Blythe Danner News

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced the full slate of 27 musical productions, a developmental reading series and special events for their seventh annual festival. This year's Festival will begin September 27th and continue through October 17th. A full breakdown of this year's performances follows.

In conjunction with Westport Country Playhouse's upcoming production of 'I Do! I Do!,' the joyful and touching musical about marriage, the theater is hosting 'The Perfect Proposal Contest.' Participants are requested to write, in 300 words or less, how they were asked, or asked someone else, to say, 'I Do!' Photos are welcomed, but not required. Deadline for entries is Tuesday, August 10, noon.

Jack Wetherall will join the previously announced Dana Ivey in 'Happy Days' by Samuel Beckett, July 6 - 24, as part of the 80th Anniversary Season at Westport Country Playhouse. Directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, the production is the third in the Playhouse's premier season under Lamos' artistic direction. Lamos will speak about Beckett's inspiring play at a Sunday Symposium on Sunday, July 11, following the 3 p.m. matinee performance.

Westport Country Playhouse will stage the joyful and touching musical, 'I Do! I Do!,' starring Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin and Drama Desk Award nominee Lewis Cleale, August 10 - 28, as part of its 80th Anniversary Season.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Sunday Symposium on playwright Samuel Beckett with Deirdre Bair, recipient of the National Book Award for 'Samuel Beckett: A Biography,' and Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, following the Sunday, July 11, 3 p.m. matinee performance of Beckett's 'Happy Days,' directed by Lamos.

David B. Byrd joined Westport Country Playhouse as director of marketing, beginning July 6, responsible for all organizational marketing initiatives for the historic theater's five-play season and surrounding year-round programming.

The 8th annual USA International Harp Competition begins July 7 at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Ind., culminating in a finals concert with the IU Summer Festival Orchestra in the Musical Arts Center on July 17. The triennial competition is regarded as one of the most prestigious classical music competitions in the world.

Jack Wetherall will join the previously announced Dana Ivey in 'Happy Days' by Samuel Beckett, July 6 - 24, as part of the 80th Anniversary Season at Westport Country Playhouse. Directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, the production is the third in the Playhouse's premier season under Lamos' artistic direction. Lamos will speak about Beckett's inspiring play at a Sunday Symposium on Sunday, July 11, following the 3 p.m. matinee performance.

Westport Country Playhouse and Doncaster, a woman's apparel collection, will team up to celebrate their mutual 80th anniversaries with a 'Sample Sale Extravaganza,' on Tuesday, June 29, 6 to 9 p.m., and Wednesday, June 30, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., in the Playhouse's Smilow Lounge on the mezzanine level.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Sunday Symposium on playwright Samuel Beckett with Deirdre Bair, recipient of the National Book Award for 'Samuel Beckett: A Biography,' and Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, following the Sunday, July 11, 3 p.m. matinee performance of Beckett's 'Happy Days,' directed by Lamos.

The threequel to the Meet the Fockers franchise, 'Little Fockers' will be released on December 22, 2010. As previously reported by BroadwayWorld, the newest edition to the Focker franchise is stage and screen vet Harvey Keitel (DEATH OF A SALESMAN, JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA at Carnegie Hall). The movie will also feature the return of everyone's Focker favorites, including Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner, and Owen Wilson. Additions to this newest installment also include Laura Dern and Jessica Alba. The movie will be directed by Paul Weitz for Universal and Tribeca Productions.

Westport Country Playhouse and Doncaster, a woman's apparel collection, will team up to celebrate their mutual 80th anniversaries with a 'Sample Sale Extravaganza,' on Tuesday, June 29, 6 to 9 p.m., and Wednesday, June 30, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., in the Playhouse's Smilow Lounge on the mezzanine level.

The 8th annual USA International Harp Competition begins July 7 at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Ind., culminating in a finals concert with the IU Summer Festival Orchestra in the Musical Arts Center on July 17. The triennial competition is regarded as one of the most prestigious classical music competitions in the world.

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater debuted in October 1998 and has quickly became one of New York City's most celebrated and in-demand showcase venues for live music and performance. With its genre-blind booking and vast diversity of interests, the stage at Joe's Pub gives voice to a world of varied and stellar artists.

In 1969, Westport Country Playhouse staged 'Butterflies Are Free' with Blythe Danner as the ingenious girl who falls in love with a blind boy, played by Keir Dullea. A success in Westport, the comedy transferred to Broadway, where it ran over three years, earning Danner a Tony Award.

Westport Country Playhouse's newly formed Young Professionals Network will present an evening of food, wine, beer, live music and a performance of the Pulitzer Prize-winning comic drama 'Dinner with Friends,' by 2010 Tony Award nominee Donald Margulies, on Thursday, June 10.

2010 Tony Award nominated playwright Donald Margulies will discuss his Pulitzer Prize-winning comic drama, 'Dinner with Friends,' at Westport Country Playhouse, following the 8 p.m. performance of the play on Thursday, June 10. The discussion will be led by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, and director of the production.

Forty seasons ago, Westport Country Playhouse staged 'Butterflies Are Free' with Blythe Danner as the ingenious girl who falls in love with a blind boy, played by Keir Dullea.

'Wine with Friends,' a special event to celebrate Westport Country Playhouse's 80th anniversary season, will feature a pre-show party at Gilbertie's Herb Gardens, 7 Sylvan Lane, Westport, followed by a performance of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, 'Dinner with Friends' at Westport Country Playhouse on Friday, June 4.

Jack Wetherall will join the previously announced Dana Ivey in 'Happy Days' by Samuel Beckett, July 6 - 24, as part of the 80th Anniversary Season at Westport Country Playhouse. Directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, the production is the third in the Playhouse's premier season under Lamos' artistic direction. Lamos will speak about Beckett's inspiring play at a Sunday Symposium on Sunday, July 11, following the 3 p.m. matinee performance.