Anne Keefe News

Six new members were recently elected to the board of trustees at Westport Country Playhouse, bringing the total to 26. The new Playhouse trustees are Dave Altman of Westport, Ben Frimmer of Weston, Darnell K. Graham of Bridgeport, Rashana J. Graham of Bridgeport, Anne Keefe of Weston, and Jonathan H. Levy of Westport. 

Westport Country Playhouse's board of trustees have announced that director, playwright, and actor Mark Shanahan has been named as incoming artistic director for the 2024-25 season. He will officially assume the artistic director position in March 2024. Currently, Shanahan is curator of the Playhouse's Script in Hand playreading series.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of “Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” on Monday, June 12, at 7 p.m.  From the novel by Agatha Christie, the cunning tale of murder and deception is a brand new adaptation for the stage by Mark Shanahan, who will also direct. This summer, the Alley Theatre in Houston will stage the play’s world premiere production.

In the spirit of the holiday season, Westport Country Playhouse Radio Theater, a free-of-charge broadcast series, will reprise the inventive audio play, “A Merry Little Christmas Carol,” airing on WSHU Radio on Saturday, December 24, at 6:06 p.m. (following the national news), with a rebroadcast on Sunday, December 25, at 1:06 p.m.

“The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man,” a newly published memoir by Paul Newman, will be the topic of a book discussion, “An Afternoon with Melissa Newman,” at Westport Country Playhouse, on Sunday, November 20, at 3 p.m., presented by Darien's Barrett Bookstore.

In the spirit of the holiday season, Westport Country Playhouse Radio Theater, a free-of-charge broadcast series, will reprise from last year the inventive audio play, “A Merry Little Christmas Carol,” airing on WSHU Radio on Saturday, December 25, at 3:06 p.m. (following the national news), with a rebroadcast on Sunday, December 26, at 3:06 p.m.

“Mrs. Mannerly” will feature Playhouse favorites Mark Shanahan and Anne Keefe in the roles of student and teacher, respectively. Written by Jeffrey Hatcher and directed by Shanahan, curator of the Script in Hand Series, running time is approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

Westport Country Playhouse Radio Theater, a free-of-charge broadcast series, in partnership with WSHU Public Radio, will present the new audio play combining humor and suspense, “Special Delivery,” on Saturday, July 10, at 1:06 p.m. (following a news update at top of the hour), with a rebroadcast on Sunday, July 11, at 4:06 p.m.

Ninety years ago on June 29, 1931, Westport Country Playhouse opened its doors to its very first stage production. This year, on the exact same day, the Playhouse will mark its 90th anniversary with the opening of the virtual production, “Tiny House,” written by Michael Gotch, and directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director. The regional premiere of the timely comedy about escaping urban life in an isolated mountain paradise will stream on demand from Tuesday, June 29 through Sunday, July 18.

Westport Country Playhouse Radio Theater, a free-of-charge broadcast series, in partnership with WSHU Public Radio, will present the new, audio play, “The Return,” on Saturday, May 29, at noon, followed by a rebroadcast on Sunday, May 30, at 4 p.m.

Participating in the “Our Town at the Playhouse” panel will be Howard Sherman, author; Anne Keefe, current Playhouse associate artist, and former associate artistic director with Joanne Woodward at the time of the Playhouse’s 2002 production of “Our Town”; and Jake Robards, who appeared in the Playhouse production. 

Westport Country Playhouse will present a virtual Script in Hand playreading of “A Sherlock Carol,” a new, mystery mashup featuring familiar characters from the literature of Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens.

Read what theatre stars from across social media are saying about the passing of Christopher Plummer.

Westport Country Playhouse, in partnership with WSHU Public Radio, will present a free-of-charge audio play, “A Merry Little Christmas Carol,” on Saturday, December 19, at noon, followed by a rebroadcast on Saturday, December 26, at 8 p.m. WSHU frequencies and locations are listed at wshu.org in the About Us drop-down menu.

Westport Country Playhouse announces scheduling changes in its 2020 Script in Hand Playreading Series, due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. The series of four remaining playreadings is now scheduled to resume in late June and run through mid-December.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of 'Mrs. Mannerly,' a comedy about a young boy and his manners teacher, by Jeffrey Hatcher, on Monday, March 23, at 7 p.m. The cast includes award-winning Broadway, film, and television actors Isabel Keating as Mrs. Mannerly, and Richard Kind as Jeffrey. Co-curators and co-directors of the Script in Hand Series are Anne Keefe, Playhouse associate artist, and Mark Shanahan, director, actor, and playwright. Tickets to Script in Hand Playreadings are $20 each.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of a?oeMiracle on South Division Street,a?? a comedy about family, faith, and adjusting to life's surprises, by Tom Dudzick, on Monday, February 24, at 7 p.m.  Co-curators and co-directors of the Script in Hand Series are Anne Keefe, Playhouse associate artist, and Mark Shanahan, director, actor, and playwright. 

Westport Country Playhouse has named director, actor, and playwright Mark Shanahan as co-curator of the 2020 Script in Hand Playreading Series. He will collaborate with Anne Keefe, Playhouse associate artist and current curator of the Series. The Playhouse's Script in Hand Series offers readings of dramas and comedies by professional actors using their skills to catapult the audience's imagination without benefit of scenery or costumes.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of 'Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley,' the romantic comedy sequel to Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice,' by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon, on Monday, December 16, at 7 p.m. The reading will be directed by Anne Keefe, Playhouse associate artist and curator of the playreading series. Tickets are $20 each.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of the comedy/drama, a?oeVisiting Mr. Greena?? by Jeff Baron, on Monday, November 18, at 7 p.m. The cast includes Tim Jerome as Mr. Green and Charles Socarides as Ross Gardiner. The reading will be directed by Anne Keefe, Playhouse associate artist and curator of the playreading series. Tickets are $20 each.