specialty drinks and adult beverages, music by international jazz musician Joe Kiernan and door prizes, followed by a performance of "The Circle" at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30. Subscriptions are available for "LGBT Night Out," offering a savings of 58% over single ticket prices plus many other benefits.

"Ladies Night Out" on Tuesday, June 14, will offer a pre-show party at 6:30 p.m., featuring appetizers from Tuscan Oven, wine from Northeast Winebrokers, chocolates from Sweet Rexie's, shopping experiences from Agabhumi the Best of Bali and live music, plus an exclusive chance to win the use of a Mercedes-Benz for a weekend, courtesy of Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield. A performance of "The Circle" follows at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35.
Open Captioning for audiences with varying degrees of hearing loss will be available at the matinee performance on Sunday, June 19, 3 p.m. An easy-to-read digital screen of the actors' dialogue will be provided by C 2 (caption coalition) inc.

"Talking over Tea" will be presented on Wednesday, June 22, beginning at noon, followed by the 2 p.m. matinee performance. Lunch will be provided by Collyer Catering of Westport. The program will offer a peek into the process of costuming "The Circle" with guest speakers Anne Keefe, Playhouse artistic advisor and Lisa Ficco, Playhouse wardrobe supervisor. Tickets are $35.

Backstage Pass on Wednesday, June 22, following the 2 p.m. matinee, will provide an opportunity to meet members of The Playhouse production staff as they share the finer points of what makes "The Circle" work on the stage---from moveable scenery to special effects.

"Together at the Table," a family dinner followed by a performance, will be on Wednesday, June 22, 6:30 p.m. These special evenings allow families to enjoy a communal dinner in The Playhouse's rehearsal barn and a casual conversation about the show before attending a performance of "The Circle" at 8 p.m. This program aims to make live theater accessible to more families, and to introduce young audience members to Westport Country Playhouse in a warm and informal atmosphere. Discounted ticket price of $10 includes dinner and show; must attend as a family group with student-age children. Limited to 100 people.

Thursday Talkback on Thursday, June 23, following the 8 p.m. performance, is a lively Q&A with the cast.

A seamless blend of romance and repartee, "The Circle" tells of Lord Champion-Cheney, who, many years ago, was abandoned by his wife, who ran off to Italy with her lover. Bringing matters full circle, his stuffy son is now involved in a love triangle of his own as his bored wife is smitten with a handsome house guest. "The Circle" explores how history often is destined to repeat itself.

Heading the cast are Golden Globe Award winner and Academy Award nominee Marsha Mason (films "The Goodbye Girl" and "Cinderella Liberty") and Drama Desk Award winner and Tony Award nominee Paxton Whitehead (Broadway's "The Importance of Being Earnest," "My Fair Lady" and "Noises Off"). The cast includes Gretchen Hall (Shakespeare on the Sound's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Comedy of Errors"); John Horton (Broadway's "A Touch of the Poet," "Noises Off," "Kiss Me Kate," "Amadeus"); James J. O'Neil (Broadway's "Present Laughter"); Bryce Pinkham ("Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson"); Christina Rouner (Broadway's "Coram Boy"); and Marc Vietor ("Present Laughter," "Grey Gardens").
Board of trustees production sponsor is Helen Lee Henderson. Board of trustees production partners are Judy M. Witt and Scott Phares. Corporate production partner is Bank of America. 2011 season sponsor is KPMG; 2011 media sponsors are Moffly Media and WSHU Public Radio Group.

Westport Country Playhouse's five-play 2011 season continues with "Lips Together, Teeth Apart," a perceptive comedy about people struggling against their limitations, written by Terrence McNally and directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, July 12 - July 30; "Suddenly Last Summer," the poetic, sensual and evocative drama, written by Tennessee Williams and directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, August 23 - September 10; and "Twelfth Night, or What You Will," the beguiling comedy/romance, written by William Shakespeare and directed by Mark Lamos, October 11 - November 5.

Subscriptions to all four plays are available for preferred seating and discounts up to 45% off single ticket pricing. Students and educators are eligible for 50% discounts. All Friday evening performances are $25 for patrons aged 35 and under. Senior citizens are eligible for 50% discounts on day of performance. Groups of 10 or more save up to 30%. For group sales information call (203) 227-5137, x120.

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).

About The Playhouse

Reimagining itself in recent years, Westport Country Playhouse is rapidly emerging as a nationally recognized professional theater. Under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos and management direction of Michael Ross, The Playhouse creates five live theater experiences, produced at the highest level, from April through November. Its vital mix of works---dramatic, comedic, occasionally exploratory and unusual---expands the audience's sense of what theater can be. Its productions' depth and scope display the foremost theatrical literature from the past---recent as well as distant---in addition to musicals and premieres of new plays. During the summer, The Playhouse is home to the Woodward Internship Program, renowned for the training of aspiring theater professionals. Winter at The Playhouse, from November through March, offers events outside of the main season---Family Festivities presentations, Script in Hand play readings and a Holiday Festival. In addition, businesses and organizations are encouraged to rent the handsome facility for their meetings, receptions and fundraisers.

As an historic venue, Westport Country Playhouse has had many different lives leading up to the present. Originally built in 1835 as a tannery manufacturing hatters' leathers, it became a steam-powered cider mill in 1880, later to be abandoned in the 1920s. Splendidly transformed into a theater in 1931, it initially served as a try-out house for Broadway transfers, evolving into an established stop on the New England straw hat circuit of summer stock theaters through the end of the 20th century.

Today, the not-for-profit Westport Country Playhouse serves as a cultural nexus for patrons, artists and students and is a treasured resource for the State of Connecticut. There are no boundaries to the creative thinking for future seasons or the kinds of audiences and excitement for theater that Westport Country Playhouse can build.

Westport Country Playhouse's five-play 2011 season: "Beyond Therapy," a wicked, and wickedly funny, look at the days and nights of the young and single, written by comic master Christopher Durang and directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, April 26 - May 14; "The Circle," the scintillating comedy of manners, written by W. Somerset Maugham and directed by Nicholas Martin, June 7 - June 25; "Lips Together, Teeth Apart," a perceptive comedy about people struggling against their limitations, written by Terrence McNally and directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, July 12 - July 30; "Suddenly Last Summer," the poetic, sensual and evocative drama, written by Tennessee Williams and directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, August 23 - September 10; and "Twelfth Night, or What You Will," the beguiling comedy/romance, written by William Shakespeare and directed by Mark Lamos, October 11 - November 5.

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